Gymnandrosoma aurantianum (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): Calling Rhythm and Effect of Age on Female Sex Pheromone Titer and Male Antennal Responses.

The macadamia nut borer, Gymnandrosoma aurantianum Lima (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is the main pest of Macadamia integrifolia Maiden & Betche (Proteales: Proteaceae) in Central America. Despite its importance, there is little information on its reproductive behavior. We studied the calling behavior and effect of age on female sex pheromone production and male antennal response to the pheromone. Calling behavior of G. aurantianum females occurred at the onset of scotophase, between 17:00 and 20:00 h. The mean time spent calling was 64 min. It was observed that 30% of the 50 females exhibited a calling posture characterized by extrusion of the pheromone gland from the tip of the abdomen and they spread their wings slightly. Female age had no influence on the sex pheromone production, while male antennal response increased with age and pheromone dosage. The information obtained in this work contributes to understanding the sexual behavior of G. aurantianum and thus to the creation of strategies to control this important pest in macadamia.

A Review of the Impact of Climate Change on the Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Nematode Infections in Small Ruminants and Wildlife in Tropical Conditions.

Climate change is causing detrimental changes in living organisms, including pathogens. This review aimed to determine how climate change has impacted livestock system management, and consequently, what factors influenced the gastrointestinal nematodes epidemiology in small ruminants under tropical conditions. The latter is orientated to find out the possible solutions responding to climate change adverse effects. Climate factors that affect the patterns of transmission of gastrointestinal parasites of domesticated ruminants are reviewed. Climate change has modified the behavior of several animal species, including parasites. For this reason, new control methods are required for controlling parasitic infections in livestock animals. After a pertinent literature analysis, conclusions and perspectives of control are given.

First record of the cacao plume moth Michaelophorus nubilus (Felder & Rogenhofer) (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) in Mexico

Abstract We report field infestation under natural conditions by the cacao plum moth, Michaelophorus nubilus (Felder & Rogenhofer) on leaves of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.; Malvaceae) for the first time in Southern Chiapas, Mexico. The larvae of M. nubilus damages new "flushing" or light green leaves from buds, from either the main or lateral branches of cacao plants.

Replacement names for two homonyms of Liothrips brevitubus Karny: one from California, the other for a species damaging Jatropha crops in Mexico.

There are nearly 280 species of Liothrips listed from around the world (ThripsWiki 2016), all of them presumably feeding and breeding on the leaves of higher plants, and sometimes inducing or being associated with galls (Mound 1994). Despite this, for most of these species the identity of the plant species on which they are dependent is rarely known, and a particularly high proportion of the species are based on few specimens or even single individuals (cf Table 1). As a result, the identity of many of these named species continues to be in doubt. Modern identification keys are available only to the 23 Liothrips species known from Japan (Okajima 2006), the four European species known from Iran (Minaei & Mound 2014), and 14 species from Illinois (Stannard 1968). In contrast, the keys to 16 species of Liothrips from Brazil (Moulton 1933), to more than 80 species from Indonesia (Priesner 1968), and to 50 species from India (Ananthakrishnan & Sen 1980), are of little more than archival interest, in that they are based on few specimens with little allowance for intraspecific variation. Mound & Marullo (1996) listed over 80 Liothrips species from the Americas, although some of these are now placed in Pseudophilothrips (see Mound et al. 2010). That list included two homonyms of the Indonesian species Liothrips brevitubus Karny, one from Mexico and one from California. The homonym from Mexico is here recognised as applying to a species that in 2015 caused severe damage to a crop of Jatropha curcas in Chiapas. The objectives here are to provide a valid name for this pest, to facilitate its recognition among the 13 species of Liothrips recorded from Mexico (Table I), and also to replace the homonym from California.

Juvenile hormone analog enhances calling behavior, mating success, and quantity of volatiles released by Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera: Tephritidae).

The application of a juvenile hormone analog, methoprene, to newly emerged adult males reduced the time required for sexual maturation and enhanced mating success in several species of tephritid fruit flies. In this work, we investigated the effect of topical methoprene application on West Indian fruit fly, Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart), male calling, mating, and volatile release. Males treated with topical methoprene exhibited sexual maturation and reproductive behavior 2 d earlier when compared with control males treated with acetone. Methoprene-treated males began calling and mating at 4 d old, whereas control males did not call and mate until 6 d old. The gas chromotography-mass spectrometry analysis of volatiles showed that during calling A. obliqua males consistently released four compounds; three of them were identified as (Z)-3-nonenol, (Z,E)-α-farnesene, (E,E)-α-farnesene, and a fourth compound with the appearance of a farnesene isomer. Both treated and control males released the same compounds, although treated males started to release volatiles before that control males. The results are discussed in view of possible methoprene application with the aim of reducing costs in fly emergence and release facilities before eventual release of A. obliqua in the field, thus improving the sterile insect technique.

Comportamiento de oviposición de Phymastichus coffea LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) sobre su huésped natural / Oviposition behavior of Phymastichus coffea LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) on its natural host

Phymastichus coffea LaSalle is an African endoparasitoid of adults of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) that was introduced into Mexico for biological control purposes. The objective of this study was to investigate the oviposition behavior of P. coffea on its host under laboratory conditions. The results indicate that P. coffea females exhibited 12 behavioral acts during and after oviposition, such as, walking, cleaning, flying, surface landing, resting, host landing, host antennation, touching the host with forelegs, host recognition, walking on the host, oviposition and cleaning after oviposition. The sequence of each behavior is described in an ethogram.

[Oviposition behavior of Phymastichus coffea LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) on its natural host]. / Comportamiento de oviposición de Phymastichus coffea LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) sobre su huésped natural.

Phymastichus coffea LaSalle is an African endoparasitoid of adults of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) that was introduced into Mexico for biological control purposes. The objective of this study was to investigate the oviposition behavior of P. coffea on its host under laboratory conditions. The results indicate that P. coffea females exhibited 12 behavioral acts during and after oviposition, such as, walking, cleaning, flying, surface landing, resting, host landing, host antennation, touching the host with forelegs, host recognition, walking on the host, oviposition and cleaning after oviposition. The sequence of each behavior is described in an ethogram.

Response of Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera: Tephritidae) to visual and chemical cues under seminatural conditions.

The West Indian fruit fly, Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart), is considered one of the most important pests of several fruit crops in Latin America. Studies on the sensorial ecology of A. obliqua may contribute to the improvement of a trapping system for monitoring this fruit fly species. In this study, we investigated the responses of both sexes of A. obliqua to different visual cues and to the combination of visual and chemical cues in field cages tests. Both sexes were more attracted to lime-green, orange, and yellow spheres than to red, black, or white spheres. Flies were more attracted to three-dimensional models than to flat models. A. obliqua was more attracted to 8-, 10-, and 12-cm-diameter spheres than to 4- and 6-cm-diameter spheres. Flies were more attracted to lime-green spheres baited with mombin fruit odor, Spondias mombin L., than to spheres offering either visual or cues alone.

Color preference of Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera, Tephritidae) / Preferência de cor por Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (Diptera, Tephritidae)

The color preference of A. obliqua was evaluated in two-choice tests. The results showed that both sexes were attracted to wavelengths ranging from 340 nm to 670 nm, although the broad major peak of attraction occurred between 380 and 570 nm.

A preferência de cor por A. obliqua foi avaliada em testes de dupla escolha. Os resultados mostraram que ambos os sexos foram atraídos aos comprimentos de onda que variam de 340 nm a de 670 nm, embora o principal pico da atração de A. obliqua tenha ocorrido entre 380 e 570 nm.

Factors influencing the release of volatiles in Anastrepha obliqua males (Diptera: Tephritidae).

During sexual signaling, males of Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) form leks and attract females by producing sounds and releasing volatile compounds. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence time of time of day, age, irradiation, mating status, and the presence of host fruit on the release of volatile components by laboratory-reared A. obliqua males. A. obliqua males released four compounds identified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as (E,E)-alpha-farnesene, (Z,E)-alpha-farnesene, (Z)-3-nonenol, and a farnesene isomer during calling behavior. Although males released volatiles during the entire day, the amount of volatiles was higher in the early morning and afternoon hours. Males began to emit volatiles when they were 6 d old, but only the amount of (Z)-3-nonenol was affected by age. Irradiation of flies with gamma rays from a 60Co source at a dose rate of 80 [corrected] Gy significantly reduced the amount of volatiles released during calling behavior. The amount of volatiles was lower in recently mated males than virgin males. However, there were no significant differences between virgin males and males 24 h after mating. The presence of host fruit did not affect the amount of volatiles compared with the control.