Metagenomic Analysis of 16S Clostridium perfringens Amplicons Corroborates C. perfringens Counts on Select Agar and C. perfringens PCR Analyses of Bacteria in Broiler Farm Litter.

The purpose of this study was twofold-first, to determine whether analysis of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in poultry litter corroborated standard Clostridium perfringens counts and PCR assay, and second, to find whether a correlation between 16S rRNA analysis and netB or Tpel toxin PCR intensity with chick mortality existed. At three time points of growout (0, 2, and 4 wk) litter samples were collected from 23 broiler houses representing eight farms during a coccidiosis vaccine control program. DNA extracted from these samples was used for microbiota determination by sequencing the hypervariable V3-V4 region of bacterial 16s rRNA. Obtained sequences were analyzed by QIIME 2 and the Greengenes database for taxonomic composition and relative abundance of C. perfringens in the litter bacterial population. Clostridium perfringens counts on select agar and semiquantitative PCR for C. perfringens were compared with 16S analysis for equivalence testing. Relative abundance of C. perfringens estimated by 16S analysis and semiquantitative PCR for netB and Tpel toxin DNA were analyzed by Pearson linear correlation and statistical equivalence analyses with cumulative chick mortality at 4 and 9 wk growout. When data from all time points were combined, abundance estimates by C. perfringens 16S were statistically equivalent (α = 0.10) to both C. perfringens PCR and C. perfringens counts. Yet, no correlations were observed between any estimate of C. perfringens abundance and cumulative percent chick mortality at 4 or 9 wk growout. However, correlation analyses revealed a significant linear relationship between netB signal at 0 wk (r = 0.55) and 4 wk (r = 0.46) and cumulative mortality at 9 wk growout (P < 0.05). Similarly, abundance of Tpel at 0 and 2 wk showed a linear relationship with cumulative percent mortality at both 4 and 9 wk growout (0.44 ≤ r ≤ 0.54, P < 0.05). No correlations were observed between any other genera or species determined by 16S and cumulative percent chick mortality.

Chia: Host Status for Meloidogyne incognita and Activity of Plant Extracts.

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seeds are used for food, drinks, oil, and animal feed, and all plant parts are employed in traditional medicine. The growing demand for the seed has created a need for improved disease management. Plant-parasitic nematodes have been found on other Salvia spp., but none have been reported from S. hispanica. Chia has also not been tested for production of compounds active against these nematodes. Therefore, aqueous extracts from shoots and roots of six chia lines, Brad's Organic, Cono, E2, G3, G5, and W13.1, were tested in laboratory assays. Some concentrations of all extracts were nematotoxic, killing about one-third of Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood second-stage juveniles (J2s) in shoot extracts and up to nearly half of J2s in root extracts. Hatch was generally not affected by the extracts. In greenhouse trials, all six chia lines were hosts of M. incognita. Chia line G3 had approximately two times or more eggs per gram of root than Brad's Organic or Cono. When cucumber seedlings were transplanted into soil amended with chopped chia shoots (2.3 or 2.5% weight of fresh shoots/weight of dry soil), galling and egg production on cucumber roots were not suppressed. To our knowledge, this is the first report that chia is a host to M. incognita (or any phytoparasitic nematode) and that chia shoots and roots produce compounds active against a nematode.

Biocidal Activity of Fast Pyrolysis Biochar against Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Soil Varies Based on Production Temperature or Age of Biochar.

ABSTRACT: Soils in which fresh produce is grown can become contaminated with foodborne pathogens and are sometimes then abandoned or removed from production. The application of biochar has been proposed as a method of bioremediating such pathogen-contaminated soils. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate three fast-pyrolysis-generated biochars (FPBC; pyrolyzed in house at 450, 500, and 600°C in a newly designed pyrolysis reactor) and 10 United Kingdom Biochar Research Center (UKBRC) standard slow-pyrolysis biochars to determine their effects on the viability of four surrogate strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in soil. A previously validated biocidal FPBC that was aged for 2 years was also tested with E. coli to determine changes in antibacterial efficacy over time. Although neither the UKBRC slow-pyrolysis biochars or the 450 and 500°C FPBC from the new reactor were antimicrobial, the 600°C biochar was biocidal (P < 0.05); E. coli populations were significantly reduced at 3 and 3.5% biochar concentrations (reductions of 5.34 and 5.84 log CFU/g, respectively) compared with 0.0 to 2.0% biochar concentrations. The aged 500°C FPBC from the older reactor, which was previously validated as antimicrobial, lost efficacy after aging for 2 years. These results indicate that the biocidal activity of FPBC varies based on production temperature and/or age.

Survival of Salmonella during Apple Dehydration as Affected by Apple Cultivar and Antimicrobial Pretreatment.

ABSTRACT: Dehydrated fruits, including dried coconut (Cocos nucifera) and dried apple (Malus sp.) slices, have been the subject of manufacturer recalls due to contamination with Salmonella. A study was conducted to determine the survival of Salmonella on apple slices of six apple cultivars after dehydration and also following treatment with antimicrobial solutions (0.5%, w/w) and dehydration. Samples of six apple cultivars (Envy, Gala, Red Delicious, Fuji, Pink Lady, Granny Smith) were cored and sliced into 0.4-cm rings, halved, inoculated with a five-strain composite of desiccation-resistant Salmonella, and dehydrated at 60°C for 5 h. Subsequently, Gala apple slices were treated in 0.5% solutions of one of eight antimicrobial rinses for 2 min and then dehydrated at 60°C for 5 h. Antimicrobial solutions used were potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, ascorbic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, and sodium bisulfate. Reduction of Salmonella populations varied according to apple cultivar. Salmonella survival on Envy, Gala, Red Delicious, Fuji, Pink Lady, and Granny Smith was 5.92, 5.58, 4.83, 4.68, 4.45, and 3.84 log CFU, respectively. There was significantly greater (P < 0.05) Salmonella inactivation on Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Fuji apples than on Gala and Envy. Survival of Salmonella on Gala apple slices following dehydration was 5.58 log CFU for the untreated control and 4.76, 3.90, 3.29, 3.13, 2.89, 2.83, 2.64, and 0.0 log CFU for those treated with potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, ascorbic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, and sodium bisulfate, respectively. Pretreatment of apple slices with either fumaric acid or sodium bisulfate before dehydration led to lower Salmonella survival than pretreatment with all other antimicrobial treatments. Lower apple pH was statistically correlated (P < 0.05) with decreasing survival of Salmonella following dehydration. These results may provide methodology applicable to the food industry for increasing the inactivation of Salmonella during the dehydration of apple slices.

The Effect of Different Temperatures and Moisture Levels on Survival of Calonectria pseudonaviculata in Boxwood Leaves and Twigs and as Microsclerotia Produced in Culture.

Leaves and twig sections of boxwood infected with Calonectria pseudonaviculata were incubated in sand at two moisture levels (36% [carrying capacity] and 5% water [vol/vol]) and at five temperatures (-10, 0, 10, 20, and 30°C). Percent sporulation from monthly tissue samples plated on glucose yeast-extract tyrosine media declined to zero after 5 months at 30°C and after 7 months at -10°C. At 0, 10, and 20°C, sporulation was observed through 30 months. Statistical analysis of data collected over 16 months of sampling showed a significant effect for temperature in all sample types, with maximum survival at 10°C. For discrete microsclerotia grown on cellophane sheets, sporulation was not observed after 2 months at 30°C or after7 months at -10°C. At all other temperatures, they continued to germinate over the 30 months of sampling. Statistical analysis showed significant effects for temperature and moisture level, with maximum survival at 0°C in moist soil over 16 months. These results suggest that extremes of heat and cold will kill the pathogen in plant debris but, at moderate temperatures, it will remain in soil for long periods, making replanting in affected sites in well-moderated climates difficult.

Dark Period Following UV-C Treatment Enhances Killing of Botrytis cinerea Conidia and Controls Gray Mold of Strawberries.

Strawberries are available throughout the year either from production in the field or from high and low tunnel culture. Diversity of production conditions results in new challenges in controlling diseases before and after harvest. Fungicides have traditionally been used to control these diseases; however, their limitations necessitate a search for new approaches. We found that UV-C irradiation of Botrytis cinerea, a major pathogen of strawberry, can effectively kill this fungus if a dark period follows the treatment. The inclusion of a 4-h dark period resulted in almost complete kill of B. cinerea conidia on agar media at a dose of 12.36 J/m2. The UV-C dose did not cause a reduction in photosynthesis in strawberry leaves or discoloration of sepals, even after exposing plants repeatedly (twice a week) for 7 weeks. Although irradiation of dry conidia of B. cinerea with this dose resulted in some survival, the conidia were not infective and not able to cause decay even when inoculated onto a highly susceptible mature apple fruit. Irradiation of strawberry pollen at 12.36 J/m2 did not affect pollen germination, tube growth and length in vitro, or germination and tube growth in the style of hand-pollinated emasculated strawberry flowers. No negative effect of the UV-C treatment was observed on fruit yield and quality in high tunnel culture. In the fruit and flower petal inoculation tests, the UV-C treatment was highly effective in reducing fruit decay and petal infection. This UV-C treatment with an exposure time of 60 s may be useful in controlling gray mold in tunnel production of strawberries and may also have the potential for use in intensive field and indoor production of other fruits and vegetables providing that a 4-h dark period follows the irradiation.

Synergistic streptococcal phage λSA2 and B30 endolysins kill streptococci in cow milk and in a mouse model of mastitis.

Bovine mastitis results in billion dollar losses annually in the USA alone. Streptococci are among the most relevant causative agents of this disease. Conventional antibiotic therapy is often unsuccessful and contributes to development of antibiotic resistance. Bacteriophage endolysins represent a new class of antimicrobials against these bacteria. In this work, we characterized the endolysins (lysins) of the streptococcal phages λSA2 and B30 and evaluated their potential as anti-mastitis agents. When tested in vitro against live streptococci, both enzymes exhibited near-optimum lytic activities at ionic strengths, pH, and Ca(2+) concentrations consistent with cow milk. When tested in combination in a checkerboard assay, the lysins were found to exhibit strong synergy. The λSA2 lysin displayed high activity in milk against Streptococcus dysgalactiae (reduction of CFU/ml by 3.5 log units at 100 µg/ml), Streptococcus agalactiae (2 log), and Streptococcus uberis (4 log), whereas the B30 lysin was less effective. In a mouse model of bovine mastitis, both enzymes significantly reduced intramammary concentrations of all three streptococcal species (except for B30 vs. S. dysgalactiae), and the effects on mammary gland wet weights and TNFα concentrations were consistent with these findings. Unexpectedly, the synergistic effect determined for the two enzymes in vitro was not observed in the mouse model. Overall, our results illustrate the potential of endolysins for treatment of Streptococcus-induced bovine mastitis.

Chimeric phage lysins act synergistically with lysostaphin to kill mastitis-causing Staphylococcus aureus in murine mammary glands.

Staphylococci cause bovine mastitis, with Staphylococcus aureus being responsible for the majority of the mastitis-based losses to the dairy industry (up to $2 billion/annum). Treatment is primarily with antibiotics, which are often ineffective and potentially contribute to resistance development. Bacteriophage endolysins (peptidoglycan hydrolases) present a promising source of alternative antimicrobials. Here we evaluated two fusion proteins consisting of the streptococcal λSA2 endolysin endopeptidase domain fused to staphylococcal cell wall binding domains from either lysostaphin (λSA2-E-Lyso-SH3b) or the staphylococcal phage K endolysin, LysK (λSA2-E-LysK-SH3b). We demonstrate killing of 16 different S. aureus mastitis isolates, including penicillin-resistant strains, by both constructs. At 100 µg/ml in processed cow milk, λSA2-E-Lyso-SH3b and λSA2-E-LysK-SH3b reduced the S. aureus bacterial load by 3 and 1 log units within 3 h, respectively, compared to a buffer control. In contrast to λSA2-E-Lyso-SH3b, however, λSA2-E-LysK-SH3b permitted regrowth of the pathogen after 1 h. In a mouse model of mastitis, infusion of 25 µg of λSA2-E-Lyso-SH3b or λSA2-E-LysK-SH3b into mammary glands reduced S. aureus CFU by 0.63 or 0.81 log units, compared to >2 log for lysostaphin. Both chimeras were synergistic with lysostaphin against S. aureus in plate lysis checkerboard assays. When tested in combination in mice, λSA2-E-LysK-SH3b and lysostaphin (12.5 µg each/gland) caused a 3.36-log decrease in CFU. Furthermore, most protein treatments reduced gland wet weights and intramammary tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) concentrations, which serve as indicators of inflammation. Overall, our animal model results demonstrate the potential of fusion peptidoglycan hydrolases as antimicrobials for the treatment of S. aureus-induced mastitis.

Fruit quality, antioxidant capacity, and flavonoid content of organically and conventionally grown blueberries.

The effect of cultivation practices on fruit quality and antioxidant capacity in highbush blueberries var. Bluecrop (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) was evaluated from random samples of commercial late harvest fields in New Jersey. Results from this study showed that blueberry fruit grown from organic culture yielded significantly higher sugars (fructose and glucose), malic acid, total phenolics, total anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity (ORAC) than fruit from the conventional culture. In organically cultured fruit, the average values for the ORAC, total anthocyanins, and total phenolic content were 46.14 micromol of Trolox (TE)/g of fresh weight (fwt), 131.2 mg/100 g of fwt, and 319.3 mg/100 g of fwt, respectively. In conventionally cultured fruit, the average values for the ORAC, total anthocyanin, and total phenol content were 30.8 micromol of TE/g of fwt, 82.4 mg/100 g of fwt, and 190.3 mg/100 g of fwt, respectively. The organic culture also produced fruit with higher contents of myricetin 3-arabinoside, quercetin 3-glucoside, delphinidin 3-galactoside, delphinidin 3-glucoside, delphinidin 3-arabinoside, petunidin 3-galactoside, petunidin 3-glucoside, and malvidin 3-arabinoside than conventional culture. There was a significant correlation between the ORAC values and total phenolics and total anthocyanins. These results indicate that even though there were variations in phytonutrient content among individual farms within each cultural system, significant differences between two cultivation practices were evident.

Methyl 2,4,6-decatrienoates attract Stink bugs and tachinid parasitoids.

Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Pentatomidae), called the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), is a newly invasive species in the eastern USA that is rapidly spreading from the original point of establishment in Allentown, PA. In its native range, the BMSB is reportedly attracted to methyl (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoate, the male-produced pheromone of another pentatomid common in eastern Asia, Plautia stali Scott. In North America, Thyanta spp. are the only pentatomids known to produce methyl 2,4,6-decatrienoate [the (E,Z,Z)-isomer] as part of their pheromones. Methyl 2,4,6-decatrienoates were field-tested in Maryland to monitor the spread of the BMSB and to explore the possibility that Thyanta spp. are an alternate host for parasitic tachinid flies that use stink bug pheromones as host-finding kairomones. Here we report the first captures of adult and nymph BMSBs in traps baited with methyl (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoate in central Maryland and present data verifying that the tachinid, Euclytia flava (Townsend), exploits methyl (E,Z,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoate as a kairomone. We also report the unexpected finding that various isomers of methyl 2,4,6-decatrienoate attract Acrosternum hilare (Say), although this bug apparently does not produce methyl decatrienoates. Other stink bugs and tachinids native to North America were also attracted to methyl 2,4,6-decatrienoates. These data indicate there are Heteroptera in North America in addition to Thyanta spp. that probably use methyl 2,4,6-decatrienoates as pheromones. The evidence that some pentatomids exploit the pheromones of other true bugs as kairomones to find food or to congregate as a passive defense against tachinid parasitism is discussed.

Biocontrol of the food-borne pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica serovar Poona on fresh-cut apples with naturally occurring bacterial and yeast antagonists.

Fresh-cut apples contaminated with either Listeria monocytogenes or Salmonella enterica serovar Poona, using strains implicated in outbreaks, were treated with one of 17 antagonists originally selected for their ability to inhibit fungal postharvest decay on fruit. While most of the antagonists increased the growth of the food-borne pathogens, four of them, including Gluconobacter asaii (T1-D1), a Candida sp. (T4-E4), Discosphaerina fagi (ST1-C9), and Metschnikowia pulcherrima (T1-E2), proved effective in preventing the growth or survival of food-borne human pathogens on fresh-cut apple tissue. The contaminated apple tissue plugs were stored for up to 7 days at two different temperatures. The four antagonists survived or grew on the apple tissue at 10 or 25 degrees C. These four antagonists reduced the Listeria monocytogenes populations and except for the Candida sp. (T4-E4), also reduced the S. enterica serovar Poona populations. The reduction was higher at 25 degrees C than at 10 degrees C, and the growth of the antagonists, as well as pathogens, increased at the higher temperature.

Comparison of the ability of the three endogenous GnRHs to stimulate release of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in chickens.

It is well established that GnRH can stimulate the release of LH and FSH in mammals. Two GnRHs have been found in the chicken hypothalamus, cGnRH-I and -II. There is controversy as to whether either peptide can stimulate release of FSH in birds. The present studies compared the ability of cGnRH-I and -II to stimulate the release of FSH and LH in chickens. Lamprey (l) GnRH-III may be a specific-releasing factor for FSH, as it selectively stimulates FSH release in rodents and cattle, and has been detected in the hypothalamus of rodents, sparrows and chickens. Therefore, the ability of lGnRH-III to stimulate LH and FSH release was also examined. In our first experiment, the effects of cGnRH-I and -II were studied using 17-week prepubertal females. Intravenous injection of cGnRH-II at 1 and 10 microg/kg BW significantly increased LH secretion more than did cGnRH-I. Neither peptide significantly increased plasma FSH levels. In our second study, we administered cGnRH-I, -II or lGnRH-III to mature males maintained on a short photoperiod. cGnRH-II was again more potent than cGnRH-I in stimulating LH release, while lGnRH-III produced a modest LH rise. No GnRH peptide provided specific or potent stimulus to FSH secretion, although the high dose of cGnRH-II modestly enhanced FSH levels in the adult male (P < 0.05). Our results are not consistent with the view that lGnRH-III is a specific FSH-releasing hormone across multiple classes of vertebrates. We conclude that the mechanism by which independent release of FSH occurs in chickens remains unresolved.

Optimizing concentration and timing of a phage spray application to reduce Listeria monocytogenes on honeydew melon tissue.

A phage cocktail was applied to honeydew melon pieces 1, 0.5, and 0 h before contamination with Listeria monocytogenes strain LCDC 81-861 and 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 h after contamination. The phage application was most effective when applied 1, 0.5, or 0 h before contamination with L. monocytogenes, reducing pathogen populations by up to 6.8 log units after 7 days of storage. This indicates that under commercial conditions, if contamination occurs at the time of cutting, phage would have to be applied as soon as possible after cutting the produce. However, all phage applications from 1 h before to 4 h after contamination and all phage concentrations ranging from 10(4) to 10(8) PFU/ml reduced bacterial populations on honeydew melon pieces. Higher phage concentrations were more effective in reducing pathogen populations. A phage concentration of approximately 10(8) PFU/ml was necessary to reduce the pathogen populations to nondetectable levels immediately after treatment, and pathogen growth was suppressed by phage concentrations of 10(6) through 10(8) throughout the storage period of 7 days at 10 degrees C. In an attempt to enhance the effectiveness of the phage cocktail on low pH fruit, such as apples, the phage was applied in combination with MnCl2. This combination, however, did not enhance the effectiveness of the phage on apple tissue. The results from this study indicate that the effectiveness of the phage application on honeydew melon pieces can be optimized by using a phage concentration of at least 10(8) PFU/ml applied up to 1 h after processing of the honeydew melons.

Alkylphenol and alkylphenol-ethoxylates in carp, water, and sediment from the Cuyahoga River, Ohio.

The occurrence of alkylphenol and alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) was determined over a 74-mile length of the Cuyahoga River, Ohio. Measurable levels of both the octyl and nonyl forms of these abundantly used nonionic surfactants were observed with the nonylphenol (NP) plus nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) typically accounting for greater than 90% of the total APEs in each sample. For all media (water, fish, and sediment) the total NPE (NP + NPE) concentrations were higher in the more urbanized downstream section of the river. Maximum water and fish values were observed immediately downstream (2.1 miles) from the discharge of the Akron WWTP located 35.31 miles from the river mouth and the sediment maxima occurred at the most downstream site near Cleveland. The ranges in concentration fortotal NPEs and their ethoxylate (EO) makeup were as follows: 32-920 ug/kg wet wt (NP 0 to 2 EO) for carp; 0.13-1.0 ug/L (NP 0 to 3 EO) for water; and 250-1020 ug/kg dry wt (NP 0 to 5 EO) for sediment. When the higher ethoxymers (NP 6 to 17 EO) were added to these sediment totals, the average total estimated NPE concentrations were 1.3-1.8 times higher.

Biocontrol of Listeria monocytogenes on fresh-cut produce by treatment with lytic bacteriophages and a bacteriocin.

The fresh-cut produce industry has been the fastest-growing portion of the food retail market during the past 10 years, providing consumers with convenient and nutritious food. However, fresh-cut fruits and vegetables raise food safety concerns, because exposed tissue may be colonized more easily by pathogenic bacteria than intact produce. This is due to the higher availability of nutrients on cut surfaces and the greater potential for contamination because of the increased amount of handling. We found that applied Listeria monocytogenes populations survived and increased only slightly on fresh-cut Red Delicious apples stored at 10 degrees C but increased significantly on fresh-cut honeydew melons stored at 10 degrees C over 7 days. In addition, we examined the effect of lytic, L. monocytogenes-specific phages via two phage application methods, spraying and pipetting, on L. monocytogenes populations in artificially contaminated fresh-cut melons and apples. The phage mixture reduced L. monocytogenes populations by 2.0 to 4.6 log units over the control on honeydew melons. On apples, the reduction was below 0.4 log units. In combination with nisin (a bacteriocin), the phage mixture reduced L. monocytogenes populations by up to 5.7 log units on honeydew melon slices and by up to 2.3 log units on apple slices compared to the control. Nisin alone reduced L. monocytogenes populations by up to 3.2 log units on honeydew melon slices and by up to 2.0 log units on apple slices compared to the control. The phage titer was stable on melon slices, but declined rapidly on apple slices. The spray application of the phage and phage plus nisin reduced the bacterial numbers at least as much as the pipette application. The effectiveness of the phage treatment also depended on the initial concentration of L. monocytogenes.

Adult diapause morph of the brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) / Diapausa em adultos do percevejo marrom neártico, Euschistus servus (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

The brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), is abundant throughout most of eastern North America and is commonly found feeding on soybean, mullein, beans, tomatoes, peas, cotton, wheat, corn, tobacco and peach. Color change in E. servus from green to reddish-brown was shown to be an indicator of reproductive diapause. Reddish-brown insects lived longer than green individuals, females laid no eggs, and males did not produce pheromone. The high mortality registered for the green colony of E. servus adults was associated with the physiological cost associated with reproduction. The main pheromone component of this species is methyl 2E,4Z-decadienoate, in agreement with previous work. The first generation of this species develops on noncrop hosts and the second generation often migrates to crops where they may then exceed economic damage thresholds. Traps or trap crops baited with pheromone to catch or concentrate females for destruction, or even a pheromone-based disruption of orientation behavior to decrease the mating success, are possible semiochemical techniques to suppress populations of second generation of E. servus.

O percevejo marrom neártico, Euschistus servus (Say), é abundante em toda a Região Leste da América Norte e é encontrado geralmente alimentando-se em culturas de soja, mullein, feijão, tomate, ervilha, algodão, trigo, milho, tabaco e pêssego. A mudança da coloração de verde para marrom demonstrou ser um indicativo de diapausa reprodutiva em E. servus. Os insetos de coloração marrom viveram por mais tempo que os indivíduos de coloração verde, as fêmeas não colocaram nenhum ovo, e os machos não produziram feromônio sexual. A alta taxa de mortalidade registrada para a colônia de indivíduos verdes de adultos de E. servus foi interpretada como custo fisiológico associado à reprodução. O componente principal do feromônio dessa espécie foi confirmado como 2E, 4Z-decadienoato de metila, de acordo com trabalho realizado anteriormente. A primeira geração dessa espécie se desenvolve em plantas silvestres e a segunda geração migra frequentemente para culturas onde podem exceder os níveis de dano econômico. Porém, técnicas semioquímicas podem ser empregadas para suprimir populações da segunda geração de E. servus. Armadilhas ou culturas armadilhas iscadas com feromônio podem capturar ou concentrar as fêmeas da espécie para serem destruídas, ou mesmo a técnica do confundimento, pode ser utilizada para diminuir a possibilidade de acasalamentos.