Olfactory preference of the litchi fruit borer for oviposition on two litchi varieties.

Background: The litchi fruit borer Conopomorpha sinensis Bradley is a major destructive pest of litchi and longan plants in China, India and South East Asia. Given its strong olfactory-based oviposition behaviour, interfering with the chemical communication between this insect pest and its host plant may serve as a potential control strategy. However, the chemical compounds associated with its egg-laying behaviour remain poorly understood.

Advantages of diapause in Anastatus japonicus Ashmead mass production on eggs of the Chinese oak silkworm, Antheraea pernyi.

Background: Anastatus japonicus Ashmead, a biological control agent utilized in China to control fruit bugs and forest caterpillars, is efficiently raised on large Chinese oak silkworm (Antheraea pernyi) eggs. Here, we investigated the biological parameters of non-diapaused and diapaused Anastatus japonicus after long-term storage within eggs of the host, Antheraea pernyi, under laboratory conditions.

Results: Diapaused mature larvae of Anastatus japonicus were more cold-tolerant than non-diapaused mature larvae, as reflected by a lower supercoiling point, lower freezing point, and higher survival rate at cold temperatures.

Reproductive attributes and functional response of Anastatus japonicus on eggs of Antheraea pernyi, a factitious host.

Background: Anastatus japonicus Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) is a solitary egg endoparasitoid that has been studied for inundative biological control of Halyomorpha halys Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in China. In this study, we assessed the reproductive attributes and functional response of Anastatus japonicus on a factitious host, Antheraea pernyi (Guérin-Méneville) (Lepidoptera: Anthelidae) at 25 ± 1 °C, 70 ± 5% relative humidity and 16 h:8 h light/dark photoperiod.

Results: The mean lifetime fecundity of Anastatus japonicus females was 404.

Ability of (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to Parasitize (Diptera: Tephritidae) after Switching Hosts.

We studied the parasitism capacity of as a pupal parasite of after switching hosts. We used pupae of and as the hosts and studied parasitism by in the laboratory. The parasitism capacities were compared at different host densities and different parasitoid ages.

Behavioral response of (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae) to synthetic chemicals and oils.

Background: (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae) population outbreaks after the citrus plantation's chemical application is a common observation. Dispersal behavior is an essential tool to understand the secondary outbreak of population. Therefore, in the current study, the dispersal activity of was observed on the leaf surfaces of (Rutaceae) treated with SYP-9625, abamectin, vegetable oil, and EnSpray 99.

Transcriptome characterization and gene expression analysis related to chemoreception in Trichogramma chilonis, an egg parasitoid.

Chemoreception is critical for the survival of insects. Insects have a variety of behavioral responses, such as mating, host searching and ovipositing, in response to different odor signals detected in their living environment. Trichogramma chilonis, an egg parasitoid, acts as an efficient and effective biocontrol reagent for many agricultural and forestry insect pests in many parts of China.

Seasonal and geographical variation in diapause and cold hardiness of the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis.

Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), is a key corn pest in the Asian-Western Pacific countries. It overwinters as full-grown larvae in plant stalks or in a spun-silk covering located in the plant debris in the temperate regions of China. Supercooling point (SCP) and survival rate after low sub-zero temperature treatment were assessed for field-collected populations in the laboratory using a cool bath with a 1°C/min cooling rate until -40°C.

Evaluation of predation abilities of Blattisocius dolichus (Acari: Blattisociidae) on a plant-parasitic nematode, Radopholus similis (Tylenchida: Pratylenchidae).

Predation and predatory behavior of Blattisocius dolichus on Radopholus similis were tested both in experimental arenas and on potted plants. Predation occurred in all active stages of B. dolichus.