Extraction of Pest Insect Characteristics Present in a Mirasol Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Crop by Digital Image Processing

One of the main problems in crops is the presence of pests. Traditionally, sticky yellow traps are used to detect pest insects, and they are then analyzed by a specialist to identify the pest insects present in the crop. To facilitate the identification, classification, and counting of these insects, it is possible to use digital image processing (DIP). This study aims to demonstrate that DIP is useful for extracting invariant characteristics of psyllids (Bactericera cockerelli), thrips (Thrips tabaci), whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci), potato flea beetles (Epitrix cucumeris), pepper weevils (Anthonomus eugenii), and aphids (Myzus persicae). The characteristics (e.g., area, eccentricity, and solidity) help classify insects. DIP includes a first stage that consists of improving the image by changing the levels of color intensity, applying morphological filters, and detecting objects of interest, and a second stage that consists of applying a transformation of invariant scales to extract characteristics of insects, independently of size or orientation. The results were compared with the data obtained from an entomologist, reaching up to 90% precision for the classification of these insects.

PEMANFAATAN TANAMAN REFUGIA MENGENDALIKAN HAMA PADI (Oryza nivara L) DI SOPORARU TAPANULI UTARA

The refugia plant is one of the flowers that can be used as a shelter for natural enemies and as a feed sources for insects. The purpose of this study was to compare the use of refugia and without refugia plants in controlling environmentally friendly red rice pests in Soporaru Hamlet, Sigotom JuluVilalge, Pangaribuan District, North of Tapanuli Regency, North of Sumatra Province. This study uses a purposive sampling method with 3 types of traps, namely: yellow traps, fall traps and net traps. The samples was identified in the Plant Disease Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of North Sumatra in July 2020 until February 2021. The results showed that 8 orders of refugia were caught on land using refugia, 23 families, and 1,952 individuals, while on land without refugia there were 8 orders, 22 families and 1,807 individuals. On land using refugia (r) compared to land without refugia (k) it is known that the Species Richness Index (R) (Rr=2.9 and Rk=2.8), Diversity Index (H) (Hr=2.67 and Hk= 2.19), and Evenness Index (E) (Er=0.85 and Ek=0.71). Function status identified on land using refugia and without refugia as many as 5 species, namely herbivores, pollinators, predators, parasitoids and scavengers.

Development of Novel Management Tools for Phortica variegata (Diptera: Drosophilidae), Vector of the Oriental Eyeworm, Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida: Thelaziidae), in Europe

Lachryphagous males of Phortica variegata (Fallén, 1823) are gaining increasing attention in Europe, as they act as vectors of the nematode Thelazia callipaeda Railliet & Henry, 1910, causal agent of thelaziosis, an emergent zoonotic disease. Currently, there are no effective control strategies against the vector, and surveillance and monitoring rely on time-consuming and nonselective sampling methods. Our aim was to improve the knowledge about the population dynamics and the chemical ecology of the species. A total of 5,726 P. variegata flies (96.4% males and 3.6% females, mostly gravid) were collected in field experiments during June–September of 2020 in an oak forest in northern Spain. Our results indicate that 1) by means of sweep netting a significantly higher number of captures were found both around the collector´s body and in the air than at ground level; 2) a positive relationship was detected between the abundance of Phortica flies and temperature, with two significant peaks of abundance at 24 and 33°C; 3) the blend of red wine and cider vinegar was the most attractive bait; 4) yellow traps captured fewer flies compared to black and transparent traps; and 5) a significant reduction toward vinegar and wine was detected in presence of the phenolic monoterpenoid carvacrol. In addition, all the males (n = 690) analyzed by both molecular detection and dissection resulted negative for the presence of T. callipaeda larvae. Overall, these findings provide a better understanding of the vector in terms of monitoring and management strategies.

PERAN REFUGIA SEBAGAI MEDIA KONSERVASI ARTHROPODA DI LAHAN PADI DESA DELIKSUMBER

Rice is basic neet for Indonesia people. East Java experienced decrease rice production 2% in 2014, the problem was insect pest. Insecticides are dangerous that replaced use refugia attracting biological agens. Purpose of the research to discover the role of refugia as conservation medium in suppressing pets attacks and increasing the diversity arthropod populations in rice fields. This study uses a direct insect sampling method and uses traps such as sweep nets, yellow traps, pitfall traps and light traps. Identification of insects using an introduction to the study insect and iNaturalist. Analysis of the observational data quantitatively by calculating the species diversity index (H’), evenness index (E), Richness index (R) and dominance index (C) then tabulated using excel. observations indicate the number of insects found on land A (rice with refugia) was 5661 individuals consisting of 12 ordo, 61 family and 94 species. Meanwhile on land B (rice without refugia) was 3,198 individuals consisting of 11 ordo, 43 family and 56 species. Refugia affected the population of biological agens more on land A was 2707 individuals than on land B was 1215 individuals. While the pest population on land A much less as 364 individuals than on land B as 763 individuals. Tabulation from the calculation of the species diversity index as 0.142 and 0.118, the species evenness index as 0.030 and 0.025, the dominance index of 0.0004 and 0.0013 is classified as low, while the species richness index of 10.76 and 6.82 is classified as high.

Transmitted Light as Attractant with Mechanical Traps for Collecting Nocturnal Mosquitoes in Urban Bangkok, Thailand

ABSTRACT Mosquito surveillance is the cornerstone for determining abundance, species diversity, pathogen infection rates, and temporal and spatial distribution of different life stages in an area. Various methods are available for assessing adult mosquito populations, including mechanical trap devices using different forms of attractant cues (chemical and visual) to lure mosquitoes to the trap. So-called “light traps” use various electromagnetic wavelengths to produce a variety of visible spectral colors to attract adult mosquitoes. However, this type of trapping technology has not been widely used in Thailand. This study compared the efficacy of 4 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (blue, green, yellow, and red) and 2 fluorescent (ultraviolet [UV] and white) lights for collecting mosquitoes in urban Bangkok. Using a Latin square experimental design, 6 light traps equipped with different lights were rotated between 6 trap site locations within the Kasetsart University (KU) campus. Each location received 6 replicate collections (6 consecutive trap-nights represented 1 replicate) over 36 collection nights for a total of 216 trap-nights. Traps were operated simultaneously (1800 to 0600 h), with captured mosquitoes removed at 3-h intervals. In total, 2,387 mosquitoes consisting of 11 species across 5 genera (Aedes, Anopheles, Armigeres, Culex, and Mansonia) were captured. Collectively, Culex species represented the predominant group sampled (2,252; 94.4%). The UV light source captured 1,544 (64.7%) of the total mosquitoes collected, followed by white 389 (16.3%), with the 4 LED sources collecting between 6.8% (blue) and 1.9% (yellow). Traps equipped with UV light were clearly the most effective for capturing nocturnally active mosquito species on the KU campus.

Pan trapping in habitats supporting Platanthera (Orchidaceae) shows little difference in insect family-level diversity

The role of insects as pollinators within plant communities is well established, yet our knowledge of insect biodiversity in many habitats is lacking. Given the growing concern that insect biodiversity is declining, it is increasingly important to document insect assemblages from a wide range of geographic locations and habitats. Pan trapping is a common means of sampling local insect diversity. Many studies have found different insects associated with different-coloured pan traps. Here, eight different-coloured pan traps were used to sample local insect diversity in habitats supporting Platanthera (bog and rein) orchids on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. A total of 16 sites supporting seven orchid species resulted in 435 insects from 53 families being caught over 64.9 hours of pan trapping. Both Shannon and Simpson diversity index values were low despite sampling in markedly different habitats. Yellow traps caught higher numbers of insects, but no statistical difference was found among colours overall. No activity indicating pollination was recorded from a total of 254 insect observations over 21.5 hours. Our results contribute important baseline data on the diversity and behaviour of insect communities in orchid habitats of Vancouver Island and on the use of pan traps to characterise insect communities.

Diversity of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) associated with potato crop in Tizi-Ouzou (North of Algeria), with new records

<p>Aphids are among the phytophagous pests that cause serious damage to crop plants. In Northern Algeria, we have little information on their diversity. In this context, the study of the diversity of aphids was carried out in three regions of Tizi-Ouzou (North of Algeria) namely Tizi-Ouzou center, Tizi-Rached and Aghribs on the potato crop using yellow traps. The results showed a total richness of 65 aphid species, divided into 36 genera, 9 tribes and 8 sub-families, of which 11 species were identified for the first time in Algeria. These are <em>Aphis coreopsidis</em> (Thomas, 1878), <em>Capitophorus hippophae</em> (Walker, 1852), <em>Cavariella theobaldi </em>(Gillette &amp; Bragg, 1918), <em>Hyadaphis coriandri </em>(B. Das, 1918), <em>Macrosiphoniella linariae </em>(Koch, 1855),<em>Monelliopsis pecanis </em>Bissell, 1983, <em>Myzus hemerocallis</em> Takahashi, 1921, <em>Pseudoregma panicola </em>(Takahashi, 1921), <em>Rhopalosiphoninus staphyleae</em> (Koch, 1854), <em>Schizaphis eastopi</em> Van Harten &amp; Ilharco, 1971 and <em>Ovatus inulae </em>(Walker, 1849)<em>. </em>The field located in the center of Tizi-Ouzou is the richest with 55 species, followed by the field of Tizi-Rached with 30 species, and 24 species have been recorded in Aghribs. During the sampling season, <em>Hyperomyzus lactucae</em> (Linnaeus, 1758) and <em>Brachycaudus helichrysi</em> (Kaltenbach, 1843) are the most abundant species with 24.44 % and 21.8 % respectively. Three aphid species have been observed on potato leaves, namely <em>Macrosiphum</em> <em>euphorbiae</em> (Thomas, 1878), <em>Aphis</em> <em>gossypii</em> Glover, 1877 and <em>Myzus persicae</em> (Sulzer, 1776). The latter species was observed in all three study regions.</p>

Aphid diversity in two food legume crops: fava bean and pea in Naciria region, and first record of Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner, 1897) in Algeria

Beans and peas are very important legumes because of their importance in human food and their high protein contents, as well as their role in the supply of atmospheric nitrogen to the soil. However, these crops are subject to various pest outbreaks, reducing their yield. The purpose of this study is to carry out an exhaustive inventory of aphids present on bean (Faba bean and Seville variety) and pea crops (Merveille De Kelvedone and Utrillo variety) in the region of Naciria (Boumerdes), in order to evaluate the diversity and abundance of aphids present in these crops. Sampling of aphid populations has been done using two trapping techniques: Barber pitfall trap and yellow traps. The results obtained express a richness of 48 aphid species, with one Melanaphis sacchari species identified for the first time in Algeria. 28 species are inventoried in the pea crop of Utrillo variety, 27 species on the Merveille de Kelvedone variety, 21 species in the bean crop of Seville variety (Vicia faba major) and 20 species on the faba bean (Vicia faba minor).

Effect of plant spacing and pest controls of Spodoptera exigua on shallots in Majalengka Regency, West Java

This study examines the spacing and control of Spodoptera exigua pests on shallot plants in West Java. The research was conducted in Payung Village, Rajagaluh District, Majalengka Regency, West Java from September to November 2018. The study used a randomized complete block design with a total of four treatments and six replications. The treatments consisted of 1) spacing 15 x 20 cm + traps, 2) spacing 18 x 20 cm + traps, 3) spacing 20 x 20 cm + traps, and 4) spacing 20 x 20 cm + chemical. Data were analysed using the F test and followed by the Duncan test at the 95% confidence level. The results showed that the treatment of 18 x 20 cm spacing + traps resulted in the highest productivity of shallots compared to other treatments, namely 13.5 tons per hectare. The use of sex pheromone traps was more effective in controlling S. exigua pests than light traps and yellow traps.

Can the Addition of Odor and Visual Targets Enhance Attraction of the Asian Citrus Psyllid (Hemiptera: Liviidae) to Sticky Traps?

Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, negatively impacts the citrus industry as it transmits Candidatus Liberibacter spp., the causal agent of citrus greening. Monitoring D. citri population levels is critical for management of vectors and citrus greening and is usually through use of yellow sticky traps. In our study, use of odors, odor blends, and visual targets were evaluated to determine whether attraction to yellow sticky traps could be improved. Methyl salicylate consistently increased D. citri attraction to decoy yellow but not to other yellow or yellow/green traps. Addition of a visual target did not enhance attraction to sticky traps. While several chemical blends were evaluated, they did not increase psyllid attraction to decoy yellow traps. The increased attraction to traps with methyl salicylate is promising and may contribute to trapping efficiency under field conditions.