The study estimated the efficacy of a net coated with alpha-cypermethrin used to protect Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) H. Karst] wood against bark beetle infestations. The inside of the net was coated with 100 mg/m2 of alpha-cypermethrin. The studies carried out in 2010 and 2011 took place in southern Poland in the Beskid Żywiecki and Beskid Sądecki mountains in P. abies stands threatened by Ips typographus (Linnaeus, 1758). The research material consisted of wood logs taken off of 70–80-year-old P. abies trees. The logs were wrapped in the net in the early spring before spring swarming of bark beetles. The unwrapped logs were considered as the study controls. An evaluation of the treatments was performed after 2 months. The evaluation was based on the counting of bark beetles galleries found after removing the bark from the wrapped and unwrapped logs. There were no insect galleries on the wrapped logs. The net was a barrier, on which bark beetles died. About 10 dead I. typographus beetles were found on 0.01 m2 of the net surface. On the bark from the unwrapped-control logs there were 3,156 galleries/entrance holes of bark beetles, in total, of which 73% belonged to I. typographus, 13% to Pityogenes chalcographus (Linnaeus, 1761), and almost 10% to Xyloterus lineatus (Oliv.). These results indicated the high efficacy of the net coated with alpha-cypermethrin used for the protection of Norway spruce wood against the bark beetles. At the same time, the net was found to have a negative effect on non-target entomofauna, mainly Hylobius spp., Thanasimus formicarius (L.), and Tetropium castaneum (F.). However, the use of a net did not affect other predatory (Carabidae) and parasitic (Ichneumonidae and Tachinidae) entomofauna.
Sensitivity of imagines and larvae of the lesser mealworm to selected species and strains of entomopathogenic nematodes was studied in a pine sawdust litter on which chicken were kept from one to six weeks according to their production cycle (Niemiec 1998). The following nematode species and strains were used: S. feltiae from bioinsecticides Ovinema and Nemaplus, S. affinis, S. carpocapsae and H. bacteriophora strain Brecon. S. feltiae from biopreparation Ovinema appeared most invasive to the larvae and imagines of A. diaperinus.
An inventory studies on Microlepidoptera were performed in 2008 on meadows neighbouring the then planned War-saw-Modlin Airport. The studies revealed the occurrence of 165 species representing 26 families in the area including 37 species first noted in Masovian Province. Species that deserve special attention due to a low number of sites in Poland include: Depressaria pimpinellae (Zeller, 1839), Scythris seliniella (Zeller, 1839), Schiffermuelleria schaefferella (Linnaeus, 1758), Pseudatemelia flavifrontella (Denis et Schiffermüller, 1775), Nothris verbascella (Denis et Schiffermüller, 1775), Ptocheuusa inopella (Zeller, 1839), Epinotia rubiginosana (Herrich-Schäffer, 1851), Lobesia artemisiana (Zeller, 1847), Phtheochroa pulvillana (Herrich-Schäffer, 1851), Anania verbascalis (Denis et Schiffermüller, 1775), Epascestria pustulalis (Hübner, 1823).
Noctuinae are a challenge for effective control in vegetable crops. The species most dangerous for agricultural crops in central Europe are: Agrotis segetum, A. exclamationis, Xestia c-nigrum. The aim of presented study was to assess the sensitivity of A. exclamationis to 8 native strains of entomopathogenic nematode srepresenting two species: Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) and Heterorhabditis megidis (Poinar, Jackson & Klein) in laboratory conditions. Presented study showed markedly higher effectiveness of strains Steinernematidae over the strain of H. megidis. Obtained results show that in the attempts to control A. exclamationis, selection of strain and nematode dose are equally important.
Antibacterial properties of metal nanoparticles are well documented and known, but its potential use in agriculture as an anti pest agents – not. Possible negative or positive reactions with popular integrated pest management (IPM) methods need to be checked and verifi ed. The effect of copper nanoparticles on the mortality of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) Steinernema feltiae from Owinema biopreparation was tested. This biopreparation is being used against serious agricultural pests. It was found that mortality of nematodes depends on nano- -Cu concentrations and on the length of contact of Steinernema larvae with nano-Cu solution. In this study the effect of different concentrations of nanoparticles on pathogenic properties of entomopathogenic nematodes – mortality of pest beetle Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer, 1797) infected by EPNs and extensiveness of infection, was also studied. It showed that the high concentrations of Cu may decrease abilities of EPNs to enter, grow and proliferate inside the host body.
The aim of the study was determination of number and species composition of entomopathogenic fungi for two river catchments: Zwolenka and Zagozdzonka. Both are left side tributaries of the Vistula River and have different geological structure. The area is dominated by mosaic of extensive agriculture and forests. Three species of entomopathogenic fungi were found: Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Isaria fumoso-rosea. The dominant species in both catchment basins was I. fumosorosea. Infections caused by other factors were also noted (48% by entomopathogenic nematodes of the family Steinernematidae, remaining 19% by mites, saprophytic fungi, non-fruiting mycelia and other unidentified factors).
The study was aimed at testing the density effect in the tropical house cricket breeding on its survival and growth rate when fed ad libitum. The tropical house crickets were kept in nine containers of a volume of 81 litres each. Three experimental variants were used: 7.5 ml of crickets were placed in the first container, 15 ml in the second and 30 ml in the third. Temperature in containers was 29°C, the experiment lasted 25 days. Obtained results showed that survival did not depend on the initial density in culture containers while crickets kept at a high density had smaller body length. The results may affect the optimization of house cricket breeding.
We examined the efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), which were in contact with nanoparticles, in the control of A. diaperinus. Treatments were performed in laboratory conditions and consisted of one of the four species and strains of EPNs Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, which earlier were exposed to Ag, Au or Cu nanoparticles. All three development stages of the beetle were exposed to different EPNs. The mortality, the extensity, the intensity of infection of beetles were studied for 7 days. Most of nematodes, that survived contact with nanoparticles, developed in A. diaperinus larvae, pupae and adults. Significant differences were found in the sensitivity and susceptibility to penetration by parasites to various growth stages of the host. The most studied nematodes and nanoparticles caused a high mortality and the extensity of infection in host larvae, from 12 to 100% and from 8 to 83% respectively. A negative effect of gold nanoparticles on the mortality was observed in adult insects infected by S. feltiae (Owinema). Despite this, in many cases, the addition of nanoparticles may increase efficiency of EPNs, used in the integrated pest control.
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different initial doses of the infective juveniles (IJs) (50 IJs, 200 IJs, 1000 IJs) of Heterorhabditis megidis Poinar (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) strain IsM15/09 on recovery, final yields and percent final yields in larvae Galleria mellonella ( L.). Percent recovery was not directly related to initial dose. Final yields also did not change with the initial dose. However, percent yields was highly negatively correlated with initial dose of nematodes and was the highest with the 50 IJs dose. Additional point of the study was to investigate whether the nematodes are able to produce progeny from one hermaphroditic individual. The results showed that the invasive larvae resumed growth and transformed into hermaphroditic individuals that reproduced without cross-fertilisation.