Incomplete reproductive barriers and genomic differentiation impact the spread of resistance mutations between green- and red-colour morphs of a cosmopolitan mite pest.

Pesticide resistance represents a clear and trackable case of adaptive evolution with a strong societal impact. Understanding the factors associated with the evolution and spread of resistance is imperative to develop sustainable crop management strategies. The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae, a major crop pest with worldwide distribution and a polyphagous lifestyle, has evolved resistance to most classes of pesticides.

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for rapid identification of and related species.

True fruit flies (Tephritidae) are among the most destructive agricultural pests in the world, attacking a wide range of fruits and vegetables. The Mediterranean fruit fly is a highly polyphagous species but, being widely established in the Mediterranean region, is not considered as a EU quarantine pest. Hence, it is important to discriminate from non-EU tephritid species, present in imported fruit and vegetables, as non-EU species have a quarantine status.

Effect of time and temperature on anticoagulant-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia in Göttingen minipigs.

Background: A marked decrease in thrombocyte count was observed between subsequent measurements of the same EDTA blood sample in several minipigs, but little information was available explaining this finding.

Objectives: The objective was to evaluate the impact of several preanalytic variables on thrombocyte counts in minipigs, in order to improve understanding of the in vitro thrombocyte decrease observed.

Materials And Methods: Hematology blood samples from male and female Göttingen minipigs were collected using EDTA or citrate as an anticoagulant.

Cold hardiness of the broad mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Acari: Tarsonemidae).

The cold hardiness of the broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus, a key pest in Rhododendron simsii hybrid production in northwestern Europe, was investigated in the laboratory. Survival of eggs, larvae and female adults and reproduction capacity of female P. latus were evaluated following cold exposure at 7 °C.

Temperature-dependent development of the broad mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) on Rhododendron simsii.

The broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks), is one of the major pests causing severe economic damage in Rhododendron simsii Planch hybrid production in Belgium. In order to optimize biological control programs and to parameterize warning programs, we studied the effect of environmental temperature on the development of P. latus on R.

The control of eriophyoid mites: state of the art and future challenges.

The superfamily of the Eriophyoidea is a large and diverse group of mites, including a number of species of economic importance, mainly on perennial plants in agriculture and forestry. This review focuses on the economic importance and pest status of this group of mites, with emphasis on some genera. The available acaricide portfolio is reviewed and the influence of EU legislation policy on the sustainable control of Eriophyoidea is investigated.

Validation of the Berlese-funnel technique for thrips extraction.

In order to get the accreditation EN ISO/IEC 17025 for Thrips palmi the Berlese-funnel technique, which is used for the isolation of quarantine insects out of plant material, was validated. Following parameters were investigated: cleaning of the funnel, temperature during isolation, detection limit and duration of the isolation period. Thrips fuscipennis was collected from heavily infected rosehip and used as target organism.

Acarological diagnostic research at the Diagnostic Centre for Plants during the period 2004-2006.

During the period 2004-2006, 1691 samples of different origin were examined at the Diagnostic Centre for Plants. We received 1046 samples of imported plant material for detection and identification of quarantine organisms. More than 200 samples were checked on mites and insects to get a phytosanitary certificate for export and 391 samples were investigated for diagnostic reason.

First report of Eotetranychus fagi in Belgium.

Eotetranychus fagi (Acari: Tetranychidae) was first recorded in Belgium on Fagus sylvatica in Kortrijk in October 2002. In the autumn of 2003 E. fagi was noticed again at several locations in Flanders.

Progressive cone dystrophy and sensorineural hearing loss.

A 39-year old man presented 13 years ago with a history of progressive loss of vision and photophobia. A full ophthalmological and ENT work-up during several years of follow-up, including psychophysical as well as electrophysiological tests, revealed a progressive cone dystrophy in combination with sensorineural hearing loss. His younger sister presented with very similar features and underwent the same work-up.

A model of the elastic take-off energy in the long jump.

A theoretical analysis of the long jump take-off is presented, with the conclusion that elastic effects are important. Measured data from the literature for groups of top athletes and average performers in the long jump confirm this conclusion and lead to an estimate of elastic energy conversion efficiency, which is very low (between 0.2 and 0.

The design and testing of a wire velocimeter.

The basic principles underlying the design of a velocimeter based on an unwinding wire, for use in athletics research, are discussed. It is shown by theoretical analysis that, in order to avoid runaway effects, the tension on the wire should be either high or low but not of intermediate strength. The low tension regime is shown to be theoretically the most favourable as it combines high accuracy of speed measurements in decelerated motion with insensitivity to resonance oscillations of the wire.