Wasps of the Polysphincta clade are known to manipulate the behavior of their web-building spider hosts by injecting psychotropic chemicals, but the methods they use to hunt spiders are poorly documented. In 25 attacks observed over several years in the field in the Valle Central of Costa Rica, Polysphincta gutfreundi showed great flexibility. Wasps employed three basic hunting tactics to subdue the host spider Allocyclosa bifurca: strike the spider at its resting site at the hub of its orb web; land in the sticky spiral of the web, struggle, and then attack the spider when it approached; and wait immobile at the hub to await the return of a spider that had fled. The wasps moved and oriented agilely on their hosts' orbs. The only repeatedly effective spider defense was to drop immediately from the web and remain away for many minutes. Parasitism was strongly clumped spatially, suggesting that female wasps may learn where to hunt. Nearly all the details of P. gutfreundi attack behavior have also been observed in other species of the Polysphincta clade. They include the use of multiple attack strategies, surprise attacks from the air on spiders resting on their webs, attacks through the hub, agile movements on the spider's web, inducing the spider to approach by apparent imitation of prey, waiting for long periods in the web poised to strike, and inserting the ovipositor into the anterior end of the spider's cephalothorax. One unique detail of attack behavior in P. gutfreundi was to shuttle rapidly to the other side of the hub to reach the spider. Few of the spider's defensive traits were effective against these wasps. Species in the Polysphincta group are behaviorally flexible, but as a group these wasps utilize relatively uniform tactics to subdue their hosts.

Antilochus coquebertii Fabr is an important predator of the red cotton stainer (Dysdercus koenigii) in agricultural crops. The present study explores the development of A. coquebertii reared on three different artificial diets to enhance the efficiency of development and commercial production of this predator. Three artificial diets were prepared from the essential ingredients necessary for the insect's development and reproduction and tested under controlled conditions. The results showed that of all diet ingredients; both chicken liver and Nestle^® bonyad provided a rich source of vitamin E, and efficiently supported the insect's fecundity and survival. The solid chicken liver (SCL) diet No. 3 showed good adult survival while adult longevity was enhanced with diet No. 2 containing chicken liver paste (CLP). Collectively, both diets, No. 2 (CLP) and No. 3 (SCL) were significantly effective in promoting the predator's development. The development of artificial diet can play an important role in sustaining the whole life cycle of A. coquebertii and allow the commercial production of this predator in the absence of its natural prey for biological control of D. keonigii as well as for research and development.

Advection of two liquid termiticides was determined within two different building foundation aggregate fills, ODOT Base Type-A Gravel and Class A-^#57 Crushed Rock, after over-the-surface applications. Residues within each aggregate were sampled as two composite soil cores taken in two 5.1-cm incremental partitions to a depth of 10.2-cm after 24 hours, and at 6 and 12 months post-application. Half the test plots were compacted and half remained not compacted. Advection was significantly influenced by aggregate type. Residues within compacted compared with not-compacted aggregates were similar for individual termiti-cides. Some termiticide dispersed completely through the aggregates to reach the soil beneath. Advection resulted in decreasing a.i. concentrations as depth increased within ODOT Base Type-A Gravel fill, with the greatest concentration located in the top 5.1-cm partition, likely due to the fine particle component, with almost no termiticide reaching underlying soil. In contrast, termiticides were more evenly distributed within Class A-^#57 Crushed Rock fill, as residue amounts were similar throughout the 10.2-cm depth, with some reaching underlying soil.

The influence of packaging materials on infestation by Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) in wheat flour was investigated under laboratory conditions at 27 ± 2and 75 ± 5% relative humidity. The tested packaging materials included vacuum-sealed plastic bags, aluminum foil bags, non-woven cloth bags, kraft paper bags, and plastic compound bags. When T. castaneum adults were released on packaged wheat flour, the degree of infestation varied depending on the packaging materials. The highest infestation was observed in refined wheat flour packaged with plastic compound bags (mean 46 ± 20 insects). For the flour packaged with non-woven cloth bag and kraft paper bags exposed to adults, insect infestation was nil or negligible (mean population < 3 ± 1 insects). For the flour packaged with aluminum foil bags and vacuum-sealed plastic bags exposed to adults, insect infestation was nil. Damage to the packaging materials along the edges or on the upper surfaces was observed in non-woven cloth bags and plastic compound bags. Aluminum foil bags and vacuum-sealed plastic bags offered the best protection against T. castaneum adults.

This study was designed to use different food additives to improve the efficacy of the Male Annihilation Technique (MAT) against fruit flies. The experiment was carried out at the Jujube Section, Agriculture Research Institute, Tandojam, Pakistan, during the beginning of jujube season (January to April) 2017. Methyl eugenol was tested in the presence of different food essences i.e. lemon (T1), strawberry (T2), almond (T3) and orange (T4), whereas; methyl eugenol (T5) without any essence was used as control. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four blocks. Two fruit fly species; Bacterocera zonata and B. dorsalis were identified from the captured individuals. Our data revealed that the mean number of B. zonata collected was 1914.88, while the mean number of B. dorsalis collected was 148.69. The most efficient trap was T1 (Methyl eugenol + lemon essence), whereas; the lowest number of captures was observed at control traps. Furthermore, the highest numbers of flies from both species were recorded during the month of April, while the lowest number of captures was observed in January. The highest number of B. zonata and B. dorsalis were 334.14±9.39 and 17.25±0.75, respectively. In terms of treatment, the highest number of B. dorsalis was recorded with the lemon flavor (46.68); whereas, the lowest was observed in the control (17.02). There was a positive association between temperature and wind velocity for both B. zonata and B. dorsalis, whereas there was negative association with humidity. On the basis of the above mentioned results it is concluded that different food essences can enhance the capability of methyl eugenol to attract the fruit flies.

The tea mosquito bug (Helopeltis theivora) is a polyphagous pest, which is associated with a wide range of host plants, including dozens of families. Feeding on different plant species exposes the insects to diverse phytochemicals. The heat shock proteins (HSP) that are abundantly expressed in insects are important modulators of insect survival and expressed in response of various stress conditions such as abiotic stress and biotic stress. In this study, we compared the expression of HSPs in H. theivora when reared on in the primary host tea (Camellia sinensis) and its alternative host, Duranta (Duranta repens). While comparing the host-based variation, HSP70 was expressed more in Duranta than on tea-reared H. theivora, whereas there is no significant difference in HSP90 on both hosts. From the present investigation it may be opined that the expression of HSP has a protective role in H. theivora during host switching.

Pest management in ornamentals and landscaped areas relies largely on synthetic pesticides, which usually are non-selective and may negatively impact human health, natural enemies and pollinators. It is important to develop integrated, biorational management plans for ornamentals. Palpita quadristigmalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) was observed in northeastern Mexico in 2017 causing severe defoliation and branch dieback of privet, Ligustrum sp. (extensively grown there as hedge and shade trees). We assessed the effect of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) (toxin crystals and spores) on privet leaves upon mortality and foliage consumption by P. quadristigmalis larvae, as well as the effect of Bt on larval parasite emergence. Larvae of three different instars (4^th, 5^th and 6^th) were exposed to three concentrations of B. thuringiensis (DiPel^®, Bayer) (1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 g/L) in the laboratory. Mortality increased while foliage consumed (as total area and percent) decreased in response to increasing Bt concentrations. At 48h, mortality values of 65.0-97.5% were observed across Bt-exposed larvae; also, there was a maximum of 2.5% foliar area consumed by all Bt-exposed larvae, compared to foliage consumed by unexposed larvae. Overall, 1.7 % of larvae used in these tests (Bt-exposed and control) were parasitized (Braconidae 25%, Ichneumonidae 12.5% and Tachinidae 62.5%). Bt apparently did not have negative effects on insects that naturally parasitize larvae of P. quadristigmalis. Bacillus thuringiensis-based products can have significant potential for the management of P. quadristigmalis larvae.

We conducted a series of experiments to determine how ZIP (Zip7, Zip10 and Zip13) and ZnT (ZnT1, ZnT2 and ZnT7) genes are regulated by over-supply and depletion of zinc in different body tissues. Each tissue showed a specific pattern rather than a unified pattern for zinc changes. The resulting data provide an important clue to solve the following problem: How do ZnT and ZIP genes efficiently maintain zinc homeostasis in response to zinc changes at an individual level rather than a single cell?