Control Of Moth Research Articles

Effect of nano-silica extracted from two different plant sources on survival and development of Phthorimaea opercullela (Zeller) larvae

Summary The study examined the effect of nano-silica extracted from two different plant sources on the survival and development of the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea opercullela. The silica powder was derived from two different agricultural byproducts, olive stones and corncobs. Characterization by X-ray diffraction revealed that the extracted powder has an amorphous silica phase. The nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements revealed that both extracted and treated silica have mesoporous structure, with a specific surface area of around 300 m2/g and 270 m2/g for the silica derived from olive stones and corncobs, respectively. The silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) prepared from the silica derived from olive stοnes showed higher larvae mortality, pupae weight, and larval and pupal developmental time, compared to the silica derived from corncombs. The results show that the nano-silica derived from agriculture byproducts can be as effective as the synthetic insecticide (deltamethrin) utilized in control of the potato tuber moth, with lower environmental impact in terms of preventing pesticide residue accumulation. In addition, the efficiency of SiO2 NPs applications depends on the source of the silica nanoparticles and the applied concentration to achieve the optimum results for the pest control.

Expression and functional analysis of an odorant binding protein PopeOBP16 from Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller)

Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) are essential proteins in the peripheral olfactory system, responsible for odorant recognition and transport to olfactory receptors. Phthorimaea operculella (potato tuber moth) is an important oligophagous pest on Solanaceae crops in many countries and regions. PopeOBP16 is one of the OBPs in potato tuber moth. This study examined the expression profiles of PopeOBP16. The results of qPCR indicated that PopeOBP16 was highly expressed in the antennae of adults, especially in males, suggesting that it may be involved in odor recognition in adults. The electroantennogram (EAG) was used to screen candidate compounds with the antennae of P. operculella. The relative affinities of PopeOBP16 to 27 host volatiles and two sex pheromone components with the highest relative EAG responses were examined with competitive fluorescence-based binding assays. PopeOBP16 had the strongest binding affinity with the plant volatiles: nerol, 2-phenylethanol, linalool, 1,8-cineole, benzaldehyde, β-pinene, d-limonene, terpinolene, α-terpinene, and the sex pheromone component trans-4, cis-7, cis-10-tridecatrien-1-ol acetate. The results provide a foundation for further research into the functioning of the olfactory system and the potential development of green chemistry for control of the potato tuber moth.

Codling moth (Cydia Pomonella) control using sex pheromones and environmentally friendly insecticides

The research relevance on Codling moth peculiarities is predefined by it being a main threat to apple culture. The sensitivity of apple cultivars that have been planted so far and continue to be planted to this pest diverges in different cultivars. The research aims to determine the main elements of Cydia Pomonella control using sex pheromones and environmentally friendly insecticides. To achieve the goal, an experiment was conducted in the village of Dvoran in the Korcha region on three apple cultivars: Golden Delicious, Star King, and Granny Smith. On the trees of these varieties, traps with sex pheromones were used and environmentally friendly insecticides were utilised. The study found that using sex pheromone traps to monitor Cydia Pomonella is simple and less expensive for apple growers. The Spinosad medicine is the most effective in terms of protection against the pest, the second being Indoxacarb. Golden Delicious and Granny Smith cultivars had the lowest level of pest infestation, while the Star King cultivar was the most affected by Cydia Pomonella. It has also been established that apple fruits do not contain toxic residues, and the ecosystem remains clean. Additionally, the use of sex pheromones can be part of an integrated pest management approach that combines different control methods to sustainably manage pest populations in gardens. The practical significance of the obtained results is that they provide apple growers with a safe and effective method of controlling Cydia pomonella populations in their orchards. In addition, the scientific basis for the use of sex pheromones as a method of pest control can contribute to the implementation of sustainable control methods in apple production

Arthropods on grapes benefit more from fungicide reduction than from organic farming.

Pesticides are considered main contributors to global arthropod declines and therefore may decrease the provision of ecosystem services such as natural pest control. Organic farming and cultivating pest- and disease-resistant varieties can allow pesticide applications and their impacts on nontarget organisms and the environment to be reduced. We investigated the effects of organic versus conventional management and fungus-resistant versus susceptible wine grape varieties on arthropod biodiversity and pest control of grape berry moths in 32 vineyards in the Palatinate region, Germany. Hazard quotients of applied pesticides were calculated for each vineyard. The cultivation of fungus-resistant varieties led to significantly reduced hazard quotients and in turn enhanced abundances of natural enemies, particularly theridiid and philodromid spiders. Unexpectedly, organic management resulted in higher hazard quotients than conventional management and reduced numbers of natural enemies, particularly earwigs. Pest predation rates showed no significant differences between grape varieties or management types. Widespread benefits of organic management on arthropod biodiversity found in other crops were absent in our viticultural study region. This is likely due to the dominant role of fungal diseases in viticulture, which requires high numbers of fungicide treatments under both conventional and organic viticulture. Thus, fungicide reduction through the cultivation of fungus-resistant grape varieties is one key element to fostering the abundance of arthropods in general and beneficial arthropods in particular. Beyond vineyards, this is potentially relevant in numerous other crop types. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Study on the possibility control of box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) using microbial, organic and low risk insecticides

Study on the possibility control of box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) using microbial, organic and low risk insecticides

Isolation and molecular characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis strains obtained from different habitats in Northwest Ethiopia

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt.) is ubiquitous, a gram-positive and spore-forming bacterium found in natural habitats everywhere in the world. For this study, Bt. has been isolated and characterized using a variety of techniques. Twenty-one strains showed positive results for the four sets of primers including, cry1, cry2, cry3, and cry9 genes. The PCR amplified results cry1 (33.3%) were most abundant among the tested cry-type genes next to cry9 (25%), cry2 (16.6%), and cry3 (12.5%), respectively. Three strains did not amplify. Twenty-four Bt. isolates were tested for the bioassay with a third-instar diamondback moth. The mortality of this insect was not shown after treatment for 24h. However, after 48 and 72h showed 20-61% and 20-79% mortality, respectively. The four Bt. strains tested against diamondback moth larvae showed no insecticidal activity. Therefore, the isolates in this study were promising for bio-insecticidal properties for diamondback moth and plant pest control programs.

Effects of parasitism by the braconid wasp, Bracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), on the host hemolymph and phenoloxidase activation of the rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica larvae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

BackgroundBiological control of insect pests is an economic, eco-friendly and harmless approach to integrated pest management strategies. Bracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) considers a polyphagous ectoparasitoid of various pests of the order Lepidoptera. The parasitized host insects' defense mechanisms are triggered as a result of the parasitic wasps' injury and penetration. Thus, induce the host cellular and humoral immune responses through a blend of secretions injected into the host body. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of B. hebetor on the immune response of the parasitized full grown larval instar of the rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) under natural envenomation.ResultsOn cellular level, the ultrastructure examination of the hemocytes displayed a considerable structural deformation in hemocyte morphology of the detected types of the hemocytes. Moreover, the effects of parasitism on both differential hemocyte counts (DHCs) and total hemocyte counts (THCs) were investigated. The number of prohemocytes (PR) (40.33 ± 5.61, 43 ± 8.33 and 26 ± 2.31) was statistically differed after (24, 48 and 72 h) of parasitism, respectively, compared to unparasitized (31.33 ± 6.49) larvae. Similar observations were recorded in plasmatocytes (PL) before and after the parasitism. However, Spherulocytes (SP) and Oenocytoids (OE) were recorded in the hemolymph with little abundance. On the other side, the quantitative analysis of total hemolymph proteins (THP) provoked a significant effect of considering parasitized and non-parasitized larvae. As the Phenoloxidase (PO) cascade plays a critical role in immune defenses, so the substantial activation of PO in the host's hemolymph following successive hours of parasitism compared to unparasitized larvae using L-DOPA as a substrate indicated the induction of larval immune system. The parasitized larvae showed a gradual increase in the PO activity (0.442 ± 0.103) after 24 h reached up to (1.482 ± 0.272) at the end of parasitism (72 h) in comparable to unparasitized larvae (0.177 ± 0.0.044).ConclusionThe present investigations clarified the efficacy of B. hebetor parasitism on the host immune mechanism, which will enable the progress of sustainable stored product protection approaches for the control of an important pest rice moth C. cephalonica.

Prospects of Codling Moth Management on Apples with Botanical Antifeedants and Repellents

The codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Tortricidae), is a major pest of apples, potentially causing annual losses exceeding USD62 billion globally. Growers have limited options for combatting the codling moth. Sprays with azinphos-methyl have been banned in the European Union, Turkey, and the USA. To be effective, Bacillus thuringiensis or Carpocapsa pomonella must be ingested in large quantities, and the fruit is damaged before the larvae die. Mating disruption or an attract-and-kill strategy does not resolve problems caused by the migration of moths from adjacent areas or insecticide resistance. Discouraging neonates from burrowing into the fruit with feeding deterrents or repellents of plant origin may become a new strategy. This paper presents a list of twenty-three plants and six secondary metabolites preventing apple infestation by codling moth neonates. Some of these plant extracts or oils (Alium sativum, Tanacetum vulgare, Atremisia arborescens, Ginkgo biloba) showed deterrence exceeding 95% in comparison to controls. The prospects of codling moth control with botanicals are discussed, and further studies on these substances are suggested. In conclusion, the author states that twenty-nine plant-originated materials have great potential in organic apple protection. Future studies should concentrate on formulating these botanicals and identifying their molecular targets.

Control of diamondback moth in cabbage, spring 2022

Control of diamondback moth in cabbage, spring 2022

Control of grape berry moth in concord grape, 2022

Control of grape berry moth in concord grape, 2022

Control of Diamondback Moth on Cabbage With Labeled and Experimental Foliar-Applied Insecticides 2022

Control of Diamondback Moth on Cabbage With Labeled and Experimental Foliar-Applied Insecticides 2022

Control of diamondback moth in cabbage, Spring 2021

Control of diamondback moth in cabbage, Spring 2021

Evaluation of Different Insecticides Against Lesser Date Moth, Batrachedra amydraula Meyrick, 1916 (Lepidoptera: Batrachedridae) under Field Conditions

Evaluation of Different Insecticides Against Lesser Date Moth, Batrachedra amydraula Meyrick, 1916 (Lepidoptera: Batrachedridae) under Field Conditions

Diamondback moth control with Plinazolin in green cabbage, spring 2023

Diamondback moth control with Plinazolin in green cabbage, spring 2023

Development of moths in tomato crop and methods of moth control

Heliothis armigera (cotton moth or cocoon worm) is considered one of the worst pests of tomatoes in Uzbekistan, in addition to cotton. All stages of the pest can develop in this crop. The pest lays its eggs individually on the body, flowers and blooms of the plant. Worms hatched from the eggs gnaw the plant body, flowers and fruits. Each worm can damage 10-12 tomatoes per plant. Damaged crops wither, and large ones rot. In some cases (mostly in the Yusupov variety), infected large fruits do not rot, but may form a scar, but the quality and appearance of the product will be lost. Not all varieties are equally affected by the cocoon worm: the Yusupov variety is the strongest, and the Volgograd 5/95 and Talalikhin varieties are less affected. But there is no type of tomato that is not damaged at all, and in some years the yield can decrease up to 50%. In this article, the species composition, distribution area, bioecology, development and damage caused by moths in the tomato plant are studied, and the level of harmfulness is studied. In this case, the length and weight of moths at different ages of moths were determined in laboratory conditions. When the first young worms of the moth were placed in the tomato plant, compared to the control option, it was found that the tomato yield decreased by 73.3% and the total yield decreased by 2.15 kg. During the fruiting period, the option affected by cocoon worm showed a 53.3% decrease in fruits compared to the control, and a loss of 1,400 kg of productivity per plant was observed as a result of the experiments.

POTENTIAL USE OF SOME PLANT EXTRACTS AND ESSENTIAL OILS TO CONTROL GREATER WAX MOTH, Galleria mellonella LINNAEUS AND ITS SELECTIVITY IN RELATION TO HONEY BEES

The use of synthetic insecticides is one of the most widely used strategies to control wax moth infestations. However, toxicity to bees and contamination of their products have been considered to be consequences of insecticide residues, increasing the risk of hazards to human health and environment. Here, we evaluated the application of plant extracts and essential oil would be selective against the honey bees Apis cerana indica L. without compromising the control of the wax moths Galleria mellonella. In that, peppermint oil (1.25%) and Azadirachta indica (3%) caused 53.33% and 40.00% mortality. Whereas, eucalyptus oil (1.25%), Ocimum tenuiflorum (3%) extract caused 33% wax moth mortality. But in contact toxicity, peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil (5%) caused highest larval mortality 80% and 72.38%, O. tenuiflorum at 10% concentration recorded 56.19% mortality. In repellence bioassay, peppermint oil (1.25%) and A. indica (3%) caused 100% repellence. Whereas, at 10% concentration only O. tenuiflorum caused 100% repellence. Furthermore, O. tenuiflorum (10%), A. indica (10%), peppermint oil (2.5%) and eucalyptus oils (2.5%) did not kill honeybee but did exhibit insecticidal and repellent activities against the larvae and adults of wax moth. By exhibiting desirable levels of selectivity against A. cerana indica and providing relevant control levels against wax moths, the application of O. tenuiflorum leaf extracts and pepper mint essential oil represents a desirable tool to replace the use of synthetic insecticides against wax moths in weak honey bee colonies as well as in stored honey bee combs.

Ovicidal and larvicidal effects of two essential oils (Citrus sinensis and Ocimum basilicum) on the development cycle of wax moth Galleria mellonella in tropical hives

The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, is one of the ubiquitous pests of honey bee colonies worldwide. The economic importance of moths has led to a number of studies on the life cycle, biology, behavior, ecology, molecular biology, physiology, and control of the wax moth. Our study aims to verify the effectiveness of two essential oils against the greater moth Galleria mellonella L. The essential oils of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and basil (Ocimum basilicum) tested on the greater wax moth, have presented various degrees of activity against G. mellonella eggs and larvae. The highest aborted egg rate and the highest mortality were recorded with the mixture of sweet orange oil (Citrus sinensis) and basil (Ocimum basilicum ) (respectively 91.27% and 65.33%) while the lowest aborted egg rates and mortality were recorded with basil oil ( Ocimum basilicum ) (respectively 75.77% and 15.67%). These treatments appear to be safe for pollinators, humans, and the environment, and the essential oils applied are readily available and inexpensive.

Orientation response of Cotesia plutellae Kurdjumov (Hymenoptera : Braconidae) towards nineteen straight-chain hydrocarbons ​​

The Cotesia plutellae (Kurdjumov) (Hymenoptera : Braconidae) is a larval endoparasitoid of the major crucifer pest, diamondback moth Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera : Plutellidae). The oriental responses of C. plutellae towards 19 straight-chain hydrocarbons were scrutinized by Y tube choice bioassays. Stimulation for parasitoid elicited on application with 10 and 100 mg/l concentrations varied for each hydrocarbon. The study was conducted during the cole crop cultivation season in the winters of 2021-22 (January 2021-March 2022 at 28°32'7.8612'' N, 77°23'27.7044'' E). Out of all selected 19 hydrocarbons, Icosane emerged to be the best attractant with the highest percentage effectiveness of 1200%. The least attractancy was exhibited by Docosane. The possible behavioural manipulation of this specialist parasitoid using the desired concentration of hydrocarbon may be formulated and browbeaten for effective biological control of the diamondback moth.

Prays oleae (Bernard), its potential predators and biocontrol depend on the structure of the surrounding landscape

Arthropod populations from agricultural fields sometimes depend on the surrounding landscape structure, both composition and configuration, which affects multiple life-history traits of arthropods such as resources for survival, dispersion or death risk (e.g., predation or parasitism). Moreover, the effect of the landscape may vary with the distance to the crop, depending on factors such as the organism requirements and dispersion capabilities. This work addresses the effect of landscape (at five different scales from 250 to 1500 m) on the olive moth (Prays oleae Bernard, a key pest in olive orchards), some of its most relevant natural enemies, and biological control. The two-years study in 15 olive groves in southeastern Madrid, Spain shows that landscape complexity favours control of the olive moth, P. oleae. Simple landscapes favour P. oleae attack to the crop (measured as oviposition of the anthophagous generation) and that egg predation of the carpophagous generation is in some cases enhanced in complex landscapes. Lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) are responsible for egg predation and populations increase in complex landscapes. On the other hand, the role of pirate bugs (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) as a biological control agent of this part of the life cycle of P. oleae was not demonstrated. They respond primarily to Euphyllura olivina (Costa) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) populations and are more abundant in simple landscapes. Most of the significant relationships of pest attack were detected at 750–1000 m radii buffers around the sampled olive groves suggesting that this is the main activity range for adults of P. oleae anthophagous generation. In sum, our results suggest complex configurations of the landscape enhance the biological control of P. oleae through favouring lacewings and egg predation of the carpophagous generation.

Antifeeding and Oviposition Deterrent Effect of Ludwigia spp. (Onagraceae) against Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae).

Plants produce a wide variety of bioactive compounds with insecticidal properties, such as secondary metabolites capable of interfering with the nutrition and reproduction of pest species such as Plutella xylostella. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Ludwigia spp. (Onagraceae) on the feeding and oviposition of P. xylostella. Choice bioassays were performed using aqueous and ethanolic extracts. The aqueous extract of L. tomentosa resulted in an approximately 81% reduction in larval feeding compared to that in the control, with an antifeedant index (AI) of 52%. The aqueous and ethanolic extract of L. nervosa acted by stimulating larval feeding. The oviposition was significantly reduced in the kale leaves treated with aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Ludwigia spp. The aqueous extracts promoted an average 90% reduction in oviposition when compared to that in the control, and an oviposition deterrent index (ODI) above 61% was classified as an oviposition deterrent. In addition, ethanolic extracts affected 81% of oviposition, with an ODI above 41%. Bioassays should be performed to clarify the use of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of L. nervosa as they acted as phagostimulants in the feeding tests and as deterrents in the oviposition tests. The phenolic compounds—flavonoids, condensed tannins, and alkaloids—were more abundant in L. nervosa, L. tomentosa, L. sericea, and L. longifolia. The extracts of L. longifolia and L. tomentosa showed the best results, interfering with the host choice for feeding and oviposition in P. xylostella and representing an alternative for the control of diamondback moths.