Toxicity and Lethal Effect of Greenhouse Insecticides on (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) as Biological Control Agent of (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

Deltamethrin and imidacloprid are commonly used insecticides for controlling sub-sucking insects in greenhouses. However, their application may cause sublethal effects on the aphid coccinellid predator (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Here, we study (i) the toxicity and the effect of two sublethal doses (LD and LD) of deltamethrin and imidacloprid on in a laboratory microcosm and (ii) the residual toxicity of the two insecticides in a greenhouse.

Toxicity and Influence of Sublethal Exposure to Sulfoxaflor on the Aphidophagous Predator (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).

(Goeze), the variegated ladybug, is a predator of many insect pests, especially aphids. Sulfoxaflor is a chemical insecticide that can be used to control many sap-feeding insect pests, for instance, plant bugs and aphids, as an alternative to neonicotinoids in different crops. To improve the combination of the and sulfoxaflor in an IPM (integrated pest management) program, we studied the ecological toxicity of the insecticide to the coccinellid predator at sublethal and lethal doses.

Toxicity, Sublethal and Low Dose Effects of Imidacloprid and Deltamethrin on the Aphidophagous Predator (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).

(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is a common aphidophagous coccinellid predator used in biological control against aphid pests. Knowing toxicity, lethal, and sublethal effects of insecticides on natural enemies is essential in order to incorporate them into Integrated Pest Management (IPM). In the present study, the lethal and sublethal effects of imidacloprid and deltamethrin were evaluated on the fourth instar larvae of and subsequently on the full life cycle.

Long-term studies on the evolution of resistance of (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to insecticides in Greece.

The aphid Myzus persicae s.l. (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is an important pest of many crops worldwide with a complex life cycle, intensely controlled by chemical pesticides, and has developed resistance to almost all used insecticides.

Lethal and sub-lethal effects of imidacloprid on the aphidophagous coccinellid hippodamia variegata.

Hippodamia variegata is one of the most abundant ladybird species in Greece, preying on several aphid species and other arthropods, of which many are pests of cultivated plants. Imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide, is commonly used for controlling sucking insects; at the same time, however, it can cause various sub-lethal effects on non-target organisms. The development of IPM programs against pests requires an evaluation of the side effects of insecticides on natural enemies.

Evolution of imidacloprid resistance in Myzus persicae in Greece and susceptibility data for spirotetramat.

Background: Myzus persicae s.l. is a major crop pest globally and has evolved resistance to a range of insecticide classes making it increasingly difficult to control in some areas.

Identification of a point mutation in the ace1 gene of Therioaphis trifolli maculata and detection of insecticide resistance by a diagnostic PCR-RFLP assay.

Aphids are important agricultural pests worldwide. Their control is largely based on chemical insecticides. One species that shows important invasive abilities and host-plant-related differences is Therioaphis trifolii (Monell) (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

Insecticide resistance status of Myzus persicae in Greece: long-term surveys and new diagnostics for resistance mechanisms.

Background: Myzus persicae nicotianae is an important pest in Greece, controlled mainly by neonicotinoids. Monitoring of the aphid populations for resistance mechanisms is essential for effective control.

Results: Two new RFLP-based diagnostics for the detection of the M918T (super-kdr pyrethroid resistance) and nAChR R81T (neonicotinoid resistance) mutations were applied, along with other established assays, on 131 nicotianae multilocus genotypes (MLGs) collected from tobacco and peach in Greece in 2012-2013.

Genetic diversity and insecticide resistance during the growing season in the green peach aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on primary and secondary hosts: a farm-scale study in Central Chile.

The seasonal dynamics of neutral genetic diversity and the insecticide resistance mechanisms of insect pests at the farm scale are still poorly documented. Here this was addressed in the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Central Chile. Samples were collected from an insecticide sprayed peach (Prunus persica L.

Comparing the genetic structure of codling moth Cydia pomonella (L.) from Greece and France: long distance gene-flow in a sedentary pest species.

Codling moth Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is the most important insect pest of apple production in Europe. Despite the economic importance of this pest, there is not information about the genetic structure of its population in Greece and the patterns of gene-flow which might affect the success of control programs.

The invasion route for an insect pest species: the tobacco aphid in the New World.

Biological invasions are rapid evolutionary events in which populations are usually subject to a founder event during introduction followed by rapid adaptation to the new environment. Molecular tools and Bayesian approaches have shown their utility in exploring different evolutionary scenarios regarding the invasion routes of introduced species. We examined the situation for the tobacco aphid, Myzus persicae nicotianae, a recently introduced aphid species in Chile.

Tracking the global dispersal of a cosmopolitan insect pest, the peach potato aphid.

Background: Global commerce and human transportation are responsible for the range expansion of various insect pests such as the plant sucking aphids. High resolution DNA markers provide the opportunity to examine the genetic structure of aphid populations, identify aphid genotypes and infer their evolutionary history and routes of expansion which is of value in developing management strategies. One of the most widespread aphid species is the peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae, which is considered as a serious pest on various crops in many parts of the world.

Worldwide variability of insecticide resistance mechanisms in the codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

The activity of detoxifying enzymes (glutathione-S-transferases (GST), mixed-function oxidases (MFO), and esterases (EST)) and the presence of insensitive variants of target proteins (sodium channel and acetylcholinesterase) were examined in individual male and female codling moths. Twenty-nine populations from 11 countries and two laboratory strains were examined. Populations were classified as either unsprayed or sprayed.

A small deletion in the olive fly acetylcholinesterase gene associated with high levels of organophosphate resistance.

Organophosphate resistance in the olive fly was previously shown to associate with two point mutations in the ace gene. The frequency of these mutations was monitored in Bactrocera oleae individuals of increasing resistance. In spite of the difference in resistance among the individuals, there was no correlation between mutation frequencies and resistance level, indicating that other factors may contribute to this variation.

Efficacy of the pyrethroid alpha-cypermethrin against Bactrocera oleae populations from Greece, and improved diagnostic for an iAChE mutation.

Background: The most important pest of olive orchards worldwide is the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin). Its control in Greece has been based on organophosphates (OPs), but their intense use has led to the development of resistance. A test previously developed to monitor the trait may not be as robust as originally thought.

Insecticide resistance status of Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) populations from peach and tobacco in mainland Greece.

The susceptibility of 88 and 38 field samples of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) to imidacloprid and deltamethrin respectively was examined using the FAO dip test bioassay. The field samples were collected from tobacco and peach from various regions of Greece in the period from 2004 to 2006. In addition, 497, 349 and 370 clones originating from peach and tobacco were screened for the three known resistance mechanisms, elevated esterases, modified acetylcholinesterase (MACE) and knockdown resistance (kdr) respectively, using biochemical and DNA diagnostics.

Genetic variation among Mediterranean populations of Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) as revealed by RFLP mtDNA analysis.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of two segments of mitochondrial DNA (COI and 16S rRNA) was used to examine genetic variation in Sesamia nonagrioides (Lefèbvre) populations from the Mediterranean basin. Four populations were collected from central and southern Greece, and five from northern latitudes: Greece, Italy, France and Spain. No variation was observed in COI, while 16S rRNA segment proved highly polymorphic and 28 different haplotypes were found.

Distribution of common genotypes of Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Greece, in relation to life cycle and host plant.

Microsatellite genotyping was used to identify common clones in populations of the Myzus persicae group from various hosts and regions in mainland Greece and southern Italy and to compare their distribution and occurrence on tobacco and other crops. Common clones were defined as genotypes collected at more than one time or in more than one population; and, therefore, unlikely to be participating in the annual sexual phase on peach. Sixteen common genotypes were found, accounting for 49.

Organophosphate resistance in olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, populations in Greece and Cyprus.

The olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is the most important pest of olives in countries around the Mediterranean basin. Its control has been based mostly on bait sprays with organophosphate insecticides (usually dimethoate or fenthion) for about 40 years. In the present study, the resistance status of olive fruit fly populations to dimethoate was examined in Greece and Cyprus over 2 years.

Transmission of Potato virus Y in Tobacco Plants by Myzus persicae nicotianae and M. persicae s.str.

The transmission efficiency of Potato virus Y (PVY) from and to tobacco plants by Myzus persicae nicotianae, a tobacco specialist, and M. persicae s.str.

Morphological discrimination of Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) populations feeding on Compositae.

Aphis gossypii Glover is a polyphagous aphid pest with a worldwide distribution. However, there is evidence that on a global scale the name A. gossypii is being applied to a number of forms with different life cycles and/or host-plant associations.

Discrimination of the closely related biocontrol agents Macrolophus melanotoma (Hemiptera: Miridae) and M. pygmaeus using mitochondrial DNA analysis.

The separation of the closely related predatory species Macrolophus melanotoma Costa (= M. caliginosus Wagner) and Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) based exclusively on the different colour pattern of the first antennal segment (white central band in M. melanotoma and entirely black in M.

Genetic variation of Marchalina hellenica (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) sampled from different hosts and localities in Greece.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was applied to 120 individuals of Marchalina hellenica (Gennadius) representing six populations collected in northern, central and southern mainland Greece. One population was sampled on one species of fir tree and the others on two species of pine trees. Four random decamer primers were used to evaluate genetic variation among the populations examined.

Performance of Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) clones on different host-plants and their host preference.

The performance of eighteen clones of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) on pepper and tobacco plants at 20 degrees C and L16:D8 and the choice of young adult apterae between tobacco and pepper leaf-discs were examined. The clones were collected from weeds and peach in two tobacco-growing regions: Katerini, northern Greece and Karditsa, central Greece (only from weeds) and from Lehonia, central eastern Greece where tobacco is not cultivated. All clones did well on both hosts.