Identification, synthesis, and field evaluation of components of the female-produced sex pheromone of Helopeltis cinchonae (Hemiptera: Miridae), an emerging pest of tea

BACKGROUND

Helopeltis cinchonae (Hemiptera: Miridae) is a major pest of tea plantations in Asia. Conventional control of pests with pesticides is unsustainable. Therefore, safe and eco-friendly alternatives, such as pheromones, are required to manage the pest.

RESULTS

In gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) analysis of whole-body extracts of virgin female H. cinchonae, two compounds elicited electroantennogram (EAG) responses from male antennae. These were identified as hexyl (R)-3-acetoxybutyrate and (R)-1-acetoxy-5-butyroxyhexane using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis compared to synthetic compounds. This is the first study to report 1-acetoxy-5-butyroxyhexane as an insect pheromone component. The synthetic compounds elicited dose-dependent EAG responses from the antennae of male H. cinchonae. In two field trapping experiments, the individual compounds were highly attractive to male H. cinchonae when dispensed from polyethylene vials. However, higher catches were obtained with blends of the two compounds in a 1:10 ratio. The blend of racemic compounds was as attractive as the blend of (R)-enantiomers.

CONCLUSIONS

We reported that 1-acetoxy-5-butyroxyhexane and hexyl 3-acetoxybutyrate are components of the female-produced sex pheromone of H. cinchonae, but further work is required on the blend and loading of pheromone and on trap design to provide an optimized system for monitoring and control of this pest. The results may also facilitate the identification of the pheromones of other Helopeltis species, which are major pests in many crops. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Diel flight activity in response to attractants in the predatory beetle, Cathartus quadricollis (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) in macadamia nut in Hawaii

The diel flight activity in Cathartus quadricollis (Guerin-Meneville) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae), a predator of two important pests in Hawaii, coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) and tropical nut borer, Hypothenemus obscurus (F.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) was studied in a macadamia nut orchard using yellow sticky traps baited with pheromone and fungal volatile attractants. The study was conducted at different months throughout the year and at different times during the lunar cycle (new moon and full moon). Flight activity peaked in the late hours of the photophase into the early hours of the scotophase, between 1830 and 2000 h; flight activity also occurred but to a lesser extent in the early morning hours between 0700 and 1030 h. Numbers of captured C. quadricollis during periods of flight activity were negatively correlated with wind speed. The implications of these findings for the development of optimal pest management strategies including biological control are discussed.

The Phlebotomine sand fly fauna of Switzerland revisited

Sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae; Newstead, 1911) are widespread in Europe, being particularly common in the Mediterranean region but rare north of the Alps. Thus, Switzerland is an opportune place to investigate the sand fly fauna on both sides of the Alpine crest, in southern sub-Mediterranean climate and northern oceanic temperate climate. We reinvestigated the Swiss sand fly fauna with the aim to assess changes in composition, altitudinal distribution, abundance and seasonality. Thirty-eight sites were investigated with light traps and/or interception sticky traps in 4 years. Ninety and 380 specimens were caught by light traps and sticky traps, respectively, at 15 collecting sites. Four species were identified. Phlebotomus mascittii (Grassi, 1908), Phlebotomus perniciosus (Newstead, 1911) and Sergentomyia minuta (Rondani, 1843) were confirmed in Ticino, and P. mascittii for the first time in neighbouring Grisons. Also, Phlebotomus neglectus (Tonnoir, 1921) is for the first time reported, though at a very low density compared to P. perniciosus at the same site. Its presence in Ticino supports the northward spread observed in Italy. Sand flies were detected north of the Alps at one site only, endorsing a historical report. Overall, the low density of P. perniciosus and very low density of P. neglectus suggest that canine leishmaniosis may not be an important disease risk in Switzerland.

Volatiles from nutritional fungal symbiont influence the attraction of Anisandrus maiche (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to ethanol-baited traps

Anisandrus maiche Stark (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is a non-native ambrosia beetle from central Asia that has been spreading throughout the eastern United States since 2005. Preferred hosts of A. maiche are not well characterized within its currently invaded range, but it is established in managed and natural forests throughout Indiana. Current monitoring and detection efforts for this beetle rely on ethanol-baited traps, but fungal volatiles may alter the attraction of A. maiche to ethanol. In this study, we conducted trapping experiments in Indiana to determine the extent to which a suite of common fungal alcohols influences the response of A. maiche to ethanol-baited traps. We then evaluated isoamyl and isobutyl alcohol as potential attractants for A. maiche and their ability to enhance attraction to ethanol. Lastly, we used SPME-GC-MS to identify volatiles from Ambrosiella cleistominuta (Mayers & Harr.), the fungal symbiont of A. maiche, grown for 7 and 14 days on malt extract agar. Benzyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, hexanol, methyl phenylacetate, phenethyl alcohol, and piperitone reduced the attraction of A. maiche to ethanol-baited traps in the field. Moreover, adding methyl benzoate and isoamyl alcohol individually to ethanol-baited traps did not further increase A. maiche capture. When paired with ethanol, isoamyl alcohol repelled beetles in the early flight period but did not significantly increase trap capture during the fall flight. These results represent a first step in understanding the role of fungal volatiles in the colonization behavior of A. maiche and may ultimately inform management strategies for this species.

Review of surveillance systems for tephritid fruit fly threats in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States

Many countries conduct fruit fly surveillance but, while there are guidelines, practices vary widely. This review of some countries in the Pacific region demonstrates the diversity of fruit fly surveillance practices. All utilize 3 parapheromones-trimedlure, cuelure, and methyl eugenol-to trap adult male fruit flies. Some target species are not attracted to these compounds so other attractants such as food-based lures are used in certain areas or circumstances. Lure loading and replacement cycles depend on the target species and the local climate. Malathion and dichlorvos (DDVP) are commonly used toxicants, but not in all countries, and other toxicants are being developed to replace these older-generation pesticides. Jackson and Lynfield are commonly used trap designs but newer designs such as cone and Biotrap are being adopted. Local factors such as chemical registrations and climate affect the choice of trap, lure, dispenser, toxicant, and bait concentration. These choices affect the efficacy of traps, in turn influencing optimal trap deployment in space and time. Most states now follow similar practices around trap inspection, servicing, and data handling, but these processes will be disrupted by emerging automated trap technologies. Ultimately, different practices can be attributed to the unique fruit fly risk profiles faced by each state, particularly the suite of fruit flies already present and those that threaten from nearby. Despite the diversity of approaches, international trade in fruit continues with the assurance that fruit fly surveillance practices evolve and improve according to each country's risk profile and incursion experience.

Technical assessment of mechanical and electronic traps to facilitate future improvements in trap efficacy and humaneness

BACKGROUND

Snap traps and electronic traps are the main devices for nonchemical management of rodent pests. Traps should be efficient and should not cause unnecessary suffering of animals. Harmonized, systematic test methods are required to make sure that mechanical forces or electrical parameters are optimal to achieve swift unconsciousness and death. This study aimed to describe technical trap properties that can be used to facilitate future improvements in trap efficacy and humaneness.

METHODS

We constructed a device to assess spring energy, triggering force, impulse and clamping force, and developed an arrangement to assess effective voltage, current, effective current and effective energy taking effect on rodent bodies in electronic traps - all without the use of animals. Descriptive data of trap characteristics were collated.

RESULTS

All factors showed variability among snap trap models and trigger types, and there was considerable overlap between mouse and rat traps. For most trap models, there was no difference among new snap traps and traps that had been trigged 20 times. Effective current and effective energy decreased with lower voltage input, but the traps indicated weak battery by LED lights, and one model switched off automatically when voltage was insufficient.

CONCLUSION

With the device and the electronic arrangement, the majority of snap trap models and electronic traps available on the market can be assessed in a standardized and repeatable way. Matching the data generated in this study with data on time for trapped target animals to reach irreversible unconsciousness, and experiences from pest control practitioners, should allow relating properties of traps to efficacy and animal welfare issues. This can support further development and optimization of traps for nonchemical rodent pest control. © 2024 Julius Kuehn-Institut and The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Mirror-Enhanced Plasmonic Nanoaperture for Ultrahigh Optical Force Generation with Minimal Heat Generation

Double Nanohole Plasmonic Tweezers (DNH) have emerged as a powerful approach for confining light to sub-wavelength volume, enabling the trapping of nanoscale particles much smaller than the wavelength of light. However, to circumvent plasmonic heating effects, DNH tweezers are typically operated off-resonance, resulting in reduced optical forces and field enhancements. In this study, we introduce a novel DNH design with a reflector layer, enabling on-resonance illumination while minimizing plasmonic heating. This design efficiently dissipates heat and redistributes the electromagnetic hotspots, making them more accessible for trapping nanoscale particles and enhancing light-matter interactions. We also demonstrate low-power trapping and release of small extracellular vesicles. Our work opens new possibilities for trapping-assisted Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), plasmon-enhanced imaging, and single photon emission applications that demand strong light-matter interactions.

Identifying Defects without a priori Knowledge in a Room-Temperature Semiconductor Detector Using Physics Inspired Machine Learning Model

Room-temperature semiconductor radiation detectors (RTSD) such as CdZnTe are popular in Computed Tomography (CT) imaging and other applications. Transport properties and material defects with respect to electron and hole transport often need to be characterized, which is a labor intensive process. However, these defects often vary from one RTSD to another and are not known a priori during characterization of the material. In recent years, physics-inspired machine learning (PI-ML) models have been developed for the RTSDs which have the ability to characterize the defects in a RTSD by discretizing it volumetrically. These learning models capture the heterogeneity of the defects in the RTSD-which arises due to the fabrication process and the energy bands of elements in the RTSD. In those models, the different defects of RTSD-trapping, detrapping and recombination for electrons and holes-are present. However, these defects are often unknown. In this work, we show the capabilities of a PI-ML model which has been developed considering all the material defects to identify certain defects which are present (or absent). Additionally, these models can identify the defects over the volume of the RTSD in a discretized manner.

The behavioral response to the putative necromones from dead Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in traps by conspecifics as a function of density and time since capture

Long-term trapping programs of stored product pests provide information for timely and accurate pest management. Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is a highly successful external-infesting grain pest and is frequently monitored using a commercial pitfall trap that combines pheromonal and kairomonal stimuli. However, an often overlooked component of lure-based traps is the potential for the volatile plume to change over time as individuals are captured. These now-dead insects may then release necromones altering the captures of conspecifics. In this study, we evaluated changes in (i) the behavior of T. castaneum and (ii) the relative change in volatiles over time since dead insects were added and among different densities of dead conspecifics in a commercially available kairomone oil. We used multiple behavior assays, including wind tunnel, release-recapture, and 2-way olfactometer, and performed chemical analyses via headspace collection and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Tribolium castaneum response to the kairomone lure was not consistent among assays of density of conspecifics between 4 and 40 adults after 24 or 96 h, or time of seeding over 1-96 h or 8-11 days prior. Tested strains collected in 2012 and 2019 ruled out strain-specific differences. Oil batch effects were also ruled out as a factor contributing to the response of T. castaneum. The relative volatile composition was generally stable among the treatments despite using different seeding densities and seeding times. Given that attraction and relative volatile composition were generally unaffected by prior captures, long-term monitoring programs may be robust in their interpretability over time.

A meta-analytic investigation of the potential for plant volatiles and sex pheromones to enhance detection and management of Lepidopteran pests

Effective early detection, monitoring and management methods are critical for reducing the impacts of insect pests in agriculture and forestry. Combining host plant volatiles with sex pheromones could enhance trapping methodologies, whilst the use of non-host volatiles could improve the effectiveness of pest management through repellency effects. In this meta-analysis approach, we analysed 51 studies that used electroantennograms (EAG), wind tunnels and/or field traps to evaluate the antennal and behavioural responses of Lepidoptera to sex pheromones combined with attractant or repellent plant volatiles. Proposed attractant plant volatiles had a positive association with female Lepidoptera responses to sex pheromone, but effects on males were highly variable, with unexpected repellency reported in some studies. Proposed repellent plant volatiles were significantly or near-significantly negatively associated with male attraction to sex pheromones but were scarcely studied. Sub-group analysis identified that male responses to sex pheromone were reduced when the dose of attractant plant volatile relative to sex pheromone was increased. Green-leaf volatiles were associated with the strongest positive effects for males in field traps. Multiple-compound attractant plant volatile blends were less effective than single compounds in field studies. Our analysis demonstrates, (i) the potential value of combining host plant volatiles with sex pheromones to capture females rather than only males, (ii) the importance of identifying appropriate host plant volatiles and optimal relative doses, and (iii) the potential for non-host plant volatile use in pest management strategies.

Turning a Pest into a Natural Enemy: Removing Earwigs from Stone Fruit and Releasing Them in Pome Fruit Enhances Pest Control

The European earwig Forficula auricularia (L.) (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) is an omnivorous insect that is considered a minor pest of stone fruit and a key predator of pests in pome fruit orchards. In many pome fruit orchards, earwigs are absent or in low abundance due to broad-spectrum spray programs and the slow recolonization rate of earwigs. Orchards in transition to organic or "selective" conventional programs often struggle to achieve effective levels of biological control, and thus, may benefit from inoculating earwigs to expedite their re-establishment. In a two-year study, we evaluated the potential for mass trapping earwigs from stone fruit using rolled cardboard traps to reduce fruit damage and provide earwigs for augmentation in pome fruit. We also tested whether a single mass release or five releases (on alternating weeks) of the same total number of earwigs in apples and pears reduced pests relative to plots where no releases occurred. Mass trapping did not decrease earwig abundance or substantially reduce fruit damage in stone fruit orchards. However, trapping was an efficient method for providing earwigs for augmentation. Earwig abundances were only increased in orchards where earwigs were previously low or absent; however, multiple orchards with varying prior levels of earwigs exhibited reductions in key pests (woolly apple aphid and pear psylla). For some other pests evaluated, plots with mass releases of earwigs had a slight trend in overall lower pest density when compared with control plots. A strategy for moving earwigs out of stone fruit orchards and into pome fruit orchards could be an effective method for augmenting orchard predator populations.

Influence of the filter grain morphology on separation efficiency in dielectrophoretic filtration

Recovery of noble materials from waste is essential for industries around the globe. Dielectrophoretic (DEP) filtration, an electrically switchable particle separation technique, can be applied to tackle this challenge. It is highly selective regarding particle size, material or shape. Expanding the scope of DEP towards high throughput and improving the trapping efficiency are vital to make DEP a viable robust alternative to conventional separation methods. DEP filtration works by selective immobilisation of particles in a porous medium by the action of an inhomogeneous electric field. The field inhomogeneity comes from scattering an electric field at the phase boundary between the particle suspension and the filter surface. In this article, we show how the filter structure affects the DEP separation. We study fixed bed filters of three different grain types and find that the morphology of the grains highly influences the DEP filter efficiency. Specifically, grains with irregular surface structure and high perceived angularity show high separation efficiency. We believe these insights into the design of DEP filtration will pave the way towards its application in, for example, the recovery of valuable materials from electronic waste dust.

Small rodent monitoring at Birkebeiner Road, Norway

Background

Northern small mammal populations are renowned for their multi-annual population cycles. Population cycles are multi-faceted and have extensive impacts on the rest of the ecosystem. In 2011, we started a student-based research activity to monitor the variation of small rodent density along an elevation gradient following the Birkebeiner Road, in southeast Norway. Fieldwork was conducted by staff and students at the University campus Evenstad, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, which has a long history of researching cyclic population dynamics. The faculty has a strong focus on engaging students in all parts of the research activities, including data collection. Small rodents were monitored using a set of snap trap stations. Trapped animals were measured (e.g. body mass, body length, sex) and dissected to assess their reproductive status. We also characterised the vegetation at trapping sites.

New information

We provide a dataset of small rodent observations that show fluctuating population dynamics across an elevation gradient (300 m to 1,100 m a.s.l) and in contrasting habitats. This dataset encompasses three peaks of the typical 3-4-year vole population cycles; the number of small rodents and shrews captured show synchrony and peaked in years 2014, 2017 and 2021. The bank vole Myodesglareolus was by far (87%) the most common species trapped, but also other species were observed (including shrews). We provide digital data collection forms and highlight the importance of long-term data collection.

Electrothermal transport of water conveying copper, silver and alumina nanoparticles through a vertical wavy microchannel

This study emphasizes the significance of optimizing heat transmission, energy conversion, and thermal management in electronic devices, renewable energy systems, and emerging technologies like thermoelectric devices and energy storage systems. The aim is to enhance heat transfer efficiency for improved performance and lifespan of electronic equipment. The research utilizes a mathematical flow analysis to study a water-based ternary nanofluid's flow and thermal characteristics in a vertical microfluidic channel driven by peristalsis and electroosmosis. The ternary-hybrid nanofluid (THNF), comprising copper, silver, and alumina nanoparticles dissolved in water, is examined considering induced magnetic fields. The study delves into fluid flow, heat absorption, and mixed convection, using Debye-Hückel, lubrication, and long wavelength approximations. Results show that THNF exhibits superior heat transmission compared to pure water. Increasing solid volume fraction of nanoparticles decreases THNF's temperature. Induced magnetic fields impact the system. This research could influence thermal pipe heat sinks and bioengineered medical devices design.

Rapid Elimination of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus Mosquitoes from Puerco Island, Palawan, Philippines with Odor-Baited Traps

Globalization and climate change are key drivers for arboviral and parasitic infectious diseases to expand geographically, posing a growing threat to human health and biodiversity. New non-pesticidal approaches are urgently needed because of increasing insecticide resistance and the negative human and environmental health impacts of synthetic pyrethroids used for fogging. Here, we report the complete and rapid removal of two mosquito species (Aedes aegypti L. and Culex quinquefasciatus Say), both arboviral disease vectors, with odor-baited mosquito traps (at a density of 10 traps/hectare) from a 7.2-hectare island in the Philippines in just 5 months. This rapid elimination of mosquitoes from an island is remarkable and provides further proof that high-density mosquito trapping can play a significant role in mosquito- and vector-borne disease elimination in small islands around the world.

Simulation to investigate site-based monitoring of pest insect species for trade

Pest insect surveillance using lures is widely used to support market access requirements for traded articles that are hosts or carriers of quarantine pests. Modeling has been used extensively to guide the design of surveillance to support pest free area claims but is less commonly applied to provide confidence in pest freedom or low pest prevalence within sites registered for trade. Site-based surveillance typically needs to detect pests that are already present in the site or that may be entering the site from surrounding areas. We assessed the ability of site-based surveillance strategies to detect pests originating from within or outside the registered site using a probabilistic trapping network simulation model with random-walk insect movement and biologically realistic parameters. For a given release size, time-dependent detection probability was primarily determined by trap density and lure attractiveness, whereas mean step size (daily dispersal) had limited effect. Results were robust to site shape and size. For pests already within the site, detection was most sensitive using regularly spaced traps. Perimeter traps performed best for detecting pests moving into the site, although the importance of trap arrangement decreased with time from release, and random trap placement performed relatively well compared to regularly spaced traps. High detection probabilities were achievable within 7 days using realistic values for lure attractiveness and trap density. These findings, together with the modeling approach, can guide the development of internationally agreed principles for designing site-based surveillance of lure-attractant pests that is calibrated against the risk of non-detection.

Comparison of different traps and attractants in 3 food processing facilities in Greece on the capture of stored product insects

Certain lures are marketed toward particular pests or classes of pests, while others might be multi-species lures. Investigative aims for this study included both which trap was most sensitive and whether different combinations of traps and attractants were delivering novel information about the stored product insect community. Comparisons were made for all combinations of 3 commercial traps and 4 different attractants plus an untreated control on the capture of stored-product insects for 2 consecutive years in 3 food processing facilities in Central Greece. The traps used in the experiments were Dome Trap (Trécé Inc., USA), Wall Trap (Trécé) and Box Trap (Insects Limited, Ltd., USA). The attractants that were evaluated were 0.13 g of (i) PantryPatrol gel (Insects Limited), (ii) Storgard kairomone food attractant oil (Trécé), (iii) wheat germ (Honeyville, USA), and (iv) Dermestid tablet attractant (Insects Limited). The traps were inspected approximately every 15 days and rotated. A total of 34,000+ individuals were captured belonging to 26 families and at least 48 species. The results indicated that Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), and cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.) were the most abundant. Although there were noticeable differences among the different traps and attractants for specific species, all combinations provided similar information on population dynamics. Generally, Dome traps baited with either the oil or the gel, were found to be the most sensitive. The results of the present study demonstrate the importance of long-term trapping protocols, as a keystone in IPM-based control strategies in food processing facilities.

Optimization of 13-tetradecenyl acetate sex pheromone for trapping Melanotus communis (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Corn wireworm, Melanotus communis Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Elateridae), is an economically important larval pest of root and tuber crops in the United States. Previous work to estimate field-level abundance of M. communis has focused on grain-based larval baits placed in soil. However, this sampling method is labor intensive and may not estimate population size accurately. Recent discovery of the M. communis sex pheromone, 13-tetradecenyl acetate, provides a new method to monitor this pest during the adult stage. Early studies with this pheromone showed that different trapping methods might enhance catch and improve trap servicing. We hypothesized that placing lures on elevated traps would increase M. communis capture relative to the in-ground pitfall trapping that is currently used. We had 2 objectives for this study: (a) to compare pheromone captures among in-ground pitfall traps, on-ground pitfalls, elevated pitfalls (1 m), or elevated sticky cards (1 m) and (b) test lure longevity by aging the lures outdoors at 8-, 6-, 4-, 2-, and 0-wk intervals prior to trap deployment in the field. Experiments were conducted in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, and Florida during the 2021 and 2022 field seasons. Results highlight large variation in M. communis abundance across the 4 states. We showed that 1 m elevated pheromone traps caught the most beetles. The age of the lure prior to deployment had a significant effect on trap catch. The lures that were aged for fewer weeks attracted significantly more beetles, with 0- and 2-wk-old lures capturing the greatest numbers.

Transect-based trapping for area-wide delimitation of insects

Typical delimitation trapping survey designs for area-wide (nonlocalized) insect populations are regularly spaced grids, and alternative shapes have not been evaluated. We hypothesized that transect-based designs could give similar detection rates with significantly shorter servicing distances. We used the TrapGrid model to investigate novel "trap-sect" designs incorporating crossed, spoked, and parallel lines of traps, comparing them to a regular grid, in single survey and multiple-site scenarios. We calculated minimum servicing distances and simulated mean probabilities of detecting a pest population, judging overall performance of trap network designs using both metrics. For single sites, trap-sect designs reduced service distances by 65-89%, and most had similar detection probabilities as the regular grid. Kernel-smoothed intensity plots indicated that the best performing trap-sect designs distributed traps more fully across the area. With multiple sites (3 side by side), results depended on insect dispersal ability. All designs performed similarly in terms of detection for highly mobile insects, suggesting that designs minimizing service distances would be best for such pests. For less mobile pests the best trap-sect designs had 4-6 parallel lines, or 8 spokes, which reduced servicing distances by 33-50%. Comparisons of hypothetical trap-sect arrays to real program trap locations for 2 pests demonstrated that the novel designs reduced both trap numbers and service distances, with little differences in mean nearest trap distance to random pest locations. Trap-sect designs in delimitation surveys could reduce costs and increase program flexibility without harming the ability to detect populations.

Complex aneurysm formation in the proximal segment of the posterior cerebral artery: a report of two cases

Posterior cerebral artery (PCA) aneurysms are rare and often fusiform. We describe two cases of complex proximal PCA aneurysm in two women in their 60's, which probably resulted from segmental arterial degeneration. Both presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage and had common angiographic and intraoperative findings: tortuous configuration of the affected P1 segment, whitish or yellowish appearance of a portion of the lesion, lesion calcification, and multiple aneurysms in the segment. Interestingly, no significant atherosclerotic changes were noted in other cerebral arteries. The ruptured aneurysm could be successfully trapped, with superficial temporal artery (STA)-PCA bypass in one and without bypass in the other, and both patients recovered well. As complex aneurysm formation in the cases described here are probably related to proximal PCA segmental degeneration, we recommend trapping the lesion, with or without STA-PCA bypass, depending on the size and patency of the posterior communicating artery.

Nanoscale Periodic Trapping Sites for Interlayer Excitons Built by Deformable Molecular Crystal on 2D Crystal

The nanoscale moiré pattern formed at 2D transition-metal dichalcogenide crystal (TMDC) heterostructures provides periodic trapping sites for excitons, which is essential for realizing various exotic phases such as artificial exciton lattices, Bose-Einstein condensates, and exciton insulators. At organic molecule/TMDC heterostructures, similar periodic potentials can be formed via other degrees of freedom. Here, we utilize the structure deformability of a 2D molecular crystal as a degree of freedom to create a periodic nanoscale potential that can trap interlayer excitons (IXs). Specifically, two semiconducting molecules, PTCDI and PTCDA, which possess similar band gaps and ionization potentials but form different lattice structures on MoS₂, are investigated. The PTCDI lattice on MoS₂ is distorted geometrically, which lifts the degeneracy of the two molecules within the crystal's unit cell. The degeneracy lifting results in a spatial variation of the molecular orbital energy, with an amplitude and periodicity of ∼0.2 eV and ∼2 nm, respectively. On the other hand, no such energy variation is observed in PTCDA/MoS₂, where the PTCDA lattice is much less distorted. The periodic variation in molecular orbital energies provides effective trapping sites for IXs. For IXs formed at PTCDI/MoS₂, rapid spatial localization of the electron in the organic layer toward the interface is observed, which demonstrates the effectiveness of these interfacial IX traps.

Weathering of 3-component synthetic food cones: effects on residual amount, release rate, and field capture of 3 pest species of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Food-based baits are an important component of trapping networks designed to detect invasive tephritid fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). An aqueous solution of torula yeast plus borax (TYB) is widely used, but synthetic food lures have been developed to facilitate field procedures, ensure standard composition, and lengthen the interval of bait attractiveness. Cone-shaped dispensers, containing ammonium acetate, putrescine, and trimethylamine (so-called 3C food cones), are currently being used in some large-scale trapping systems (e.g., Florida). Prior work in Hawaii showed that traps baited with 3C food cones capture similar numbers of Mediterranean fruit flies (medflies), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), as TYB-baited traps after 1-2 wk of weathering but capture fewer medflies thereafter. In addition, 3C food cones attract fewer oriental fruit flies, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), and melon flies, Zeugodacuscucurbitae (Coquillett) than TYB even when the food cones are freshly deployed. The current study describes an additional trapping experiment that expands upon earlier work by (i) presenting 3C food cones either unbagged (as done previously) or in nonporous or breathable bags to possibly reduce volatilization and lengthen bait effectiveness and (ii) measuring the content of the 3 components over time to potentially associate fruit fly captures with the loss of these food cone constituents. Implications of these findings for fruit fly surveillance programs are discussed.

An effective trap for spotted lanternfly egg masses

Spotted lanternfly (SLF) (Lycorma delicatula (White)), an invasive planthopper discovered in Pennsylvania, USA in 2014, continues to spread and is now present in 14 states with substantial infestations present in seven states. Population projections using adult SLF trapping or visual counts are not reliable due to the transient, migratory behavior of the adults which make population forecasts difficult. Another approach to population monitoring is utilization of the stationary egg mass stage, but counting small cryptic egg masses throughout the canopy of large trees in dense woodlots is arduous and prone to error. After several field seasons testing various trapping configurations and materials, we have identified an efficient, simple, low-cost trap termed a 'lamp shade trap' that is attached to the lower trunk area of an SLF host tree. SLF females readily enter the trap and lay eggs on the thin, flexible trap surface. A vertical trap orientation was superior, and the most productive woodlots yielded an average of 47 and 54 egg masses per trap, and several traps had over 100 egg masses. There were 1,943 egg masses tallied from 105 traps placed at six locations in two states. Egg mass counts in the area above and below the traps and on nearby control trees yielded very few egg masses in comparison. Selection of trees 15 to 20 cm in diameter for trap placement is most efficient, yielding good egg mass abundance while minimizing the amount of trap material used. The lamp shade trap has potential as an effective tool to identify SLF in new areas, gauge SLF population levels in woodlots and can also be used to collect and monitor egg masses for research purposes.

Nonanal, a new fall armyworm sex pheromone component, significantly increases the efficacy of pheromone lures

BACKGROUND

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a global pest that feeds on >350 plant species and severely limits production of cultivated grasses, vegetable crops and cotton. An efficient way to detect new invasions at early stages, and monitor and quantify the status of established infestations of this pest is to deploy traps baited with species-specific synthetic sex pheromone lures.

RESULTS

We re-examined the compounds in the sex pheromone glands of FAW females by gas chromatography-electroantennogram detector (GC-EAD), GC-mass spectrometry (MS), behavioral and field assays. A new bioactive compound from pheromone gland extracts was detected in low amounts (3.0% relative to (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-14:OAc), the main pheromone component), and identified as nonanal. This aldehyde significantly increased attraction of male moths to a mix of Z9-14:OAc and (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate in olfactometer assays. Adding nonanal to this two-component mix also doubled male trap catches relative to the two-component mix alone in cotton fields, whereas nonanal alone did not attract any moths. The addition of nonanal to each of three commercial pheromone lures also increased male catches by 53-135% in sorghum and cotton fields.

CONCLUSION

The addition of nonanal to pheromone lures should improve surveillance, monitoring and control of FAW populations. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Are You Still Using 6-Volt Batteries for Your Insect Traps?

The most prevalent insect sampling and surveillance problem is powering insect traps in the field. Most modern light traps use 6-V power supplies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suction trap. Buck converter modules efficiently reduce 12-V direct current power to 6-V, which permits the use of higher voltage batteries with lower voltage traps, resulting in longer operational duration and reduced labor requirements associated with replacing and recharging batteries in the field. We evaluated several battery configurations of 6- and 12-V lead-acid batteries in various sizes (10-20 ampere-hours) and addressed, in the circuit design, common problems that occur when using the buck converter (such as crossing polarity and excessive battery depletion). The efficacy of each configuration was assessed by measuring the voltage and suction while powering a 6-V CDC light trap. The buck converter permitted the use of cheaper and more commonly available 12-V batteries to run the CDC light traps and resulted in longer effective operation time as measured by air speed.

Comparing invasive and noninvasive faecal sampling in wildlife microbiome studies: A case study on wild common cranes

In ecological and conservation studies, responsible researchers strive to obtain rich data while minimizing disturbance to wildlife and ecosystems. We assessed if samples collected noninvasively can be used for faecal microbiome research, comparing microbiota of noninvasively collected faecal samples to those collected from trapped common cranes at the same sites over the same periods. We found significant differences in faecal microbial composition (alpha and beta diversity), which likely did not result from noninvasive sample exposure to soil contaminants, as assessed by comparing bacterial oxygen use profiles. Differences might result from trapped birds' exposure to sedatives or stress. We conclude that if all samples are collected in the same manner, comparative analyses are valid, and noninvasive sampling may better represent host faecal microbiota because there are no trapping effects. Experiments with fresh and delayed sample collection can elucidate effects of environmental exposures on microbiota. Further, controlled tests of stressing or sedation may unravel how trapping affects wildlife microbiota.

Microsurgical Treatment of a Giant Intracavernous Carotid Artery Aneurysm in a Pediatric Patient: Case Report and Literature Review

Intracranial aneurysms in children account for 4%-5% of all cases, with 20% being considered giant (>25 mm). The main sites of occurrence are the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Rupture and secondary subarachnoid hemorrhage occur in approximately 55%-72.5% of cases, with a 10%-23% mortality rate. We report the case of a previously healthy nine-year-old girl who developed sudden, severe right retroocular pain and a holocranial headache as a mode of onset. Besides, the patient presented with double vision, and her relatives sought medical attention. Paresis of the right III, IV, and VI cranial nerves was found at physical examination. An MRI and digital subtraction angiography showed the presence of a giant aneurysm in the cavernous portion of the ICA with a mass effect. The patient was treated surgically through a high-flow bypass using a radial artery graft and trapping of the aneurysm. She had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged three days after the operation to continue follow-up at the outpatient clinic. The therapeutic options were: a) an endovascular approach using flow diverters or stenting and coiling; or b) surgical treatment with proximal closure of the ICA if the patient had good collateral circulation or trapping the aneurysm combined with a high-flow bypass if the collateral circulation was not good or absent. After discussion, we decided on the surgical option. Even when the surgery was successful in this case, there is no consensus about the best way to treat it; the selection should be based on the center´s experience when confronting this rare entity.

Ecology and management of the invasive land snail Bulimulus bonariensis (Rafinesque, 1833) (Stylommatophora: Bulimulidae) in row crops

Solutions for managing the growing populations of the snail Bulimulus bonariensis (Rafinesque, 1833) in row crops, notably peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), are urgently needed in the United States. This species has become a concern to the economy and food security for infesting commercial crops in U.S. southern states. In the present study, sampling, trapping, and management strategies were investigated to support a management program for B. bonariensis in row crops. In addition, the preference of B. bonariensis for species of row crops and weeds, used as a shelter, and snail dispersal capacity were documented. The results indicated that the ideal tools for monitoring and capturing snails are beat cloth and cardboard trap, respectively. Metaldehyde 4% bait produced effective control. Tillage was tested as an alternative cultural management tactic and produced the most promising outcomes in lowering snail populations. According to snail ecological studies, peanut and soybean are the preferred crops used as shelter over cotton and corn. Among eight common winter-growing weeds, the favored non-crop host plants are cutleaf primrose (Oenothera laciniata) and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). The snail field population tends to increase as early spring temperatures rise, with more snails becoming trapped in warm, humid conditions but not through heavy precipitation. This study provides ecology information on B. bonariensis and validates tactics to manage this invasive species in row crops, in an IPM approach.

Verifying the efficiency of the Biogents Sentinel trap in the field and investigating microclimatic influences on responding Aedes aegypti behavior

Successful surveillance and control of mosquito arbovirus vectors requires effective and sensitive trapping methods for adult insects. The Biogents Sentinel (BGS) trap is widely used for mosquito trapping but has low capture efficiency for both female and male Aedes aegypti under semi-field conditions. Efficiency refers to the proportion of mosquitoes that are trapped of those encountering the trap. We verified the efficiency of the BGS under field conditions in suburban Riverside, California, U.S.A., following our previous work determining the efficiency under semi-field conditions in Cairns, Northern Australia. The efficiency of the BGS with CO₂ and a human skin odor mimic (BG-Lure) for both Ae. aegypti sexes in the field was 9%. This closely aligns with the results of our previous study, the efficiency for females being 5% and males being 9%. In the present study microclimatic conditions were monitored and capture occurred during periods of significantly lower mean temperature. There were no discernible changes in wind directionality or strength in the 60 s leading up to mosquito capture by the BGS. Our results support our previous findings that capture efficiency of the BGS for Ae. aegypti is low.

A Chemical Lure for Trapping Both Sexes of Amata phegea L

The addition of synthetic eugenol and benzyl acetate to the known floral chemical and moth attractant phenylacetaldehyde synergized the attraction of Amata phegea (Lepidoptera: Amatidae). Traps baited with the ternary blend caught ca. four times more A. phegea moths than traps baited with phenylacetaldehyde alone. Both female and male moths were attracted; in a preliminary test, the female numbers caught were almost double compared to the males. Most A. phegea were caught when the blend was formulated in a dispenser with medium release rates. Traps baited with the ternary lure in polyethylene bag dispensers detected a single well-pronounced peak in seasonal trapping, suggesting that this multicomponent bisexual lure could be efficient enough to be applied to the detection and monitoring of female and male A. phegea.

Monitoring the Methyl Eugenol Response and Non-Responsiveness Mechanisms in Oriental Fruit Fly Bactrocera dorsalis in China

Bactrocera dorsalis is a notorious polyphagous pest in China, and its management strategies largely depend on methyl eugenol (ME), which has been widely used as an attractant to monitor and eradicate B. dorsalis populations for seven decades. However, the non-responsiveness levels in field B. dorsalis populations to ME is unknown. In this study, we monitored the response to ME in field populations from the four most heavily infested provinces in China, and the results showed that the populations had lower sensitivity to ME relative to GZS susceptible strain. The percent responsiveness of the lowest sensitivity population was 5.88-, 3.47-, and 1.47-fold lower relative to the susceptible strain at doses of 1, 10, and 100 µL of ME, respectively. Gene expression analysis and inhibitor assays further revealed that odorant binding protein (BdorOBP2, BdorOBP83b) and the P450 enzyme system may be associated with the lower response to ME. To our knowledge, this work is the first to report that the P450 enzyme system confers a lower responsiveness to lure insects. These findings provided valuable insights for exploiting ME non-responsiveness to protect sterile males from ME-based control strategies and the use of lures combined with insecticides.

Scalable Self-Limiting Dielectrophoretic Trapping for Site-Selective Assembly of Nanoparticles

The absence of a versatile, scalable, and defect-free bottom-up assembly of nanoparticles with high precision has been a longstanding roadblock facing the large-scale integration of diverse nanoparticle-based devices. To circumvent this roadblock, we present a self-limiting dielectrophoretic approach to precisely align nanoparticles onto an array of electrodes over a large area, assisted by lithographically defined capacitors in series with the electrodes. We have experimentally verified that the on-chip capacitor can reduce the probability of trapping multiple particles at a given site, as the electric field is greatly weakened after the first nanoparticle bridges the electrodes. A 70% yield of single-nanowire assembly has been achieved, and key factors limiting the current yield are discussed. The yield is expected to further increase by improving the nanoparticle-electrode contact and reducing the capillary force during the drying process. We also demonstrate the versatility of this approach for scalable and site-selective alignment of various nanoparticles.

Ambrosia Beetle Occurrence and Phenology of Xylosandrus spp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Ornamental Nurseries, Tree Fruit, and Pecan Orchards in Georgia

Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae, Platypodinae) in the genus Xylosandrus are problematic in ornamental nurseries and are emerging as serious pests in orchard crops. An updated survey of ambrosia beetles focusing on these damaging species, and their corresponding phenology was conducted in Georgia to aid in refining management practices for these beetles. Ambrosia beetles were monitored across nine sites in 2019 and seven sites 2020 at ornamental nurseries, tree fruit, and pecan orchards in Georgia. At each site, six ethanol-baited bottle traps were deployed; with three traps along the edge of a wood-line and three traps placed 30 m from the edge of the nurseries and orchards. Traps were deployed from mid-January through July or August depending on site and year. All captured ambrosia beetles were counted and identified. Captures of X. crassiusculus, X. germanus, and X. compactus, were analyzed further to investigate spatial distribution and seasonal flight activity. At high population sites, more beetles were captured along adjacent wood lines than in the orchard or nursery interior. At most sites, flight activity began in February and March continued until the termination of the study in July or August. At most sites, sustained flight activities with multiple peaks were observed in March, April, and May, corresponding to average weekly temperatures reaching ≥15.5°C. These results have important implications on temporally and spatially precise management for these beetles across three important agricultural production systems in the southeastern US.

Sea trout (Salmo trutta) straying rate decreases as distance from river mouth increases

For both conservation and management purposes, it is important to identify the natal origin of migratory individuals entering a river, particularly in genetically spatially structured species like brown trout (Salmo trutta) where the migrant ecotype (called sea trout) can originate from different populations. Nonetheless, little attention has been paid to the spatial distribution of non-local fish at the level of an entire river catchment. The objective of the study was to quantify the proportion of non-local sea trout entering a river catchment (i.e., straying rate) and estimate the spatial extent of their upstream migration. Here, the authors considered dispersal in three distinct rivers, taking advantage of 10 sampling sites. Sea trout, either trapped or rod-caught, were genotyped and genetically assigned to their source populations using appropriate baselines. Based on 1437 sea trout fish classified as local or non-local, the authors empirically demonstrate that straying rate declines in each river as distance from the coast increases in a non-linear fashion. Straying rate exceeds 50% near the mouth, and then decreases gradually to reach <10% 40-50 km inland. A similar spatial pattern is found in the three rivers investigated suggesting an underlying common behaviour of non-local sea trout. The data and results presented here suggest that straying in is far more constrained spatially than first expected. The majority of non-local sea trout were found within the first 25 km of the estuary in the three rivers investigated.

Effective Cell Transfection in An Ultrasonically Levitated Droplet for Sustainable Technology

The levitation methodology, which enables us to operate a contactless reaction without a container, is likely to be a revolutionary technology in the fields of chemistry and biology to reduce the plastic waste in life science laboratories. Here, the authors show that plasmid DNA can be effectively transfected into animal cells in a floating droplet of culture medium levitated using ultrasonic standing waves. The data indicate that there is no significant damage to the plasmid and cells during the levitating transfection time, and the transgene expression efficiency and cellular uptake in the droplet are significantly higher than those in the conventional tube, with and without shaking. These results suggest the consolidation of the endocytic uptake pathway into macropinocytosis, indicating that ultrasonic levitation induced a change in cell characteristics. This study suggests that transfection methodology using ultrasonic levitation has the potential to advance the current experimental procedures in the field of cell engineering, in addition to presenting a revolutionary containerless reactor for sustainable technology.

Responses of adult spotted lanternflies to artificial aggregations composed of all males or females

Spotted lanternflies (SLF) Lycorma delicatula are economically important invasive planthoppers discovered in North America in 2014. SLF are gregarious, but how they locate each other, or who finds whom and when, is poorly understood. Here we describe adult SLF behavior and phenology on their preferred host, Ailanthus altissima, under field conditions, in the context of both aggregation and mate-location, since SLF demonstrated aggregation prior to mating. We documented aggregation behavior of adults and found we could manipulate free-living SLF populations in both number and sex ratio by the placement of confined populations of SLF males or females on trees. Trap capture of arriving SLF was significantly higher on trees with confined SLF aggregations than on control trees, and was corroborated with photographic data, demonstrating the manipulation of attraction and aggregation behavior. Sex ratios of trapped SLF arrivals were significantly more male-biased on trees with confined males and more female-biased on trees with confined females, evidence that the male- and female-biased sex ratios observed on trees naturally can be explained by sex-specific conspecific signals. SLF sex ratios shifted over time in the same pattern over two consecutive years. A mark-release-recapture study over time found that 1) SLF behavior is density dependent and strongly influenced by natural populations, 2) released females were captured significantly more on trees with caged females, particularly prior to mating, and 3) released males were captured significantly more on trees with caged females starting at mating time. Photographic data revealed that most clustering behavior (a measure of courtship) of free-living SLF began on trees with caged females during mating time, but not on trees with caged males or controls. We describe adult male and female SLF phenology whereby 1) aggregation behavior occurs, 2) males and females arrive at different times, 3) females began to aggregate several weeks prior to mating, 4) males subsequently joined aggregations at the time of mating, and 5) aggregation continued into oviposition. Population density and aggregation behavior were found to be key factors in their natural history which can be manipulated, providing a foothold for future research. Possible mechanisms for future exploration are discussed.

Mass Trapping and Larval Source Management for Mosquito Elimination on Small Maldivian Islands

Globally, environmental impacts and insecticide resistance are forcing pest control organizations to adopt eco-friendly and insecticide-free alternatives to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases, which affect millions of people, such as dengue, chikungunya or Zika virus. We used, for the first time, a combination of human odor-baited mosquito traps (at 6.0 traps/ha), oviposition traps (7.2 traps/ha) and larval source management (LSM) to practically eliminate populations of the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (peak suppression 93.0% (95% CI 91.7-94.4)) and the Southern house mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus (peak suppression 98.3% (95% CI 97.0-99.5)) from a Maldivian island (size: 41.4 ha) within a year and thereafter observed a similar collapse of populations on a second island (size 49.0 ha; trap densities 4.1/ha and 8.2/ha for both trap types, respectively). On a third island (1.6 ha in size), we increased the human odor-baited trap density to 6.3/ha and then to 18.8/ha (combined with LSM but without oviposition traps), after which the Aedes mosquito population was eliminated within 2 months. Such suppression levels eliminate the risk of arboviral disease transmission for local communities and safeguard tourism, a vital economic resource for small island developing states. Terminating intense insecticide use (through fogging) benefits human and environmental health and restores insect biodiversity, coral reefs and marine life in these small and fragile island ecosystems. Moreover, trapping poses a convincing alternative to chemical control and reaches impact levels comparable to contemporary genetic control strategies. This can benefit numerous communities and provide livelihood options in small tropical islands around the world where mosquitoes pose both a nuisance and disease threat.

Prospects for developing efficient targets for the xenomonitoring and control of Simulium damnosum s.l., the major vectors of onchocerciasis in Africa

Despite the ethical issues concerning the continued use of Human Landing Catches (HLC) to monitor the Simulium damnosum complex for epidemiological monitoring of onchocericasis, few attempts to develop alternatives have been reported. In studies on a wild population of S. damnosum in Burkina Faso, we tested visual targets (different sizes and shapes) and olfactory stimuli (CO₂ , and POCA and BG-lure® odour blends) for their ability to attract and collect host seeking blackflies. At each trap, blackflies were caught with appropriately sized electrocuting grids and results from Latin square design tests were compared. Throughout, HLCs captured more blackflies than the targets. Of the traps tested, small targets (0.0625 and 0.5 m² ) were the most efficient visual lure in terms of the number of S. damnosum captured per unit area 1.7-5× more than larger targets. Overall, results suggested that sticky black targets of horizontal rectangular shape (0.125-0.5 m² ) and baited with a POCA and/or CO₂ mixture could provide a cheap practical field alternative to HLC for onchocerciasis xenomonitoring, subject to confirmation that the design has no inherent bias for certain members of the S. damnosum species complex.

New Canadian and Provincial Records of Coleoptera Resulting from Annual Canadian Food Inspection Agency Surveillance for Detection of Non-Native, Potentially Invasive Forest Insects

The arrival and establishment of adventive, invasive forest insects are a threat to the health, diversity, and productivity of forests in Canada and the world at large, and their early detection is essential for successful eradication and management. For that reason, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) conducts annual surveys at high risk sites such as international ports and freight terminals, industrial zones, and disposal sites for solid wood packaging material using two methods: (1) semiochemical-baited traps deployed in a total of about 63-80 sites per year in British Columbia (BC), Ontario (ON), Quebec (QC), New Brunswick (NB), Nova Scotia (NS), and Newfoundland and Labrador (NL); and (2) rearing of insects from bolts collected from stressed trees and incubated in modified shipping containers in four cities (Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax). We report 31 new Canadian provincial records of Coleoptera from surveys conducted in 2011-2021, including 13 new records for Canada and 9 species adventive to North America (indicated by †). Nine of the new Canadian records were native North American species previously detected only south of the border. All but three species belong to the Curculionidae family and most of these were in the subfamily Scolytinae. The records include: Xenomelanophila miranda (LeConte) (Canada, BC) (Buprestidae: Buprestinae); Neoclytus mucronatus mucronatus (Fabricius) (BC) (Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae); Amphicerus cornutus (Pallas) (Canada, BC) (Bostrichidae: Bostrichinae); Mecinus janthinus (Germar)† (ON) (Curculionidae: Curculioninae); Aulacobaris lepidii (Germar)† (Canada, ON); Buchananius striatus (LeConte) (ON) (Curculionidae: Baridinae); Cylindrocopturus binotatus LeConte (Canada, ON) (Curculionidae: Conoderinae); Himatium errans LeConte (ON); Phloeophagus canadensis Van Dyke (ON); Rhyncolus spretus Casey (Canada, BC); Stenomimus pallidus (Boheman) (Canada, ON); Tomolips quercicola (Boheman) (Canada, ON) (Curculionidae: Cossoninae); Strophosoma melanogrammum (Forster)† (NB) (Curculionidae: Entiminae); Conotrachelus aratus (Germar) (ON) (Curculionidae: Molytinae); Anisandrus maiche Stark† (Canada, ON, QC); Cnesinus strigicollis LeConte (Canada, ON); Cyclorhipidion pelliculosum (Eichhoff)† (Canada, ON, QC); Hylesinus fasciatus LeConte (QC); Hylesinus pruinosus Eichhoff (QC); Hypothenemus interstitialis (Hopkins) (Canada, ON); Lymantor alaskanus Wood (BC); Pityogenes bidentatus (Herbst)† (Canada, ON); Scolytus mali (Bechstein)† (BC); Scolytus schevyrewi Semenov† (QC); Trypodendron scabricollis (LeConte) (Canada, ON); Trypophloeus populi Hopkins (QC); Xylechinus americanus Blackman (NFLB); and Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky)† (BC, QC) (Curculionidae: Scolytinae). We also provide additional data confirming the presence of the adventive Hylastes opacus Erichson† in NS. Rearing of insects from bolts accounted for two new records (H. pruinosus, R. spretus) and trapping accounted for the remainder. These surveys not only assist our efforts to manage forest insects by documenting new species introductions and apparent range expansions but also increase our knowledge of biodiversity.

Modelling push-pull management of pest insects using repellents and attractive traps in fruit tree orchards

BACKGROUND

Push-pull with semiochemicals in pest management uses repellents to reduce response of pests to food-mate resources (push) and attractive traps to reduce populations (pull). Simulation models of push-pull can aid understanding of plant-insect interactions in nature and suggest hypotheses for field tests that improve management. A previous model indicated advantages of push-pull for controlling ambrosia beetle, Euwallacea fornicatus, pest of avocado trees. However, the simulated behavior of repellency was inconsistent with field observations.

RESULTS

We simulated individual-based movement of insects in push-pull to reveal relationships between parameters of radii (strength) of attractive traps, pest aggregations, and repellents with densities of each in an avocado orchard to visualize and understand the interactions and significance. Simulations indicated placement of traps along a 1-ha area periphery as a barrier resulted in similar trapping and mating as when traps were in a grid, either when insects originated randomly inside the plot or came from outside the plot. However, when insects originated from outside, both arrangements caught slightly more than when insects originated within the plot.

CONCLUSION

There were no differences in capture rates whether traps were spaced in a barrier along the plot's periphery or in a grid covering the plot. Push-pull was more effective than pull (mass trapping) alone. Repellent behavior of individuals when encountering a repellent radius was modelled by approximate 90° turns (right or left at random) when about to enter an infestation, consistent with earlier observations of effects of repellents on bark beetles orienting to aggregation pheromone. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Proton Conduction in Acceptor-Doped BaSnO3: The Impact of the Interaction between Ionic Defects and Acceptor Impurities

Barium stannate is known as a promising proton-conducting material for clean energy applications. In this work, we elucidate the effect of the interaction of protons and oxygen vacancies with acceptor impurities on proton conduction in acceptor-doped BaSnO₃. The analysis relies on our theoretical developments in hydration and proton hopping in proton-conducting perovskites. The transport theory, based on the master equation and effective medium approximation, provides the analytical description of hopping conduction considering the effects of disorder and changes in the potential energy landscape for protons caused by acceptor impurities. Using the proposed approach, we establish the dependence of the proton mobility and conductivity on the energies of the acceptor-bound states of ionic defects and external conditions. It is shown that the considered interactions can substantially affect the effective activation energies and prefactors of these transport coefficients. We also demonstrate that the correlation between the ionic radius r_A of an acceptor impurity and the energies of its interaction with ionic defects leads to a non-monotonic dependence of the proton conductivity on r_A. The obtained results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data on the bulk conductivity of BaSnO₃ doped with different acceptors.

Colour Response in Western Flower Thrips Varies Intraspecifically

Discrepancies in the published research as to the attraction of the economically important pest western flower thrips (WFT) to different colours confounds the optimisation of field traps for pest management purposes. We considered whether the different experimental conditions of independent studies could have contributed to this. Therefore, the behavioural response (i.e., landings) to different colour cues of two WFT laboratory populations from Germany (DE) and The Netherlands (NL), which had previously been independently shown to have different colour preferences, were tested in the same place, and under the same experimental conditions. Single-choice wind tunnel bioassays supported previous independent findings, with more of a NL population landing on the yellow LED lamp (588 nm) than the blue (470 nm) (p = 0.022), and a not-statistically significant trend observed in a DE population landing more on blue compared to yellow (p = 0.104). To account for potential original host rearing influences, both populations were subsequently established on bean for ~20 weeks, then yellow chrysanthemum for 4−8 and 12−14 weeks and tested in wind tunnel choice bioassays. Laboratory of origin, irrespective of the host plant rearing regime, remained a significant effect (p < 0.001), with 65% of the NL WFT landing on yellow compared to blue (35%), while 66% of the DE WFT landed on blue compared to yellow (34%). There was also a significant host plant effect (p < 0.001), with increased response to yellow independent of laboratory of origin after rearing on chrysanthemum for 12−14 weeks. Results suggest that differing responses of WFT populations to colour is, in this case, independent of the experimental situation. Long-term separate isolation from the wild cannot be excluded as a cause, and the implications of this for optimising the trap colour is discussed.

Development of a Simple Trap That Captures Ticks (Acari) on Their Dorsal Surface

We tested two versions of a trap that captures climbing ticks on their dorsum. A prototype based on a decades old model had three components, a truncated pyramidal base with steep sloping walls, downward facing sticky-tape extending beyond and spanning the boundary of the flat upper surface, on which ticks become dorsally immobilized, and a reservoir for gaseous CO2 emission from dry ice that rests on the flat upper surface. A preoperational trap was made of thermoformed plastic and differed from the prototype by its circular structure, a central depression suitable for future housing of a biotic CO2 generator and supplemental volatile lures and a transparent sticky ceiling that enables ticks to exhibit a phototactic response and allows users to see captured ticks without disturbing the traps. Field testing of the prototype in Florida and both trap types in Oklahoma and North Carolina achieved high catches of lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae), e.g. mean catches of >70 ticks (adults plus nymphs) in 4 h in both the prototype and preoperational traps in North Carolina, and significantly higher yields of ticks than on dry ice baited 1 m2 white sheets.

Development of a Simple Trap That Captures Ticks (Acari) on Their Dorsal Surface

We tested two versions of a trap that captures climbing ticks on their dorsum. A prototype based on a decades old model had three components, a truncated pyramidal base with steep sloping walls, downward facing sticky-tape extending beyond and spanning the boundary of the flat upper surface, on which ticks become dorsally immobilized, and a reservoir for gaseous CO2 emission from dry ice that rests on the flat upper surface. A preoperational trap was made of thermoformed plastic and differed from the prototype by its circular structure, a central depression suitable for future housing of a biotic CO2 generator and supplemental volatile lures and a transparent sticky ceiling that enables ticks to exhibit a phototactic response and allows users to see captured ticks without disturbing the traps. Field testing of the prototype in Florida and both trap types in Oklahoma and North Carolina achieved high catches of lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae), e.g. mean catches of >70 ticks (adults plus nymphs) in 4 h in both the prototype and preoperational traps in North Carolina, and significantly higher yields of ticks than on dry ice baited 1 m2 white sheets.

Utilizing trapped charge at bilayer 2D MoS2/SiO2interface for memory applications

In this work we use conductive atomic force microscopy (cAFM) to study the charge injection process from a nanoscale tip to a single isolated bilayer 2D MoS₂flake. The MoS₂is exfoliated and bonded to ultra-thin SiO₂/Si substrate. Local current-voltage (IV) measurements conducted by cAFM provides insight in charge trapping/de-trapping mechanisms at the MoS₂/SiO₂interface. The MoS₂nano-flake provides an adjustable potential barrier for embedded trap sites where the charge is injected from AFM tip is confined at the interface. A window of (ΔV∼ 1.8 V) is obtain at a reading current of 2 nA between two consecutiveIVsweeps. This is a sufficient window to differentiate between the two states indicating memory behavior. Furthermore, the physics behind the charge entrapment and its contribution to the tunneling mechanisms is discussed.

Comparative Evaluation of Pitfall Traps for Click Beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

We evaluated the relative efficacy of six pheromone-baited traps used in trapping Agriotes obscurus (L.) click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae): original Yatlor Traps, Yatlor Funnel Traps, Vernon Beetle Traps, Unitraps, Baited Pitfall Traps, and Vernon Pitfall Traps. Traps were rated according to quantitative and qualitative criteria of importance for each of four trap uses: general surveys, scientific studies, IPM monitoring, and mass trapping. Measurable quantitative categories included: total catch of A. obscurus; time for assembly, installation, and inspection; exclusion of nontarget invertebrates; and cost. Qualitative criteria were small mammal exclusion, flooding, design and handling variability, and convenience for various field uses. The most desirable characteristics were determined for the above four uses, and the cumulative ranking based on quantitative criteria and all four uses was Vernon Pitfall Trap, Baited Pitfall Trap, Original Yatlor Trap, Vernon Beetle Trap, Yatlor Funnel Trap, and Unitrap.

Down the Dimensionality Lane: Thermal Conductivity Enhancement in Carbon-Based Liquid Dispersions

Carbon allotropes of different dimensionality, i.e., 1D-carbon nanotubes, 2D-graphene nanoplatelets, and 3D-graphite, possess high thermal conductivity (TC > 2000 W/m K). They are, therefore, excellent candidates for filler material aiming at increasing the TC of composites used for thermal management. However, preparing aqueous dispersions of these materials is challenging due to their strong van der Waals attraction, leading to aggregation and subsequent precipitation. Reported dispersion methodologies have failed to disperse large microscale fillers, which are essential for efficient thermal management. In this work, we suggest to "kinetically arrest" the dispersion by using sepiolite, a fiberlike clay, that effectively disperses all three carbon dimensionalities. We explore the effect of filler dimensionality and properties (lateral size, thickness, defect density) on the dispersion TC enhancement. Modeling the TC by the effective medium approach allows lumping all the intrinsic properties of the filler into a single parameter termed "effective TC", providing an accurate prediction of the experimentally measured TC. We show that, by judicious choice of filler, the TC of both water and a water-ethylene glycol mixture can be enhanced by 31% using graphene nanoplatelets of 15 μm in lateral size. We believe that the guidelines obtained in this work provide a useful tool for designing future liquid composites with enhanced thermal properties.

The Attractiveness of α-Copaene to Members of the Euwallacea fornicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Species Complex in California and Taiwan

Species belonging to the Euwallacea fornicatus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) species complex have invaded the continental U.S. since at least 2003. Three species of this complex are known to have established, two in California (E. fornicatus; and Euwallacea kuroshio), and a third in Florida (Euwallacea perbrevis). Their native ranges are spread across southern and southeast Asia. In Taiwan, all three species occur in sympatry. They attack healthy trees of widely varied species and cause severe damage and death to the trees. The attractant quercivorol is commonly used to promote their detection by passive trapping. Recent studies in Florida have shown that trapping of E. perbrevis can be further improved by adding a synergist, α-copaene, alongside the quercivorol lure. Thus, we were interested in testing the effectiveness of α-copaene for trapping the other invasive members of the complex in California and in an area of Taiwan where all three species co-occur. We found that α-copaene marginally enhanced the trapping of E. perbrevis in Taiwan, but had no effect on the trapping of E. fornicatus or E. kuroshio in either California or Taiwan. We conclude that any enhancing effect of α-copaene is specific to E. perbrevis. This highlights the economic importance of accurate species identification in developing and implementing an efficient, and yet cost-effective, monitoring program for the management of E. fornicatus and E. kuroshio in California and elsewhere.

Successful Endovascular Trapping for Symptomatic Thrombosed Giant Unruptured Aneurysms of the V1 and V2 Segments of the Vertebral Artery: Case Report and Literature Review

A thrombosed giant aneurysm of the V1 and V2 segments of the vertebral artery (VA) is rare. Therefore, there is controversy regarding its optimal treatment. A case of a symptomatic giant VA aneurysm located in the V1 to V2 segments on the left treated successfully by endovascular trapping of the VA is reported. A 68-year-old woman presented with swelling in the left anterior neck. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed a giant aneurysm measuring 47 × 58 × 47 mm³ in the left neck. Ten days after her first visit, she presented with sudden onset of left anterior neck pain. Repeated CTA showed a partial thrombus in the aneurysm. Angiography showed two thrombosed giant aneurysms located in the V1 to V2 segments of the left VA. After endovascular trapping for the aneurysms, the anterior neck pain resolved and the aneurysm gradually shrank. This case demonstrates that endovascular surgery is better than open surgery because it is less invasive. When performing endovascular treatment, trapping will be an alternative strategy for a symptomatic giant thrombotic aneurysm of the V1 and V2 segments of the VA if the patient can tolerate ischemia.

Improving Trapping Efficiency for Control of American Mink (Neovison vison) in Patagonia

Two main challenges when controlling alien American mink (Neovison vison) in Patagonia are to maximize campaign efficacy and cost-effectiveness and to avoid trapping native species. We designed and tested new variants of collapsible wire box traps, compared the efficacy of a food-based bait and a scent lure and compared catch rates in different seasons of the year. We used the data to model the efficiency rate of the trapping and to determine the trapping effort required to remove 70-90% of the estimated discrete mink population. Between January 2018 and March 2021, we operated 59 trapping transects over 103 three-day trapping periods in southern Chile. Traps were first baited with canned fish, and afterwards with mink anal gland lure. We compared the efficacy of mink capture with that of our previous study. We trapped 196 mink (125 males, 71 females), with most captures in summer. The medium-sized GMV-18 trap caught more male mink, but the more compact GMV-13 caught fewer non-target rodents and no native mammals. The scent lure was more successful than the canned fish when the previous campaign's data were included in the analysis. There was also a significant improvement in the proportion of female mink trapped and reduced labour compared with our previous campaign that used larger traps, fish bait and 400-500 m trap spacings. We caught relatively more females than males after the third night of trapping on a transect. Our data analysis supports the use of the GMV-13 variant of wire cage trap as the best trap size: it is effective on female mink, small, cheap and easy to transport. Combined with mink anal scent lure, it reduces the possibility of trapping native species compared with other traps tested in Chile. As the most efficient method for removing at least 70% of the estimated discrete mink population within the area covered by each trap transect in southern Chile tested to date, we recommend trapping campaigns using GMV-13 during summer, with a 200-m trap spacing, for up to 6 days before moving traps to a new site, with a combination of three days with a female scent gland lure, followed by three days with a male scent gland lure.