Fly Eggs Research Articles

Hemp regulates the fitness of corn earworm (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) and its tachinid (Diptera) parasitoids.

Pest management on hemp is still in its infancy, and biological control options are limited. Helicoverpa zea (corn earworm) is one of the key pests of hemp cultivated outdoors, especially on cultivars grown for cannabinoids and grain. In a three-year study, we assessed the effect of diet on the performance of H. zea and its tachinid parasitoids. Parasitized (bearing fly eggs) and unparasitized (without eggs) H. zea larvae were fed on hemp flowers or an artificial diet. Five tachinid species parasitized H. zea larvae, but the most abundant species were Winthemia rufopicta (68.8%) and Lespesia aletiae (28.3%). Overall, 55.2% of H. zea larvae bearing tachinid eggs died, while the mortality of unparasitized larvae reached 24.7%. The success of tachinids increased by 2-fold when the host larvae were fed on an artificial diet. Our results demonstrated that high protein food (artificial diet), intensity of parasitism, and caterpillar size play a role in the fitness of both the herbivores (H. zea) and its tachinid parasitoids. These findings have important implications for understanding biological control mechanisms and open new insights into the impact of landscape variation on plant-herbivore-parasitoid interactions. This study contains supporting evidence that makes both Winthemia rufopicta and Lespesia aletiae excellent candidates for biological control programs against H. zea, a key pest of hemp in the United States.

Gambaran Kepadatan Dan Identifikasi Lalat (Diptera) Di Pasar Waiheru Perumnas Kecamatan Baguala Kota Ambon

Flies are vectors for disease transmission, especially mechanically and through their vomit and feces. Items, especially food, are usually contaminated by human feces, rubbish, the saliva of sick people, scars from animal carcasses and other things that are covered in flies. Flies can throw feces on food so that the food becomes contaminated with fly eggs and larvae. Disruption of comfort, eyesore, itching of the skin, causing discomfort, decreased appetite. To determine the density and identification of flies in the Waiheru Perumnas market, Baguala District, Ambon City. Type of descriptive research that describes a condition based on observation and examination of the Ambon Environmental Health Engineering Center (BTKL) Laboratory. The aim of descriptive research is to describe the density and identification of flies in the Waiheru Perumnas market, Baguala District, Ambon City. Measuring the density of flies in the Waiheru Perumnas market, Baguala District, Ambon City is based on 3 points, 10 measurements at each point in the morning, at the first point (los fish) amounted to 87 flies, at point II (vegetable stall there were 55 flies and at point III (fruit stall) there were 45 flies. Identification of fly types resulted in 3 types of flies identified, namely Musca Domestica (house fly), Cliphora Sp (green flies) and Sarcophaga (meat flies). The density of flies in the Waiheru Perumnas market, Baguala District, Ambon City, based on the installation of fly grills based on the 10 highest points, was 187 flies and at the 5 highest points was 134 flies with 23 flies caught in the fly trap. From the results obtained, it can be seen that the density of flies is very high so it is necessary to deal with fly breeding sites and fly control measures.

Model-based process optimization of black soldier fly egg production.

Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae (Hermetia illucens) serve as a valuable protein source for animal feed. Limiting factors in the industrial rearing of BSF are the reproduction process and egg output. Studies indicate the potential to shorten preoviposition time and increase egg output through better utilization of environmental variables, such as temperature and light, in industrial settings. Excessive stimulation, however, can lead to stress, elevated production costs, and reduced egg numbers, emphasizing the need for a delicate balance. This study addresses these challenges by investigating controlled manipulation of environmental variables to stimulate mating and enhance egg production, thereby developing a comprehensive model encompassing the adult fly life cycle, mating, and egg production. Model parameters were fitted using literature data, and the model's plausibility was tested through simulations. Using the model and optimal control methods, the calculated dynamic trajectories for environmental variables when compared to the standard approach in a constant environment demonstrated higher output and shorter production cycles at reasonable energy costs. Applications for this model-based optimization are demonstrated for various scenarios, highlighting the practical utility and versatility of the developed model. This study contributes valuable insights for improving rearing practices of BSF through environmental stimulation, offering potential advancements in egg production efficiency and overall sustainability.

Komposisi Nutrisi Maggot Yang Dibudidaya pada Media Berbasis Limbah Telur Infertil dan Ampas Tahu

This research aims to reveal information about the nutritional content of maggots cultivated using hatching egg waste as a feed medium. Carried out in two stages, the first stage involves rearing maggots using hatching egg waste and tofu dregs, while the second stage focuses on analyzing the nutritional content of maggots. The research involved five treatments and four replications, with controls P0 (100% tofu dregs), P1 (75% tofu dregs + 25% egg hatching waste), P2 (50% tofu dregs + 50% egg hatching waste), P3 (tofu dregs 25% + 75% egg hatching waste, and P4 (100% egg hatching waste). Each replication used one gram of BSF fly eggs, with tofu dregs and egg hatching waste being fed as much as 20 kg/biopond during rearing. The variables observed involved dry matter, ash content, crude fat, crude fiber, and crude protein. The results showed that P4 treatment produced maggots with the highest nutritional content, especially in terms of crude protein. In conclusion, the best food media was found in treatment P4, providing the potential to improve the nutritional quality of maggots as an alternative food source.

Olive Escudete (Dalmatian Disease) Caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea as a Result of Fly–Midge–Fungus Interaction

Escudete, which is caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea, is a disease that is widely distributed in the Mediterranean basin, but is of little general importance. Nevertheless, serious attacks have been observed on occasion, which have caused a considerable reduction in the quality of table olives. The incidence of the pathogen has been associated with damage caused by the olive fly (Bactrocera oleae) and the presence of a possible vector agent, i.e., the midge Prolasioptera berlesiana, whose larvae can feed on fly eggs (although the role the midge may play in the spread of this disease is not well known). Therefore, it is necessary to clarify these interactions to adopt appropriate disease control measures. Studies were conducted in olive orchards planted with the Gordal Sevillana, Picudo, and Hojiblanca olive cultivars. Field surveys were carried out in order to sample their fruits for laboratory analysis, and several bioassays were also performed. Moreover, the population of B. oleae adults was monitored using traps that were baited with food attractants. The results indicated that the three agents developed and evolved in parallel under field conditions. Thus, the midges were attracted by the oviposition punctures caused in fruits by olive fruit flies, regardless of whether the punctures contained eggs. All the investigated olive fruits in which midges were present inside punctures created by olive fruit flies exhibited typical symptoms of escudete, which is necessary for the development of this disease. Forty-eight hours after fly punctures were artificially simulated in the olive fruits, 48.0% of them contained a midge, whereas no midges appeared in the artificially created shapeless wounds in the fruits. This indicates that an olive fly egg is not required for the development of midges; however, they do prefer punctures made by B. oleae. Moreover, when the olive fruits were incubated in a humid chamber, the B. dothidea fungus only appeared in those fruits that contained midges, thus indicating a close relationship between these two agents. Additionally, the midges were able to complete their entire development from egg to adult under controlled conditions, and they fed on the pure cultures of the B. dothidea fungus. Furthermore, although no pathogens were present in the immature midges, some of the pathogens could have been isolated from the inner tissues of the adult female midges. The fact that mycangia is present in the abdomen of P. berlesiana supports the hypothesis that their relationship with B. dothidea may be mutualistic and that they may act as a vector for the fungus.

EFFECT OF FEED TYPE ON THE NUMBER AND HATCHABILITY OF EGGS BLACK SOLDIER FLY (HERMETIA ILLUCENS L.)

The increase in the rate of population growth and peoples consumption patterns causes the amount of waste to accumulate, one of which is organic waste. One alternative for reducing landfills is by using the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens L.). H. illucens L plays an important role as a decomposer of organic waste. This research aims to determine the effect of various types of feed on the number and hatchability of H. illucens L eggs. Type of experimental research. The research was conducted at TPA Tlekung Batu in June 2023. The types of treatment were various types of feed including A (leaf waste), B (rice waste), C (pineapple waste), D (withered vegetable waste, carrots and mustard greens). The number of eggs and the hatchability of Black Soldier Fly eggs were measured with six repetitions. The research procedure began with preparing tools and materials, placing 14-day-old pupae in a cage, preparing organic feed and placing egg-laying wood on top of the feeder, and spraying water into the cage, collecting and analyzing data. The sampling technique used simple random sampling with a sample size of 24 pairs per cage. Data analysis used One Way Anova and Duncan. The research results showed that various types of feed influenced the number and hatchability of Black Soldier Fly. The type of feed that has a higher influence is on pineapple waste because the water content is very high and for the type of feed the influence is very low on leaf waste. The conclusion of the research is that the type of feed influences the number and hatchability of Black Soldier Fly eggs. The best type of feed is found in pineapple waste which has quite a significant difference.

INISIASI KELOMPOK MASYARAKAT PENGELOLA SAMPAH ORGANIK DENGAN BUDIDAYA MAGGOT BSF (BLACK SOLDIER FLY) DI PADUKUHAN DUKUH, SINDUHRJO, NGAGLIK, SLEMAN, D.I YOGYAKARTA

Waste is an unresolved government problem. The largest waste collection site (TPS) in Yogyakarta, TPS Piyungan, is starting to get tired of collecting waste from various corners of Yogyakarta. One of the efforts to overcome this problem, the government instructed the Waste Sorting Movement. Based on the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), the composition of waste in Indonesia is dominated by organic waste, which reaches 57% of the total landfill. Organic waste can be processed by cultivating BSF Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens). BSF is a black fly whose maggots (larvae) can degrade organic waste. Maggots (maggots) produced from black fly eggs are very active in eating organic waste. This bioconversion process by maggots can degrade waste more quickly, is odorless, and produces organic compost, and the larvae can be a good source of protein for poultry and fish feed. Maggots have the ability to break down organic waste 2 to 5 times their body weight for 24 hours. One kilogram of maggot can consume 2 to 5 kilograms of organic waste per day. Maggots that have become prepupae and BSF fly carcasses can still be used as animal feed because they are rich in protein. The cocoons can also be used as fertilizer. This process was socialized to Sub Urban groups in the Padukuhan Dukuh, Sidoharjo, Ngaglik, Sleman areas, as a response to the unresolved waste problem. Activities are carried out by: Carrying out outreach related to waste problems and BSF maggot cultivation, Carrying out waste sorting training, Carrying out training on BSF maggot cultivation, Distribution of rubbish bins to residents (partners) as containers to accommodate organic waste, Creation of organic waste storage areas, Construction of BSF Maggot houses , Breeding activities, maintenance and harvesting of BSF maggots, Packaging of BSF Maggot products, Sales of BSF Maggot products

The first biological experiment on lunar surface for Humankind: Device and results

The Bioregenerative Life Support System (BLSS) is an indispensable part of extraterrestrial bases as it can provide sufficient food, fresh air, recycle waste, and create a safe environment for humans. However, it is still uncertain how the natural environment of extraterrestrial bodies would affect the function of an artificial ecosystem like BLSS. The Chinese Chang'e 4 lunar lander carried a micro-ecosystem called Biological Experiment Payload (BEP), developed by Chongqing University, and conducted the first biological experiments for humans on the back of the Moon to assess the effects of low gravity, intense radiation, and light on the lunar surface to living things. The payload weighs 2.608 kg, with 198 mm in height and 173 mm in diameter, offering a total inside space of 0.82L, containing 0.42L of bio-activity space. Cotton seeds, Potato seeds, Arabidopsis seeds, Rape seeds, Fly eggs, Yeast, and 18 ml of water were placed in the BEP, which was kept at a constant atmospheric pressure. Through a light guide tube, sunlight from the lunar surface can enter the payload's interior, allowing plants to photosynthesize. One remarkable feature of BEP was the gap in radiation protection design.On January 3, 2019, BEP arrived on the back of the Moon and conducted an experiment lasting eight days, 22 h, and 45 min (Earth Day) during the first lunar day after landing. After 22 h of watering, the CCD camera captured cotton seed germination, compared to 53 h after watering in the ground synchronization experiment. The cotton seedling on the lunar surface showed a faster germination rate than the simultaneous experiments on the ground. Also, the morphology of the cotton on the Moon was changed, with its stem growing curved, developing a long part close to the substrate and a short upright portion while forming fat-flowing nodes close to the substrate. Finally, the leaves were also curled and did not unfold. The payload was dormant from 12 to 31 January 2019, with its interior remaining dark and temperatures reaching as low as −52 °C. After the lunar night, the leaves of the terrestrial synchronous experiment were completely blackened and in pieces, in contrast to the Seedling on the Moon, which was upright and green. This experiment demonstrated that plants could grow on the lunar surface even in intense radiation, low gravity (1/6 g), and prolonged intense light. It was also the first time that a biological experiment was carried out by humans on the Moon using sunlight from space to power photosynthesis.

Estimating the time of death by examining fly eggs

Forensic entomology is an interdisciplinary field of science closely related to forensic medicine, which studies insects from a forensic perspective. At the scene of homicide crimes, if insect remains are found on the victim, these are great help unravel the circumstances of death. The carrion flies (Diptera: Calliphora) are usually the first to colonise the corpse and one of the most frequently observed group of animal at the scene or in the autopsy room. In this case study, I will show how the examination of the eggs of a forensically important fly species found on one victim of the double homicide helped to establish the time of death and its significance as evidence. The fly eggs found on one of the victim, a man, were examined by conventional light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and micro-computed tomography. These technical tools were crucial in determining the species of insect present and identifying its development stages. The carrion flies - together with other invastigative data - contributed to confirm that the suspect perpetrator was present at the time of the crime. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(38): 1518-1522.

Dietary lithium stimulates female fecundity in Drosophila melanogaster.

The trace element lithium exerts a versatile bioactivity in humans, to some extend overlapping with in vivo findings in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. A potentially essential function of lithium in reproduction has been suggested since the 1980s and multiple studies have since been published postulating a regulatory role of lithium in female gametogenesis. However, the impact of lithium on fruit fly egg production has not been at the center of attention to date. In the present study, we report that dietary lithium (0.1-5.0 mM LiCl) substantially improved life time egg production in D. melanogaster w1118 females, with a maximum increase of plus 45% when supplementing 1.0 mM LiCl. This phenomenon was not observed in the insulin receptor mutant InRE19, indicating a potential involvement of insulin-like signaling in the lithium-mediated fecundity boost. Analysis of the whole-body and ovarian transcriptome revealed that dietary lithium affects the mRNA levels of genes encoding proteins related to processes of follicular maturation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on dietary lithium acting as an in vivo fecundity stimulant in D. melanogaster, further supporting the suggested benefit of the trace element in female reproduction.

ECONOMICAL TREATMENT OF MAGGOT WOUNDS IN CAPTIVE AFRICAN LIONS: A STUDY OF 12 CASES

Maggot wound is a common threat to felines caused by eggs of fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster). The study was conducted to establish an economic treatment of maggot wounds without anesthesia in Panthera leo at Safari Zoo Lahore, Pakistan. In this treatment, Lions having maggot wounds were first isolated in a squeeze cage and treated with antiseptics i.e. hydrogen peroxide and pyodine. The antiseptic that was a combination of hydrogen peroxide and pyodine used against maggots’ grip being pierced in the tissues. Once they lost grip, maggots were removed with sterilized forceps one by one with great care. After cleaning, the wound was left for open healing, only wound oil (herbal maggot killer) was applied. Once satisfied that no maggot is left, Mycitracin was applied, being an effective pain reliever. Pink spray (crude liquid 60ml) is a fly repellent that helps in healing wounds as well. It was concluded Mycitracin and pink spray can be used till animals recovered successfully. No side effects of these medicines were likely observed.

Antibiosis interaction of black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) with house fly (Musca domestica) (Diptera: Muscidae).

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758)) larvae inhibit oviposition of house fly (Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758) by releasing a semiochemical, although in some situations, inhibition is only partial. We hypothesized that there is a certain period in the life cycle of black soldier fly when it can cause antibiosis of the house fly. Choice and non-choice tests were used to separately examine the effectiveness of each developmental stage of black soldier fly (egg, larval (phase I, II, and III), prepupal and pupal stages) and crude extract of larvae on house fly oviposition. Tests using each developmental stage were compared with controls lacking black soldier fly. The effects of black soldier fly on the number of newly hatched house fly larvae were evaluated and there was a significant difference between the test and control in the number of eggs laid by house fly for all phases of the black soldier fly larval stage. Strong inhibition was found in some black soldier fly larval phases. Significant differences in the numbers of house fly eggs oviposited in food containers treated with crude extract were found when compared with a control, confirming that chemicals from black soldier fly larvae resulted in inhibition of oviposition of house fly. The results from experiment also indicated that chemicals from black soldier larvae influenced the number of house fly larvae newly hatched from eggs.

The microbial composition of larval airways from Drosophila melanogaster differ between specimens from laboratory and natural habitats

BackgroundThe fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster lives in natural habitats and has also long been used as a model organism in biological research. In this study, we used a molecular barcoding approach to analyse the airways microbiome of larvae of D. melanogaster, which were obtained from eggs of flies of the laboratory strain w1118 and from immune deficient flies (NF-kB-K), and from wild-caught flies. To assess intergenerational transmission of microbes, all eggs were incubated under the same semi-sterile conditions.ResultsThe airway microbiome of larvae from both lab-strains was dominated by the two families Acetobacteraceae and Lactobacillaceae, while larvae from wild-caught flies were dominated by Lactobacillaceae, Anaplasmataceae and Leuconostocaceae. Barcodes linked to Anaplasmataceae could be further assigned to Wolbachia sp., which is a widespread intracellular pathogen in arthropods. For Leuconostoceae, the most abundant reads were assigned to Weissella sp. Both Wolbachia and Weissella affect the development of the insects. Finally, a relative high abundance of Serratia sp. was found in larvae from immune deficient relish−/− compared to w1118 and wild-caught fly airways.ConclusionsOur results show for the first time that larvae from D. melanogaster harbor an airway microbiome, which is of low complexity and strongly influenced by the environmental conditions and to a lesser extent by the immune status. Furthermore, our data indicate an intergenerational transmission of the microbiome as shaped by the environment.

Feeding Behaviour of the Mite Blattisocius mali on Eggs of the Fruit Flies Drosophila melanogaster and D. hydei

Many predatory mites use insects for dispersal; however, their possible negative effects on insect hosts during transportation and on insect offspring while preying in the hosts’ habitats are still poorly understood. A recent study has revealed that the predatory mite Blattisocius mali can not only spread by means of drosophilid fruit flies but also feed on their bodies during dispersal. The aim of this study was to examine the capability of B. mali to prey upon the eggs of their fruit fly hosts and determine the effect of the egg’s age on the voracity of this predator. Drosophila melanogaster oviposited on agar media for 1 h and D. hydei for 8 or 16 h. During 10-h experiments with fifteen fly eggs per cage, a single female predator totally consumed on average 3.62 ± 0.673 “1-h” D. melanogaster eggs and 3.00 ± 0.612 “8-h” eggs of D. hydei, while it partially consumed 2.75 ± 0.586 and 3.00 ± 0.612 eggs of each fly species. In the experiments involving D. hydei, the predator totally destroyed a similar number of “8-h” and “16-h” eggs, but it partially consumed significantly more younger eggs than older eggs. Ethological observations showed that mites returned to some partially fed eggs, usually from the side where the first puncture was made, and only then did they consume them whole.

Family Tetracampidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) as Parasitoids of the Orders Diptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera as Agricultural Pests

Many species of Tetracampidae are hosts that have been identified are plant-mining insects. The European species of the genus Dipriocampe are endoparasitoids of the eggs of flies or saw wasps. Species of the genus Foersterella from England are endoparasitoids of the eggs of Cassida spp. One species, Dipriocampe diprioni (Ferrière, 1935), has been introduced to Canada from Europe as a biological control of saw wasps but has failed to become established. The aim of this mini review is to consider the importance of the Tetracampidae family (Insecta: Hymenoptera) as parasitoids of the Diptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera orders as agricultural pests. The short commentary research was carried out based on studies related to the quantitative and conceptual aspects of Tetracampidae. A bibliographic search was carried out containing national and international articles from 1973 to 2022. The short commentary used digital platforms.

Provisioning Australian Seed Carrot Agroecosystems with Non-Floral Habitat Provides Oviposition Sites for Crop-Pollinating Diptera

The addition of floral resources is a common intervention to support the adult life stages of key crop pollinators. Fly (Diptera) crop pollinators, however, typically do not require floral resources in their immature life stages and are likely not supported by this management intervention. Here, we deployed portable pools filled with habitat (decaying plant materials, soil, water) in seed carrot agroecosystems with the intention of providing reproduction sites for beneficial syrphid (tribe Eristalini) fly pollinators. Within 12 to 21 days after the pools were deployed, we found that the habitat pools supported the oviposition and larval development of two species of eristaline syrphid flies, Eristalis tenax (Linnaeus, 1758) and Eristalinus punctulatus (Macquart, 1847). Each habitat pool contained an average (±S.E.) of 547 ± 117 eristaline fly eggs and 50 ± 17 eristaline fly larvae. Additionally, we found significantly more eggs were laid on decaying plant stems and carrot roots compared to other locations within the pool habitat (e.g., on decaying carrot umbels, leaves, etc.). These results suggest that deploying habitat pools in agroecosystems can be a successful management intervention that rapidly facilitates fly pollinator reproduction. This method can be used to support future studies to determine if the addition of habitat resources on intensively cultivated farms increases flower visitation and crop pollination success by flies.

Olfactory threshold of dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) to cold-killed spotted lantern fly eggs

The Spotted Lantern fly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive foreign species that is affecting US forestry and agriculture for which dogs have been deployed to detect and eradicate. However, dogs’ olfactory threshold or limits of detection for this target is unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate dogs’ olfactory threshold to SLF eggs. Using an automated air dilution olfactometer and an adaptive staircase procedure, we evaluated dogs’ (N = 10) olfactory threshold in two experiments. Experiment 1 evaluated the highest air dilution at which dogs were able to accurately discriminate between a vial containing cold-killed SLF eggs and a blank vial. In Experiment 2 we added tree bark as background noise to the vials and evaluated the highest air dilution at which dogs were able to discriminate a vial with cold-killed SLF eggs + bark from a vial containing egg free bark only. Overall, dogs were able to accurately discriminate cold-killed SLF eggs from a blank vial at a 0.09 (v/v) air dilution. Adding tree bark as background noise increased dogs’ discrimination threshold to 0.041 (v/v) air dilution. Nonetheless, for most of the dogs, their olfactory threshold in Experiment 2 was ten-fold or higher than in Experiment 1. Our study further confirms that detection dogs are efficient detecting dead SLF eggs and highlights the negative effects background noise can have on olfactory discrimination threshold.

HCN-induced embryo arrest: passion fruit as an ecological trap for fruit flies.

Fruit flies are important economic pests of fruits, vegetables, and nuts all over the world. In this study, a permanent ecological trap, which was created by the ovicidal effect of phytogenic hydrogen cyanide (HCN) liberated from passion fruits due to oviposition by fruit flies and can be used in the pest management, were determined. Observation of fruit fly eggs in Passiflora within the passion fruit cultivation region in southern China, from Aug 2019 to Oct 2020 showed that the exotic Passiflora attracted the native fruit flies to oviposit, but the eggs could not hatch. Using classical staging to categorize embryonic development and fumigation assays, we show that oviposition by fruit fly on passion fruits, release HCN from the cyanogenic mesocarp. Exposure of the eggs to HCN causes arrest of embryonic development and finally the death of eggs. Our results reveal that the life cycle of fruit fly in Passiflora is interrupted at the egg stage. Consequently, we predict that this ecological trap may be permanent. Extensive cultivation of the Passiflora vine as a dead-end trap crop may be an effective avenue to reduce populations of fruit fly pests. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Comparative transcriptomics of the irradiated melon fly (Zeugodacus cucurbitae) reveal key developmental genes.

Irradiation can be used as an insect pest management technique to reduce post-harvest yield losses. It causes major physiological changes, impairing insect development and leading to mortality. This technique is used to control the melon fly Zeugodacus cucurbitae, a major pest of Cucurbitaceae in Asia. Here, we applied irradiation to melon fly eggs, and the larvae emerged from irradiated eggs were used to conduct comparative transcriptomics and thereby identify key genes involved in the development and survival. We found 561 upregulated and 532 downregulated genes in irradiated flies compared to non-irradiated flies. We also observed abnormal small-body phenotypes in irradiated flies. By screening the 532 downregulated genes, we selected eight candidate genes putatively involved in development based in described functions in public databases and in the literature. We first established the expression profile of each candidate gene. Using RNA interference (RNAi), we individually knocked down each gene in third instar larvae and measured the effects on development. The knockdown of ImpE2 ecdysone-inducible gene controlling life stage transitions-led to major body size reductions in both pupae and adults. The knockdown of the tyrosine-protein kinase-like tok (Tpk-tok) caused severe body damage to larvae, characterized by swollen and black body parts. Adults subject to knockdown of the eclosion hormone (Eh_1) failed to shed their old cuticle which remained attached to their bodies. However, no obvious developmental defects were observed following the knockdown of the heat shock protein 67B1-like (Hsp67), the insulin receptor (Insr), the serine/threonine-protein kinase Nek4 (Nek4), the tyrosine-protein kinase transmembrane receptor Ror (Ror_1) and the probable insulin-like peptide 1 (Insp_1). We argue that irradiation can be successfully used not only as a pest management technique but also for the screening of essential developmental genes in insects via comparative transcriptomics. Our results demonstrate that ImpE2 and Eh_1 are essential for the development of melon fly and could therefore be promising candidates for the development of RNAi-based pest control strategies.

Shear strength characteristic of geopolymer fly ash and egg shell powder stabilized clay soil

The clay soil can present various issues as a construction and infrastructure material. Clay soil is susceptible to shrinkage and swelling, limited bearing capacity, poor drainage, and erosion. Several techniques, including soil stabilization, drainage systems, and excavation techniques, may alleviate these issues and control the risks associated with clay soil. There is a growing interest in soil stabilization and developing environmentally friendly alternatives to Portland cement. Alternative utilization of waste with pozzolanic properties as a stabilizing material to replace cement and lime is increasing. In this field, the use of waste materials such as fly ash and eggshell powder is increasing. This study examines the properties of clay soil shear strength treated with a mixture of fly ash and eggshell powder geopolymer. The unconsolidated, undrained triaxial test was performed to determine the shear strength of the treated soil. In addition, the effects of sample variation, such as NaOH molarity, curing duration, and the ratio of eggshell powder to replaced fly ash, were studied. The results demonstrated that 5% eggshell powder might boost the shear strength of treated soil. In addition, increasing the NaOH molarity resulted in higher shear strength values, showing that the geopolymer has a more substantial binding effect. However, extending the curing period impacts the shear strength of stabilized soil. This study established the viability of eggshell powder geopolymer as a stabilizing agent for clay soil. Including 5% eggshell powder in the fly ash geopolymer mixture can enhance the shear strength of the soil.