The formulation of Dursban®, manufactured by Dow Chemical Corp., and its diluting agent were found to influence the penetration abilities of the final spray when it is applied to pine sapwood. The diluent of choice for providing the best penetration of the active ingredient, chlorpyrifos, is an Oil-based carrier for the formulated product Dursban® WT. Dursban® TC, another product containing chlorpyrifos, will penetrate the wood surface better when diluted with water, not with an oil-based carrier such as kerosene. Residual amounts of Dursban® TC applied to pine sapwood will remain relatively constant six months after the initial treatment at depths of 400 - 600 microns below the surface. The wood moisture content (WMC) of treated pine sapwood did not significantly influence the penetration abilities of Dursban® TC at 7.5% - 8.0% and 14.5% - 16.0% WMC. A 1.0% water-diluted formulation of Dursban® TC applied to pine sapwood is predicted to be capable of penetrating the treated wood to a depth of 1320 microns. / Master of Science

No description available.

I examined saproxylic beetle responses in two silvicultural systems of the eastern mixedwood boreal forest of Quebec. I first investigated habitat-use and aspen-host use of saproxylic and bark and wood-boring beetles in remnant forest patches (cut-bock separators and small patches) left after harvest, theorized to resemble natural post-fire residual trees and snags. A second study focused on effects of partial cutting, a method that may serve to imitate natural succession dynamics. / Remnant forest patches had the highest saproxylic and bark and woodboring beetle species richness and relative abundance. Although non-significant, higher larval densities were also collected from remnant forest patches. In the second study, partial cut patches had an intermediate saproxylic beetle assemblage compared to uncut forest and clearcuts. / This research has brought new information on the effects of alternative harvesting practices on saproxylic beetles, supporting the hypothesis that biodiversity is best preserved based on forest management that is diversified and based on natural disturbance dynamics.

Maize is the principal staple food in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), but production lags behind population growth. The African stem borer, Busseola fusca, Fuller (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), and the spotted stem borer, Chilo partellus, Swinhoe (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) are serious insect pests of maize in tropical environments. The damage can be managed by breeding stem borer resistant maize varieties but there is limited information that can be used to devise appropriate breeding programs. Therefore breeding investigations were conducted to appraise germplasm screening methods, and to determine combining ability, heterosis and response of maize populations to S1 progeny recurrent selection. The study was conducted in Kenya during 2010 to 2013. The results showed that most of the test genotypes were susceptible to B. fusca and less so to C. partellus, indicating that breeding for B. fusca would be more challenging. Therefore more resources would be required to improve maize germplasm for resistance to B. fusca to broaden the base from which breeders will select suitable lines for breeding. There was a highly significant (r=0.947, p≤ 0.01) correlation between rank selection index in the greenhouse and laboratory. The detached leaf disk bioassay method was effective for screening maize genotypes for resistance to both stem borers. Therefore it will be recommended for use in screening maize genotypes in future studies. The line x tester studies indicated a preponderance of the additive gene effects for borer resistance traits. Specific combining ability effects were significant for resistance traits and grain yield indicating that non-additive effects were also influential. Findings from the breeding investigations will impact positively on both food security and plant breeding capacity. The completed study was successful in identifying new maize inbred lines with resistance to both stem borers. These lines have high utility to maize breeding programmes that emphasise stem borer resistance in tropical environments. For the hybrid-oriented programmes, combining ability and heterotic orientation data for the 66 maize inbred lines will be crucial. In this regard the study was very successful in classifying the lines into three heterotic groups according to single cross testers (CML395/CML444, and CML312/CML442) that are widely used at CIMMYT, and by public breeding programs throughout SSA. Importantly, this was done based on grain yield potential of hybrids under B. fusca and C. partellus infestations in three mega environments. The study demonstrates that S1 progeny recurrent selection is effective for improving stem borer resistance, without compromising yield. There was significant reduction (69%) in maize plant damage by both pests, and yield gains of 25% to 70% were realised in two populations. This represents significant contribution to plant breeding capacity, especially to maize breeding programmes that emphasise stem borer resistance in hybrids. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2014.

Thesis (PhD (Agric))--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Biological control studies were conducted with isolates of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarrhizium anisopliae from Ethiopia and South Africa against the spotted stem borer Chilo partellus. The study was conducted from April 2002 to April 2003, at the department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. The objectives were to screen these isolates for pathogenicity and to determine the susceptibility of different larval instars; to study the effect of temperature on fungal development and virulence; to investigate food consumption of fungus treated larvae; to determine compatibility of fungal isolates with insecticides; to study the effect of exposure methods and diets on larval mortality; and to evaluate promising isolates under greenhouse conditions using artificially infested maize plants. Four isolates of B. bassiana and six isolates of M. anisopliae were tested against second instar larvae. Of these isolates, B. bassiana (BB-01) and M. anisopliae (PPRC-4, PPRC-19, PPRC-61 and EE-01) were found to be highly pathogenic inducing 90 to 100 % mortality seven days after treatment. In subsequent assays, the fungal isolates were tested against third, fourth, fifth and sixth instar larvae. Second and sixth instar larvae were more susceptible to these isolates than third, fourth and fifth instar larvae. Conidial germination, radial growth and sporulation of the isolates PPRC-4, PPRC-19, PPRC-61, EE-01 and BB-01 were retarded at 15 and 35 0C. A suitable temperature range for the isolates was from 20 - 30 0C. At 25 and 30 0C the isolates induced 100 % mortality to second instar larvae within four to six days. Second and third instar C. partellus larvae were treated with the isolates PPRC-4 and BB-01, and daily consumption of maize leaf was measured. Treatment with the fungi was associated with a reduction in mean daily food consumption. In in-vitro studies, five concentrations (0.1 ppm, 1 ppm, 5 ppm, 10 ppm, and 100 ppm active ingredients) of the insecticides benfuracarb and endosulfan were tested with the isolates PPRC-4, PPRC-19, PPRC-16, EE-01 and BB-01. Increasing the concentration of the insecticides adversely affected germination, radial growth and sporulation of the isolates. In in-vivo studies combining the fungi, PPRC-4 and BB-01,with low concentrations (1 and 5 ppm a.i.), of the insecticides increased the mortality of third instar larvae from 65 to 100 %. Larvae sprayed directly with conidia, exposed to conidia treated leaves and dipped into conidial suspensions suffered high mortality of 98 to 100 %. Larvae exposed to treated leaves and larvae sprayed directly with conidia produced high numbers mycoses in cadavers. Exposure of larvae to treated leaves yielded high sporulation. At a low conidial concentration (1.25x107 conidia/ml), mycosis and sporulation were high. The optimum temperature was 20 0C for mycosis and 15 0C for sporulation. In greenhouse trails, a conidial suspension of 2 x 108 conidia/ml of the pathogenic isolates was sprayed on 3 to 4 week-old maize plants infested with 20 second instar larvae per plant. This resulted in suppression of foliar damage. Treatment with the fungi also reduced stem tunneling and deadheart. In addition, fungal treatment increased mean plant fresh and dry biomass compared to untreated control plants. In general, results from laboratory and greenhouse studies indicated that there was good potential for the use of these fungal isolates for controlling C. partellus larvae. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Biologiese beheerstudies is uitgevoer met isolate van die insekpatogeniese swamme, Beauvaria bassiana en Metarrhizium anisopliae teen die gespikkelde stamboorder, Chilo partellus. Die doelwitte was om hierdie isolate te evalueer vir patogenesiteit; die vatbaarheid van verskillende larvale instars teenoor hulle te bepaal; die invloed van temperatuur op swamontwikkeling en virulensie te bepaal; die voedsel inname van swambehandelde larwes te ondersoek; die verenigbaarheid van die swamisolate met insektedoders te bepaal; die invloed van blootstellingsmetodes en diëte op larvale mortaliteit; en om belowende isolate in glashuisproewe te evalueer met gebruik van kunsmatig besmette mielieplante. Vier isolate van B. bassiana en ses isolate van M. anisopliae is teen tweede instar larwes getoets. Uit dié isolate is B. bassiana (BB-01) en M. anisopliae (PPRC-4, PPRC- 19, PPRC-16 en EE-01) as hoogs patogenies bevind. Hulle het 90 tot 100 % mortaliteit na sewe dae veroorsaak. In daaropvolgende essays, is die swamisolate teen derde, vierde, vyfde en sesde instar larwes getoets. Tweede en sesde instar larwes was gevoeliger vir die isolate as die derde, vierde en vyfde instar larwes. Spoorkeming, radiale groei en sporulasie van die isolate PPRC-4, PPRC-19, PPRC-61, EE-01 en BB-01, is by 15 en 35 0C vertraag. ‘n Aanvaarbare temperatuurreeks vir die isolate is vanaf 20 tot 30 0C. By 25 en 30 0C het die isolate 100 % mortaliteit teen tweede instar larwes binne vier tot ses dae geïndusseer. Tweede en derde instar C. partellus larwes is met die isolate PPRC-4 en BB-01 behandel en die daaglikse inname van mielieblare gemeet. Behandeling met die swamme is met ‘n afname in die gemiddelde voedselinname geassosieer In in-vitro studies is vyf konsentrasies (0.1 dpm, 1 dpm, 5 dpm, 10 dpm en 100 dpm aktiewe bestandele) van die insekdoders, benfuracarb en endosulfan getoets saam met die isolate PPRC-4, PPRC-19, PPRC-16, EE-01 en BB-01. ‘n Toename in die konsentrasie van die insekdoders het ontkieming, radiale groei en sporulasie van die isolate benadeel. In in-vitro studies het die kombinering van die die swamme, PPRC-4 en BB-01, met lae konsentrasies (1 en 5 dpm a.b.) van die insekdoders mortaliteit van derde instar larwes vanaf 65 tot 100 % laat toeneem. Larwes wat direk met spore gespuit is, aan behandelde blare blootgestel is en in spoorsuspensies gedoop is het tot hoë mortaliteit gelei, (98 tot 100 %). Blootstelling aan behandelde blare saam met ‘n lae konidiakonsentrasie, 1.25x106 spore/ml) en ‘n temperatuur van 15 tot 20 0C het tot hoë swammikose en sporulasie in kadawers gelei. In glashuisproewe, is ‘n spoorsuspensies van 2 x 108 spores/ml van die patogeniese isolate op 3 tot 4 weekoud mielieplante wat met 20 tweede instar larwes per plant besmet is gespuit. Dit het blaarskade onderdruk. Behandeling met die swamme het ook stamtonnels en dooiehart verminder. Boonop het swambehandeling die vars- en droë plantbiomassa laat toeneem in vergelyking met die onbehandelde kontrole plante. Oor die algemeen het resultate van laboratorium- en glashuisproewe getoon dat daar goeie potensiaal is vir die gebruik van hierdie swamisolate vir die beheer van C. partellus larwes.

A partir de 2017 ficará proibida a queima nos canaviais, tornando obrigatória a colheita sem queima prévia. Esta nova tendência de colheita irá resultar em mudanças nas relações tróficas presentes no canavial. A broca da cana (Diatraea saccharalis) é considerada uma pragachave da cultura e é responsável por uma perda significante de produtividade. O controle biológico da broca é feito através da liberação do parasitóide Cotesia flavipes. Este método de controle aplicado está sujeito a interrupções que comprometem seu sucesso. A broca tem nos dermápteros um agente predador, de ocorrência natural nos canaviais. Muito pouco se sabe sobre estes insetos. Informações sobre os aspectos bioecológicos destes predadores são fundamentais para a sua avaliação como potenciais agentes alternativos de controle da broca da cana, fortalecendo os programas de controle biológico adotados nos canaviais atualmente. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo avaliar alguns aspectos biológicos e analisar aspectos comportamentais de dermápteros presentes em canaviais da região de Piracicaba. Foram identificadas quatro espécies de tesourinhas: Euborellia janeirensis, Euborellia peregrina, Cosmiella brasiliensis e Doru luteipes. Devido ao baixo número de fêmeas de C. brasiliensis as variáveis: número de posturas, ovos por postura, período embrionário, período de cuidado maternal e porcentagem de eclosão desta espécie, não integraram a análise estatística. Todas as espécies apresentaram dimorfismo sexual nos cercos e cuidado maternal com ovos e ninfas. Em relação a duração do período de cuidado maternal, E. peregrina e E. janeirensis obtiveram os maiores valores, 24,83 e 24,81 respectivamente. D. luteipes diferiu estatisticamente exibindo cuidado maternal por 14,6 dias. Não houve diferença estatística entre as espécies E. janeirensis e E. peregrina quanto o período embrionário (12,06 e 11,83 dias), porém D. luteipes diferiu estatisticamente apresentando duração de apenas 7 dias. Não houve diferença estatística entre as três espécies no que diz respeito a porcentagem de eclosão, sendo que o maior valor foi registrado para E. janeirensis (77,4%), seguida de D. luteipes (76,48%) e E. peregrina (69,65%). Quando comparadas as médias do número de ovos por postura, as três espécies diferem estatisticamente sendo o maior valor registrado em E. janeirensis (46,33) seguido por E. peregrina (34,16) e D. luteipes (27,60). A duração das fases ninfal e adulta foram analisadas para as quatro espécies. A maior duração de fase ninfal foi registrada em E. janeirensis (51,95 dias) e em E. peregrina (50,70 dias). C. brasiliensis diferiu estatisticamente das duas espécies do gênero Euborellia, apresentando duração de 33,65 dias. A menor duração foi registrada em D. luteipes (24,10 dias), diferindo estatisticamente de todas as espécies. A duração da fase adulta foi maior em D. luteipes (219,65 dias), E. peregrina (212,5 dias) e E. janeirensis (210,30 dias). Apenas C. brasiliensis diferiu estatisticamente (183,50 dias). As espécies do gênero Euborellia se mostraram mais agressivas durante o período de cuidado maternal. Estudos sobre as diferentes espécies de dermápteros encontradas em canaviais são fundamentais para que este grupo de insetos nativos possa ser utilizado em programas de controle biológico, fortalecendo o manejo integrado de pragas em canaviais. / From 2017 on, the burning of sugarcane crops will be prohibited, and the green harvested cane model will be adopted throughout the country. This new trend will certainly change most of the trophic relations occurring in the system. The sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis), a key pest, is responsible for a significant yield loss. Biological control programs based on the parasitoid Cotesia flavipes, adopted in most Brazilian sugarcane crops are subject to interruptions that compromise its success. Thus, to avoid the use of chemical pesticides, new biological alternatives to control the pest must be investigated. Dermaptera is a control agent of the sugarcane borer that occurs naturally. This study aims at characterizing behavioural traits and biological aspects of dermapterans occurring in sugarcane systems. Four species of Dermaptera were identified: Euborellia janeirensis, Euborellia peregrina, Cosmiella brasiliensis and Doru luteipes. Due to the low number of C.brasiliensis females collected, only the duration of their immature and adult stages were incorporated to the statistic analysis. All species presented sexual dimorphism and exhibited maternal care with eggs and nymphs. The maternal care duration was longer for E. peregrina (24.83 days) and E. janeirensis (24.81 days). D. luteipes differed statistically with 14.6 days. E. janeirensis and E. peregrina had similar values for incubation period (12.06 e 11.83 days respectively) but D. luteipes differed statistically with an average duration of 7 days. No statistical difference regarding the hatch percentage was found among the three species, E. janeirensis had the highest rate (77.4%), followed by D. luteipes (76.48%) and E. peregrina (69.65%). The three species differed statistically when comparing the average number of eggs laid, E. janeirensis reached the highest average (46.33). E. peregrina laid an average of 34.16 eggs and D. luteipes 27.60 eggs. E. janeirensis and E. peregrina had similar immature stage durations (51.95 and 50.70 days). C. brasiliensis differed statistically from the former species with 33.65 days. The shortest immature stage was recorded for D. luteipes (24.10 days), differing from all the others. The adult stage had a similar average duration for D. luteipes (219.65 days), E. peregrina (212.5 days) and E. janeirensis (210.3 days). C. brasiliensis differed from all the others with 183.5 days. Species from the Euborellia genus were more aggressive during the maternal care phase when compared to D. luteipes and C. brasiliensis. Studies on the different species of dermapterans occurring naturally in green sugarcane systems, are a clear need to evaluate the possibility of using these insects as alternative predators in biological control programs adopted in brazilian sugarcane yields, reinforcing integrated pest management programs in the country.

The general objectives of this thesis project were to describe and to understand the dynamics creating occurrence patterns of saproxylic wood-feeding Coleoptera in snags (i.e., standing dead trees) of black spruce and aspen along the decay gradient. The first part of this thesis focuses on pre-landing host-selection behaviours in coniferophagous species, i.e. the use of host-produced volatiles to locate potential hosts. Results presented suggest that most saproxylic wood-feeding beetles studied herein use volatiles to orient towards potential habitat patches but that olfactive information does not allow the identification of suitable hosts at close range prior to landing. The second part of the thesis focuses on the occurrence patterns themselves and on underlying mechanisms. Sampling was conducted using snag dissection, a novel method allowing a better characterization of larval stage wood-feeding assemblages. Opposite patterns were observed between the two host species studied, as abundance and species richness were highest in early stages of decay in spruce, and in middle to late stages of decay in aspen. In aspen, numerous nutritional and physical parameters of dead wood correlated significantly with wood-borer occurrence. However, most of these parameters were strongly auto-correlated, and the explanatory model most highly ranked by model selection consisted of only a snag age term. Also, a simple neutral model based on temporal autocorrelation in occurrence probability produced patterns similar to those observed through sampling. In the last original paper presented, results suggest that wood-boring larvae select for specific types of substrate in highly variable aspen snags. This selection on the part of the larvae likely decreases the impact of the oviposition site on subsequent larval performance, and could explain the lack of strong selection seen on the part of the mother. My results suggest very different host-selection dynamics in black spruce and aspen, as assemblages of the former were dominated by early-decay species with volatiles-driven colonization dynamics, while middle- to late-decay species dominated the later, seemingly through mostly neutral colonization mechanisms. Some of my findings suggest that patterns observed in black spruce and aspen could be extrapolated to a coniferous/deciduous host dichotomy in colonization dynamics of woodfeeding species, based on divergent secondary chemistry and wood structure.

A partir de 2017 ficará proibida a queima nos canaviais, tornando obrigatória a colheita sem queima prévia. Esta nova tendência de colheita irá resultar em mudanças nas relações tróficas presentes no canavial. A broca da cana (Diatraea saccharalis) é considerada uma pragachave da cultura e é responsável por uma perda significante de produtividade. O controle biológico da broca é feito através da liberação do parasitóide Cotesia flavipes. Este método de controle aplicado está sujeito a interrupções que comprometem seu sucesso. A broca tem nos dermápteros um agente predador, de ocorrência natural nos canaviais. Muito pouco se sabe sobre estes insetos. Informações sobre os aspectos bioecológicos destes predadores são fundamentais para a sua avaliação como potenciais agentes alternativos de controle da broca da cana, fortalecendo os programas de controle biológico adotados nos canaviais atualmente. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo avaliar alguns aspectos biológicos e analisar aspectos comportamentais de dermápteros presentes em canaviais da região de Piracicaba. Foram identificadas quatro espécies de tesourinhas: Euborellia janeirensis, Euborellia peregrina, Cosmiella brasiliensis e Doru luteipes. Devido ao baixo número de fêmeas de C. brasiliensis as variáveis: número de posturas, ovos por postura, período embrionário, período de cuidado maternal e porcentagem de eclosão desta espécie, não integraram a análise estatística. Todas as espécies apresentaram dimorfismo sexual nos cercos e cuidado maternal com ovos e ninfas. Em relação a duração do período de cuidado maternal, E. peregrina e E. janeirensis obtiveram os maiores valores, 24,83 e 24,81 respectivamente. D. luteipes diferiu estatisticamente exibindo cuidado maternal por 14,6 dias. Não houve diferença estatística entre as espécies E. janeirensis e E. peregrina quanto o período embrionário (12,06 e 11,83 dias), porém D. luteipes diferiu estatisticamente apresentando duração de apenas 7 dias. Não houve diferença estatística entre as três espécies no que diz respeito a porcentagem de eclosão, sendo que o maior valor foi registrado para E. janeirensis (77,4%), seguida de D. luteipes (76,48%) e E. peregrina (69,65%). Quando comparadas as médias do número de ovos por postura, as três espécies diferem estatisticamente sendo o maior valor registrado em E. janeirensis (46,33) seguido por E. peregrina (34,16) e D. luteipes (27,60). A duração das fases ninfal e adulta foram analisadas para as quatro espécies. A maior duração de fase ninfal foi registrada em E. janeirensis (51,95 dias) e em E. peregrina (50,70 dias). C. brasiliensis diferiu estatisticamente das duas espécies do gênero Euborellia, apresentando duração de 33,65 dias. A menor duração foi registrada em D. luteipes (24,10 dias), diferindo estatisticamente de todas as espécies. A duração da fase adulta foi maior em D. luteipes (219,65 dias), E. peregrina (212,5 dias) e E. janeirensis (210,30 dias). Apenas C. brasiliensis diferiu estatisticamente (183,50 dias). As espécies do gênero Euborellia se mostraram mais agressivas durante o período de cuidado maternal. Estudos sobre as diferentes espécies de dermápteros encontradas em canaviais são fundamentais para que este grupo de insetos nativos possa ser utilizado em programas de controle biológico, fortalecendo o manejo integrado de pragas em canaviais. / From 2017 on, the burning of sugarcane crops will be prohibited, and the green harvested cane model will be adopted throughout the country. This new trend will certainly change most of the trophic relations occurring in the system. The sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis), a key pest, is responsible for a significant yield loss. Biological control programs based on the parasitoid Cotesia flavipes, adopted in most Brazilian sugarcane crops are subject to interruptions that compromise its success. Thus, to avoid the use of chemical pesticides, new biological alternatives to control the pest must be investigated. Dermaptera is a control agent of the sugarcane borer that occurs naturally. This study aims at characterizing behavioural traits and biological aspects of dermapterans occurring in sugarcane systems. Four species of Dermaptera were identified: Euborellia janeirensis, Euborellia peregrina, Cosmiella brasiliensis and Doru luteipes. Due to the low number of C.brasiliensis females collected, only the duration of their immature and adult stages were incorporated to the statistic analysis. All species presented sexual dimorphism and exhibited maternal care with eggs and nymphs. The maternal care duration was longer for E. peregrina (24.83 days) and E. janeirensis (24.81 days). D. luteipes differed statistically with 14.6 days. E. janeirensis and E. peregrina had similar values for incubation period (12.06 e 11.83 days respectively) but D. luteipes differed statistically with an average duration of 7 days. No statistical difference regarding the hatch percentage was found among the three species, E. janeirensis had the highest rate (77.4%), followed by D. luteipes (76.48%) and E. peregrina (69.65%). The three species differed statistically when comparing the average number of eggs laid, E. janeirensis reached the highest average (46.33). E. peregrina laid an average of 34.16 eggs and D. luteipes 27.60 eggs. E. janeirensis and E. peregrina had similar immature stage durations (51.95 and 50.70 days). C. brasiliensis differed statistically from the former species with 33.65 days. The shortest immature stage was recorded for D. luteipes (24.10 days), differing from all the others. The adult stage had a similar average duration for D. luteipes (219.65 days), E. peregrina (212.5 days) and E. janeirensis (210.3 days). C. brasiliensis differed from all the others with 183.5 days. Species from the Euborellia genus were more aggressive during the maternal care phase when compared to D. luteipes and C. brasiliensis. Studies on the different species of dermapterans occurring naturally in green sugarcane systems, are a clear need to evaluate the possibility of using these insects as alternative predators in biological control programs adopted in brazilian sugarcane yields, reinforcing integrated pest management programs in the country.

No description available.

No description available.