Assessment of the efficacy of Piper methysticum (Micrembryeae: Piperaceae) as a bioinsecticide, and/or spinosad combined with attractive plant volatiles for a novel lure and kill strategy against Bactrocera tryoni (Diptera: Tephritidae) in laboratory.

The Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a crop pest of global economic importance because of its wide range of hosts and its invasiveness capacities. To develop a novel integrated and sustainable crop protection, we have investigated the insecticidal properties of different varieties of kava (Piper methysticum [Frost]) extracted by two methods and the attractive effects of six plant volatiles identified from B. tryoni host plants to female, mated or not. We did not identify any significant insecticidal effect of the traditional Pacific kava plant at the tested concentrations. Among mated females, ethyl acetate compared to the no odor control elicited the highest attraction (87%, of which 60% for this odor), while ethyl butyrate was preferred compared with ethyl acetate in dual choice assays. Flies' preferences for specific odors depended on their mating status and the odor landscape they were confronted with. Combination with the commercial ingestion insecticide (Success 4: spinosad, 480 g/l, Dow AgroSciences, Valbonne, France) with the plant volatiles were tested to detect an increase in mortality related to the addition of an attractant. The 2-heptanone slightly showed a tend to increase the attractiveness of mated females within 4-6 h to the food bait, but the results were not statistically significant after 8 h. Further tests should be performed with other concentrations or mixtures of the identified host plant volatiles to develop a strong lure and kill strategy.

Sequential invasions by fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Pacific and Indian Ocean islands: A systematic review.

The aim of our review was to examine the cases of Tephritidae invasions across island systems in order to determine whether they follow a hierarchical mode of invasion. We reviewed the literature on factors and mechanisms driving invasion sequences in Pacific and Southwest Indian Ocean islands and gathered every record of invasion by a polyphagous tephritid in island groups. From invasion date or period, we defined an invasion link when a new fruit fly established on an island where another polyphagous tephritid is already resident (that was indigenous or a previous invader). Across surveyed islands, we documented 67 invasion links, involving 24 tephritid species. All invasion links were directional, i.e., they involved a series of invasions by invaders that were closely related to a resident species but were increasingly more competitive. These sequential establishments of species are driven by interspecific competition between resident and exotic species but are also influenced by history, routes, and flows of commercial exchanges and the bridgehead effect. This information should be used to improve biosecurity measures. Interactions between trade flow, invasive routes, and the presence of invasive and resident species should be integrated into large-scale studies.

The Common Fruit-Piercing Moth in the Pacific Region: A Survey of the Current State of a Significant Worldwide Economic Pest, Eudocima phalonia (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), with a Focus on New Caledonia.

When referring to fruit-piercing moths, the genus Eudocima, and more specifically Eudocima phalonia (Linneaus), is cited as a worldwide crop pest. Damages associated with this pest are substantial on more than 100 fruit species, wherever it is encountered. In New Caledonia, the once occasional pest has become a serious threat to the current fruit arboriculture. Particularly devastating during outbreak periods, it has become an urgent need to find a suitable solution able to support farmers in the ecological transition of our agricultural models. This review proposes a synthesis of the existing data and publications on E. phalonia, worldwide and especially in New Caledonia, with recent observations. The assessment of this knowledge and the dynamics of the species in the territory of New Caledonia provide key information for a better prospect of adapted solutions.

New data on the aphid (Hemiptera, Aphididae) fauna of New Caledonia: some new biosecurity threats in a biodiversity hotspot.

Thirty-three species of aphids are now established in New Caledonia. All species appear to have been introduced accidentally by human activity in the last century. Here, 17 aphid species are recorded for the first time: Aphis eugeniae, Aphis glycines, Aphis odinae, Aulacorthum solani, Brachycaudus helichrysi, Cerataphis orchidearum, Greenidea psidii, Hyperomyzus carduellinus, Hysteroneura setariae, Lipaphis pseudobrassicae, Micromyzus katoi, Myzus ornatus, Pentalonia caladii, Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae, Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale, Schizaphis rotundiventris, and Tetraneura fusiformis. Thirteen more species are also more or less regularly intercepted at the borders through biosecurity surveys, without further establishment. This demonstrates that aphids represent a major biosecurity threat, including a threat as potential plant virus vectors. The reinforcement of biosecurity is a priority for such biodiversity hotspots, from the perspectives of both agriculture and the native environment. Prioritisation and promotion of local development of vegetable and fruit production, rather than their risky importation from abroad, is desirable. Such an approach also should be promoted and extended to other Pacific islands, which all share the lack of native aphid fauna and their associated plant disease vector risks.

RésuméTrente trois (33) espèces de pucerons sont aujourd'hui recensées de Nouvelle-Calédonie. Toutes ces espèces sont exotiques et ont été introduites accidentellement par les activités humaines. Dix-sept (17) espèces y sont ainsi recensées pour la première fois : Aphis eugeniae, Aphis glycines, Aphis odinae, Aulacorthum solani, Brachycaudus helichrysi, Cerataphis orchidearum, Greenidea psidii, Hyperomyzus carduellinus, Hysteroneura setariae, Lipaphis pseudobrassicae, Micromyzus katoi, Myzus ornatus, Pentalonia caladii, Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae, Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale, Schizaphis rotundiventris et Tetraneura fusiformis. Par ailleurs, au moins 13 autres espèces sont régulièrement interceptées par la biosécurité sans établissement actuel de populations. Les pucerons apparaissent donc comme une menace croissante pour la biosécurité de l'archipel. Aussi, le renforcement des mesures de biosécurité aux frontières apparaît prioritaire en association à une promotion du développement local de productions maraîchères et fruitières. Ainsi, la limitation de ces importations à risque, devrait contribuer à une meilleure protection des productions agricoles et de la biodiversité. Une telle approche devrait également être promue dans les pays insulaires du Pacifique, qui se caractérisent par la même disharmonie de peuplements, l'absence de communautés natives de pucerons et du risque associé de vectorisation de maladies phytopathogènes.

Electrophysiological and Behavioral Responses of Queensland Fruit Fly Females to Fruit Odors.

Females of the Queensland fruit fly (QFF), Bactrocera tryoni, are amongst the most damaging pests of horticulture in Australia and neighboring countries. Females can lay eggs into more than a hundred species of fruits and vegetables, resulting in large crop losses. Sexually mature males can be managed sustainably with traps baited with long-lasting synthetic lures, and sexually immature males and females can be attracted and killed by short-lived protein baits applied directly on surfaces, with a low success rate (< 20%). No long-lasting attractants for virgin or mated females exist. With the aim of developing a female attractant for surveillance, we collected and analyzed the odors of four ripe host fruits: orange, cherry guava, banana and feijoa. Virgin and mated female QFF were tested with gas-chromatography coupled with electro-antennographic detection to identify electrophysiologically (EAD)-active compounds. We detected 41 EAD-active compounds, with seven found common for more than one fruit. Overall, mated females responded more often and with higher intensity than virgin females. In particular, five compounds present either in cherry guava or feijoa triggered a significantly higher EAD response from mated females than from virgins. Twenty-six EAD-active compounds were selected and tested individually in a Y-tube olfactometer to measure attraction of both virgin and mated females. Behavioral responses differed significantly amongst the compounds, but not strongly between virgin and mated females. We did not find any correlation between electrophysiological and behavioral responses. Further field testing with behaviorally-active compounds is needed for the development of a new QFF female lure.

Distribution, habitats, phenology and conservation of New Caledonian Odonata.

Compared to other archipelagos of the Pacific, the New Caledonian Odonata fauna is rich and diverse with 56 valid species or subspecies (23 endemics, 41%) from eight families (four Zygoptera: Argiolestidae, Coenagrionidae, Isostictidae, Lestidae, and four Anisoptera: Aeshnidae, Corduliidae, Synthemistidae, Libellulidae) and 31 genera (including four endemics, 13%). In Zygoptera, we record 19 species including 12 endemics (63%), and among Anisoptera, we record 37 species or subspecies, including 11 endemics (30%). We removed five species from the list that had been erroneously recorded as occurring in New Caledonia: Tramea carolina (Linnaeus, 1763), Austroargiolestes icteromelas (Selys-Longchamps, 1862), Ischnura torresiana Tillyard, 1913, Xiphiagrion cyanomelas Selys-Longchamps, 1876 and Hemicordulia oceanica Selys-Longchamps, 1871. The occurrence of Tramea limbata (Desjardins, 1835) appears also doubtful, but we were unable to clarify to which taxon this record referred hence we excluded it from our update. From a biogeographic perspective, the New Caledonian fauna has mostly Australian affinities with some connections with southeast Asia and the Pacific region. We provide for each species, whenever information was available, a distribution map with a brief review of its known ecology, behaviour and phenology. We also evaluated each species' conservation status, in light of known threats (range restriction, scarcity and human activity including altered water flow). We consider seventeen species (30%) endangered. The most immediate threats concern water pollution including alteration to the flow of water courses caused by mining, deforestation and fires. Invasive species, such as alien fish, may be predators of concern for odonata larva, although this has not yet been proven in New Caledonia.

Isoeugenol, a More Attractive Male Lure for the Cue-Lure-Responsive Pest Fruit Fly Bactrocera curvipennis (Diptera: Tephritidae: Dacinae), and New Records of Species Responding to Zingerone in New Caledonia.

Bactrocera curvipennis (Froggatt) is a polyphagous pest fruit fly endemic to New Caledonia that is weakly attracted to the male lure cue-lure (CL). Effective male lures are important for the monitoring and management of numerous pest species of Dacinae fruit flies. However, if a species is weakly responsive to these lures its detection and control is difficult. Recently in Oceania and Asia, more attractive male lures (isoeugenol, methyl-isoeugenol, dihydroeugenol, and zingerone) were identified for several weakly CL- and methyl eugenol (ME)-responsive species. To determine if these lures may be more attractive to B. curvipennis, we field tested them in comparison to CL and ME in New Caledonia. Bactrocera curvipennis catch with isoeugenol-baited traps (mean 20.3 ± 3.0) was 15 times greater than with CL (1.3 ± 0.8) and catch with dihydroeugenol (5.7 ± 1.6) was four times greater than with CL. This is the first record of B. curvipennis responding to these lures. It was also the only species that responded to isoeugenol in this study. Bactrocera fulvifacies (Perkins) (Diptera: Tephritidae), a rarely encountered species 'nonresponsive' to male lures, was attracted to zingerone with its trap catch (2,574 flies) approaching that of Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae) at CL (2,724 flies). Another nonresponsive species, Dacus aneuvittatus (Drew) (Diptera: Tephritidae), was also trapped by zingerone-baited traps. This is the first record of these species responding to a male lure. The significantly greater response of B. curvipennis to isoeugenol would make it a considerably more effective attractant for use in surveillance and control programs.

A review of the genus Kanakia Distant, 1892 (Insecta: Hemiptera, Cicadoidea, Cicadidae) from New Caledonia.

Among New Caledonian cicada taxa, the endemic genus Kanakia Distant, 1892 appears as the most spectacular one, especially because of the large size of its species (length up to 50 mm for males). Recent new specimen collections helped to clarify the taxonomy of this spectacular genus. According to morphological characteristics, we were able to redefine and to split the present genus into three distinct genera: Kanakia Distant, 1892, Pseudokanakia Delorme gen. nov. and Panialna Delorme gen. nov. These two new genera are monotypic and have been respectively established from revision of Kanakia flavoannulata (Distant 1920) and Kanakia parva Boulard 1991. Also, the type species, Kanakia typica Distant, 1892, appears to be a complex of cryptic species. New acoustic and morphological observations allowed us to redefine K. typica and to describe four new species in this complex: Kanakia paniensis Delorme sp. nov., Kanakia rana Delorme sp. nov., Kanakia salesnii Delorme sp. nov. and Kanakia fuscocosta Delorme sp. nov. Kanakia gigas Boulard 1988 is also briefly discussed and the female is described. An identification key of the Kanakia species and allied genera is also provided.

Description of a new genus and two new species of high frequency cicada from New Caledonia (Insecta: Hemiptera, Cicadoidea, Cicadidae).

The new genus Murmurillana Delorme gen. nov., is described within the tribe Cicadettini Buckton, 1889, designating Murmurillana inaudibilis Delorme sp. nov., as the type species. Murmurillana inaudibilis Delorme sp. nov. and Murmurillana paenetacita Delorme sp. nov. are described from New Caledonia. They are respectively found in mid altitude dense Niaouli shrub (Melaleuca quinquenervia, Myrtaceae) vegetation, mixed with dense fern cover (Pteridium sp., Dennstaedtiaceae) on the Massif of Aoupinié (800 m) and on foothills of the Mont Panié (570 m). Male calling songs of the two new species are described from field recordings. These calling songs exhibit unusually high dominant frequencies. A key to the species of Murmurillana Delorme gen. nov., is also provided.

An annotated checklist of the Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) from New Caledonia.

We present an updated checklist of the ladybird beetle fauna of New Caledonia. Fifty species have been tracked from literature and collections, but six should be removed from the list as they represent false records, invalid or unestablished species: Coccinella boletifera Fauvel, Harmonia conformis (Boisduval), Menochilus duodecimpunctatus (Fauvel), Micraspis lineola (Fabricius), Orcus australasiae Boisduval, and Curinus coeruleus (Mulsant). After our investigations, the current described ladybird beetle fauna totals 44 named species, belonging to 18 valid genera. The endemism rate is 47.7% (21 species), with one endemic subgenus, Scymnus (Caledonus). Based on comparisons of the coccinellid faunas of surrounding regions, the New Caledonian fauna has affinities with Australia and Papua New Guinea more than with the rest of the Pacific area. At least 19 species (43.2%) seem to have been introduced by human activities (either deliberately or accidentally).

Description of two new cicada species of the genus Poviliana Boulard (Insecta: Hemiptera, Cicadoidea, Cicadidae) from New Caledonia.

Poviliana dayubiikii Delorme sp. nov. and Poviliana montrouzieri Delorme sp. nov. are described from New Caledonia. They are respectively found in mid altitude rain forest on Mont Panié (570 m) and Col des Roussettes (300 m). Male calling songs of the two new species are described from the field recordings. A key to the species of Poviliana is also provided.

Coping strategies associated with suicidal behaviour in adolescent inpatients with borderline personality disorder.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the coping strategies of adolescents with borderline personality disorder (BPD) to the coping strategies of adolescents without BPD, and to explore the association of coping with suicidal ideation and attempts among adolescents with BPD. METHOD: Adolescent inpatients (n = 167) aged 13 to 17 years were admitted after suicide attempts and evaluated within 10 days, using the abbreviated version of the Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines-Revised, the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version supported by a team consensus best estimate method for the primary diagnosis, the Adolescent Coping Scale, and the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale. RESULTS: Firstly, compared with adolescents without BPD, adolescents with BPD relied more on nonproductive coping strategies, mostly avoidant strategies, and less on productive coping strategies. Secondly, coping appeared as a factor associated with suicidal ideation in adolescents with BPD. While while controlling for age, sex, and depression, multivariate analyses showed a significant positive association between the coping strategy to focusing on solving the problem and suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION: The use of avoidant strategies by adolescents with BPD could be viewed as attempts to increase emotional regulation. Problem-solving strategies in the immediate aftermath of a suicide attempt may prevent adolescents with BPD from overcoming a crisis and may increase suicidal ideation.

A new genus and species of felt scale (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) from New Caledonia.

A new genus of Eriococcidae, Choneochiton Hodgson, is introduced to take a new species, Choneochiton casuarinae     Hodgson, Mille & Cazères, off Casuarina collina (Casuarinaceae) from New Caledonia.  All stages except the pupa and prepupa are described and illustrated.  The new species is thought to be endemic to New Caledonia.

Selective and ATP-driven transport of ions across supported membranes into nanoporous carriers using gramicidin A and ATP synthase.

We report a robust and versatile membrane protein based system for selective uptake and release of ions from nanoporous particles sealed with ion-tight lipid bilayers of various compositions that is driven by the addition of ATP or a chemical potential gradient. We have successfully incorporated both a passive ion channel-type peptide (gramicidin A) and a more complex primary sodium ion transporter (ATP synthase) into the supported lipid bilayers on solid nanoporous silica particles. Protein-mediated controlled release/uptake of sodium ions across the ion-tight lipid bilayer seal from or into the nanoporous silica carrier was imaged in real time using a confocal laser scanning microscope and the intensity changes were quantified. ATP-driven transport of sodium ions across the supported lipid bilayer against a chemical gradient was demonstrated. The possibility of designing durable carriers with tight lipid membranes, containing membrane proteins for selective ion uptake and release, offers new possibilities for functional studies of single or cascading membrane protein systems and could also be used as biomimetic microreactors for controlled synthesis of inorganic multicomponent materials.

Inorganic chiral 3-D photonic crystals with bicontinuous gyroid structure replicated from butterfly wing scales.

Three dimensional silica photonic crystals with the gyroid minimal surface structure have been synthesized. The butterfly Callophrys rubi was used as a biotemplate. This material represents a significant addition to the small family of synthetic bicontinuous photonic crystals.

Structural analysis of mycobacterial branched-chain aminotransferase: implications for inhibitor design.

The branched-chain aminotransferase (BCAT) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been characterized as being essential to the survival of the bacterium. The enzyme is pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent and belongs to the aminotransferase IIIa subfamily, to which the human BCATs also belong. The overall sequence similarity is high within the subfamily and the sequence identity among the active-site residues is high. In order to identify structurally unique features of M. tuberculosis BCAT, X-ray structural and functional analyses of the closely related BCAT from M. smegmatis were carried out. The crystal structures include the apo form at 2.2 A resolution and a 1.9 A structure of the holo form cocrystallized with the inhibitor O-benzylhydroxylamine (Obe). The analyses highlighted the active-site residues Tyr209 and Gly243 as being structurally unique characteristics of the mycobacterial BCATs relative to the human BCATs. The inhibitory activities of Obe and ammonium sulfate were verified in an inhibition assay. Modelling of the inhibitor Obe in the substrate pocket indicated potential for the design of a mycobacterial-specific inhibitor.