Plastic Funnel Research Articles

Efficacy of Soil Insecticides Against Western Corn Rootworm, 1993

Abstract An experiment was conducted in Augusta Co., VA, to determine the effectiveness of several experimental and commercial granular insecticides applied in-furrow or T-band, as well as in-furrow application of an experimental liquid insecticide, against western corn rootworm larvae. The experiment was conducted near the center of a no-till cornfield consisting of a predominant Frederickson clay loam soil. The field had been in continuous corn production since 1988. Also, no granular insecticides had been applied to the field at planting since 1988. Plots of 40 × 5 ft (2 rows wide) were arranged in a RCBD with all insecticide treatments and an untreated check replicated 4 times. An Almaco, 2-row Max-Emerge planter was used to plant the plots on 28 May at a population density of 26,100 seeds/acre. Insecticide granules were applied in front of the press wheels either directly in the seed furrow or in a 5-inch wide T-band over the furrow, depending on the treatment. The regular granular insecticide applicator was removed from each row unit and replaced with a wooden device which held an inverted pint canning jar (Mason) used to dispense the insecticide granules. Attached to the underside of the wooden holder was a plastic funnel and tube through which the insecticide granules flowed. A single opening, drilled into the lid of each jar, was calibrated in the laboratory to deliver insecticides accurately at a speed of 3 mph. The possibility of mixing one or more insecticides was avoided by using a separate jar and lid for each treatment. At the start of application, a jar containing the appropriate insecticide granules was inverted and placed in each of the wooden holders. This method helped minimize soil compaction because the tractor made only 1 pass per plot. The experimental liquid insecticide, TD 2328 (diazinon), was applied directly in-furrow at 2 rates: 0.49 lb (AI)/acre and 0.73 lb (AI)/acre using a backpack sprayer. The sprayer setup involved a 2-nozzle spray boom with each nozzle inserted into its own clear plastic delivery tube. Immediately before application of the liquid insecticide, the regular in-furrow lubes for the granular insecticides were replaced with the liquid delivery tubes. Both rates of the liquid insecticide treatments were applied using 20 gal water/acre at 40 psi. Root ratings and stand counts were made in all plots on 10 Jul. The roots of 5 consecutive corn plants were dug from each plot and washed of excess soil before ratings were made. Corn rootworm damage ratings were based on the Iowa 1-6 scale (1 = no feeding damage; 6 = 3 or more root nodes completely destroyed). Stand counts consisted of counting all of the cornstalks along a 20 row-ft section in each plot. The treatment plots were hand-harvested on 14 Sep by cutting all cornstalks from two, 16.4 row-ft sections per plot. All stalks were cut within 1 to 2 inches above the soil surface and then weighed in the field using a milk scale to determine the wet weight at harvest. Immediately after a sample was weighed, 10 cut stalks were removed from the pile and chopped into 2- to 3-inch pieces using a Troy-Bilt® Tomahawk® Chipper/Shredder. A 2.2-lb subsample of shredded material was removed from each plot and dried at 130 to 140°F for 48 h at the VPI&SU Agronomy Farm. A 2-way ANOVA with Fisher’s protected LSD was used to analyze differences among treatments.

Corn Rootworm Larval Control on Field Corn, 1992

Abstract Two experiments were conducted in Rockridge Co. Virginia to determine the effectiveness of several experimental and commercial granular insecticides against corn rootworm larvae. The 1st experiment evaluated the effectiveness of Lorsban 15 G with 3 experimental formulations of Lorsban 15 G (i.e., XRM 4372, XRM 5362, and NAF), whereas the 2nd experiment evaluated the effectiveness of 1 experimental and 3 commercial granular insecticides. Both experiments were conducted near the center of a no-till corn field which had been in continuous corn production since 1988. The field had not been treated with granular insecticides at planting since 1988, and the predominant soil type of the field is an Alonzville fine sandy loam. Both experiments consisted of a randomized complete block design, with all treatments replicated 3 times in the first experiment and 4 times in the second experiment. All plots were 30-ft long and consisted of 2 rows spaced 30 inches apart. A John Deere, 2-row Max-Emerge planter was used to plant all plots on 22 May at a population density of 24,200 seeds per acre. Insecticide granules were applied in front of the press wheels either directly in the seed furrow or in a 5-inch wide T-band over the furrow, depending on the treatment. Each of the regular granular insecticide applicators was removed from the planter and replaced with a wooden device designed to hold inverted pint canning (Mason) jars used in dispensing the insecticide granules. Attached to the underside of the wooden holders was a plastic funnel and tube through which the insecticide granules flowed. A single opening, drilled into the lid of each jar, was laboratory-calibrated to deliver insecticides accurately at a speed of 3 mph. The possibility of mixing 1 or more insecticides was avoided by using a separate jar and lid for each treatment. At the start of application, 2 jars containing the appropriate insecticide granules were inverted and placed in the wooden holders. This method helped minimize soil compaction because the tractor made only 1 pass per plot. The roots of 5 consecutive corn plants were dug from the check plots of each experiment on 14 Jul and washed of excess soil. Likewise, the roots of 5 consecutive corn plants were dug from each of the remaining treatment plots on 17 Jul and washed of excess soil. Corn rootworm damage ratings were made the same day that the corn roots were dug and were based on the Iowa 1-6 scale (1–no feeding; 6–3 or more root nodes completely destroyed). Stand counts were not made because of irregular seed spacing that occurred in 1 of the rows during planting. The statistical analysis for both experiments involved ANOVA and Fisher’s LSD to test for differences among treatment means.

Pheromone-Trap Monitoring System for Sweetpotato Weevil (Coleoptera: Apionidae) in the Southern United States: Effects of Trap Type and Pheromone Dose

Studies were conducted to develop a pheromone-trap monitoring system for sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius (Fabricius), in the southern United States. Effects of trap type and pheromone dose on weevil collections in traps baited with synthetic sex pheromone were studied in four states: Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and Louisiana. A plastic funnel trap and the Universal moth trap (Uni-trap) were more efficacious at collecting C. formicarius males than a screen-cone boll weevil trap. More weevils were consistently caught in the former two trap types than in the latter trap when trap counts were high (average > 60 weevils per trap per night for both the Uni-trap and the plastic funnel trap) than when trap counts were low (average < 60 weevils per trap per night). The plastic funnel trap was more efficient (72.8%) than the Uni-trap (58.0%) at capturing marked male weevils released at the base of the traps; however, these traps were equally effective at preventing adults from escaping (2% escape) and were superior to the screen-cone boll weevil trap (43% escape). Trap counts increased (although not consistently significantly) with an increase in pheromone dose between 1 microgram and 1 mg. The importance of these data for monitoring C. formicarius in the southern United States and the Caribbean basin is discussed.

Corn Rootworm Larval Control on Field Corn, 1991

Abstract An experiment was conducted in Augusta County, VA, to determine the effectiveness of several commercial and experimental granular insecticides against corn rootworm larvae. The field used in this experiment has been in continuous corn production since 1980 and has not been treated with granular insecticides at planting since 1988. The soil type for this field is a combination Allegheny-Cotaco fine sandy loam and Buchanan cobbly fine sandy loam. The experiment consisted of a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. Plots were 30-ft long and consisted of 2 rows spaced 30 inches apart. A John Deere, 2-row Max-Emerge planter was used to plant all plots on 2 May at a population density of 26,100 seeds per acre. Insecticide granules were applied in front of the press wheels either directly in the seed furrow or in a 5-inch wide T-band over the furrow, depending on the treatment. Each of the regular granular insecticide applicators was removed from the planter and replaced with a wooden device designed to hold inverted pt canning jars (Mason) used in dispensing the insecticide granules. Attached to the underside of the wooden holders was a plastic funnel and tube through which the insecticide granules flowed. A single opening, drilled into the lid of each jar, was laboratory-calibrated to deliver insecticides accurately at a speed of 3 mph. The possibility of mixing 1 or more insecticides was avoided by using a separate jar and lid for each treatment. At the start of application, 2 jars containing the appropriate insecticide granules were inverted and placed in the wooden holders. This method helped minimize soil compaction because the tractor made only 1 pass per plot. The roots of 5 consecutive corn plants were dug from each plot on 7 Jul and washed of excess soil. Corn rootworm damage ratings were based on the Iowa 1-6 scale (1°no feeding; 6°3 or more root nodes completely destroyed). Stand counts were not made because of irregular seed spacing that occurred in one of the rows during planting. Statistical analysis involved a two-way ANOVA with Duncan’s new multiple range test used to test for differences among treatment means.

Corn Rootworm Larval Control on Field Corn, 1990

Abstract An experiment was conducted in Orange County, Va., to determine the effectiveness of several commercial and experimental granular insecticides against corn rootworm larvae. The field used in this experiment has been in continuous corn for more than 20 years. The predominant soil type for this field is a Manassas silt loam, with some areas of Penn silt loam and Rapidan silt loam. The experimental design involved a randomized complete block wtih 4 replications. Plots were 30-ft long and consisted of 2 rows spaced 30 inches apart. A John Deere, 2-row Max-Emerge planter was used to plant all plots on 7 Jun at a plant population density of 26,000 plants/acre. Insecticide granules were applied in front of the press wheels either directly in the seed furrow or in a 5-inch T-band over the furrow, depending on the treatment. Prior to application, the regular granular insecticide applicators were removed from each side of the planter in order to accommodate 2 wooden boxes designed to hold inverted pint canning jars (Mason) for dispensing the insecticide granules. Attached to the underside of both wooden boxes was a plastic funnel and tube through which the insecticide granules flowed. A single opening, drilled into the lid of each jar, was laboratory-calibrated to deliver insecticides accurately at a speed of 3 mph. The possibility of mixing one or more insecticides was avoided by using a separate jar and lid for each treatment. At the start of application, 2 jars containing the appropriate insecticide granules were inverted and placed in the box holders. This method helped minimize soil compaction because the tractor made only 2 pass/plot. Stand counts were made on 29 Jun, by determining the number of corn plants in 3 separate, 3.3-row ft sections/ plot. The roots of 5 consecutive corn plants were dug from each plot on 19 Jul and washed of excess soil. Corn rootworm damage ratings were based on the Iowa 1-6 scale (1—no feeding; 6—3 or more root nodes completely destroyed).

The development of a standard pheromone trapping procedure forSpodoptera Iitura(F) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) population in groundnut(Arachis hyopogaeaL) crops

Abstract The efficacy of four pheromone‐trap designs was compared for catching male tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (F), moths in groundnut fields. There was no significant difference in the performance of the single‐ and double‐funnel traps, and the single‐funnel (20 cm dia) trap captured more moths than any other trap. Septa of 4 weeks or less exposure attracted most moths. One and two traps ha−1 caught significantly fewer moths than four and more traps ha−1 however there was no significant improvement in capture when four or more traps ha−1 were installed. Night observations indicated that many moths escaped from sleeve traps. Single plastic funnel traps were found suitable and are being used in monitoring S. litura in the national monitoring network in India.

Corn Rootworm Larval Control on Field Corn, 1989

Abstract An experiment was conducted in Shenandoah County, VA to determine the effects of several commercial and experimental granular insecticides for controlling corn rootworm larvae. The field used in this experiment has been in continuous corn since 1960. Soil type for this field is characterized as a Unison silty loam. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with 4 replications. Plots were 30-ft long and consisted of 2 rows spaced 30 inches apart. A John Deere, 2-row Max-Emerge planter was used to plant all plots at a plant population density of 26,000 plants/acre on 19 May. Insecticide granules were applied in front of the press wheels either directly in the seed furrow or in a 5-inch T-band over the furrow, depending on the treatment. Prior to application, the regular granular insecticide applicators were removed from each side of the planter in order to accommodate 2 wooden boxes designed to hold inverted pint canning jars (Mason) for dispensing the insecticide granules. Attached to the underside of both wooden boxes was a plastic funnel and tube through which the insecticide granules flowed. A single opening, drilled into the lid of each jar, was laboratory-calibrated to deliver insecticides accurately at a tractor speed of 3 mph. The possibility of mixing one or more insecticides was avoided by using a separate jar and lid for each treatment. At the start of application, 2 jars containing the appropriate insecticide granules were inverted and placed in the box holders. This method helped minimize soil compaction because the tractor made only one pass/plot. On 19 Jul, the roots of 5 corn plants were dug from each plot and washed to remove excess soil. Corn rootworm damage ratings were based on the Iowa 1-6 scale (1, no feeding to 6, 3 or more root nodes completely destroyed). Stand counts were made on 9 Aug, by determining the number of corn plants in 3 separate, 3.3-row ft sections per plot.

The Seed Bank of a Freshwater Crustacean: Copepodology for the Plant Ecologist

The spatial and temporal aspects of dormancy in a freshwater copepod, Diaptomus sanguineus, were investigated during three consecutive years in Bullhead Pond, Rhode Island. Patterns of diapausing egg production and deposition were monitored with plankton sampling and settling traps. Vertical and horizontal distributions of diapausing eggs in sediments were investigated by taking core samples. Diapausing eggs removed from sediments were tested in the laboratory for hatching ability. The long—term spatial and temporal patterns of emergence from the diapausing egg stage were documented in the field using inverted plastic funnel traps sampled weekly. The field data along with an estimated annual budget for diapausing eggs in the pond suggest that D. sanguineus has an egg bank, analogous to the seed banks of plants, that allows it to survive through harsh environmental periods.

Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Sweetpotato Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Counts in Pheromone-Baited Traps in White-Fleshed Sweet Potato Fields in Southern Florida

Studies were conducted to determine the potential of a synthetic sex pheromone that attracts only males for monitoring sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers), populations in southern Florida. Mean weevil counts in plastic funnel traps baited with 10 μg of pheromone and placed in different commercial plantings of white-fleshed sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. cv. Picadito, ranged between 2 and 5,785 males per trap per night. Temporal patterns of weevil counts were cyclical, probably because of emergence of new weevil generations following monthly insecticide applications. Mean weevil counts in volunteer fields ranged between 27 and 4,413 per trap per night indicating that volunteer fields harbor dense weevil populations. Spatial statistics indicated that male populations were aggregated. The number of plastic funnel traps required to estimate weevil density reliably was too high to be practical at 10–15% precision levels, but was practical at a 25% precision level. Plastic funnel traps caught significantly more weevils (90–97% of the total catch) and were significantly more efficient (85% efficiency) at catching males than screen-cone boll weevil traps (3–10% of the total catch and 49% efficiency).

PHEROMONE TRAPS FOR MONITORING FALL ARMYWORM, SPODOPTERA FRUGIPERDA (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE), POPULATIONS1

Comparisons of traps for capturing fall army worm, Spodoptera frugiperda, baited with virgin females or synthetic pheromone were conducted at Dade County and Quincy, FL, Brownsville, TX, and Tifton, GA. Significantly higher numbers of fall armyworm males were captured in traps, irrespective of design, that were baited with a four - component lure, Terochem, than in identical traps baited with virgin females or a standard bait containing a 10 : 1 ratio of (Z) - 9 - dodecenol - 1 - ol acetate and (Z) - 9 - tetradecen - 1 - ol acetate. Wire - cone Hartstack traps baited with Terochem captured significantly more males than a plastic funnel - type Unitrap in two of three locations at Tifton, GA, during 1984 - 85, and at Quincy, FL, 1984. At Brownsville, TX, and Dade County, FL, the Unitrap baited with Terochem lures captured ca. as many or more fall armyworm males, respectively, than the Hartstack design. Standard green, yellow, and white Unitraps captured 2× more fall armyworm males than solid green Unitraps, suggesting that the color may influence rates of capture.

A BUCKET EMERGENCE TRAP FOR CORTICOLOUS INSECTS

AbstractAn emergence trap for bark-inhabiting insects was constructed out of a 22.7-L plastic pail. Screened windows in the sides of the bucket provided ventilation. A plastic funnel in the bottom of the bucket held one of three sizes of container for live- or dead-trapping of emerged insects. In laboratory and field tests with lodgepole pine bolts infested with mountain pine beetle and associated insects, the traps had a trapping efficiency of 97.5%.

Effect of a butter-rich diet on murine frostbite.

A simple reproducible, humane model for producing frostbite in rodents is desirable. We have developed such a model and have investigated the effects of a butter-rich diet on severe cold injury. Mice (25 +/- 2 g) were randomly divided into two groups (n = 10). One group was given a standard rodent diet and the other group a butter-enriched (25%) rodent diet for 1 month. Under pentobarbital sodium anesthesia the mice were placed in a plastic funnel with the stem removed so that the entire tail protruded. The tails were submerged in a freezing solution (-18 degrees C) for 8 min. The mice received no further treatment. Tail lengths were measured 2 weeks after freezing to determine the amount of tail surviving from cold injury after autoamputation. Mean tail lengths (cm +/- SD) for the two groups were as follows: butter-rich diet, 4.3 +/- 1.8; standard diet, 7.3 +/- 2.0 (P less than 0.002). A high saturated-fat diet has a deleterious effect in murine frostbite. This simple model can be employed to test various modalities in the treatment of frostbite.

Funnel procedure to separate human sperm with good motility.

Penetration of human sperm into a underlaying Percoll layer is very effective in isolating forward motile sperm. A plastic funnel, the bottom of which having been plugged with a 1.0-ml disposable syringe, was used as a separation vessel. Ejaculated semen (2.0 ml) was loaded on 2.0 ml of 80% Percoll; after allowing to stand 60 min, forward motile sperm penetrating into the lower part of Percoll layer (1.0 ml) were collected into the syringe. Sperm motility was enhanced to 91.5% +/- 3.3% regardless of the original motility (48.4% +/- 14.6%) with a mean recovery of 34.1% +/- 6.8% (n = 22). Measurement of residual lactate dehydrogenase activity suggested that seminal plasma was excluded almost completely from the purified sperm fraction.

Direct seeding techniques to regenerate white spruce in interior Alaska

Direct seeding techniques for regenerating white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss) were tested on 12 logged areas near Fairbanks, AK. Techniques examined included spot seeding on scarified seed spots with and without plastic cone shelters and spot seeding on nonscarified seed spots with and without plastic funnel shelters, all at three sowing times. After the second growing season, scarified treatments produced greater seedling survival. Cone shelters usually produced greater survival than unsheltered seeding on scarified seed spots and funnel shelters usually produced greater survival than unsheltered seeding on non-scarified seed spots. Sowing time had little effect on survival.

Emergence Trap and Holding Bottle for the Capture of Salmonid Fry in Streams

Abstract A 0.12-m 2 fry emergence trap was constructed of rigid steel strip, plumber's tape, and nylon netting. A holding bottle was fashioned from a polyethylene screw cap bottle and plastic funnel. The trap was inexpensive, durable, and effective in a wide range of current velocities. The method proved effective in estimating egg-to-fry survival rates for kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) in various sediment mixtures. Egg-to-fry survival varied from 0 to 52%, and was negatively correlated to percent fines (r = 0.91; P < 0.01). The emergence period indicated by the trap catches in McDonald Creek agreed closely with the period indicated by drift-net sampling. Fry mortality in the holding bottle was almost nil if the trap was checked at least once a week.

A Suction Apparatus for Orienting Clay Minerals Onto Porous Ceramic Tiles

AbstractA new design is presented for an apparatus that makes oriented mounts for the x‐ray study of clay minerals. The apparatus can be easily fabricated by drilling and tapping holes into a metal plate and adding standard screws, nuts, pipe fittings, and plastic funnels. The main advantages of this design are (i) ease of fabrication, (ii) the ability to deposit clay cakes of almost any diameter onto tiles of almost any shape or size, and (iii) the incorporation of a relatively large sample reservoir that will hold enough suspension to allow the operator to perform other tasks while the tiles are being prepared.

Techniques for hatching eggs and rearing larvae of the Australian mouthbrooding catfishes, Arius graeffei and Arius leptaspis (Ariidae)

Eggs and larvae of Arius graeffei and A. leptaspis were reared to the juvenile stage using plastic funnels and mesh cones to simulate the environment of the buccal cavity. Although mortality rates during early embryonic and late larval developmental phases were low, severe mortality was observed at hatching due to constriction of the vitelline blood vessels by premature rupture of the chorion. The potential of the techniques is discussed.

The fallout rate of PB‐210 on the western coast of the United States

The deposition rate of atmospheric Pb‐210 has been measured during a one year period using plastic funnels as collectors. Observed rates were 0.15 dpm cm−2 yr−1 at a site in Palo Alto, California and 0.21 dpm cm−2 yr−1 at a site in Los Angeles. The Palo Alto value agrees well with a long‐term average of 0.14 dpm cm−2 yr−1, obtained from a nearby salt marsh core. These rates are only one‐third of those previously estimated using global models for Pb‐210 fallout and indicate the need to consider both longitude and precipitation as factors controlling fallout rates. More than 75% of the Pb‐210 fallout occurs as wet deposition at the Los Angles site.

Further field trials of pheromone dispensers and traps for males of Prays citri (Millière) (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae)

AbstractDispensers made of different materials and loaded with the female sex pheromone, (Z)-7-tetradecenal, were field-tested for attractancy for males of Prays citri (Mill.) in Israel. Hollow fibres of low density polyethylene, low density polyethylene chips and natural rubber septa were better than hollow fibres of polypropylene, hollow fibres of a polypropylene-polyethylene mixture, solid fibres of low density polyethylene and PVC tubes. In other tests, funnels with wall angles of 60° were inferior to those with angles between 70 and 80°; polyester funnels were superior to polystyrene and polypropylene ones, which were better than those of PVC or opalin coated with aluminium foil. Kaolin or talcum powder dusted on the inside walls improved the efficiency of polypropylene funnels. The catches in traps consisting of several plastic funnels or tubes under a roof and with insecticide to prevent escape did not differ significantly from those in the sticky traps. A modified version of a new trap with a renewable sticky floor is described; this and the funnel traps are at present the most useful and practical for catching P. citri males.

The Ventilation, Extraction and Uptake of Oxygen in Undisturbed Flounders, Platichthys Flesus: Responses to Hypoxia Acclimation

ABSTRACT Gill ventilation , extraction of O2 from the ventilatory current and O2-uptake were measured in three groups of undisturbed flounders naturally buried in sand. Two groups were acclimated to normoxic water . One was studied in normoxic water, the other during acute exposure to hypoxic water (P1, O2 = 30 mmHg). A third group was acclimated to and studied in hypoxic water. Gill ventilation was measured directly using an electromagnetic flowmeter. The flowprobe, fitted to a plastic funnel, was placed over the fish’s mouth without making physical contact with the fish. Exhaled water for calculation of O2-extraction was siphoned from another plastic funnel placed over the upper operculum of the flounder. Acute hypoxia exposure of normoxic fish caused nearly a doubling in ventilation volume. In flounders acclimated to chronic hypoxia and studied in hypoxic water the ventilation volume reached a value approximately 3-5 times that of normoxic fish. O2-extraction averaged 76% in normoxic flounders. During acute hypoxia the value declined to 52%, the same O2-extraction was obtained in the chronically hypoxic fish. for the normoxia acclimated fish in normoxic water was 0 · 45 ml O2 · kg −1 .min − 1 declining to 0-12ml O2.kg − 1.min − 1 during acute exposure to hypoxia. of hypoxia acclimated fish in hypoxic water was 0 · 24 ml O2. kg − 1. min − 1. When compared in hypoxic water, the hypoxia acclimated fish show an unchanged O2-extraction of 52% in spite of a nearly two-fold increase in ventilation relative to that of the normoxia acclimated fish. Possible causes for this may be a left shift of the O2-Hb dissociation curves and an increase in the transfer factor for O2 over the gills in the hypoxia acclimated fish.