Epizootics of an entomopathogenic fungus Entomophthora aphidis Hoggman on the pomegranate aphid aphispunicae passerini (Homoptera: Aphididae).

Thrips of late are becoming more resurgent in agro-ecosystems especially in India and South Asian countries. One of the reasons attributed is the development of resistance in them to groups of insecticides of organo phosphates, carbamates, synthetic pyrethroids, etc., which form the core of recommendation for thrips management. The chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, is no exception and is tending to be an unmanageable pest. In S. dorsalis, besides evidence of resistance, elimination of natural enemies like Orius sp. is evident, which also probably explains the thrips resurgence. Scirtothrips dorsalis is highly polyphagous and of late has become serious on grapes. The damage is manifested as scab on fruit rind, affecting internal and export markets. Fortunately, it does not vector any virus on grapes in India. Farmers have been reporting inefficacy of established chemicals like acephate, dimethoate, monocrotophos, etc. As grapes is an important cash crop of horticulture, management through insecticides, require alternate or new insecticides. So two trials in 2005 on cv. Bangalore Blue following April and October prunings were conducted at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore, S. India to evaluate two doses of a newer molecule viz. Clothianidin [Dantop] on S. dorsalis. Clothianidin 0.006%, Clothianidin 0.008% were compared with monocrotophos 0.05%, dimethoate 0.06% and acephate 0.1125%. There was an untreated check. Each treatment was replicated five times; a vine constituted a replicate. These data were subjected to ANOVA, after arc sine transformation. The critical difference (CD) at p < 0.05 was the test criterion. In the first trial it was found that all the insecticides tried were superior to check and were on par at p < 0.05. However, Clothianidin 0.008% gave the best control with a low mean of 0.26% berry damage/bunch as compared to 4.42% in the unsprayed check. The trend was the same in the second trial also with Clothianidin 0.008% giving the best control with 0.64% berry damage/bunch as compared to 8.49% in the unsprayed check. It was on par with acephate and monocrotophos, but significantly superior to Clothianidin 0.006% and dimethoate.

Rhinofacial zygomycosis caused by Conidiobolus coronatus: a case report including in vitro sensitivity to antimycotic agents.

A case of zygomycosis caused by Conidiobolus coronatus, occurring in a 31-year-old priest from the Ivory Coast, is reported. Lesions eventually resolved after 2 1/2 years, during which the patient was variously treated with intravenous amphotericin B and miconazole as well as surgical resection. It is difficult to be certain which, if any, of these treatments contributed to resolution of lesions. A report of in vitro sensitivity data to a variety of antifungal agents is included.

[Influence of lipids and fatty acids of egg yolk over growth and sporulation of Entomophthorales (author's transl)]. / Influence des lipides et acides gras du jaune d'oeuf sur la croissance et la sporulation des Entomophthorales

Proteic and lipidic fractions of the egg yolk were chemically isolated and used in solid synthetic media to study sporulation of 4 species of Entomophthorales. Neutral lipids are as good for growth and sporulation as polar lipids; the proteic fraction is only utilized as a nitrogen source. No specific factor of the sporulation was shown. The effect of fatty acids is studied: caproic, lauric, myristic, palmitic and oleic acids are the best for growth and sporulation. The results are discussed in view of considering the role of the lipids of the egg yolk and aphids on the physiology of Entomophthora.