467 research outputs found
Tiger Moth
No full textPhotograph - Molly Belanger, Roy Belanger, and Jack Irwin standing in front of the Tiger Moth, Calling Lake, Albert
Research update: Progress in synthesis of nanoparticle dimers by self-assembly
No full textThis article highlights recent advances in the controlled self-assembly of nanoparticles to produce dimeric nanoparticle structures. The relevance of this emergent field is discussed in terms of recent applications in plasmonics and chemical catalysis. The concept of bond-valence applied to nanoparticles will be discussed, emphasizing some general approaches that have been successfully used to build these structures. Further, the asymmetric functionalization of nanoparticles surfaces as a path to drive selective aggregation, the use of biomolecules to self-assemble nanoparticles into dimers in solution, and the confinement of aggregates in small cavities are discussed. © 2014 Author(s)
Increased plant volatile production affects oviposition, but not larval development, in the moth Helicoverpa armigera
No full textIt is well established that herbivorous insects respond to changes in plant odour production, but little attention has been given to whether these responses relate to direct fitness costs of plant volatile production on insect growth and survival. Here, we use transgenic Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) plants that produce relatively large amounts of the volatile (S)-linalool to study whether the responses of egg-laying herbivorous insects to linalool production relate directly to the growth and survival of offspring. In choice tests, fewer eggs were laid on transgenic plants compared with non-transformed controls, indicating that increased linalool emissions have a deterrent effect on Helicoverpa armigera oviposition. Larval survival and larval mass after feeding on transgenic leaves, however, was comparable to non-transformed controls. (S)-linalool, whether in volatile or sequestered form, does not appear to have a direct effect on offspring fitness in this moth. We discuss how the ecology of this polyphagous moth species may necessitate a high tolerance for certain volatiles and their related non-volatile compounds, and suggest that responses by adult female H. armigera moths towards increased linalool production may be context specific and relate to other indirect effects on fitness
Douglas-fir tussock moth control by the homeowner
No full textTitle from PDF caption (viewed on August 21, 2017).This archived document is maintained by the State Library of Oregon as part of the Oregon Documents Depository Program. It is for informational purposes and may not be suitable for legal purposes.Mode of access: Internet from the Oregon Government Publications Collection.Text in English
Distribution, life history, food choice and chemical ecology of the invasive box-tree pyralid "cydalima perspectalis"
No full textSUMMARY: The box-tree pyralid Cydalima perspectalis (Walker 1859) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
is a new invasive moth species in Europe. Its larvae feed on box-tree leaves and
can cause severe damage within short time. Therefore, this species is of great
concern for park and public garden manager in Europe.
In the context of my PhD thesis, I examined the spread in the region of Basel,
the national distribution as well as the biology of this moth. The natural
dispersal speed was assessed using a public survey in the region of Basel.
The number of adult moths caught with light traps allowed the determination of
two distinct periods of appearance of adult moths: the first in July and the
second, less pronounced, from September to mid-October.
In collaboration with CABI Switzerland in Delémont, a geographic model based
on literature data from Europe and Asia as well as field and laboratory data was
developed. It shows the potential distribution, life-history and relative
abundance of the box-tree pyralid in Europe. The model suggests that the box-tree
pyralid might spread across most of Europe, except North Fenno-Scandinavia,
Northern Scotland and high mountain regions, where the overall temperatures are
too low to allow the completion of an entire generation per year. In most parts
of Central Europe, two generations of C. perspectalis may occur, whereas in
Northern and North-Western Europe, low temperatures allow only one yearly
generation.
In an experiment, a potential preference of the box-tree pyralid for a particular
box-tree variety was investigated. Female moths deposited their eggs preferably
on varieties with large leaves. Larval growth and survival did not differ between
the five most frequently planted box-tree varieties in Central Europe, suggesting
that the box-tree pyralid has a broad food acceptance in Europe. The discrepancy
between adult preference and larval performance could be explained by the fact
that the larval generation which was tested in this experiment was only about the
tenth in Central Europe, and that the adaptation to the new ecosystem is not fully
accomplished yet.
Another study involving chemical analyses showed that larvae take up toxic
compounds (alkaloids) from the box-tree leaves on which they feed and therefore
become unpalatable for predators. Young larvae contain twice as much alkaloids as
larvae in later instars. In box-tree leaves, the concentration of alkaloids
doubles between one year-old leaves and older leaves. This finding suggests a
preference of larvae for leaves containing a high concentration of alkaloids,
which may explain why damage on a box-tree most often starts in the lower part,
where the oldest leaves are found.
Finally, an instrument for decision-making when facing the choice of long-term
care and replacement of large box-tree plantations was developed using the example
of the cemetery “am Hörnli” in Riehen, close to Basel. The cemetery “am Hörnli”
would suffer a great financial damage due to the loss of box-trees, having
estimated 3.3 km of box-tree hedges and 650 solitary trees. Since a replacement of
all box-tree plants does neither come into consideration financially nor
materially, the municipal parks and garden department chose a financially more
attractive solution for the clearance, care, and replacement of box-trees,
following a concept of commensurability and efficiency: important trees from a
heritage point of view are management and functionally less important trees are
cleared and replaced by optically different but less pricy plants or not replaced
at all. This strategy proves to be the most cost-efficient: after only four years
this strategy is financially more attractive than a hypothetical care of all
box-tree plants.
The findings of this doctoral thesis suggest that it will become unavoidable to
monitor box-trees in gardens, parks and in natural sites and to treat them with
pesticides in case of need. ---------- Zusammenfassung: Der Buchsbaumzünsler Cydalima perspectalis (Walker 1859) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
ist eine in Europa neu auftretende, invasive Schmetterlingsart, dessen Raupen sich
von Buchsblättern ernähren. Diese können innert kurzer Zeit grosse Schäden
anrichten und bereiten daher den Verantwortlichen für Parks und Grünanlagen in
Europa grosse Sorgen.
Im Rahmen meiner Dissertation untersuchte ich die regionale und nationale
Ausbreitung sowie die Biologie des Falters. Mittels einer Umfrage bei der
Bevölkerung der Region Basel wurde die natürliche Ausbreitungs-geschwindigkeit des
Buchsbaumzünslers erfasst. Mithilfe der Aufzeichnung von Lichtfängen an zwei
Standorten in Basel konnten zwei deutlich getrennte Perioden des Erscheinens der
Falter festgestellt werden: die erste im Juli und die zweite, weniger stark
ausgeprägte, von Anfang September bis Mitte Oktober.
In Zusammenarbeit mit CABI Switzerland in Delémont wurde ein geographisches Modell
erstellt, welches anhand von Literaturdaten aus Europa und Asien sowie Feld- und
Labor-Daten die potentielle Verbreitung, die relative Abundanz sowie den
jährlichen Rhythmus des Buchsbaumzünslers in Europa simuliert. Das Modell lässt
darauf schliessen, dass sich der Buchsbaumzünsler in ganz Europa ausbreiten kann,
mit Ausnahme vom nördlichen Fennoskandinavien, dem Norden Schottlands und hohen
Bergregionen wo die Temperaturen insgesamt zu niedrig sind, um eine komplette
Generation pro Jahr auszubilden. In weiten Teilen Mitteleuropas bildet der
Schädling zwei jährliche Generationen aus. In Nordeuropa erlauben die tieferen
Temperaturen hingegen nur eine einzige Generation pro Jahr.
Mit einem Experiment wurde eine allfällige Buchsbaum-Sortenpräferenz des
Buchsbaumzünslers untersucht. Legebereite Weibchen zeigten eine Vorliebe für
grossblättrige Buchssorten. Die Wachstumsrate und Sterblichkeit der Raupen zeigten
keine Unterschiede zwischen den häufigsten Sorten in Mitteleuropa, was darauf
schliessen lässt, dass der Buchsbaumzünsler in Europa eine breite Futterpflanzen-
akzeptanz aufweist. Die Abweichung zwischen der Präferenz der Falter und der
Wachstumsrate der Raupen kann daraus herrühren, dass die getesteten Raupen und
Falter erst etwa die zehnte Generation ist, welche in Mitteleuropa auftritt, und
die Anpassung an das neue Ökosystem noch nicht optimiert wurde.
In einer weiteren Untersuchung konnte anhand von chemischen Analysen gezeigt
werden, dass die Raupen giftige Stoffe (Alkaloide) aus den Buchsblättern aufnehmen
und speichern und deshalb für Frassfeinde ungeniessbar sind. Junge Raupen weisen
einen doppelt so hohen Alkaloidgehalt auf wie spätere Stadien. Beim Buchs sind
die Alkaloidkonzentration in einjährigen Blättern nur etwa halb so gross ist wie
in älteren Blättern. Diese Beobachtung legt nahe, dass Raupen Blätter mit hohem
Alkaloidgehalt vorziehen, was erklären mag weshalb der Frass an einer Buchspflanze
meist im unteren Bereich anfängt, wo die ältesten Blätter sind.
Es wurde ebenfalls ein Instrument zur Entscheidungsfindung zwischen Ersatz oder
langjähriger Pflege grosser Buchsbestände anhand des Friedhofes am Hörnli in
Riehen bei Basel entwickelt, da dieser mit seinen geschätzten 3.3 km Buchshecken
und 650 Solitärbuchsbäumen von einem erheblichen finanziellen Schaden durch den
Verlust von Buchs betroffen ist. Da ein Ersatz aller Buchspflanzen weder
finanziell noch materiell in Frage kommt, wird von der Stadtgärtnerei –
entsprechend dem Konzept der Verhältnismässigkeit – ein weit niedrigerer Betrag
für Rodung, Ersatz und Pflege aufgewendet: Denkmal-pflegerisch wichtige
Buchspflanzen werden erhalten und gepflegt, funktionell weniger wichtige
Buchspflanzen gerodet und je nach Situation gar nicht oder durch optisch
verschiedene aber dafür günstigere Straucharten ersetzt. Diese Strategie erweist
sich als die rentabelste: bereits nach vier Jahren ist diese Strategie finanziell
attraktiver als eine hypothetische Pflege des gesamten Buchsbestandes.
Aufgrund der verschiedenen Erkenntnisse, welche im Verlauf dieser Doktorarbeit
gewonnen wurden, wird es in Zukunft unvermeidlich sein, Buchspflanzen in Gärten,
Parkanlagen und an natürlichen Standorten zu überwachen und notfalls mit
Insektenschutzmitteln zu behandeln
Why So Fast? The Abandonment of Roman Culture and Social Identity in Post-Roman Britain
No full textSocial identity is, in short, how a social group defines itself and separates itself from other groups. Roman social identity changed Britain through various metrics such as material culture, agriculture, and language, but these changes can be seen to have less initial impact and fade much more quickly than expected when compared to continental Europe, even accounting for the Germanic Invasion shortly following the relinquishment of Roman control. Through these metrics it can be demonstrated that British Celtic social identity was strong and that many populations resisted assimilation, unlike Continental Celts. This pattern is strongest in northern and rural areas. By comparing the longevity of Roman social identity in southern/metropolitan vs northern/rural areas, it is possible to track where the Roman empire had greatest social influence
Assessing human-fluid-structure interaction for the international moth
No full textThe International Moth is an ultra-lightweight foiling dinghy class. Foil deflections and dynamic sailor-induced motions are identified as two key areas relating to foiling moth performance that are currently ignored in Velocity Prediction Programs (VPP). The impact of foil deflections is assessed by measuring the tip deflection and twist deformation of a T-foil from an International Moth. The full field deformation due to an applied load is measured using Digital Image Correlation (DIC). The foil's structural properties can then be determined based on the measured structural response. The deformations are then calculated for an estimated steady sailing force distribution on the T-foil and their impact on performance is evaluated. To investigate the impact of dynamic sailor motions a system is developed that allows a sailor's dynamic pose to be captured when out on the water by determining the orientations of key body segments using inertial sensors. It is validated against measured hiking moments and is demonstrated to work out on the water whilst sailing. Both these studies pave the way towards developing a Dynamic VPP for the international Moth, which can include unsteady human and foil interactions
Welvaert et al. Bogong moth and Common Koel surveillance
No full textThe EXCEL datasheets "Common Moth", "Common Koel 1", "Common Koel 2", Common Koel 3", "Symp Moth 1", "Symp Moth2", "Symp Koel 1", "Symp Koel 2", "Symp Koel 3", and "Symp Koel 4" are relevance summaries (0=non-relevant, 1=relevant) of de-identified tweets (from Twitter). Tweets were produced using the Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisations Emergency Situation Awareness (ESA) system. They are derived by the searches defined within the associated manuscript. The survey data of Bogong Moth data are field data collected from the summit ridge of Mount Gingera, Brindabella Ranges, Australia. Please contact the correspondence author, Peter Caley ([email protected]), for further information
A Road Trip of Acceptance and Love: A Review of Amber McBride\u27s Me (Moth)
No full textThe author reviews Amber McBride’s 2021 young adult novel Me (Moth), providing a brief summary, potential classroom audiences and instructional strategies, and similarly-themed texts
Nine aditions to the Croatian pyraloid moth fauna (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea)
No full textDuring the last few years, numerous surveys were undertaken to improve the knowledge of the Croatian pyraloid moth fauna. The first author carried out research from 2016 until 2022 on the island of Brač in Dalmatia. The second and third authors carried out research in 2018 and 2019 in the area around Zadar in Dalmatia and the region of Lika. The fourth author collected specimens in 2012 and 2022 in the area of Šibenik, Dalmatia, and the fifth author in 2008, in the area of Split, also in Dalmatia.
A list of all recorded species from several locations in Dalmatia and Lika is presented, containing the first data on pyraloid moths from the island of Brač. Throughout these surveys, a total of 163 species were recorded, of which nine are new to the Croatian moth fauna. From the family Pyralidae, the following species were recorded for the first time: Aphomia foedella (Zeller, 1839), Apomyelois bistriatella (Hulst, 1887), Delplanqueia inscriptella (Duponchel, 1836), Epischnia asteris Staudinger, 1870, Melathrix coenulentella (Zeller, 1846), Phycita asselbergsi Slamka, 2019 and Phycitodes saxicola (Vaughan, 1870). From the family Crambidae the following species were reported for the first time from Croatia: Hyperlais lutosalis (Mann, 1862), and Pyrausta rectefascialis Toll, 1936. The rare and endangered thermophilic species Ostrinia quadripunctalis (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) and the myrmecophilous Aglossa signicostalis Staudinger, 1870 were also identified. These findings are the second records from Croatia and hereby represent a contribution to their known distribution in Croatia. The finding of two specimens identified as Evergestis infirmalis Staudinger, 1870 – previously unreported from Croatia and the Balkan Peninsula – is presented. DNA barcode data reveal a possible misidentification with all the Evergestis caesialis (Herrich-Schäffer, [1849]) identified from Croatia. Images of the imago and the genitalia, as well as the DNA barcode sequences, are also presented.
With these nine additions to the checklist, the Croatian pyraloid moth fauna now numbers 406 species
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