Sunn Pests Research Articles

Outbreak conditions of Sunn pest, Eurygaster maura L., 1758 (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae): Model of Central Anatolia (Türkiye)

In this study, outbreak conditions of Sunn pest, Eurygaster maura L., 1758 (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), the main agricultural pest of wheat, Triticum aestivum L., 1753 (Poaceae: Poales) which is the most important crop of the Central Anatolia (Türkiye) in terms of cultivation area and production was investigated. For this purpose, population density of adult sunn pests in its overwintering site and wheat cultivation area were evaluated for Central Anatolian provinces for the years between 1988 and 2021. It is observed that population density of sunn pest reached the level that requires control in 1988 for the first time. After, there were three infestation periods up to 2021 and each of them lasted for 4 years. First of them occurred between 1993 and 1996. It is observed that when average density of overwintered adult sunn pests exceeds 30 per square meter, there can be infestation in all overwintering sites of Central Anatolia. Also, there is a correlation between this density and the intensity of the infestation. Throughout the infestation periods, average temperature was determined as 20 ºC during the reproduction and development period, and it was recorded over 19 ºC during the season when temperature changes and relocations were high in overwintering site.

Influence of irrigation on the Sunn pest Eurygaster integriceps Put. (Insecta: Heteroptera) in the Central Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

The aim of the research is to establish the influence of watering on the phenological and biological features of winter wheat pests development, in particular Sunn pests. Trials were conducted on winter wheat crops under sprinkler irrigation in 2015-2020 in conditions of the Central Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The size of the experimental plots in the field experiments was 50 m2 (10.4x4.8 m) at the 4 times replication. The allocation of plots was randomized. The average numbers of Sunn pest nymphs in 2015-2020 were 0.7-2.7 exemplars/m² on non-irrigated winter wheat crops and 0.8-3.8 exemplars/m² on irrigated. The share of the factor “presence of irrigation” that impacts on the number of Sunn pests reaches 80.2%. The sums of degree-days necessary for the beginning of different development stages of this phytophagous were calculated. The stage of the revival of Sunn pest nymphs began in mid-May – the first decade of June, which coincided with the phases of development of winter wheat: the end of flowering – soft dough ripening of the grain. The sum of degree-days required for the beginning of this stage was 177.8-233.8°C without irrigation, while in sprinkler irrigation conditions – 275.5-349.1°C. For the beginning of the transformation of the fifth instar nymphs into adults, the required sum of degree-days was 410.5-481.5°C on the non-irrigated crops and 545.7-630.4°C – under conditions of irrigation. Clarifying the sum of degree-days required for different stages of Sunn pest development will allow for predicting the terms of protective measures against this pest in the field conditions under irrigation.

Effect of atmospheric nonthermal plasma on physicochemical, morphology and functional properties of sunn pest (Eurygaster integriceps)-damaged wheat flour.

To improve the quality of sunn pests (Eurygaster integriceps)‐damaged wheat flour, the effects of nonthermal plasma on physicochemical, rheological, functional, and microstructural properties were investigated. Gas type (air and oxygen), voltage (22 and 25 volts), and time (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 min) were the variables of the experiments conducted using a completely randomized design with three replications. The results show that with increasing voltage and time of plasma treatment, the pH decreased significantly (p ≥ .05), and brightness parameter, yellow–blue parameter, water‐solubility, water absorption, oil absorption, and swelling power increased significantly (p ≥ .05). The duration of plasma treatment, voltage, and change in input gas from air to oxygen did not significantly change the gluten index, particle size, and negative electric charge of flour particles, and the amount of zeta potential of samples. Differential calorimetric analysis showed the first and second peaks of the thermogram in the range 55–99°C and also 114–99°C. Infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) showed hydroxyl group, CH bonds, C=O bonds, as well as the presence of types I and II amide bonds in the structure. Microstructural results indicated that plasma treatment reduced the particle size and increased particle sorting. By Increasing voltage and the duration of plasma treatment, peak viscosity, final viscosity, breakdown viscosity, pasting time and temperature significantly increased and setback viscosity decreased (p ≥ .05), which reduced retrogradation which improved the dough stability during the cooling process.

Characterization of Lecanicillium psalliotae and Akanthomyces muscarium from Sunn pests (Eurygaster spp.)

Sunn pests, which can cause significant yield losses on wheat and barley, are one of the pests whose population levels should be followed. Overwintering areas, which have an important place in the biology of the insect, provide an advantage in the development of biological or integrated control with entomopathogenic fungi. Entomopathogenic fungi are one of the most important control agents in reducing the population in overwintering areas. In this study, one Lecanicillium psalliotae (KK8) isolate and one Akanthomyces muscarium (DIKA11/1) isolate were identified according to morphologic and molecular data. Pathogenicity test was carried out with DIKA11/1 A. muscarium isolate. Adult insects were inoculated with a 1×107 conidia/ml suspension. With this current study, A. muscarium was reported for the first time on sunn pests with 87.7% mortality rate. The L. psalliotae species, which is a pathogen on other insects and sunn pests, was isolated from the sunn pests and identified from Turkey. It is thought that DIKA11/1 A. muscarium isolate can be used in the biological control of this insect and commercial formulation development studies.

Characterization and virulence of entomopathogenic fungi from sunn pests in Turkey

• B. pseudobassiana is the most prevalent and virulent species on sunn pests ( Eurygaster spp.). • C. farinosa , P. lilacinum , and C. rosea are other species identified on sunn pests ( Eurygaster spp.). • Some B. pseudobassiana isolates produce red pigment on MEA medium. • M. anisopliae has not been isolated directly from sunn pests in Turkey. The sunn pests ( Eurygaster spp.) which are important pests of wheat and barley, can lead to 100% yield loss in the case of an epidemic. This study was conducted to characterize the entomopathogenic fungi, obtained from the sunn pests collected from different overwintering areas of Turkey and determine their pathogenicity. Seventeen Beauveria pseudobassiana , 12 Beauveria bassiana , 16 Cordyceps farinosa , 1 Purpureocillium lilacinum , and 2 Clonostachys rosea species were identified. Pathogenicity tests were performed with three B. pseudobassiana , two B. bassiana , four C. farinosa , and one P. lilacinum isolates. B. pseudobassiana isolates BB34 and AF4 caused 100% death on the 9th day, and another B. pseudobassiana isolate E512 caused 100% death on the 12th day. C. farinosa isolate KOKA2 caused 95.8% death on the 15th day. Ultimately, B. pseudobassiana was determined to be the most prevalent and virulent species on sunn pests.

RESEARCH AND OPTIMISATION OF THE QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF GRAIN SHIPLOAD LOTS IN GRAIN TERMINALS

The structure of loading different crops onto vessels at the company Ukrelevatorprom’s grain terminal has been considered. The total grain shipped in 2012–2015 was comprised of 33.7–41.5% of maize, 19.7– 32.2% of wheat, 14.4–26.0% of rapeseed, 6.7–14.2% of barley, and 5.4– 11.0% of soya beans. When forming a 35,000-tonne grain shipload, grain lots stored in silos are sometimes of lower quality than contracts require: the protein and gluten contents can be inappropriate, or there can be smut grains or those damaged by sunn pests. The accepted technology of grain shipload formation does not guarantee that the grain quality will be uniform throughout the whole period of loading a vessel, especially in the beginning. In the first 1,000 tonnes of a grain shipload formed, the weight content of wet gluten was found to be 22.6% instead of 23%, the Falling Number was 145–180 s instead of 230s, and the content of smut grains was not the tolerable 5%, but 6.95–7.8%. The subsequent 2,000–3,000 tonnes of wheat, too, had the Falling Number lower than the contract prescribed (142–215 s), and only further on, its value achieved the required range 295–356 s. In the wheat sample formed from 5,000 tonnes, only the test values of the Falling Number (176s) and the content of smut grains (5.1%) were different from what the contract required. The calculated arithmetic means of the quality parameters of the 5,000-tonne wheat samples formed were practically the same as those determined experimentally, except for the values of the Falling Number and the smut grain content. The values of the coefficient of variation obtained showed that the grain lot was of non-uniform quality: it varied in such parameters as the foreign material (20.82–50.93%), sunn pest-damaged grains (7.41–25.76%), Falling Number (8.76–36.36%), and smut grain content (35.88–78.34%). Application of linear programming methods to optimise the shipload composition has allowed all the quality parameters to meet the contract requirements. Loading grain from all silos simultaneously, with the optimum flow ratio, will result in its even distribution in a shipload, and the grain lot will be of higher quality by all the parameters the contract specifies.

Determination of damage Rate of Sunn pests (Eurygaster spp. and Aelia spp.) in Bread Wheat Varieties in Karatay (KONYA) District

Abstract The study was carried out in order to determine the damage rate of Sunn pests ( Eurygaster spp. and Aelia spp.) in bread wheat varieties which brought to Konya Commodity Exchange and grown in 33 neighborhoods of Karatay which is the central district of Konya in during 2014-2018 harvest seasons. Samples were taken homogeneously from the bread wheat varieties brought to Konya Commodity Exchange from the neighborhoods with an automatic probe device in accordance with the ISO 24333 Sampling Standard. Analysis sample was taken from this sample in accordance with TS 2974 Wheat Standard and was cleaned and sieved from foreign materials. The grains that have been damaged by sunn pest damage have been determined, selected and weighed, and the damage rate of the grains by mass has been found. Protein and hectolitre values were also determined by measuring the remaining sample on the device working with the Near Infrared Transmission (NIT) principle. As a result of the research; In harvest season between 2014-2018, the average of Sunn pests damage in bread wheat coming from all districts of Karatay District is 1.1%, 0.8%, 0.9%, 0.9% and 1.1%, respectively determined as. It was determined to change that the average of sunn pest rate damage ranged between 0.8-1.5%, protein averages ranged between 12.7-14.1% and hectoliter weights between 76.8-79.4 kg in 2014-2018 harvest seasons.

Sublethal effect of Beauveria bassiana on feeding and fecundity of the sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae)

The sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton, is a major pest of wheat in West and Central Asia. Studies were conducted to investigate the effect of Beauveria bassiana (teleomorph; Cordyceps bassiana) isolates on the sunn pest. Bioassays were done with adult insects collected from overwintering sites at three different times. The effect of sublethal doses of fungi on the insects’ feeding and fecundity was determined. When the sunn pest adults were treated with 2 × 107 conidia mL−1, all isolates caused significant sunn pest mortality varying between 24 and 100% 12 days after inoculation. There were significant differences between mortality, depending on the date of fungal application. Adult sunn pests treated with B. bassiana at sublethal concentrations caused significantly less damage to wheat leaves than sunn pests in the control. The number of eggs laid by the sunn pest was significantly fewer when wheat plots in plastic greenhouse and field cages were infested with adult sunn pests treated at sublethal concentrations, compared with sunn pests in control plots. Results show that sublethal dosages of B. bassiana reduced sunn pest feeding and fecundity. Applying B. bassiana in sunn pest overwintering sites minimizes the pest populations, which would move to wheat fields in spring.

DNA barcoding and morphological analysis for rapid identification of most economically important crop-infesting Sunn pests belonging to Eurygaster Laporte, 1833 (Hemiptera, Scutelleridae).

The genus Eurygaster Laporte, 1833 includes ten species five of which inhabit the European part of Russia. The harmful species of the genus is E. integriceps. Eurygaster species identification based on the morphological traits is very difficult, while that of the species at the egg or larval stages is extremely difficult or impossible. Eurygaster integriceps, E. maura, and E. testudinaria differ only slightly between each other morphologically, E. maura and E. testudinaria being almost indiscernible. DNA barcoding based on COI sequences have shown that E. integriceps differs significantly from these closely related species, which enables its rapid and accurate identification. Based on COI nucleotide sequences, three species of Sunn pests, E. maura, E. testudinarius, E. dilaticollis, could not be differentiated from each other through DNA barcoding. The difference in the DNA sequences between the COI gene of E. integriceps and COI genes of E. maura and E. testudinarius was more than 4%. In the present study DNA barcoding of two Eurygaster species was performed for the first time on E. integriceps, the most dangerous pest in the genus, and E. dilaticollis that only inhabits natural ecosystems. The PCR-RFLP method was developed in this work for the rapid identification of E. integriceps.

Modelling the current and potential future distributions of the sunn pest Eurygaster integriceps (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) using CLIMEX

The sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), is an economically significant pest throughout Western Asia and Eastern Europe. This study was conducted to examine the possible risk posed by the influence of climate change on its spread. CLIMEX software was used to model its current global distribution. Future invasion potential was investigated using two global climate models (GCMs), CSIRO-Mk3.0 (CS) and MIROC-H (MR), under A1B and A2 emission scenarios for 2030, 2070 and 2100. Dry to temperate climatic areas favour sunn pests. The potential global range for E. integriceps is expected to extend further polewards between latitudes 60° N and 70° N. Northern Europe and Canada will be at risk of sunn pest invasion as cold stress boundaries recede under the emission scenarios of these models. However, current highly suitable areas, such as South Africa and central Australia, will contract where precipitation is projected to decrease substantially with increased heat stress. Estimating the sunn pest's potential geographic distribution and detecting its climatic limits can provide useful information for management strategies and allow biosecurity authorities to plan ahead and reduce the expected harmful economic consequences by identifying the new areas for pest invasion. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

INHIBITION OF DIGESTIVE Α-AMYLASE FROM EURYGASTER INTEGRICEPS (SUNN PEST) BY A PROTEINACEOUS EXTRACT FROM WHEAT VARIETIES BEZOSTAYA, GASPARD, AND DARAB

At present time, chemical control is the main method of protection of sunn pests. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of seed proteinous extracts from different varieties of wheat ( Triticum aestivum var Bezostaya, Gaspard and Darab) on the α-amylase activity of Sunn Pest. To achieve this goal, adult insects were dissected and each insect's gut was removed and their amylase enzyme was extracted. Proteins of wheat were extracted using 0.1 M NaCl. The effect of proteinaceous extracts on α-amylase activity both as an enzymatic assay and as a gel assay using zymogram was performed. Inhibition percentages were recorded for the Bezostaya and Gaspard and Darab wheat varieties which were (73%), (%63) and (33%), respectively.

Evaluation of common and durum wheat rheological quality through Mixolab® analysis after field damage by cereal bugs

The pre-harvest damage of wheat by sunn pests decreases flour quality. Mixolab® is a recent instrument that can be used to accurately describe the technological behaviour of flour dough, since it is able to evaluate both protein and starch components at the same time. Two-year field experiments were carried out to study the effect of Eurygaster maura (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae) feeding on the quality traits of common and durum wheat, recorded using different protocols, in comparison to the traditional sodium dodecyl sulphate sedimentation test (SSV). In 2012–13 growing season, a damage rate between 16% and 21% of damaged kernels led to a greater reduction in dough stability for common (−65%) than for durum wheat (−32%), while the protein strength was affected more by insect activity in durum wheat (−56%). In 2013–14 growing season, E. maura feeding (on average 32% of damaged kernels) reduced SSV by 5% and 66%, dough stability by 12% and 30%, and protein strength by 12% and 16%, for common and durum wheat, respectively. The increasing percentages of damaged kernels in both crops led to a clear decrease in dough stability and protein strength; a significant change in the rheological parameters was noticeable at a 2.5% level of damaged kernels. SSV resulted to be significantly correlated to Mixolab® dough stability, the protein strength, the protein network wakening rate (α) and Change in Mixolab Consistency (CMC, “Wheatbug” protocol) for both common and durum wheat. Therefore, Mixolab® can be considered a suitable tool for a quick detection of damage caused by sunn pests in common and durum wheat flour.

Toxicity and persistence of three pyrethroids for the control of cereal bugs on common wheat

Sunn pests are responsible for serious kernel damage on wheat (Triticum aestivum L., Poaceae), affecting bread-making quality from their feeding at the late milk-ripe stage. In this study the toxicity of three pyrethroids usually applied to this crop (λ-cyhalothrin, α-cypermethrin, τ-fluvalinate) was evaluated on two bug species, the wheat bug Eurygaster maura (L.) and the green stink bug Nezara viridula (L.) in both laboratory and semi-field conditions, to implement an effective and sustainable control strategy. Laboratory trials showed small differences between the insecticides, whereas field cage trials gave more information on toxicity and persistence of the three pyrethroids. The most toxic and with good persistence on plants was α-cypermethrin, followed by λ-cyhalothrin, which had an intermediate persistence. By contrast, τ-fluvalinate showed a high persistence on plants, but seemed unsuited for wheat bug control because of its low toxicity, as clearly demonstrated in both laboratory and semi-field trials. The results provide clear information on the application strategy of the tested pyrethroids. In this context, α-cypermethrin proved to be the most promising active ingredient for wheat bug control, particularly for early application of the insecticide in a mixture with a fungicide at the wheat heading stage, eliminating the need for a separate additional treatment by the farmer.

Mortality of Isaria farinosa and Beauveria bassiana on sunn pests Eurygaster integriceps and Eurygaster austriaca

The effects of Isaria farinosa (Holm.) and Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) on adult stages of sunn pests Eurygaster integriceps Puton and Eurygaster austriaca (Schrk.) were investigated at 27±1°C, 95% r.h. and 16L:8D in the laboratory. Two concentrations, 1×106 and 1×108 conidia ml-1, were used. Mortality of inoculated and non-inoculated adults was counted at 6, 9 and 12 days after treatment. Beauveria bassiana caused higher mortality of both species than I. farinosa. Neither caused significantly high mortality at 1×106 conidia ml-1. Both were more pathogenic at 1×108 conidia ml-1 and caused more than 85% mortality 12 days post treatment. Both were more pathogenic to E. austriaca.

The effect of ridge planting and earliness of durum wheat varieties on sunn pest (Eurygaster spp.) damage and grain yield

Sunn pests (Eurygaster spp.) are among the most important insect pests of wheat (Triticum sativum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Cultural practices can prevent or minimize common sunn pest (Eurygaster integriceps Puton) population densities and crop damage. A three-year field experiment (Jun 05 to Aug 07) was conducted in Diyarbakır in the southeast Antolia region of Turkey, to evaluate the effects of planting method (no-till ridge planting and conventional planting) and earliness of durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) varieties (early, mid-season and late varieties) on E. integriceps density, grain damage and overall grain yield. The effect of the planting method on the sunn pest density and percent of grains damaged by sunn pest was not significant; however, there was a significant difference among the different varieties used in this study. While Çeşit-1252 (late wheat variety) had the highest nymph density (11.2 nymphs m−2) and percent of sunn pest damaged grains (2.8%), Sarıçanak-98 (early wheat variety) had the lowest nymph density (4.3 nymphs m−2) and percent of sunn pest damaged grains (0.8%). Grain yield was the highest (5.99 t ha−1) for Sarıçanak-98 while there was no significant difference between Aydın-93 (5.06 t ha−1) and Çeşit-1252 (4.99 t ha−1). In conclusion, this study suggests that planting methods may not have a significant effect on sunn pest density, percent of sunn pest damaged grains or grain yield; however, the use of early durum wheat varieties, such asSarıçanak-98, may reduce sunn pest population densities, percent of damaged grains, allowing increases in grain yield in southeast Anatolia region, Turkey.

Distribution of Sunn Pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), in overwintering sites

Sunn Pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), is the most serious pest of wheat in West and Central Asia. Following harvest, the pest migrates from wheat fields to high elevations to escape high summer temperatures and, the following spring, moves back to the fields. In this work, Sunn Pest populations were monitored in 21 overwintering sites located in seven provinces (with 800–2500 m elevation) in Iran. Litter samples were taken twice in each site, once in July–November 2002 and again in March 2003. At each site 60 Artemesia sp. bushes were selected at random and litter from each bush was collected and the number of live male and female adult Sunn Pest counted. More Sunn Pests were collected in higher elevations in the first sampling. Golestan (893 m), Kermanshah (1583 m), and Qazvin (1675 m), located in valleys and surrounded by mountainous areas, had < 5 adults/bush. However Azarbayejan (1750 m), Markazi (1883 m), Kordestan (2067 m), and Esfahan (2141 m), located in mountainous areas and/or close to mountains, had 10–52 adults/bush. No noticeable changes in Sunn Pest populations were observed in 17 overwintering sites among 21 between the two sampling times. These results suggest that, after Sunn Pest moves to more highly elevated sites at aestivation time, most of them remain in these sites during overwintering before migration to wheat fields in the spring. Sunn Pest can be targeted for management in these areas during the fall and/or early spring as their movement is clearly limited.

Vegetation indices as indicators of damage by the sunn pest (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) to field grown wheat

The sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Put. (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), also known as sting or cereal pest, is one of the most economically important pests of wheat in the world. In this study, a collapsible nylon cloth cage experiments were conducted to determine the feasibility of using remote sensing techniques to detect stress in wheat caused by the density of sunn pests. The results show we can detect the amount of stress in wheat caused by different life stages of sunn pest with a hand-held radiometer. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) based indices; NDVIsg, NDVId, NDVIr, and structure insensitive pigment index (SIPI) were chosen out of 19 indices initially tested. The NDVI based vegetation indices derived from hyperspectral data, recorded by a hand held spectroradiometer, were used to determine the predicted indices using the initial number of Sunn Pest (NOSP). Overall, r2 values of all predicted indices calculated for 3rd instars were lower than those of 4th and adult stage. When r2 was considered separately, predicted NDVIr index value (87.4) was the highest and predicted SIPI index value is lowest (80.7) in 3rd instars. The highest r2 value was obtained in adult stage of sunn pest is NDVIsg (96.9) compare with NDVId (95.5), NDVIr (92.4) and SIPI (94.2). It was also concluded that remote sensing could detect not only the different stages pest damage on wheat, but also the number of sunn pest stages density affect in controlled experiments. Key words: Remote sensing, Eurygaster integriceps, insect damage, NDVI, spectroradiometre.

Susceptibility of Sunn Pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), to Various Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae)

The susceptibility of adult sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), to five local Syrian isolates of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernema riobravae Texas, S. carpocapsae C3B, and H. bacteriophora 8-14 strains was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Concentrations of 50, 100, 200, and 400 nematodes per adult were bioassayed; for each nematode concentration, four groups of five sunn pests in Petri dishes were used and mortality was recorded daily for five d. The mortality induced by nematodes increased, typically with increasing numbers of nematodes per adult and ranged from 30 to 90%. Overall, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Musherphe strain produced the lowest mortality and Steinernema riobravae Texas strain produced the highest mortality. The LC50 values of H. bacteriophora Musherphe, S. carpocapsae C3B, and S. riobrave Texas were 107.1, 66.6, and 65.3 nematodes per adult sunn pest, respectively. LT50 values ranged from 3.6 to 7.2 d for H. bacteriophora Tabeh-gazira and H. bacteriophora Musherphe strains at 50 nematodes per sunn pest, from 2.9 to 5.1 d for H. bacteriophora Tabeh-gazira and H. bacteriophora Ariha strains at 100 nematodes per sunn pest, from 2.2 to 4.3 d for S. carpocapsae C3B and H. bacteriophora Ariha strains at 200 nematodes per sunn pest, and from 2.0 to 4.3 d for S. riobrave Texas and H. bacteriophora Musherphe strains at 400 nematodes per sunn pest, respectively. Our results suggest that H. bacteriophora Tabeh-gazira, H. bacteriophora El Ratla-1, H. bacteriophora El Ratla-2, H. bacteriophora 8-14, S. carpocapsae C3B, and S. riobrave Texas strains have potential as biocontrol agents against the sunn pest.

Molecular characterisation of Beauveria bassiana isolates obtained from overwintering sites of Sunn Pests ( Eurygaster and Aelia species)

110 isolates of Beauveria (104 B. bassiana, 5 Beauveria spp., 1 B. brongniartii) were obtained from Sunn Pests (Eurygaster and Aelia species), litter, and other insect samples at overwintering sites in seven countries in the Middle East and West Asia. DNA was extracted from these isolates, and four techniques were used to characterize and to investigate genetic diversity at the molecular level: ITS-RFLP, ITS sequencing, ISSR-PCR, and AFLP. The ITS-RFLP and ITS sequences did not detect significant genetic variation among the isolates. However, both ISSR-PCR and AFLP analyses gave indications of intraspecific groupings correlated with geographical origin and relative genetic diversity among some isolates, but no obvious association with Sunn Pest hosts. There was no obvious genotypic grouping of B. bassiana isolates from E. integriceps, perhaps suggesting the overwintering populations were infected by generalist native isolates rather than by host-specific ones that might be more suitable for biocontrol purposes.

Standard Methods for the Assessment of Sunn Pests of Wheat and for Crop Losses caused by them

In an attempt to standardize methods of assessment of Eurygaster spp. and Aelia spp., some methods published in USSR, Romania and Turkey are reviewed and details given. These are: 1) counting overwintering adults in quadrats or along a line; 2) counting old adults in quadrats or by sweep net after migration; 3) counting nymphs in quadrats. Methods of assessing crop loss caused are: 1) counting attacked stems of young wheat; 2) counting attacked ears; 3) identification and counting of attacked grain at harvest; 4) caging different numbers of nymphs and adults, and taking yields, grain weight, germination etc.; 5) assessing the effect on baking quality of flour etc. The effects of different numbers of insects per m2 on yield are given. It is suggested that standardization of such methods would lead to improved cooperative studies between different countries.