Oviposition Medium Research Articles

Artificial Oviposition Substrate for Rearing Orius insidiosus (Hemiptera, Anthocoridae)

Abstract Artificial rearing and releases of Orius insidiosus (Say) and other Orius spp. have been proposed for the biological control of Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande and other pests. Although green bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is used as an ovipositional medium by commercial insectaries in the mass rearing of Orius spp., it is not an optimum substrate because it may be unavailable during the winter and it may become contaminated with pathogens or pesticide residues. An artificial ovipositional medium for O. insidiosus made from carrageenan salt of potassium chloride and covered with paraffin wax is proposed. Field-collected O. insidiosus fed on F. occidentalis larvae were studied in a climatic chamber at 25°C for daily oviposition rate, and at 25 and 10°C for 5 days for egg eclosion rate. Mean preimaginal developmental time for nymphs from eggs laid on the two media was not significantly different; development on both substrates averaged 9.8 days. The percentage of females produced was not significantly different from eggs laid on the artificial substrate (45.5%) or on beans (36.4%). This gelatin substrate can be used successfully as an oviposition medium for 0. insidiosus . An artificial substrate is useful in mass rearing of insects because the medium is available for use at any time of the year, and it reduces the likelihood of colony contamination by pathogens and pesticide residues.

Adaptation to environmental heterogeneity in populations ofDrosophila melanogaster

SummaryFor 29 generations, populations ofDrosophila melanogasterwere offered one favourable (standard) and one suboptimal (salt-supplemented) medium, either singly or simultaneously. Egg-to-adult viability, fecundity and choice of oviposition medium were measured at regular intervals on both resources up to 17 generations after initiation of the salt treatment. Except for a decrease in viability on salt medium in the single-resource populations (SRPs) maintained on the optimal medium, these fitness components remained unchanged. Estimation of a more inclusive measure of fitness, productivity, obtained at generations 27–29, revealed that: (1) the SRPs maintained on salt medium were more adapted to salt medium; (2) the mixed-resource populations (MRPs) were intermediate in their adaptation to salt medium between either type of single-resource population. These results support Levins' model of optimal strategy for populations living in a coarse-grained environment when the fitness set is convex. Family selection for increased and decreased resistance to salt in the medium, carried out for the viability component at generations nine and 19, showed that: (1) genetic variation with respect to this component was present in all populations; (2) the SRPs maintained on salt medium had responded to the salt treatment by eliminating sensitive genotypes; (3) in the first selection experiment, the MRPs had a greater amount of additive genetic variance with respect to viability than either type of SRP; in the second experiment, this difference was not significant, but it was in the predicted direction. The latter finding provides some evidence in favour of the hypothesis repeatedly presented in the literature that environmental heterogeneity could promote the maintenance of genetic variability in populations.

Laboratory Evaluation of Chemosterilants Against the Adult House Fly, 1982

Abstract Mixed sexes of adults from an insecticide-resistant laboratory strain are fed exclusively after emergence on fly food (6 parts sugar, 6 parts powdered nonfat dry milk, and 1 part powdered egg yolk) containing a 1% concentration (wt/wt) of the candidate chemosterilant. The treated diet is prepared by adding 10 ml of a solution or suspension of the chemical in a volatile solvent to 10 g of fly food in a small container. The solvent is allowed to evaporate for 4-6 h, then the fly food is repulverized. The container of treated food and a container of water are placed in a cage with 100 newly emerged adult flies. After 3 days, the flies are observed to note any mortality caused by the compound. When flies were 6-7 days old, moist CSMA larval-rearing medium in a container is placed in the cage to stimulate oviposition. If no eggs are laid, the oviposition medium is offered again at 1-2 day intervals until it has been offered 3 times or the flies have oviposited. After the medium has been in the cage for 4-6 h, it is removed and the egg masses are transferred to a container of water and thoroughly mixed. A random sample of 100 eggs is placed on a small piece of wet black cloth; the cloth is then place on moist CSMA medium in a rearing container. After 2 days, the eggs are examined and the percent hatch is determined. The resulting larvae, if any, crawl from the cloth into the rearing medium. The medium is examined about a week after oviposition to determine the number of larvae that develop to the pupal stage. If more than 5 pupae are observed, evaluation of the compound is discontinued. All tests are conducted in duplicate. Cages of flies handled in the same manner but exposed to untreated fly food only are used as controls.

Simple Technique for Handling Adults and Collecting Eggs of Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) and Aleochara bilineata (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

A simple ovipositon device, containing inert, expanded, clay granules, has been developed for both the house fly, Musca domestica L., and the staphylinid beetle, Aleochara bilineata Gyllenhal. For the house fly and the Aleochara beetles, the optimum particle size of the granules is 2.0 to 2.8 mm and 1.0 to 2.0 mm, respectively. A quick method for extracting the eggs of both species from the oviposition medium, by washing, is also described.

Low-Labor Method for Rearing the Tarnished Plant Bug (Hemiptera: Miridae)1

A low-labor method for rearing Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) was developed by using sprouting potatoes as a food source and oviposition medium. One feeding will maintaina population of ca. 40 bugs per kg of potatoes for at least 104 days.

Factors Affecting Degradation of Poultry Manure by Flies

Manure disposal can be a serious environmental problem in poultry-cage facilities for egg production. Flies can degrade manure and they offer a possibility of recycling products. All flies studied were inadequate to degrade accumulattons of anaerobic manure. Among several species of muscoid flies tested Musca domestica L. was most effective in degrading aerobic manure. Different strains thrived in manure variously according to their general vigor. Poultry manure provides an adequate source of protein for egg maturation for M. domestica and it is a suitable oviposition medium except when a more attractive medium is present. Manure is an adequate medium for maggot culture, although of lower quality than a standard medium; its quality diminishes with age. As manure is biodegraded, metabolic activity of contained organisms increases to a plateau, ammonia is produced, nitrogen is lost, and p H increases. Bacteria, rather than fungi and yeasts, are primarily responsible for these changes, but metabolism of bactcria and developing maggots interact. Some bacteria may retard fly development. Fly larvae perform a conspicuous role in aerating medium to favor aerobic bacteria and to hasten loss of nitrogen and moisture. The design of batch or continuous systems of manure degradation by flies should include developmental and behavioral characteristics of insects appropriate to the system.

EXPERIMENTAL CONTROL OF STABLE FLIES, STOMOXYS CALCITRANS (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE), BY RELEASES OF CHEMOSTERILIZED ADULTS

AbstractReleases of chemosterilized stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), that equalled existing field populations (1:1 ratio) markedly reduced a field population in Florida. The released insects were relatively long lived in the field and did not migrate far from the nearest source of food and oviposition medium.

Some Basic Nutritional Requirements of Smaller European Elm Bark Beetle Larvae1

Two artificial media were used to determine some nutritional requirements for development of newly hatched larvae of Scolytus multistriatus (Marsham) into adults. Under the test conditions, the larvae required a sterol, inositol, and potassium to become adults. Cholesterol, cholesterol acetate, sitosterol, stigmasterol, and ergosterol were utilized; but cholestanol and not. Deletion from the media of choline and any of the B-vitamins, except riboflavin, greatly reduced adult emergence when the test larvae were obtained from eggs dissected from elm wood. When the test larvae hatched from eggs from artificial media, none survived on media lacking niacin amide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxin, or folic acid. Deletion of biotin signiticantly reduced adult emergence. Larval survival on biotin-deficient media increased after 1 mg of biotin had been added to the oviposition medium of their parents.

The colonization of Anopheles litoralis King in the Philippines.

An insectary colony of Anopheles litoralis King, a suspected secondary malaria vector in the Philippines, has been successfully established in Manila. Enough eggs were obtained from 329 wild-caught blooded females to start the F1 generation. Artificial mating was used to inseminate the females. Observations on the copulation times, insemination rates, and blood meal requirements for nullipars, as well as detailed records on the first 6 generations, are given. Since the species is a salt-water, coastal breeder, saline water was used for rearing the immature stages and for the oviposition medium. Satisfactory insemination, oviposition, and larval rearings were obtained and the colony is now in the 19th generation and continues vigorously.

Artificial Egging System for the European Cherry Fruit Fly2

A simple technique is described for mass production and employment of plates of large numbers of ceresin wax domes as oviposition devices for Rhagoletis cemsi (L.). During their lifetime, 50 females deposited 12,903 eggs into these domes (an average of 258 eggs per female, yielding 234 larvae per female). This production proved 3-4 times greater than that from 2 other egging systems in current use and 1.6 times greater than the highest reported in the literature using fresh cherries as the oviposition medium. Individual ceresin domes had a remarkable longevity and retained 100% of their maximum potential effectiveness after receiving 50 eggs each and 68% of their potential even after 200 eggs each.

Biological and Ecological Investigations of Horn Flies in Central Texas: Influence of Time of Manure Deposition on Oviposition1

Fresh bovine manure was covered with emergence traps at 2-hr intervals during the day and night once a week from May to October to study the oviposition habits of the horn fly, Haematobia irritans (L.). The average production of adult horn flies per manure pat ranged from 39.9 between 8 and 10 AM to 99.0 between 2 and 4 AM. The overall production averages for the 22 weeks were 66.5 nies per pat; night averdge 81.5 per pat; day average 61.0 per pat. Thus, if provided with an oviposition medium, the horn fly female will oviposit day or night.

An Artificial Oviposition Technique for the Alfalfa Weevil12

Parafilm tubes simulating alfalfa stems were evaluated as an oviposition medium for Hypera postica (Gyllenhal). Tubes of 1.19, 2.06, and 5.69 mm diameter and in various combinations with alfalfa stems were tested along with the normal alfalfa stem. The standard 2.06 mm-diam parafilm tube with alfalfa stem inside constantly contained a significantly greater number of eggs than the other 4 media tested. Parafilm media always contained more oviposition punctures than the normal alfalfa stems. No decrease in viability occurred among eggs deposited in the parafilm media or as a result of removing eggs by the Hushing technique. Likewise, egg mass size did not change when parafilm was selected as the oviposition medium. The parafilm technique decreased the possibility of mechanical injury and was most efficient when numerous small samples or single stems were examined for alfalfa weevil eggs. An average of 39.8 eggs per minute were removed from standard parafilms with stems, compared with an average of only 5.0 eggs from normal alfalfa stems. Parafilm can be used successfully as an oviposition medium for the alfalfa weevil.

Artificial Oviposition Devices for Apple Maggot

An oviposition medium other than apple could facilitate both the mass rearing of the apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh), and investigations of its fecundity. This paper deals with the development of 2 types of quite satisfactory artificial oviposition devices for this insect.

Effect of Coloring Oviposition Media with Regard to the Mosquito Aedes triseriatus (Say)

The author shows that Aedes triseriatus females respond to wavelengths in the blue portion of the visible spectrum at the time of egg deposition. Other regions of the visible spectrum are not attractive in the absence of blue at the time of egg deposition. Females are attracted to the oviposition medium with the greatest degree of darkness, or optical density, when presented a group of colors with various transmittance properties. The females were able to detect small differences in concentration of color in the oviposition media. There may be some evolutionary significance in the female's response to media with higher optical densities. It may be a genotypic response to indications of a more favorable larval habitat in terms of stability, food, or both, and may be one of the factors limiting the larval habitat to tree holes.

Biology and Control of the Little House Fly, Fannia canicularis, in Massachusetts1

The little house fly ( Fannia canicularis (L.)) has become a serious annoyance problem on many Massaehusetts poultry farms. In the laboratory, the larvae were reared in a modified Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association (C.S.M.A.) medium. At an air temperature of 80°, the approximate developmental periods for the immature stages were as follows: egg 1½ to 2 days, larva 8 to 10 days and pupa 9 to 10 days. The total developmental period from egg to adult was 18½ to 22 days and from egg to egg, 22 to 27 days. The sex ratio of emerging adults was approximately 0.5. At 80°. and 65% relative humidity, 50% of the male population died within 14 days after emergence, with some living up to 28days, while 50% of the female population died within 24 days with a few living for 54 days. Chicken manure was a preferred oviposition medium. Adults were unable to fly against winds that exceeded 16 m.p.h In the field, more than one-half of the poultry farms inspected employed the pit system of droppings management and these farms had heavier fly populations than farms which effectively employed the open floor system. Observations on the distribution of overwintering larvae in the dropping pits are presented. All stages except the egg were found during the winter months. Adults became active in early March and were Present in large numbers throughout the summer until mid-October. Adults were also present in homes near poultry farms except during the month of February. A preference of adults for cooler areas under 84. was apparent. Field recognition characters of the adult and larvae are discussed. The use of parathion-Diazinon® ( O,O-diethyl O- (2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-pyrimidinyl) phosphorothioate) treated cords gave excellent seasonal control of the little house fly but supplemental treatments with baits were necessary against Musca domestica L.

Comparative Study of Thirteen Species of Sarcosaprophagous Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae (Diptera)1 I. Bionomics

The species studied, representing nine genera in the two families, were: Wohlfartia opaca (Coq.), Sarcophaga cooleyi Park., S. shermani Park., S. bullata Park., Protocalliphora avium (S. & D.), Phormia regina (Meig.), Protophormia terrae-novae (R. D.), Phaenicia sericata (Meig.), Eucalliphora lilaea (Walker), Cynomyopsis cadaverina (R. D.), Calliphora vomitoria (L.), C. vicina R. D., and C. terrae-novae Macq. All except W. opaca and P. avium were reared successfully at 80 ±2° F. and 50±2 percent relative humidity; life history data on the other 11 species are tabulated and discussed. Controlled temperature and humidity, as employed here, accelerated the life cycle and shortened the adult life in comparison with results under fluctuating room temperature conditions. Beef liver was the most suitable rearing and oviposition medium. All species studied except E. lilaea avoided hog liver as a rearing medium, and all the calliphorids except E.lilaea (but none of the sarcophagids) required protein meal prior to copulation. Both protein and carbohydrates were required for oviposition. Severe competition for food prolonged the larval feeding period and gave rise to a large population of small-sized individuals; the sex ratio remained unaffected in underfed populations. Inherent ability to meet a critical shortage of food varies in different species; it is dependent upon whether the larvae has obtained the minimum food required to satisfy the physiological level of their metamorphosis and further their development. The possible significance of this inherent ability is in providing the mechanism of adaptation, which in turn influences distribution and population density of the species.