2009 JAN 8 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to recent research from the United States, "The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), is a worldwide pest of numerous agricultural and ornamental crops. In addition to directly feeding on plants, it also acts as a vector of plant viruses of cultivated and uncultivated host plant species."

  "Moreover, host plants can affect the population dynamics of whiteflies. An open-choice screening experiment was conducted with B-biotype B. tabaci on a diverse collection of crops, weeds, and other indigenous plant species. Five of the plant species were further evaluated in choice or no-choice tests in the laboratory. The results reveal 49 new reproductive host plant species for B. tabaci. This includes 11 new genera of host plants (Arenaria, Avena, Carduus, Dichondra, Glechoma, Gnaphalium, Molugo, Panicum, Parthenocissus, Trianthema, and Triticum) for this whitefly. All species that served as hosts were acceptable for feeding, oviposition, and development to the adult stage by B. tabaci. The new hosts include three cultivated crops [oats (Avena sativa L.), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)], weeds and other wild species, including 32 Ipomoea species, which are relatives of sweetpotato [I. batatas (L.) Lam.)]. Yellow nutsedge, Cyperus esculentus L., did not serve as a host for B. tabaci in either open-choice or no-choice tests," wrote A.M. Simmons and colleagues, Department of Agriculture ...read more

  2009 JAN 8 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "It is well known that noctuid moths respond to ultrasound frequencies produced by insectivorous bats performing a series of evasive maneuvers such as loops, dives, rolls, and turns. Certain ultrasound frequencies may be considered an environmental stress factor for these moths, causing physiological and behavioral effects," scientists in Wuhan, People's Republic of China report.

  "We investigated changes in acetylcholinesterase activity of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) exposed to ultrasound produced from a commercial device (LHC20). Our results indicated that stress effects on acetylcholinesterase activity resulting from exposure to ultrasound do not differ according to sex, but effects on different developmental stages of H. armigera differ significantly depending on duration of exposure. Enzyme activity increased in adults after 20 ruin exposure to ultrasound and decreased ill pupae after 30 and 50 min exposure. Enzyme activity in larvae was reduced after 20 ruin and increased after 40 and 60 min," wrote Y.P. Zha and colleagues, Huazhong Agricultural University ...read more

  2009 JAN 8 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "Several studies suggest the possibility that non-native lady beetles may have replaced native lady beetles in some agricultural habitats. There is relatively little information, however, about lady beetle species composition outside of agricultural habitats," investigators in the United States report.

  "Evans (2004) suggested that native species have retreated to nonagricultural habitats in response to the arrival of non-native lady beetles (habitat compression hypothesis). To test this hypothesis, a survey of lady beetles was conducted in 2004 and 2005 in different habitats in Maine. From May to October, lady beetles were sampled in a variety of agricultural and nonagricultural habitats. In total, 3,487 and 2,903 lady beetles were collected in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Non-native lady beetles were found in a variety of habitats, including the habitats that would have likely served as a refuge for native species if the habitat compression hypothesis applied to the surveyed areas. Native species were found in a higher proportion in agricultural habitats compared with nonagricultural habitats and in very low numbers in all of the habitats surveyed. Hippodamia tredecimpunctata tibialis (Say) and Coccinella transversoguttata Brown, the two native species that were once dominant here, made up only 1.09 and 0.07% of the total lady beetles collected, respectively," wrote C.J. Finlayson and colleagues, University of Maine ...read more