Behavior and gut bacteria of Partamona helleri under sublethal exposure to a bioinsecticide and a leaf fertilizer.

The exposure of bees to agrochemicals during foraging and feeding has been associated with their population decline. Sublethal exposure to agrochemicals can affect behavior and the microbiota. Gut microbiota is associated with insect nutritional health, immunocompetence, and is essential for neutralizing the damage caused by pathogens and xenobiotics. Research on the effect of the bioinsecticides and fertilizers on the microbiota of bees remains neglected. In this study, we assessed the sublethal effect of both bioinsecticide spinosad and the fertilizer copper sulfate (CuSO4) on the behavior and gut microbiota in forager adults of the stingless bee Partamona helleri (Friese), which is an important pollinator in the Neotropical region. Behavioral assays and gut microbiota profiles were assessed on bees orally exposed to estimated LC5 values for spinosad and CuSO4. The microbiota were characterized through 16S rRNA gene target sequencing. Acute and oral sublethal exposure to spinosad and CuSO4 did not affect the overall activity, flight take-off, and food consumption. However, CuSO4 decreased bee respiration rate and copper accumulated in exposed bees. Exposure to spinosad increased the proportional abundance of the genus Gilliamella, but CuSO4 did not alter the composition of the gut microbiota. In conclusion, sublethal exposure to CuSO4 induces changes in respiration, and spinosad changes the abundance of gut microorganisms of P. helleri.

Prey Foraging Under Sublethal Lambda-Cyhalothrin Exposure on Pyrethroid-Susceptible and -Resistant Lady Beetles (Eriopis connexa (Coleoptera: Coccinelidae)).

Sublethal insecticide exposure may affect foraging of insects, including natural enemies, although the subject is usually neglected. The lady beetle Eriopis connexa (Germar, 1824) (Coleoptera: Coccinelidae) is an important predator of aphids with existing pyrethroid-resistant populations that are undergoing scrutiny for potential use in pest management systems characterized by frequent insecticide use. However, the potential effect of sublethal pyrethroid exposure on this predator's foraging activity has not yet been assessed and may compromise its use in biological control. Therefore, our objective was to assess the effect of sublethal lambda-cyhalothrin exposure on three components of the prey foraging activity (i.e., walking, and prey searching and handling), in both pyrethroid-susceptible and -resistant adults of E. connexa. Both lady beetle populations exhibited similar walking patterns without insecticide exposure in noncontaminated arenas, but in partially contaminated arenas walking differed between strains, such that the resistant insects exhibited greater walking activity. Behavioral avoidance expressed as repellence to lambda-cyhalothrin was not observed for either the susceptible or resistant populations of E. connexa, but the insecticide caused avoidance by means of inducing irritability in 40% of the individuals, irrespective of the strain. Insects remained in the insecticide-contaminated portion of the arena for extended periods resulting in greater exposure. Although lambda-cyhalothrin exposure did not affect prey searching by susceptible lady beetles, prey searching was extended for exposed resistant predators. In contrast, prey handling was not affected by population or by lambda-cyhalothrin exposure. Thus, sublethal exposure to the insecticide in conjunction with the insect resistance profile can affect prey foraging with pyrethroid-exposed resistant predators exhibiting longer prey searching time associated with higher walking activity reducing its predatory performance.

Masticatory efficiency in complete denture wearers with reduced dental arches--a randomised cross-over study.

One obstacle to placing artificial posterior teeth in manufacturing complete dentures is a reduction of the space between the maxilla and the mandible. Occasionally, second molar placement is not performed, as it does not affect aesthetics, phonetics or comfort. The aim of this study was to compare the masticatory efficiency between patients wearing maxillary and mandibular complete dentures with reduced dental arches (without second molars) (WSM) and with full dental arches (FDA). Twenty subjects were divided into two groups and randomly received new complete dentures. Patients in Group 1 were given dentures WSM, and those in Group 2 were given dentures with FDA. After the post-placement visits, an initial masticatory efficiency test was performed with Optocal, an artificial test food. Fifteen days later, second molars were placed in Group 1 and removed from Group 2, and a new test was performed. Comminuted material was treated and sieved under vibration. The mean and standard deviation of masticatory efficiency with FDA were 10.4 and 8.1, respectively. In the tests WSM, the mean and standard deviation were 8.4 and 3.3, respectively. After removing the second molars in Group 2 and adding them in Group 1, the mean and standard deviation were 15.7 and 14.7 for Group 1 and 12.5 and 10.4 for Group 2, respectively. Within the limitations of this study, placing artificial teeth up to the first molars can be performed when needed without compromising masticatory efficiency.

[Influence of Diaphania hyalinata (L.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) egg density on the parasitization capacity of Trichogramma exiguum Pinto & Platner and Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)]. / Influência da densidade de ovos de Diaphania hyalinata (L.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) na capacidade de parasitismo de Trichogramma exiguum Pinto & Platner e Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae).

The effects of the egg density of Diaphania hyalinata (L.) on several biological parameters of Trichogramma exiguum Pinto & Platner and T. pretiosum Riley were investigated. For that, 24h-old egg masses were isolated in glass tubes (15 replicates; 1 egg mass = 1 replicate), and offered to parasitization by a newly-emerged female of T. pretiosum or T. exiguum 24h at the proportion of one female to 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 eggs of D. hyalinata. The following parameters were evaluated: number of parasitized eggs, number of individuals per egg, viability and sex ratio. Trichogramma exiguum parasitized more eggs than T. pretiosum when more than 25 eggs were available per female. The percentage of emergence was satisfactory to T. pretiosum in densities up to 15 eggs/female and up to 20 eggs/female for T. exiguum. The number of individuals per egg was not statistically different in both species except in the density of 25 eggs/female. It can be concluded that T. exiguum performed better than T. pretiosum at larger clutch sizes, as T. exiguum parasitization capacity increased as a result of the size of the host clutch size.

Ocorrência de Lixophaga sp. (Diptera: Tachinidae) parasitando lagartas de Diaphania nitidalis (L) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) em Cucurbita moschata no Brasil / Occurrence of Lixophaga sp. (Diptera: Tachinidae) parasitizing larvae of Diaphania nitidalis (L) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Cucurbita moschata in Brazil

O parasitoide Lixophaga sp. (Diptera: Tachinidae) ocorreu em lagartas de Diaphania nitidalis (Cramer, 1782) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) em plantio comercial de abóbora no Estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil. Não há registro de Lixophaga sp. parasitando Diaphania sp. na América do Sul e mesmo os registros para hospedeiros deste gênero são poucos. A caracterização morfológica dos adultos foi feita no Departamento e Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências da Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil. Das lagartas coletadas em campo, 26,2% estavam parasitadas, obtendo-se uma média de 2,2 pupas por lagarta e viabilidade de 14,3%. Esse parasitoide mostrou ter potencial para o controle de D. nitidalis.

The parasitoid Lixophaga sp. (Diptera: Tachinidae) occurred in larvae of Diaphania nitidalis (Cramer, 1782) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in a commercial pumpkin plantation in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. This is the first report of Lixophaga sp. parasitizing Diaphania sp. in the South America, and there are few reports concerning hosts of this genus. The morphologic characterization of the adults was made at the Department of Zoology, Institute of Bioscience, of the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Of the larvae collected in the field, 26.2% were parasitized, with an average of 2.2 pupae per larva and a viability of 14.3%. This parasitoid presented potential for the control of D. nitidalis.

Fracture strength of weakened human premolars restored with amalgam with and without cusp coverage.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of cusp coverage with amalgam restorations on the fracture strength of weakened human maxillary premolars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 extracted human maxillary premolars were divided into three groups; Group A (control): uncut teeth, Group B: wide MOD cavities prepared and the pulp chamber's roof removed. The teeth were restored with amalgam without cusp coverage, Group C: same as Group B plus cusp reduction and restored with amalgam. The teeth were included in metal rings with self-curing polystyrene resin and stored in water for 24 hrs. The restorations were refined with rubber points, polished and further stored in water for 24 hrs before being subjected to a compressive axial load in a Universal testing machine at 0.5 mm/min. RESULTS: The mean fracture strength obtained was: Group A: 173.3 Kgf, Group B: 47.3 Kgf and Group C: 127.7 Kgf. All values were statistically significantly different (P < 0.05). The amalgam restoration of weakened human premolars with cusp coverage amalgam significantly increased the fracture strength of the teeth (63%) as compared to teeth restored without cusp coverage. The results showed that cusp coverage with amalgam might be an option for restoring weakened endodontically-treated teeth.