Biology, Ecology, and Behavior of Rusty Grain Beetle (Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens)).

Cryptolestes ferrugineus, the rusty grain beetle, is a cosmopolitan pest that has adapted to cool and warm climates due to its unique biology, ecology, and behavior. The rusty grain beetle is a pest of high economic importance; hence, understanding their biology, ecology, and behavior could be useful in designing effective management strategies. An extensive literature survey was conducted using the databases Web of Science and Scopus. Information on country-wise publications from 1949 to 2023 on C. ferrugineus was provided, and a table illustrating the distribution of C. ferrugineus was also presented to demonstrate the global significance of C. ferrugineus. We overviewed their life stages, morphology, and factors influencing their biology, ecology, and behavior, such as refuge-seeking behavior, flight activity, mating behavior, interspecific interaction with other species, movement, and distribution. Mathematical models focusing on C. ferrugineus population dynamics and movement were also presented. In order to advance our knowledge on C. ferrugineus, the following possible avenues for future research were outlined: application of molecular markers and population genetic approaches to understand their evolutionary history; mechanisms responsible for adaptation and resistance to insecticide; interspecific interaction in storage facilities and wider landscapes; and identification of microbial roles in the ecology, behavior, and control of C. ferrugineus.

Fossil Shell Flour in Livestock Production: A Review.

Fossil shell flour (FSF), also known as Diatomaceous earth, or diatomite, consists of amorphous silicates with important physical and chemical characteristics, including porosity and permeability, low density and thermal conductivity, tiny particle size, high surface area, solubility, hydrophobia, and absorption capabilities, which are molecular filter actors, substituting their integral cations without physical changes. The substance is nontoxic, cheap, and readily available in large quantity in many countries. Recently, FSF has been modified as additives for several uses. Recent studies have supported its use as animal growth promoter, vaccine adjuvant in livestock, water purifier, mycotoxin binder, inert dust applications in stored-pest management, pesticide, animal feed additive, as a natural source of silicon in livestock and as natural anthelmintic. Numerous advantages of FSF include its low-cost and availability, its nontoxic characteristics, and the fact that food grade diatomaceous earth is safe for human consumption. In this paper, we review the main uses of FSF in the livestock industry, with reference to similar works earlier published that elucidate their important roles.

Differentiation of Laboratory Strains of Red Flour Beetle Tribolium castaneum Collected from Various Areas.

We recently reported polymorphism in the mitochondrial genes of Tribolium castaneum, a stored grain pest. Here, we show that T. castaneum samples from the main island of Japan can be easily differentiated from samples from other areas by using real-time PCR with minor groove binding (MGB) TaqMan probes containing a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) to amplify a 179-bp fragment. This assay was also applicable to samples stored at room temperature for 5 months after natural death, and samples whose DNA was artificially degraded by heat, pressure, or gamma-ray irradiation.

Walking Responses of Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to Its Aggregation Pheromone and Odors of Wheat Infestations.

The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is a worldwide pest of stored grains. Using "Y"-tube olfactometry we studied the response of T. castaneum to odors from simulated wheat infestations containing conspecifics, and infestations containing the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), and the granary weevil Sitophilus granarius (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Tribolium castaneum larvae were significantly attracted to odors from all three test species. Tribolium castaneum adults were attracted to grains infested by R. dominica and flour infested by T. castaneum but repelled from grains infested by S. granarius. Further behavioral analysis with pheromones showed that T. castaneum were significantly attracted to their aggregation pheromone, dimethyldecanal (DMD), but not to the R. dominica aggregation pheromone, a mixture of dominicalure 1 and 2. Female T. castaneum adults were attracted to ∼50-fold less DMD than larvae and 100-fold less than male adults, suggesting they are more sensitive to DMD. This study improves our understanding of T. castaneum behaviors to infested grain volatile compounds and pheromones, and may help develop new control methods for grain pest species.

Ancient origin and recent range expansion of the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais, and its genealogical relationship to the rice weevil S. oryzae.

Archeological records attest the early association of Sitophilus with stored cereals from the beginning of agriculture on Asia. The maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) became particularly damaging to maize, a cereal crop domesticated on Mesoamerica. We investigated the late evolutionary history of the maize weevil to gain insights on its origin, timing of association with maize, and genealogical relationship to the almost morphologically indistinguishable rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae). Two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome oxidase subunit I and cytochrome oxidase subunit II) and the nuclear ribosomal gene region were partially sequenced. Analyses showed that the maize weevil shared no haplotypes with the rice weevil; instead, each species exhibited distinct mitogroups and ribogroups. The two weevil species likely split about 8.7 million years ago (95% highest posterior density: 4.0-15.0). Microsatellite data analyses sorted the 309 specimens from 15 populations of the maize weevil into three genotypic groups, which displayed low genetic differentiation and widespread occurrence worldwide. The maize weevil and the rice weevil are each a distinct species; both of which emerged prior to the onset of agriculture. The maize-maize weevil association took place after maize became widespread as a global crop. The maize weevil populations lack spatial genetic structure at the regional, continental, and intercontinental scales.

Cloning and characterization of a riboflavin-binding hexamerin from the larval fat body of a lepidopteran stored grain pest, Corcyra cephalonica.

In the present study, a riboflavin-binding hexamerin (RbHex) was cloned and characterized from the larval fat body of Corcyra cephalonica. The complete cDNA (2121bp) encodes a 706-amino acid protein with a molecular mass ~82kDa. Expression of RbHex 82 was predominant in fat body among larval tissues. Further, it is prominently expressed during the last instar larval development. Homology modeling and docking studies predicted riboflavin binding site of the hexamerin. Spectrofluorimetric analysis further confirmed riboflavin release from the hexamerin fraction. Quantitative RT-PCR studies demonstrated hormonal regulation of RbHex 82. 20-Hydroxyecdysone (20HE) had a stimulatory effect on its transcription whereas JH alone did not show any effect. However, JH in the presence of 20HE maintains the RbHex 82 expression which indicates the JH's role as a status quo factor. This study is the first to report the characterization of riboflavin-binding hexamerin in a lepidopteran pest. Further, the possibility of RbHex 82 as a pest control target is discussed.

Actividad insecticida del polvo de Peumus boldus Molina (Monimiaceae) contra Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) / Insecticidal activity of Peumus boldus Molina (Monimiaceae) powder against Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The insecticidal properties of foliage´s powder of Peumus boldus Molina against adults and immature S. zeamais were evaluated. The highest toxicity in contact and fumigant activity was reached by concentrations upper to 1.25 percent showing mortality over to 90 percent. The treatments with high mortality showed a lower adult insect emergence (F1) and grain weight loss too. In immature S. zeamais control lower F1 was observed in highest concentrations of powder. The storage of powder under refrigerated conditions not prevents the insecticidal properties lost. All evaluated concentrations exhibited repellent activity against S. zeamais adults. The powder of P. boldus does not affect the grain germination. We concluded that powder of P. boldus has promissory perspectives to stored products pests control.

Se evaluaron las propiedades insecticidas del polvo de follaje de Peumus boldus Molina para el control de adultos y estados inmaduros de S. zeamais. La mayor toxicidad por contacto y fumigación se obtuvo con las concentraciones iguales o mayores a 1,25 por ciento registrando una mortalidad superior a 90 por ciento. Los tratamientos con mayor mortalidad mostraron también una baja emergencia de insectos adultos (F1) y menor pérdida de peso del grano. En el control de estados inmaduros la menor F1 se observó en las concentraciones más altas de polvo. El almacenamiento del polvo en refrigeración no impidió la pérdida en el tiempo de las propiedades insecticidas. Todas las concentraciones evaluadas mostraron efecto repelente contra adultos de S. zeamais. El polvo de P. boldus no afectó significativamente la germinación de los granos. Se concluye que el polvo de P. boldus tiene perspectivas auspiciosas para el control de plagas de los productos almacenados.

Insecticide selectivity to the parasitic mite Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross & Krantz) (Prostigmata: Acarophenacidae) on Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabr) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) / Seletividade de inseticidas para o ácaro parasita Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross & Krantz) (Prostigmata: Acarophenacidae) em Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabr) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

The presence of natural enemies in stored grains and the need of pest control alternatives led to the assessment of the effect of insecticides on the mite species Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross & Krantz), an egg parasite of the stored grain pest Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabr.). The insecticides bifenthrin, deltamethrin, pirimiphos-methyl and fenitrothion were tested at 0.4, 0.5, 0.8 and 10 ppm, respectively. Insecticide treated wheat grains were spread in petri dishes and infested with 25 adults of R. dominica. Seven days later, three mites were added to each dish, in four replicates. The number of adults of R. dominica, grain weight loss and instantaneous rate of increase (r i) of A. lacunatus were lower when the grain was treated with deltamethrin. Bifenthrin, fenitrothion, and pirimiphos-methyl were less effective in controlling the pest, but they were selective in favor of the mite, showed higher number of physogastric females and r i of A. lacunatus. Therefore, deltamethrin was less selective in favor of the mite species. Nonetheless the parasitic mite was able to parasitize eggs of R. dominica on wheat treated with all the insecticides evaluated

Diante da presença de inimigos naturais em massas de grãos armazenados e a necessidade de se buscar alternativas de controle de pragas, avaliou-se o efeito de inseticidas sobre o ácaro Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross & Krantz), um parasita de ovos de Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabr.). Os inseticidas bifentrina, deltametrina, pirimifós metílico e fenitrotiom foram testados a 0,4; 0,5; 0,8 e 10 ppm. As unidades experimentais consistiram de placas de Petri contendo grãos de trigo, infestados com 25 adultos de R. dominica. Sete dias após a infestação, foram inoculados três ácaros em cada placa, sendo utilizadas quatro repetições por tratamento. O número de adultos de R. dominica, a perda de matéria seca dos grãos e a taxa instantânea de crescimento (r i) de A. lacunatus foram menores no tratamento com deltametrina. Os inseticidas bifentrina, fenitrotiom e pirimifós metílico apresentaram baixa eficácia na redução de R. dominica, mas foram seletivos em favor do ácaro, mostrando maior número de fêmeas fisogástricas e r i para A. lacunatus. Com isso, conclui-se que deltametrina é o inseticida menos seletivo em favor de A. lacunatus. Entretanto, esse ácaro é capaz de parasitar ovos de R. dominica sob grãos tratados com todos os inseticidas avaliados

The cross-resistance spectrum in deltamethrin resistance strains of Rhyzopertha dominica (F. ) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) / Resistência cruzada em raças de Rhyzopertha dominica (F. ) (Coleoptera; Bostrychidae) resistentes ao inseticida deltametrina

Objetivou-se verificar a existência de resistência cruzada em raças de Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) resistentes ao inseticida deltametrina. Os experimentos foram conduzidos testando outros três inseticidas, também usados para controlar pragas de grãos armazenados, como permetrina (piretróide), pirimifós-metil e clorpirifós-metil (organofosforados). Quatro raças da praga foram usadas: duas raças suscetíveis, BR4 e UK1, e duas raças resistentes, BR6 e BR7, todas mantidas em laboratório após a coleta nos armazéns. Inicialmente todas as raças foram avaliadas em sua susceptibilidade ao inseticida deltametrina. Posteriormente, cada raça foi submetida a pressão de seleção ao inseticida deltametrina por três gerações consecutivas e no final da terceira geração cada raça foi avaliada em sua suscetibilidade com todos os inseticidas para determinar a resistência cruzada. Os resultados mostraram a existência de resistência cruzada para o inseticida permetrina, nas raças BR6 e BR7 de R. dominica. Não houve resistência cruzada aos dois inseticidas organofosforados testados. Isso indica que a resistência cruzada ocorreu dentro do mesmo grupo químico de inseticidas e não entre diferentes grupos.

In order to verify if there was cross-resistance in deltamethrin resistance strains of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), experiments were carried out with three insecticides used in stored grain to control pests: permethrin (pyrethroid), pirimiphos-methyl and chlorpyrifos-methyl (organophosphates). Three strains from Brazil (BR4, BR6 and BR7) and one from United Kingdom (UK1) were tested. The strains BR4 and UK1 were susceptible and BR6 and BR7 were resistant to deltamethrin. Initially all strains were assessed in their susceptibility to deltamethrin insecticide. Then, after they were submitted to deltamethrin selection pressure throughout three generations, each strain was assessed with all other insecticides to determine the cross-resistance spectrum. Results showed that cross-resistance to permethrin existed in the BR6 and BR7 strains of R. dominica. No cross-resistance to the organophosphates, pirimiphos-methyl and chlorpyrifos-methyl, was detected in deltamethrin-resistant strains.