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Numerous Bt rice lines expressing Cry protein derived from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) have been developed since 1989. However, the potential risks posed by Bt rice on non-target organisms still remain debate. The white-backed planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera (Horvath), is one of the most economically important insect pests of rice in Asian countries and also one of the main non-target herbivores of transgenic rice. In the current study, impacts of transgenic cry1Ab/vip3H+epsps rice (G6H1) with both insect and herbicide resistance on WBPH were evaluated to ascertain whether this transgenic rice line had potential risks for this sap-sucking pest under laboratory and field conditions. The laboratory results showed that no significant difference in egg developmental duration, nymphal survival rate and female fecundity was found for WBPH between G6H1 and its non-transgenic isoline (XS110). However, the development duration of nymphs was significantly shorter and female longevity significantly longer when WBPH fed on G6H1 by comparison with those on its control. To verify the results found in laboratory, a 3-yr field trial was conducted to monitor WBPH population using both the vacuum-suction machine and beat plate methods. Although the seasonal density of WBPH nymphs and total density of nymphs and adults were not significantly affected by transgenic rice regardless of the sampling methods, the seasonal density of WBPH adults in transgenic rice plots was slightly lower than that in the control when using the vacuum-suction machine. Based on these results both from laboratory and field, it is clear that our tested transgenic rice line will not lead higher population of WBPH. However, long-term field experiments to monitor the population dynamics of WPBH at large scale need to be conducted to confirm the present conclusions in future.

Effects of copper (Cu) accumulation by the flesh fly Boettcherisca peregrina (R.- D.) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) on the ectoparasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) were investigated experimentally by exposing host larvae to contaminated diets with final Cu concentrations of 400 � g/g and 800 � g/g diet fresh weight (DFW), respectively. Results showed that Cu can be transferred along food chains to secondary consumers (parasitoids) in small amounts, resulting in negative effects on parasitoid growth and development (body weight and developmental duration) as well as fecundity (number of offspring per female). Copper exposure also inhibited vitellogenesis of parasitoids from Cu-contaminated host pupae. It is suggested that the decreased fecundity and inhibition of vitellogenesis of N. vitripennis resulted from poor host nutritional state rather than from direct effects of Cu stress.

1. Dispersal flight, a well-known strategy for aphids to locate suitable plants, was studied for its possible role in disseminating fungal pathogens and parasitoids as natural control agents of aphids by air captures in Hangzhou, China during 2001–2005. Up to 3183 migratory alates of green peach aphid Myzus persicae were captured from air using a yellow-plus-plant trap on the top platform of a six-storey building in an urbanised area, and individually reared in a laboratory for ≥ 7 days. 2. Among the captured alates, 28.9% survived on average for 2.5 days and then died from mycoses attributed to 10 species of obligate or non-obligate aphid pathogens. These were predominated by Pandora neoaphidis, which was causative of 80% of the mycosed alates. Another 4.4% survived for an average of 3.7 days, followed by mummification of Aphidius gifuensis (52.9%) and Diaeretella rapae (47.1%). 3. Numerous progeny colonies individually initiated by infected, parasitised, or healthy alates were monitored daily for 12 days, and fitted well to a logistic equation depicting the potential of their post-flight colonisation and fecundity. Both infected and parasitised alates from air were highly capable of initiating progeny colonies independently, although their potential fecundity was greatly reduced compared with that of healthy counterparts. 4. Our results confirmed that both obligate and non-obligate pathogens can be widespread with aphid dispersal flight, and demonstrated that parasitoids also took advantage of the host flight for their dispersal. This study provides new insights into aphid dispersal biology.