Phytophagy by the Mullein Bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) on Apples: Feeding Behavior and Fruit Damage.

The zoophytophagous mullein bug, Campylomma verbasci (Meyer-Dür) (Hemiptera: Miridae), is a beneficial predator of mites and aphids, but also a pest causing damage when it feeds on apples. The aim of this study was to evaluate three different parameters of phytophagy of the mullein bug both in laboratory (phytophagous behavior) and field (fruit damage) tests: 1) apple cultivar, 2) fruit size, and 3) nymphal instar. In the laboratory, nymphs were observed individually for 15 min in Petri dishes containing agar gel and an apple fruitlet to evaluate feeding punctures of four apple cultivars, four fruit sizes, and five nymphal instars. In the orchard, nymphs were caged at bloom in sleeve cages to evaluate damage on the developing fruit of seven apple cultivars and three nymphal instars on 'Red Delicious'. The feeding punctures in the laboratory were higher on 'Red Delicious' than on 'Honeycrisp'; fruit damage in the orchard did not differ among cultivars at mid-season, but was higher on 'Red Delicious' than on 'Lobo' and 'Marshall McIntosh' at harvest. The number of feeding punctures in the laboratory was higher on 7-9 mm than on 18-20 mm size fruit for 'Red Delicious', but not for 'Honeycrisp'. The number of feeding punctures in the laboratory made by the fifth nymphal instar was higher than those made by younger nymphs, but fruit damage in the orchard did not differ among nymphal instars. Our results will help to elaborate a management chart for this insect by minimizing risks and promoting its use for biocontrol. RÉSUMÉ: .La punaise de la molène, Campylomma verbasci (Meyer-Dür) (Hemiptera: Miridae), est un prédateur bénéfique zoophytophage des acariens et pucerons dans les vergers, mais également un ravageur causant des dommages lorsqu'il se nourrit sur les pommes. Le but de cette étude était d'évaluer trois paramètres différents sur la phytophagie de la punaise de la molène, à la fois en laboratoire (comportement phytophage) et sur le terrain (dommages aux fruits) : 1) les cultivars de pommes, 2) la taille des fruits, et 3) les stades larvaires. En laboratoire, les larves étaient observées individuellement pendant 15 min dans des boites de Petri contenant un gel d'agar et une jeune pomme afin de déterminer les piqûres de nutrition sur quatre cultivars de pommes, quatre tailles de fruit et cinq stades larvaires différents. En verger, des larves ont été encagées à la floraison dans des manchons en mousseline afin d'évaluer les dommages sur les fruits en développement. Les essais ont été effectués sur sept cultivars de pommes ainsi qu'avec trois stades larvaires sur le cultivar "Délicieuse rouge". Les piqûres de nutrition en laboratoire étaient plus nombreuses sur "Délicieuse rouge" que sur "Honeycrisp"; les dommages aux fruits en verger ne différaient pas entre les cultivars à mi-saison, mais étaient plus nombreux sur "Délicieuse rouge" que sur "Lobo" et "Marshall McIntosh" à la récolte. Les piqûres de nutrition en laboratoire étaient plus nombreuses pour la taille de fruit 7-9 mm que 18-20 mm sur "Délicieuse rouge", mais pas sur "Honeycrisp". Le nombre de piqûres de nutrition (en laboratoire) faites par les larves de stade 5 étaient plus nombreuses que celles faites par les larves plus jeunes, mais les dommages aux fruits (en verger) ne différaient pas entre les stades larvaires. Ces résultats vont aider à élaborer une charte de gestion de cet insecte en minimisant les risques et en favorisant son rôle d'agent de lutte biologique.

Evaluation of bone marrow aspirates from multiple sites for staging of canine lymphoma and mast cell tumours.

This prospective study evaluated the utility of bone marrow aspirates (BMAs) obtained from multiple sites for staging of canine lymphoma (LSA) and mast cell tumours (MCTs). Forty dogs (LSA, n = 24; MCTs, n = 16) were enrolled, but only 33 (82.5%) had diagnostic bone marrow (BM) aspirates obtained from two sites for inclusion in the study. Nineteen dogs with LSA were included, and 6 (31.6%) had BM involvement. Neoplastic lymphocytes were present in BM from both sites in all of these dogs. Fourteen dogs with MCTs were included, and 3 (21.4%) had BM involvement. Neoplastic mast cells were present at both sites in two dogs and at only one site in the third. These results indicate that BMAs from multiple sites may not be needed for accurate staging of canine LSA patients, but more studies evaluating the pattern of BM infiltration in dogs with high-grade MCTs are warranted.

Nasal tumor with widespread cutaneous metastases in a Golden Retriever.

An intact, 8-year-old, male Golden Retriever dog was presented for evaluation of a nasal mass and approximately 30 firm, raised, variably ulcerated dermal and subcutaneous masses. Histopathology of both nasal and multiple skin masses revealed multiple nonencapsulated, infiltrative masses comprising clusters, anastomosing trabeculae, and packets of neoplastic, round to ovoid, hyperchromatic cells with marked nuclear molding. Surrounding the neoplastic cells was a marked stromal response in which many of the spindle-shaped cells expressed muscle-specific actin and had ultrastructural features consistent with myofibroblasts. A literature search indicates that this is the first report in a peer-reviewed journal of cutaneous metastasis of a nasal neuroendocrine tumor in any domestic animal species.