Stem Borer (stem + borer)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Life Sciences


Selected Abstracts


Species richness and parasitism in an assemblage of parasitoids attacking maize stem borers in coastal Kenya

ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2003
Guofa Zhou
Abstract. 1. Parasitoids were reared from four species of lepidopteran stem borer collected in maize in southern coastal Kenya from 1992 to 1999. The stem borers included three native species, Sesamia calamistis Hampson, Busseola fusca Fuller, and Chilo orichalcociliellus (Strand), and one exotic borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe). A total of 174 663 caterpillars was collected, of which 12 645 were parasitised. 2. Twenty-six primary parasitoid species were reared from the exotic borer, C. partellus, indicating a rapid accumulation of native parasitoids on the alien borer. 3. The three most abundant parasitoids were the larval parasitoids Cotesia sesamiae Cameron, Cotesia flavipes (Cameron), and the pupal parasitoid Pediobius furvus Gahan. The pupal parasitoid Dentichasmias busseolae Heinrich and the larval parasitoid Goniozus indicus Ashmead were also common. All used an ingress-and-sting method of attack. 4. Cotesia flavipes, introduced into Kenya in 1993, was found in all seasons from 1997 onwards, and has become the most abundant stem borer larval parasitoid in the area. A native congener, Cotesia sesamiae, appeared in all seasons from 1992 to 1999. Together, these two parasitoids accounted for 83.3% of the parasitised borers. 5. Thirty parasitoid species were recovered in Kilifi district, 27 in Kwale, and 15 in Taita Taveta. Parasitism was much greater in Taita Taveta district than in Kilifi or Kwale districts. [source]


A new stem-borer of the genus Bucculatrix (Lepidoptera: Bucculatricidae) from Japan, with description of the life history

ENTOMOLOGICAL SCIENCE, Issue 1 2009
Shigeki KOBAYASHI
Abstract A new species of bucculaticid moth, Bucculatrix hamaboella sp. nov. (Host plant: Hibiscus hamabo, Malvaceae) is described from Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. The feeding habit of the new species is unique in that: (i) the young larva is a leaf miner forming a long red linear mine but in the later instars the larva becomes a stem borer; (ii) later instar larvae undergo double molts within a cocoonet (molting cocoon); and (iii) penultimate and final instars appear on the surface of the leaf as non-feeding stages. The external non-feeding larvae of B. hamaboella undergoing double molts within one cocoonet are considered to be an abbreviated form of the external feeding instars of other bucculatricids typically making first and second cocoonets, undergoing a single molt within each cocoonet. On the basis of morphological characters, this species is related to the species of Sections I and II (Host: Asteraceae) of Braun (1963), rather than to the species of Section VIII (Host: Malvaceae). [source]


Difference in the time of mating activity between host-associated populations of the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis (Walker)

ENTOMOLOGICAL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2006
Hideki UENO
Abstract Mating activities of the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis, were compared between rice- and wateroat-feeding populations, and two potential temporal factors that may act as reproductive barriers were examined. Seasonal data of the number of moths attracted to pheromone traps showed that the peak of emergence at the rice field was approximately 10 days earlier than that at the wateroat vegetation in the first flight season, although there was a broad overlap of emergence at the two locations. Both field observations and a laboratory experiment showed that moths from the rice field started mating earlier than those from the wateroat vegetation. However, whereas the difference was distinctive in the laboratory experiment, mating activity at the wateroat vegetation shifted significantly to an earlier time phase than that observed in the laboratory. Body size data showed that the male moths attracted to the pheromone traps at the wateroat vegetation were significantly larger than those at the rice field, suggesting that the traps at the two locations mainly attracted moths originating from different host plants. However, pheromone-trapped males at the rice field were significantly larger than those reared from overwintering samples. These results support the idea that males from the wateroat vegetation migrate to the rice field. The differences in seasonal and temporal mating activity and their effects on development of reproductive isolation between host-associated populations are discussed. [source]


Biology and damage traits of emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) in China

INSECT SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007
XIA WEI
Abstract Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is a major stem borer of ash (Fraxinus spp.). It is univoltine in Tianjin, while it is semivoltine in Heilongjiang Province, and both univoltine and semivoltine in Changchun, Jilin Province, where the majority is univoltine. The longevity of emerald ash borer adults is 17.2 ± 4.6 days (n= 45), eggs 9.0 ± 1.1 days (n= 103), univoltine larvae 308 days, semivoltine larvae 673 days, and pupae 61.2±1.6 days (n= 45). It takes about 100 days from the time larvae bore into the phloem to when they complete the pupal cell. In a 10-year-old velvet ash (Fraxinus velutina Torr.) plantation in Tianjin, emerald ash borer preferred to oviposit on the regions of boles from 50-150 cm above ground, accounting for 76.7% of the total girdling. Girdling on the south side of the tree boles accounted for 43.40% of the total girdling. The emerald ash borer population density is higher at the edge of the plantation compared with the center. [source]


Development of insect-resistant transgenic rice with Cry1C*-free endosperm

PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 9 2009
Rongjian Ye
Abstract BACKGROUND: Yellow stem borer (Tryporyza incertulas Walker), striped stem borer (Chilo suppressalis Walker) and leaf folder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenec) are three lepidopteran pests that cause severe damage to rice in many areas of the world. In this study, novel insect-resistant transgenic rice was developed in which Bt protein expression was nearly absent in the endosperm. The resistant gene, cry1C*, driven by the rice rbcS promoter (small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase), was introduced into Zhonghua 11 (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica) by Agrobacterium -mediated transformation. RESULTS: A total of 83 independent transformants were obtained, 19 of which were characterised as single-copy foreign gene insertion. After preliminary screening of the T1 families of these 19 transformants in the field, six highly insect-resistant homozygous lines were selected. These six homozygous transgenic lines were field tested for resistance to leaf folders and stem borers, and for their agronomic performance. The Cry1C* protein levels in leaves and endosperm were measured by ELISA. Subsequently, the elite transgenic line RJ5 was selected; this line not only possessed high resistance to leaf folders and stem borers, normal agronomic performance, but also Cry1C* expression was only 2.6 ng g,1 in the endosperm. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that RJ5 has the potential for widespread utility in rice production. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Comparison of dose responses and resistance ratios in four populations of the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), to 20 insecticides

PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 3 2008
Yue Ping He
Abstract BACKGROUND: Chemical control is a major strategy for suppressing the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis (Walker). Owing to their high toxicity and increasing resistance development in the target insect, many insecticides will be phased out entirely in 2007 in China. Alternatives with relatively low toxicity are urgently needed to replace traditional chemicals for rice stem borer control. In this study, the authors examined four field populations of C. suppressalis for their toxicological responses to more than 20 insecticides, including a few low-toxicity organophosphates and many novel pesticides. Interpopulation resistance levels to 12 conventional insecticides were also compared. RESULTS: Based on LD50 values, the rice stem borer was most sensitive to avermectins and fipronil (LD50 < 1 ng larva,1). The stem borers exhibited the least sensitivity to endosulfan (LD50 > 100 ng larva,1) and monosultap (LD50 > 1000 ng larva,1). Insect growth regulators and chitin synthase inhibitors showed great efficacy against C. suppressalis, especially against populations that had developed resistance to conventional insecticides. Four field populations showed variable tolerance levels to many insecticides. LYG05 was the most susceptible population, only with a low level of resistance to monosultap (RR = 6.6). NC05 and GL05 populations exhibited intermediate tolerance levels with RR values up to 20.4 and 52.8 respectively. RA05 was the most resistant population to many insecticides, with resistance ratios up to 76.2. CONCLUSION: The results from this study provide valuable information for selection and adoption of new alternative insecticides and for resistance management of the rice stem borer. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Rind puncture resistance in maize: inheritance and relationship with resistance to pink stem borer attack

PLANT BREEDING, Issue 5 2002
A. Butrón
Abstract The main pest of maize in north-western Spain is the pink stem borer, Sesamia nonagrioides, and stem lodging is one of the consequences of attack. Since rind puncture resistance is related to stem lodging resistance, the objectives of this work were to estimate the genetic effects involved in the inheritance of rind puncture resistance and to determine the phenotypic correlation coefficients between rind puncture resistance and pink stem borer damage. Six generations from the crosses ,CM109'×,EP31' and ,CM109'×,EP42' and a 10-inbred line diallel were evaluated in Pontevedra, Spain, in 1995 and 1996. The inheritance of rind puncture resistance had two significant components, one additive and one dominant. Non-allelic and genotype × environment interactions were not significant. Improvement for internode rind puncture resistance to increase stem strength and stalk lodging resistance could have some positive influence on resistance to pink stem borer. However, its use as an estimator of pink stem borer resistance cannot be generalized and so must be restricted to programmes that involve materials exhibiting physical resistance to pink stem borer attack. [source]


Genetics of resistance to the pink stem borer (Sesamia nonagrioides) in maize (Zea mays)

ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
A. Butrón
Abstract Our knowledge of the genetics of resistance to the pink stem borer (Sesamia nonagrioides) in maize (Zea mays) is restricted to a few crosses among maize inbreds. The objectives of this study were to enlarge our understanding of the genetics of traits related to damage by pink stem borer and yield under infestation and to use generation means analyses to compare per se and testcross performance for detecting epistatic effects. All generations, either per se or crossed to testers, were evaluated in a 10 × 10 triple lattice design under artificial infestation with S. nonagrioides in 2005 and 2006. Most traits fit an additive,dominance model; but evidence for epistasis for resistance and yield under infestation was shown. Epistasis, in general, did not appear to play an important role in the inheritance of yield under pink stem borer infestation. However, the epistasis contribution to maize yield performance could be important in some outstanding crosses such as EP42 × A637. Testcross generation means revealed epistatic effects undetected by the generation means analysis, but neither method was able to eliminate dominance effects that could prevail over epistatic effects. [source]


Long-term effects of ungulates on phytophagous insects

ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2007
JOSÉ M. GÓMEZ
Abstract 1.,Most plants interact with a diverse suite of herbivores, allowing the opportunity for the existence of positive and negative interactions between highly dissimilar organisms. However, most studies on herbivorous interactions have been performed under the assumption that they occur mainly between similar species. Consequently, ecologists are still far from a full understanding of the ecological factors that determine insect population dynamics. 2.,In this study, a 7-year field experiment was conducted that manipulated the presence of ungulates to evaluate their effects on the abundance, attack rate, and survival of four guilds of co-occurring herbivorous insects living on the same host plant: seed predators, stem borers, gall makers and sap suckers. These four guilds differed in habits and behaviour, the first three being sessile and endophytic and the last being free-living. 3.,This study shows that the abundance of all four guilds was negatively affected by ungulates. However, the effect on attack rate differed among guilds, as mammals do not affect the seed predator attack rate. Ungulates also differentially affected insect survival, ingesting only seed predators and gall makers. 4.,In summary, this study suggests that diverse mechanisms may affect different insect guilds in different ways. Therefore, competition between disparate herbivores appears to be complex and can be provoked by multiple mechanisms. [source]


Species richness and parasitism in an assemblage of parasitoids attacking maize stem borers in coastal Kenya

ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2003
Guofa Zhou
Abstract. 1. Parasitoids were reared from four species of lepidopteran stem borer collected in maize in southern coastal Kenya from 1992 to 1999. The stem borers included three native species, Sesamia calamistis Hampson, Busseola fusca Fuller, and Chilo orichalcociliellus (Strand), and one exotic borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe). A total of 174 663 caterpillars was collected, of which 12 645 were parasitised. 2. Twenty-six primary parasitoid species were reared from the exotic borer, C. partellus, indicating a rapid accumulation of native parasitoids on the alien borer. 3. The three most abundant parasitoids were the larval parasitoids Cotesia sesamiae Cameron, Cotesia flavipes (Cameron), and the pupal parasitoid Pediobius furvus Gahan. The pupal parasitoid Dentichasmias busseolae Heinrich and the larval parasitoid Goniozus indicus Ashmead were also common. All used an ingress-and-sting method of attack. 4. Cotesia flavipes, introduced into Kenya in 1993, was found in all seasons from 1997 onwards, and has become the most abundant stem borer larval parasitoid in the area. A native congener, Cotesia sesamiae, appeared in all seasons from 1992 to 1999. Together, these two parasitoids accounted for 83.3% of the parasitised borers. 5. Thirty parasitoid species were recovered in Kilifi district, 27 in Kwale, and 15 in Taita Taveta. Parasitism was much greater in Taita Taveta district than in Kilifi or Kwale districts. [source]


Economic analysis of different options in integrated pest and soil fertility management in maize systems of Western Kenya

AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, Issue 5 2010
Hugo De Groote
Abstract The major biotic constraints to the production of maize, the major staple food in Western Kenya, are field pests such as,Striga,and stem borers, and low soil fertility. To counter these constraints, new cropping systems have been developed, including "push-pull," rotations with promiscuous soybean varieties and green manure crops, and imidazolinone resistant- (IR-) maize. To analyze the technical and economic performance of these technologies, both with and without fertilizer, on-farm researcher-managed long-term trials were implemented over six seasons in two sites each in Vihiga and Siaya districts of Western Kenya. The economic results, based on marginal analysis using a multioutput, multiperiod model, show that the new cropping systems with fodder intercropping (push-pull) or soybean rotations were highly profitable. Push-pull is more profitable but requires a relatively high initial investment cost. Green manure rotation, IR-maize, and fertilizer all increased yields, but these investments were generally not justified by their increased revenue. We argue that research on rotation and cropping systems to tackle pest and soil fertility problems in Africa deserve more attention. This will require increased collaboration between agronomists and economists to set up long-term experiments with new cropping systems to develop proper economic models. [source]


Development of insect-resistant transgenic rice with Cry1C*-free endosperm

PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 9 2009
Rongjian Ye
Abstract BACKGROUND: Yellow stem borer (Tryporyza incertulas Walker), striped stem borer (Chilo suppressalis Walker) and leaf folder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenec) are three lepidopteran pests that cause severe damage to rice in many areas of the world. In this study, novel insect-resistant transgenic rice was developed in which Bt protein expression was nearly absent in the endosperm. The resistant gene, cry1C*, driven by the rice rbcS promoter (small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase), was introduced into Zhonghua 11 (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica) by Agrobacterium -mediated transformation. RESULTS: A total of 83 independent transformants were obtained, 19 of which were characterised as single-copy foreign gene insertion. After preliminary screening of the T1 families of these 19 transformants in the field, six highly insect-resistant homozygous lines were selected. These six homozygous transgenic lines were field tested for resistance to leaf folders and stem borers, and for their agronomic performance. The Cry1C* protein levels in leaves and endosperm were measured by ELISA. Subsequently, the elite transgenic line RJ5 was selected; this line not only possessed high resistance to leaf folders and stem borers, normal agronomic performance, but also Cry1C* expression was only 2.6 ng g,1 in the endosperm. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that RJ5 has the potential for widespread utility in rice production. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Site-independently integrated transgenes in the elite restorer rice line Minghui 63 allow removal of a selectable marker from the gene of interest by self-segregation

PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2003
Jumin Tu
Summary In this study, we have demonstrated that two independent loci are involved in the integration of the insecticidal protein gene cryIAb/cryIAc and selectable marker gene hph in the recipient genome of the elite Chinese CMS restorer line Minghui 63. We have also documented the structural organization of these transgenes in each locus by restriction enzyme digestion and Southern blot analysis. The independent locus integration of different transgenes allowed us to remove the selectable marker gene hph from the gene of interest simply by self-segregation. Not having the selectable marker gene will enhance the commercial value of our transgenic line TT51-1, which showed a consistently high level of resistance against repeated infestations of yellow stem borers and natural outbreaks of leaf-folders, without a reduction in yield potential. [source]