Jahyun Na

Effect of host density on egg dispersion and the sex ratio of progeny of Bracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Egg dispersion and the sex ratio of progeny were studied in relation to the host density of the parasitoid, Bracon hebetor Say, infesting larvae of Plodia interpunctella (Hubner). Females appeared to allocate eggs in relation to host density to avoid laying more eggs than could complete development on a host. The dispersion pattern of the parasitoid ovipositions among hosts was influenced by host density. Multiple visitations and ovipositions by females on hosts caused a highly aggregated pattern at low-host densities. Hatch rate of eggs decreased as the number of eggs on a host increased. Females seemed to regulate progeny sex ratio (male/total) based on the number of eggs on the hosts and the clutch size of the hosts they encountered. However, the overall progeny sex ratio remained at approximately 0.5 regardless of host density, probably because the allocation of eggs was related to host density.

Chlorine dioxide enhances lipid peroxidation through inhibiting calcium-independent cellular PLA2 in larvae of the Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella

Polyunsaturated fatty acids usually undergo lipid peroxidation induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Calcium-independent cellular phospholipase A2 (iPLA2) can maintain fatty acid compositions in phospholipids depending on physiological conditions. An insect iPLA2 (Pi-iPLA2) was predicted from the transciptome of the Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella. It encodes 835 amino acids. It possesses five ankyrin repeats in the N terminal and patatin lipase domain in the C terminal. Pi-iPLA2 was expressed in all developmental stages of the Indianmeal moth. In the larval stage, it was expressed in all tissues tested. RNA interference (RNAi) specific to Pi-iPLA2 was performed using specific double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). It resulted in almost 70% of reduction in gene expression. Under such RNAi condition, P. interpunctella exhibited significant accumulation of lipid peroxidation based on the amount of malondialdehyde. RNAi of Pi-PLA2 expression also impaired cellular immune response of P. interpunctella. Chlorine dioxide (ClO2), an insecticidal agent by generating ROS, increased lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. However, the addition of vitamin E (an antioxidant) reduced the formation of lipid peroxidation. ClO2 treatment significantly reduced expression of Pi-iPLA2 but increased lipid peroxidation in larval fat body of P. interpunctella. Furthermore, larvae treated with dsRNA specific to Pi-iPLA2 were significantly susceptible to ClO2 treatment. These results suggest that Pi-iPLA2 plays a crucial role in repairing damaged fatty acids from phospholipids. Our results also suggest that ClO2 can elevate lipid peroxidation through inhibiting Pi-iPLA2 expression in addition to direct ROS production.

Heat Tolerance Induction of the Indian Meal Moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Is Accompanied by Upregulation of Heat Shock Proteins and Polyols

Abstract The Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella, causes massive damage to stored grains and processed foods. Heat treatment has been widely used to control insect pests infesting stored grains. However, heat treatment may result in unsatisfactory control owing to heat tolerance of target insects. This study quantified the heat tolerance and analyzed its induction in P. interpunctella. Susceptibility of P. interpunctella to different high temperatures was assessed in all developmental stages. Heat treatment at 44 °C for 1 h caused significant mortalities to all developmental stages, with late-instar larvae exhibiting the highest tolerance. However, the survivorship to heat treatment was significantly increased by pre-exposure to 37 °C for 30 min. The induction of heat tolerance was accompanied by upregulation of two heat shock proteins of Hsc70 and Hsp90. Trehalose and glycerol concentrations in the hemolymph also increased after pre-exposure to 37 °C for 30 min. RNA interference (RNAi) by specific double-stranded RNAs effectively suppressed the inducible expressions of both Hsc70 and Hsp90 in response to 37 °C for 30 min. Either RNAi of Hsc70 or Hsp90 significantly impaired the heat tolerance induction of P. interpunctella. These results suggest that the induction of heat tolerance in P. interpunctella involves the upregulation of these heat shock proteins and hemolymph polyol levels.

Evasive Behavior of the Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium castaneum, against Chlorine Dioxide and Its Suppression by Heat Treatment

Chlorine dioxide () can be used as a fumigant to kill insects. However, some insects can exhibit an evasive behavior from chlorine dioxide. This evasive behavior decreases the efficiency of the insecticidal activity of chlorine dioxide. This study tested a hypothesis that heat treatment suppresses the evasive behavior and synergizes the control efficacy of chlorine dioxide. Chlorine dioxide fumigation killed the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, under direct exposure condition to the chemical for 12 h with median lethal concentrations of 383.67 ppm (153.63 - 955.78 ppm: 95% confidence interval) for larvae and 397.75 ppm (354.46 - 446.13 ppm: 95% confidence interval) for adults. However, when they were treated with enough diet flour, they exhibited an evasive behavior by entering the diet, which significantly decreased the control efficacy of the fumigant. To clarify the evasive behavior, the choice test of the adults were performed in Y tube arena. The test adults significantly avoided the diet treated with chlorine dioxide, while the antennatectomized adults lost the avoidance behavior. Heat treatment using for 6 h killed only 10% or less of T. castaneum. Interestingly, most adults were observed to come out of the diet under the heat treatment. Chlorine dioxide treatment even at 400 ppm for 6 h did not kill any T. castaneum. However, the combined treatment of chlorine dioxide with the heat treatment for 6 h resulted in 95% mortality. These results indicated that heat treatment suppressed the evasive behavior of T. castaneum and synergized the control efficacy of the chlorine dioxide fumigant.