Phlebotomus perniciosus response to volatile organic compounds of dogs and humans.

The olfactory response of insect vectors such as phlebotomine sand flies is a key facet for investigating their interactions with vertebrate hosts and associated vector-borne pathogens. Such studies are mainly performed by assessing the electrophysiological response and the olfactory behaviour of these arthropods towards volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by hosts. Nonetheless, few studies are available for species of the subgenera Lutzomyia and Nyssomyia in South America, leaving a void for Old World sand fly species of the genus Phlebotomus.

Olfactory Response of Adults to Odours of Semolina Pasta and Semolina Pasta Enriched with Different Amounts of Powder.

The behavioural response of adult maize weevil, , to different types of semolina pasta enriched or not enriched with increasing proportions (5%, 10%, and 15%) of house cricket () powder was investigated in olfactometer arena bioassays by using trap devices. In the five-choice behavioural bioassays, the number of adults attracted to 100% durum wheat semolina pasta was significantly higher than those attracted to the other pasta types enriched with powder. In the two-choice behavioural bioassays, the Response Index for each pasta type was positive and significant.

Inhibitory activity of some short-chain aliphatic aldehydes on pheromone and ammonium carbonate-mediated attraction in olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae.

Background: The olive fruit fly (OFF), Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), is the main insect pest of olive trees worldwide. Legislation limits to the use of some synthetic larvicidal insecticides is leading to the development of new control options for preventive control of adult flies. In the present study, the biological activity of four short-chain aliphatic aldehydes, namely hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, heptanal and (E)-2-heptenal, previously reported as repellents to the OFF adults was investigated.

Identification of the Sex Pheromone of the Asparagus Moth, Parahypopta Caestrum (Lepidoptera, Cossidae).

Chemical, electrophysiological, and field trapping experiments were carried out to identify the female-produced sex pheromone of the asparagus moth, Parahypopta caestrum, a very serious pests of asparagus cultivations in southern Europe. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and electroantennogram detection (GC-MS-EAD) analysis of hexane and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) extracts of sex pheromone glands of calling females consistently detected four compounds eliciting EAG responses in male moth antennae. According to their GC retention times, mass spectra, and comparative EAG analyses with reference standards, these EAD-active compounds were identified as (Z)-9-tetradecenol (Z9-14:OH), (Z)-5-tetradecenyl acetate (Z5-14:Ac), (Z)-7-tetradecenyl acetate (Z7-14:Ac), and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-14:Ac), respectively.

Smelly interactions: host-borne volatile organic compounds triggering behavioural responses in mosquitoes, sand flies, and ticks.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals emitted as products of cell metabolism, which reflects the physiological and pathological conditions of any living organisms. These compounds play a key role as olfactory cues for arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes, sand flies, and ticks, which act in the transmission of pathogens to many animal species, including humans. Some VOCs may influence arthropod behaviour, e.

Olfactory Preferences of to Cereal- and Legume-Based Pasta.

We compared the attractiveness of five commercially available Italian macaroni pastas of different shapes (penne, casarecce, and fusilli) made from cereals and/or legumes [100% ; 100% ; 100% ; 50% + 50% ; 60% + 40% ] to adults of (L.). A multiple-choice walking bioassay showed that adults were more attracted to cereal than legume pastas.

Are Basic Substances a Key to Sustainable Pest and Disease Management in Agriculture? An Open Field Perspective.

Pathogens and pests constantly challenge food security and safety worldwide. The use of plant protection products to manage them raises concerns related to human health, the environment, and economic costs. Basic substances are active, non-toxic compounds that are not predominantly used as plant protection products but hold potential in crop protection.

Acceptance and utilization efficiency of a purple durum wheat genotype by Sitophilus granarius (L.).

The granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius L.) is a major primary pest of stored cereals throughout the world. Among the major classes of plant secondary metabolites, flavonoids can affect insect feeding behaviour and their growth rate.

Impact of Super-High Density Olive Orchard Management System on Soil Free-Living and Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in Central and South Italy.

The soil nematode community plays an important role in ecosystem services. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of Super-high density (SHD) olive orchards on the nematode community in five sites with different soils, climates, and cultivars. At each site, the SHD management system was compared to the adjacent olive orchard traditional (TRAD) system, in which the same soil management and phytosanitary measures were applied.

Behavioural and electrophysiological responses of Philaenus spumarius to odours from conspecifics.

The meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius L. (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Aphrophoridae), is the main vector of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca strain ST53, the causal agent of the Olive Quick Decline Syndrome.

Olfactory Response of the Spotted Asparagus Beetle, Crioceris duodecimpunctata (L.) to Host Plant Volatiles.

The spotted asparagus beetle, Crioceris duodecimpunctata (L.) is an invasive host-specific pest of asparagus cultivations. To contribute to the understanding of the role of plant volatiles in host-finding by this species, behavioural and electrophysiological tests were carried out.

Bioactivity of Essential Oil and Its Main Component towards the Olive Fruit Fly, : Ingestion Toxicity, Electrophysiological and Behavioral Insights.

Among botanical insecticides based on essential oils (EOs) or their main components, EO and the aromatic polyacetylene carlina oxide, constituting more than 90% of its EO, were recently proven to be effective against the larvae and adults of some insect vectors and pests. In this study, the toxicity of EO and carlina oxide were tested on adults using a protein bait formulation. The LC values of the EO and carlina oxide were 706 ppm and 1052 ppm, respectively.

Bioactivity of Cereal- and Legume-Based Macaroni Pasta Volatiles to Adult (L.).

The attractiveness of ten commercially available Italian macaroni pastas made from different cereals [; (whole wheat); ; mixture of five cereals; ; ] or legumes (; ; ; ) to , was compared. adults were more attracted to cereal pastas than legume pastas, but the differences in attractiveness were not always significant. Consistent with the results of behavioural bioassays, the mortality of adults over 20 days exposed to pasta samples was 100% with the legume pasta samples and only 8% with the pasta.

Bioactivity of Wild Hop Extracts against the Granary Weevil, (L.).

The use of bioinsecticides, rather than synthetic compounds, appears a goal to be pursued in pest control, especially for species such as (L.) which attack stored products. Since (L.

Biological Activity of Humulus Lupulus (L.) Essential Oil and Its Main Components Against (L.).

Besides its use in the brewing industry, hop cones appear as a powerful source of biologically active compounds, already checked for their putative anticancer, antimicrobial, and other bioactivities. Conversely, hop use in pest control remains to date under-investigated. Therefore, the biological activity of hop essential oil (EO) and its main constituents was investigated here against .

Behavioral Responses of (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) to Volatile Compounds Identified from Ellis (Gentianales: Rubiaceae).

is a common thrips pest of various plant flowers with host preference. Plant volatiles provide important information for host-searching in insects. We examined the behavioral responses of adults to the floral volatiles of Ellis, Bolus, Pallas, and Jacq.

Electrophysiological and behavioural response of Philaenus spumarius to essential oils and aromatic plants.

The meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius, is a highly polyphagous widespread species, playing a major role in the transmission of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa subspecies pauca, the agent of the "Olive Quick Decline Syndrome". Essential oils (EOs) are an important source of bio-active volatile compounds that could interfere with basic metabolic, biochemical, physiological, and behavioural functions of insects. Here, we report the electrophysiological and behavioural responses of adult P.

Electroantennographic Responses of (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) to a Range of Volatile Compounds.

Background: The red-necked longhorn beetle, , is one of the most damaging pests of stone fruit trees. Native to the south-eastern Palearctic and Oriental regions, it invaded and is established to some extent in the Campania Region (Southern Italy). In several cerambycid species, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been shown to play a role in mate and host plant location.

Innate positive chemotaxis to paeonal from highly attractive Chinese medicinal herbs in the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne.

Lasioderma serricorne, also known as cigarette beetle, can exploit a wide variety of stored materials as foods, but it is particularly common on tobacco and herbs. This beetle is a dominant pest species of stored Chinese medicinal materials (CMMs) causing high economic damages, making effective control strategies urgently needed. Behavioural manipulation is an important component of Integrated Pest Management.

Biological activity of Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter extracts against adult Sitophilus granarius (L.) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) and identification of active compounds.

Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter, a perennial weed of the Mediterranean area, was reported to be source of active substances. Here, by means of both ingestion and contact assays, the biological activity of three different extracts (n-hexane, methanol, and distilled water) of D.

Scanning Electron Microscopy of the Antennal Sensilla and Their Secretion Analysis in Adults of (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae).

Background: It has been proved that chemical signals play an important role in mating location and reproductive behavior in cerambycids; moreover, they rely on contact chemoreception for mate recognition.

Methods: Adult antennae of were observed using scanning electron microscopy and adult antennal secretions were collected and analyzed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Results: Twelve different types of sensilla were morphologically described on the antennae of .

Antennal olfactory responses of adult meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius, to volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius L. (Hemiptera, Aphrophoridae) is a commonly found vector of Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. (1987) strain subspecies pauca associated with the "Olive Quick Decline Syndrome" in Italy.

Electrophysiological and Behavioral Responses of Theocolax elegans (Westwood) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to Cereal Grain Volatiles.

Volatiles emitted by the host's food would be the first signals used by parasitoids in the host location process and are thought to play an important role in host habitat location. In this study, the olfactory responses of Theocolax elegans (Westwood), a Pteromalid wasp that parasitizes immature stages of stored-product insect pests developing inside cereal or leguminous grains, to volatiles emitted by healthy wheat grains, their hexane extracts, and different doses of three individual compounds previously identified in cereal grain odors were investigated in Y-tube olfactometer and Petri dish arena behavioral bioassays and electroantennogram recordings. In Y-tube olfactometer bioassays, odors from healthy wheat grains and their hexane extracts were attractive to both sexes of T.

Disruption of Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) oviposition by the application of host plant volatiles.

Background: Phthorimaea operculella is a key pest of potato. The authors characterised the P. operculella olfactory system, selected the most bioactive host plant volatiles and evaluated their potential application in pest management.