Sap-Sucking Pests; They Do Matter.

This is an excerpt giving an overview of the Special Issue: Biology and Management of Sap-Sucking Pests [...].

Cytotoxic effects of ß-asarone on Sf9 insect cells.

ß-Asarone is the predominant component of the essential oil of rhizomes of Acorus calamus Linn ( Sweet flag). Although rhizome extracts from this plant have long been used for insect pest control, their cytotoxic effects on insect cells are not well understood. In this study, we evaluated the potency of ß-asarone as a natural insecticide by using a Spodoptera frugiperda cell line (Sf9). To assess the cytotoxic effects of ß-asarone on Sf9 cells, we observed morphologic changes in treated cells and performed a cell proliferation assay and a DNA fragmentation assay. After 24 and 48 h of treatment with ß-asarone, the proliferation of the Sf9 cells was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 0.558 mg/ml at 24 h and 0.253 mg/ml at 48 h. Morphologic changes in ß-asarone-treated cells were typical of apoptosis and included loss of adhesion, cell shrinkage, and small apoptotic bodies. The DNA laddering present in ß-asarone-treated SF9 cells and annexin V assay confirmed that this compound can induce apoptosis in insect cells. Together, these findings suggest that apoptosis induction may be one mechanism through which ß-asarone inhibits the proliferation of insect cells and thus exerts insecticidal effects.

Morphology and sex-specific behavior of a gynandromorphic Myrmarachne formicaria (Araneae: Salticidae) spider.

Behavioral studies of gynandromorphism, also called as sex mosaic, contribute to the understanding of the relationship between morphological gender and sexual identity of an animal. Few studies have focused on the behaviors of gynandromorphic spiders because of a scarcity of gynandromorphic individuals in the field. In this study, we collected a gynandromorphic spider, Myrmarachne formicaria (De Geer 1778) (Araneae: Salticidae), from the field and examined its morphology and sex-specific behavior in the laboratory. The right half of the gynandromorphic spider presented male characteristics and the left half female characteristics. It showed courtship behavior to M. formicaria females and agonistic behavior to the males. These results indicate that the gynandromorphic spider's sexual identity is male. Our findings suggest that a spider can exhibit behaviors of male sexuality, although the external morphology has the characteristics of both sexes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a gynandromorphic individual and its behavior in the genus Myrmarachne.

First come, first served: precopulatory mate-guarding behavior and male-male contests by a hymenopteran saproxylic parasitoid.

Precopulatory mate-guarding behavior is a common strategy that maximizes male reproductive success when female receptivity to copulation is low. This behavior has been demonstrated in vertebrates, aquatic crustaceans, terrestrial isopods, and some species of insects, but there is very little available information about hymenopteran insects. A few studies have clarified the factor that determines the outcome of a contest between a guarding male and an invader male. We investigated the male-male contest and mating behavior of a saproxylic parasitoid wasp, Ibalia japonica (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Ibaliidae) using field observations in Japan. These observations indicated that I. japonica males show precopulatory mate-guarding behavior and that four types of male-male contests occur on the Magnolia liliiflora (Magnoliales: Magnoliaceae) tree that virgin females emerge from. We show that the arrival order of I. japonica males that found the future emergence point of a female was key factor that allowed males to secure virgin females.