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Abstract: A new system for deployment of fungus‐impregnated black cloths was tested against Aedes aegypti. A “PET trap” was placed in a test chamber to evaluate attractiveness to female A. aegypti with black cloths covered in adhesive film or adhesive film only for 24 and 48 hr. Traps with fungus (Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana)‐impregnated black cloths were tested against female mosquitoes for different time periods (3 h to 48 hr) in the chambers. Traps were then tested under intradomicile conditions against sucrose and blood‐fed insects. Experiments were carried out to ascertain the minimum number of PET traps need to be deployed per test room and to test the effect of different periods of exposure to traps. Exposing the insects for 24 and 48 hr to a PET trap with adhesive film + black cloth resulted in higher rates of trapped mosquitoes (38.6% and 68%, respectively) when compared with adhesive film only (6% and 12.6%, respectively). Both fungal species were effective at reducing survival rates when mosquitoes were exposed to traps for 24 hr or 48 hr. Lower exposure times did not significantly alter survival rates when compared to controls. The results showed that five traps or three traps per room were equally effective in reducing mosquito survival rates when testing both fungal species. The results for sucrose‐fed insects showed significant reductions in survival when exposed to M. ansiopliae or B. bassiana for 24, 48 or 120 hr when compared to control survival, with the lowest survival rates seen following 48‐ or 120‐hr exposures. Survival of blood‐fed mosquitoes exposed to fungus‐impregnated traps for 48 hr was not significantly different to the controls; however, longer exposure times significantly reduced survival rates. PET traps could be an effective system for deploying fungus‐impregnated cloths in residences, facilitating cooperation of volunteers and reducing distribution time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of 15 commercially available fungicides on the germination, growth and virulence of Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, Isaria fumosorosea, and Lecanillium longisporum was evaluated. The influence of the fungicides on conidial germination was dependant on the fungicide type and dose. Most fungicides retarded conidial germination of all the fungi tested at 10× and at the recommended rate of application, however, their toxicity declined at lower concentrations. Most of the fungicides inhibited mycelial growth of B. bassiana, whereas L. longisporum growth was unaffected. Only two and eight fungicides influenced mycelial growth of I. fumosorosea and M. anisopliae, respectively. None of the fungicides influenced the virulence of B. bassiana and L. longisporum, however, tolylfluanid and azoxystrobin reduced the virulence of M. anisopliae and I. fumosorosea, respectively. These studies clearly show that certain fungicides have the potential to inhibit germination of entomopathogenic fungi in vitro but appear to have little or no effect on their virulence against target insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Pakistan, rural women play multi-dimensional tasks to reduce food insecurity as food producers and food processors. However, their participation in these activities is very limited. A study was conducted at the Institute of Agriculture Extension and Rural Development, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan during the year 2011 to determine the factors that inhibit the participation of rural women in livestock production activities. The research area of study was tehsil Samundari which consists of 28 union councils. From these, one rural union council was taken as a unit. From whole union council, two villages were selected through simple random sampling and from each village 25 women involved in livestock activities were selected as respondents, making a sample size of 50 respondents. Interview schedule was used as a quantitative data collection instrument. The qualitative data were collected by conducting focus group discussions, in-depth individual interviews and key informant interviews. Five points Likert scale (1=to some extent, 2=below average extent, 3=an average extent, 4=above average extent and 5=too much extent) for factors inhibiting participation and three points Likert scale (1=always, 2=rarely and 3=never) was used to determine involvement of respondents in livestock management activities. The quantitative data were analysed through computer software SPSS and qualitative data were analysed through content analysis technique. The results showed that majority of women involved in livestock activities was of middle age (66%) and illiterate (42.0%). Participation of respondents was high in selling of milk and milk products with mean value of 1.26 and SD 0.66 as compared to other activities. Rural women had minimum participation in poultry raising and selling of eggs/ghee having mean value of 2.22 and 2.32, respectively. It is concluded that females are active participants in livestock activities but the factors like lack of confidence, social security, low literacy level in village, social conflicts and lack of media information inhibit their participation in livestock activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many insects successfully live in dangerous environments exposed to diverse communities of microbes, they are often exploited and killed by specialist pathogens. Studies of host-pathogen interactions (HPI) provide valuable insights into the dynamics of the highly aggressive coevolutionary arms race between entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and their arthropod hosts. The host defenses are designed to exclude the pathogen or mitigate the damage inflicted while the pathogen responds with immune evasion and utilization of host resources. EPF neutralize their immediate surroundings on the insect integument and benefit from the physiochemical properties of the cuticle and its compounds that exclude competing microbes. EPF also exhibit adaptations aimed at minimizing trauma that can be deleterious to both host and pathogen (eg, melanization of hemolymph), form narrow penetration pegs that alleviate host dehydration and produce blastospores that lack immunogenic sugars/enzymes but facilitate rapid assimilation of hemolymph nutrients. In response, insects deploy an extensive armory of hemocytes and macromolecules, such as lectins and phenoloxidase, that repel, immobilize, and kill EPF. New evidence suggests that immune bioactives work synergistically (eg, lysozyme with antimicrobial peptides) to combat infections. Some proteins, including transferrin and apolipophorin III, also demonstrate multifunctional properties, participating in metabolism, homeostasis, and pathogen recognition. This review discusses the molecular intricacies of these HPI, highlighting the interplay between immunity, stress management, and metabolism. Increased knowledge in this area could enhance the efficacy of EPF, ensuring their future in integrated pest management programs., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are responsible for the spread of several arboviruses of livestock and humans that are of international importance. This study assesses the virulence of 18 insect-pathogenic fungal strains from the genera Metarhizium, Beauveria, Isaria and Lecanicillium to larval stages of Culicoides nubeculous Meigen as a means of examining their potential as biocontrol agents. In initial screening, six strains of M. anisopliae (ERL700, CA1, V275, LRC181A, ARSEF 3291 and ARSEF 4556) outperformed the other tested genera and were found to cause between 90% and 100% larval mortality in all larval instars of this species at 72 h post inoculation. The virulence of the most effective strain, M. anisopliae V275, was then further tested by exposing larvae to doses which ranged from 10(4)-10(8) conidia/ml and recording mortality at 24, 48 and 72 h in a 24-multi-well plate with each well containing 600 microl of water and at 24 and 48 h in 250 ml plastic cups containing 50 ml of water. Sensitivity of larvae was extremely high in the multi-well plates, with LC(50) values of 4.3-4.5 x 10(3)conidia/ml and no significant differences between larval instars. In the 250 ml cups, M. anisopliae V275 caused mortalities of between 70% and 100% to larvae and later instars exhibited higher mortality rates. The results are discussed in relation to incorporation of M. anisopliae into biocontrol programmes to control arboviruses vectored by Culicoides.

A 28S rDNA intron was used as a molecular marker to distinguish between two single spore strains of Beauveria bassiana, Bb123 and Bb151. When co-formulated and assayed against larvae of Galleria mellonella these strains exhibited no synergistic increase in virulence, rather Bb123 usually dominated. This study shows that the success of any strain to infect Galleria is dependent on the dose and method of inoculation (injection versus immersion). The result of co-formulated strains grown on solid culture also showed that usually one strain dominated, i.e., strain displacement could happen both in vivo and in vitro. The speed by which one strain was displaced following successive sub-culturing on PDA partly depended on the ratio of Bb151 and Bb123. The co-formulated inoculum could widen the window over which parent strains would be active on different water activity media. Co-infection did result in heterokaryosis within the Galleria host. Molecular studies also showed that the heterokaryon was not stable and could revert back to the parent strain.