Structural characteristics analysis of the hind wings in a bamboo weevil (Cyrtotrachelus buqueti).

The finite element method is a powerful tool for evaluating the experimental results. It can help to study the flight mechanism of insects and the structural characteristics of flying wings. Therefore, the research object based on the hind wings of Cyrtotrachelus buqueti (C. buqueti) was completed here. A finite element model with a length of 45 mm in the spanwise direction and a 16 mm width in the chordwise direction were established. We used a three-dimensional (3D) scanner to scan a real hind wing to obtain point cloud images. The physical model of the hind wing was carried out by using both the software Imageware and Unigraphics NX. To quantify the quality of the finite element model of the hind wing, the material properties of the wing membranes and veins were conducted by the tensile testing machine. The structural static properties of the hind wing, including static characteristics analysis and natural vibration modal analysis, were analysed by ANSYS; the stress and deflection under uniformly distributed load, bending moment, and torque were, respectively, shown. It was found that the model only had a small deformation, which shows that the hind wings of C. buqueti have excellent structural properties.

A head transcriptome provides insights into odorant binding proteins of the bamboo grasshopper.

The bamboo grasshopper Ceracris kiangsu is a famous bamboo pest in China. The identification of genes involved in olfactory behavior of C. kiangsu is necessary for better understanding the molecular basis and expression profiles of behavior ecology. However, necessary genomic and transcriptomic data are lacking in the species, limiting control efficiency. The primary objective of this study was to find and describe odorant binding proteins in the head of the bamboo grasshopper. We performed the paired-end sequencing on an Illumina Hiseq2000 following the vendor's recommended protocol. Functional annotation was performed by comparison with public databases. OBP genes were first identified using BLASTN and BLASTX results from our C. kiangsu datebase, which was established from the date of transcriptome sequencing. The gene-specific primers were used to conduct RT-PCR to detect the tissue distribution of OBPs using a SYBR Premix ExTaq kit following the manufacturer's instructions with a real-time thermal cycler. We obtained more than 133 million clean reads derived from the C. Kiangsu heads using the next-generation sequencing, which were assembled into 260,822 unique sequences (average 814 bp). We have detected eight putative odorant binding protein genes (OBPs) of C. kiangsu for the first time, and analyzed the expression profiles of the OBPs in different tissues (head, antenna, mouthpart, body and leg). Our results reveal that the eight OBPs display a clear divergence, strongly indicating that they possessed diverse functions, and thus provides comprehensive sequence analysis for elucidating the molecular basis of OBPs in C. kiangsu. In addition, we find that the relative expression levels of OBP1, OBP2 and OBP8 are significantly higher in the antennae as compared to the other OBP genes, suggesting that these three OBP genes play crucial roles in the locust's odorant discrimination. In general, this is the first study to characterize the complete head transcriptome of C. kiangsu using high-throughput sequencing. The study opens a window for functional characterization of the OBPs of C. kiangsu, with potential for new or refined applications of semiochemicals for control of this notorious pest.

A new species of Bambusaspis Cockerell (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccomorpha) colonising bamboo in Malaysia.

All life stages (adult female and male, first-instar nymph, second-instar male and female nymphs, and prepupa and pupa) of a new species of Asterolecaniidae, Bambusaspis transversa Lagowska & Martin sp. n., from bamboo in Malaysia, are described and illustrated. The adult female and first-instar nymphs are compared with those Bambusaspis species considered to be closest to the new species.

Aphicidal Activity of an Ageraphorone Extract From Eupatorium adenophorum Against Pseudoregma bambucicola (Homoptera: Aphididae, Takahashi).

The bamboo aphid, Pseudoregma bambucicola, is an important insect pest of bamboo that affects normal bamboo growth and induces sooty molds. The control of P. bambucicola involves the application of chemicals, such as imidacloprid, to which many species are resistant. In this study, we isolate a novel botanical pesticide (9-oxo-10,11-dehydro-ageraphorone) from an Eupatorium adenophorum(Asteraceae: Compositae) petroleum ether extract and test the aphicidal activity of this compound against P. bambucicola in laboratory bioassay and field-based experiments. This ageraphorone compound at a concentration of 2 mg/ml caused 73.33% mortality (corrected mortality [Subtracted the mortality of the negative control]: 70%) of P. bambucicola by laboratory bioassay within 6 h. Even at lower concentrations, this compound caused greater 33% mortality (corrected mortality: 30%) of aphids. Field experiments with naturally infested bamboo plants showed that two applications of 2 mg/ml ageraphorone to infested plants completely cleared infestations within 30 d. These effects were similar to those of the positive control (imidacloprid). These results reveal that 9-oxo-10,11-dehydro-ageraphorone exhibits significant aphicidal activity against bamboo aphids. We suggest that future research be directed at developing this ageraphorone compound from E. adenophorum as an aphicidal agent for biocontrol.

Species of Thripinae (Thysanoptera) from bamboo in Malaysia, with one new species and six new records.

Nine species of Thripinae that inhabit bamboo are recorded from Malaysia. Clypeothrips idrisi sp.n. is described as a second species in the genus, and Trichromothrips bruncurrum Reyes is considered a syn.n. of Neocorynothrips asiaticus Ramakrishna & Margabandhu. Six species are newly recorded from Malaysia: N. asiaticus, Okajimaella tubercula, Simulothrips banpoti, Stenchaetothrips bambusicola, S. bambusae and S. spinalis. Seven species of Stenchaetothrips are now known from Malaysia. Illustrations and descriptions of each species are provided.

Heterodera fengi n. sp. (Nematoda: Heteroderinae) from bamboo in Guangdong Province, China--a new cyst nematode in the Cyperi group.

Heteroderafengi n. sp. is described and illustrated from bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel) based on morphology and molecular analyses of rRNA LSU D2D3 region and ITS. This new species belongs to the Cyperi group. Cysts are characterized by prominent vulval cone with ambifenestrate, bifurcate underbridge that is thicker in middle and a 47.0 (40.0-60.0) µm long vulval slit, but without bullae. The second-stage juveniles are characterized by a 23.2 (22.0-24.0) µm long stylet with slightly projected or anteriorly flattened knobs, three incisures in lateral field, a 70.2 (62.5-77.0) µm long tail with bluntly rounded terminus and hyaline portion ca 58.9 (50.0-62.5)% of the tail length. Males are characterized by a 25.1 (24.5-26.3) µm long stylet with rounded knobs sloping posteriorly, four incisures in lateral field, a 29.8 (27.5-31.3) µm long spicule with bifurcate tip. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the species has unique D2D3 and ITS rRNA sequences and RFLP-ITS-rRNA profiles. Heteroderafengi n. sp. is closest to H. elachista in dendrograms inferred from both DNA sequences.

Two new bamboo-feeding species of the genus Neocarpia Tsaur & Hsu (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae: Eucarpiini) from Guizhou Province, China.

Two new bamboo-feeding species of the cixiid planthopper genus Neocarpia Tsaur & Hsu, 2003 (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae: Eucarpiini), N. bidentata sp. nov. (Guizhou: Xishui) and N. hamata sp. nov. (Guizhou, Yanhe), from southwest China, are described and illustrated. The generic characteristics are redefined. A key and a checklist to the known species of this genus in the world are provided.

A new species of Poliaspoides MacGillivray (Hemiptera, Diaspididae) on Bambusa siamensis (Poaceae) imported into Turkey.

The adult female and first-instar nymph of a new species of armoured scale insect, Poliaspoides bambusae sp.n. (Diaspididae), is described and illustrated. The new species was collected in Turkey on imported ornamental Bambusa siamensis (Poaceae) from an unknown source.

Efficacy and economic benefits of prophylactic treatments of newly felled bamboo.

Bamboo (Bambusa spp.) users in Laguna and Rizal, Philippines, were surveyed regarding their willingness to accept varying degrees of bamboo powderpost beetle, Dinoderus minutus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), damage. The efficacy of deltamethrin, permethrin, or disodium octaborate tetrahydrate in water or in kerosene was then assessed against beetles on freshly cut bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris Schrader ex Wendland). Adult D. minutus in groups of 100 were capable of inflicting 50% cross-sectional damage on 30-cm-long bamboo samples within a 4-wk test period. Deltamethrin (0.01% [AI]). in water or kerosene provided significantly better protection against D. minutus attack on bamboo for 5 wk than did all other treatments. The results from a survey were then used to assess the cost/benefit ratio for each prophylactic treatment. Successful prophylactic treatment provided up to a 12:1 return, illustrating the benefits of such treatments.

[Relationships among Cyrtotrachelus buqueti larval density and wormhole number and bamboo shoot damage degree].

In August of 2007 and 2008, a field investigation was made to study the relationships among Cyrtotrachelus buqueti larval density and wormhole number and bamboo shoot damage degree in Sichuan Province. The three pairs of variables, i. e., C. buqueti larval density and wormhole number, C. buqueti larval density and bamboo shoot damage degree, and C. buqueti wormhole number and bamboo shoot damage degree, fitted cubic equations well, with the correlation coefficients at P = 0.001. Based on these mathematical models, the forecast tables for C. buqueti larval density and bamboo shoot damage degree were established, and the thresholds of C. buqueti larval density and wormhole number were 0.13 and 0.40 individual per bamboo, respectively.

[Host plant suitability and reproductive isolation of two Schizotetranychus bambusae populations from the bamboo species Phyllostachys pubescens and Neosinocalamus affini].

Development, survivorship, reproduction and procreation isolation of Schizotetranychus bambusae from the bamboo species Phyllostachys pubescens and Neosinocalamus affinis reared on different host plants were evaluated in laboratory. The results showed that the population of S. bambusae from Phyllostachys pubescens (PhS) failed to complete its life cycle when reared on the leaf of N. affinis. When the population of S. bambusae from N. affinis (NeS) was reared on the leaf of P. pubescens, the survivorship and fecundity decreased. The rm, lambda and Ro were 0.0391, 1.0399 and 2.5542, respectively. At 27 degrees C, when the PhS was reared on P. pubescens, rm, lambda and Ro were 0.1415, 1.1520, and 15.6298, respectively, whereas NeS was reared on N. affinis, rm, lambda, and Ro were 0.0993, 1.1044, and 10.0622, respectively. Reciprocal cross test between PhS and NeS showed tht the two populations could mate, but laid unfertilized eggs that produced male only, indicating the existence of reproductive isolation.