1,721,099 research outputs found
Sustainable Pest Management
No full textThis section addresses the application of an ecosystemic approach in pest control issues in rooftop agriculture. Biotope (e.g., physical and climatic characteristics), possible biocenosis (e.g., insect pests, plant diseases, beneficials)
and related ecological relationships are described, altogether with their practical consequences.
Taken for granted that under the rooftop conditions the use of synthetic and broad spectrum pesticides is unwise, the main ecological IPM practices potentially pertinent to rooftop agriculture are described. Pest exclusion and prevention practices,
biological control with beneficial arthropods, use of natural and botanical insecticides, habitat manipulation and use of functional biodiversity for pest control are discussed
Efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) for the control of black fly populations, (Simulium spp.) in Mantua province (Italy)
No full textSemiochemicals of Ostrinia nubilalis: Diel response to sex pheromone and phenylacetaldehyde in open field
Full text linkOstrinia nubilalis (European corn borer, ECB) is a widely recognized pest of several crops over much of the northern hemisphere. Diel flight rhythms of this moth in response to the attractants phenylacetaldehyde (PAA) and sex pheromones were studied in field conditions. Trapping experiments during three seasons (2008, 2009, 2010) were conducted in an area of the Po valley (northern Italy) where maize cultivation is widespread and O. nubilalis E and Z strains live in sympatry. Both ECB males and females were captured by water pan traps baited with PAA and males alone with Z/E pheromone isomers (11-tetradecenyl acetate). Moths caught by traps were counted every three hours, from 18.00 to 06.00 h. Both ECB males and females showed no crepuscular habits. Adults were caught by traps before 21.00 h only at the end of August, when light values were almost zero. Most of females attracted by PAA were trapped early in the night (21.00-24.00 h). Almost all of those females had mated, suggesting that PAA attraction could be related to oviposition. Unlike females, males did not show a diurnal rhythm in response to PAA, i.e. male captures maintained a steady level all night long. Males behaved differently in response to both Z and E pheromone blends; captures were mainly recorded after 24.00 h. This finding is consistent with previous data that demonstrated a gradual increase of pheromone titer and calling behaviour by females during the scotophase, following a decrease of temperature and an increase of relative humidity
Macrocyclops albidus (Copepoda: Cyclopidae) for the biocontrol of aedes albopictus and culex pipiens in Italy
No full textThe aim of our study was to assess the potential of Macrocyclops albidus as a biological control agent against the 1st and 2nd instars of Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus. Under laboratory conditions of prey saturation (50 1st instars/copepod), an average of 58.98% of Cx. pipiens and 54.99% of Ae. albopictus larvae were killed by 1 copepod in 24 h. Trials run in big drums containing 200 liters of water showed that the M. albidus population, inoculated in April, efficiently controlled the mosquito population for the entire season. The predator was particularly effective against Ae. albopictus, as only 2 larvae of this species were found in the treated drums, compared to 814 larvae in untreated control drums throughout the study period. No difference was observed in the control efficacy between the 2 initial densities of copepods used. The reduction in Ae. albopictus density in the drums with 100 and 500 M. albidus with respect to the control drums was 99.90 ± 0.35% and 100.0 ± 0.0%, respectively. For Cx. pipiens, the reduction in density was 88.69 ± 13.51% and 84.65% in drums inoculated with 100 and 500 copepods, respectively. Macrocyclops albidus populations survived through the winter and continued to keep the mosquito population under control during the 2008 season. The M. albidus population developed very well both in drums placed in sunny and shaded areas and proved to be tolerant to both high (summer) and low (winter) temperatures. Trials performed on M. albidus survival in catch basins showed that after a few weeks, the copepod population dramatically decreased and subsequently disappeared. The main problem for copepod survival in catch basins seemed to be the low oxygen tension and accumulation of toxic substances, rather than copepods being flushed out in heavy rainfall episodes. During the period when copepods were present, they maintained the mosquito population under control; their partial disappearance from the catch basins, however, would require more recolonization intervention to maintain mosquito control during the season
Sex pheromone traps for detection of the invasive box tree moth in Italy
Full text linkThe efficacy of sex pheromone traps for Cydalima perspectalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera Crambidae) box tree moth (BTM) was assessed in 2013 and 2014 in North East Italy (Parco Giardino Sigurtà, Valeggio sul Mincio, Verona). In 2013 male moths were trapped during their last flight of the year. In 2014 monitoring performed from May to October highlighted three flight peaks. In the same period the development of preimaginal stages on infested plants was checked. In the study area, according to these field samplings and males trapping, BTM moth undergoes three generations with overwintering as young larva. Sex pheromone traps to assess the spread of this invasive moth into new areas and to identify the correct time of control treatments will be a useful tool for integrated pest management (IPM)
Influence of Ostrinia nubilalis larval density and location in the maize plant on the tachinid fly Lydella thompsoni
Full text linkA three years research (2008-2010) was carried out in the Po valley (northern Italy) on Lydella thompsoni Herting (Diptera Tachinidae), an important parasitoid of ECB (European corn borer - Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner, Lepidoptera Crambidae). Several factors can affect the action of L. thompsoni against ECB. This case of study was focused on the influence of ECB larval density and position in maize plant organs. Wintering ECB larvae and parasitoid puparia were sampled from maize plants and reared. O. nubilalis density ranged from 0.2 to 3.2 larvae/plant. L. thompsoni was the only parasitoid regularly reared from ECB larvae. Parasitisation rates were 17.9, 16 and 11% in 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively. It was noticed that ECB larvae distribution in the maize plants was related to infestation degree. ECB larvae preferably colonized ears; however, when their density increased, their proportion in the stalk did, as well. The density of L. thompsoni was higher in stalk tissues, below and above the ear. Among the range of ECB densities recorded as a result of this study, it was not observed a density dependent relation between ECB and L. thompsoni
Compatibility of Beauveria bassiana with fungicides in vitro and on zucchini plants infested with Trialeurodes vaporariorum
No full textThe effect of fungicides on the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana strain ATCC 74040 (Naturalis®) was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The formulated fungicides Cantus® (boscalid), Frupica (mepanipyrim), Galben (benalaxyl), Melody® Compact (iprovalicarb + Cu oxychloride), Oracle⢠(fenamidone + Cu), Prosper® 300 CS (spiroxamine), Signum® (boscalid + pyraclostrobin), Switch® (cyprodinil + fludioxonil) and Talendo® (proquinazid) were tested on fungal colony growth from 10 field dose (10FD) to 10â4 FD. Each product mixed with Naturalis at FD was also tested against Trialeurodes vaporariorum on zucchini plants. Fungal colony growth was not affected by Cantus, Galben, Melody Compact, Oracle and Talendo at FD, while Frupica and Prosper 300 CS reduced colony growth by 9.7% and 6.9%, respectively. All these products did not inhibit the activity of B. bassiana on whiteflies at FD. On the contrary, Signum and Switch significantly inhibited colony growth at all doses and reduced the entomopathogenic activity on whiteflies when applied in mixture with B. bassiana. The toxic effect of both fungicides on B. bassiana persisted for 10 days after treatments, with a 91.2% reduction in nymph mortality in comparison to control for Signum and 87.4% for Switch. The mode of action of their active ingredients, boscalid, pyraclostrobin, cyprodinil and fludioxonil, individually and in mixture (boscalid + pyraclostrobin and cyprodinil + fludioxonil), was studied on fungal colony growth, spore germination, germ tube elongation and spore survival from 10FD to 10â2 FD. All these parameters were reduced by the four active ingredients at all doses, pyraclostrobin and fludioxonil completely inhibited spore germination, fludioxonil alone and in mixture with cyprodinil also inhibited completely spore survival
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
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