P. De Clercq

Inferring the origin of populations introduced from a genetically structured native range by approximate Bayesian computation: case study of the invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis

Correct identification of the source population of an invasive species is a prerequisite for testing hypotheses concerning the factors responsible for biological invasions. The native area of invasive species may be large, poorly known and/or genetically structured. Because the actual source population may not have been sampled, studies based on molecular markers may generate incorrect conclusions about the origin of introduced populations. In this study, we characterized the genetic structure of the invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis in its native area using various population genetic statistics and methods. We found that native area of H. axyridis most probably consisted of two geographically distinct genetic clusters located in eastern and western Asia. We then performed approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) analyses on controlled simulated microsatellite data sets to evaluate (i) the risk of selecting incorrect introduction scenarios, including admixture between sources, when the populations of the native area are genetically structured and sampling is incomplete and (ii) the ability of ABC analysis to minimize such risks by explicitly including unsampled populations in the scenarios compared. Finally, we performed additional ABC analyses on real microsatellite data sets to retrace the origin of biocontrol and invasive populations of H. axyridis, taking into account the possibility that the structured native area may have been incompletely sampled. We found that the invasive population in eastern North America, which has served as the bridgehead for worldwide invasion by H. axyridis, was probably formed by an admixture between the eastern and western native clusters. This admixture may have facilitated adaptation of the bridgehead population.

Reproduction of Orius laevigatus and Orius albidipennis on pollen and Ephestia kuehniella eggs

Reproduction and longevity of the anthocorid predators Orius laevigatus (Fieber) and Orius albidipennis (Reuter) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) were studied under controlled conditions in the laboratory. Three different diets were tested: eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth. Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, E. kuehniella eggs plus pollen, and pollen only. Small rooted plants of Spanish pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. ‘Creta’, long red) served as oviposition substrate and moisture source. In all treatments, total fecundity, oviposition period and female longevity of O. laevigatus were greater than that of O. albidipennis. When a diet of E. kuehniella eggs was supplemented with pollen, total fecundity of O. albidipennis was increased by about 40%. Female O. albidipennis fed only pollen laid five times less eggs than those fed flour moth eggs and pollen; also, longevity of females was shorter when only pollen was offered as food. Fecundity and longevity of O. laevigatus were not influenced when supplementing a diet of E. kuehniella eggs with pollen. Females of O. laevigatus receiving only pollen reduced egg production by about 60% but had a similar longevity as those receiving a diet including flour moth eggs. In either species, preoviposition period and egg hatch were not affected by diet. The ability of both anthocorids to use pollen as an alternative or additional food is discussed in relation to their practical use in integrated control programmes.

Toxicity of diflubenzuron, pyriproxyfen, imidacloprid and diafenthiuron to the predatory bugOrius laevigatus (Het.: Anthocoridae)

The susceptibility of the predatory bugOrius laevigatus (Fieber) to the insect growth regulators diflubenzuron, pyriproxyfen, the nitroguanidine insecticide imidacloprid and the thiourea compound diafenthiuron was investigated in the laboratory. Fifth-instar nymphs were exposed to formulated materials of each compound and adults were exposed to formulated materials of diafenthiuron and imidacloprid. In each case, exposure via ingestion and residual contact was tested. Pyriproxyfen was harmless toO. laevigatus nymphs by both ways of exposure. The respective LC50-values of diflubenzuron via ingestion and residual contact were 229.9 and 391.1 mg a.i./l. Diafenthiuron did not cause significant mortality to fifth-instar nymphs and adults via ingestion but was toxic by residual contact with LC50-values of 329.4 mg a.i./l and 125.9 mg a.i./l for nymphs and adults respectively. Imidacloprid proved to be the most toxic compound with LC50-values of 1.1 and 0.04 mg a.i./l for nymphs and 2.1 and 0.3 mg a.i./l for adults, via ingestion and residual contact, respectively. The results suggest that use of pyriproxyfen in an integrated pest management programme will not cause any problems but that imidacloprid, and to a lesser extent, also diflubenzuron and diafenthiuron could be harmful to the predator.RésuméLa sensibilité du prédateurO. laevigatus envers les insecticides diflubenzuron, pyriproxyfen, imidacloprid et diafenthiuron a été déterminée au laboratoire. Les larves du cinquième stade ont été exposées aux matériaux formulés de chaque produit et les adultes ont été exposés aux matériaux formulés de diafenthiuron et imidacloprid. Dans tous les cas, le traitement par ingestion et par contact résiduel a été examiné.Le pyriproxyfen s’est avéré sans danger pour les larves deO. laevigatus selon les deux manières d’exposition. Les valeurs CL50 du diflubenzuron par ingestion et contact résiduel étaient de 229.9 et 39.1 mg m.a./l., respectivement. Le diafenthiuron n’a pas provoqué de mortalité significative par ingestion chez les larves et les adults. Par contre, le diafenthiuron s’est montré toxique par contact résiduel, avec des valeurs CL50 de 329.4 et 125.9 mg m.a./l pour les larves et les adultes, respectivement. L’imidacloprid était le produit le plus toxique avec des valeurs CL50 DE 1.1 ET 0.04 mg m.a./l pour les larves et 2.1 et 0.3 mg m.a./l pour les adultes, par ingestion et par contact résiduel, respectivement.Les données suggèrent que l’usage du pyriproxyfen ne causera pas de problèmes dans un programme de lutte intégrée. Cependant l’usage de l’imidacloprid et, à un degré moindre, du diflubenzuron et du diafenthiuron en combinaison avecO. laevigatus doit être considéré avec prudence.

Factors affecting ease of ring formation. The effect of anchoring substitution on the rate of an intramolecular diels-alder reaction with furan-diene

Kinetic parameters for the IMDAF reaction of 2 and 3 were determined. For the equilibrium between 2b and 4b: ΔH° = -29.3 kJ/mol, ΔS° = -75 J/mol.K; for the conversion of 3 into 6 a significant rate enhancement by the anchoring tert-butyl group is observed: k(3b)/k(3a) = 240. The structure of 6b was proven via X-ray determination of 8.

Experimental evidence for the phenotypic impact of admixture between wild and biocontrol Asian ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) involved in the European invasion

Hybridization can fuel evolutionary processes during biological invasions. The harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis has long been used as a biocontrol agent before the species became invasive worldwide. Previous analysis based on microsatellite data has shown that European invasive populations bear traces of admixture between an eastern North American source, which is at the origin of the worldwide invasion, and biocontrol strains used in Europe. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that this early admixture event may have fostered the European invasion by impacting on the phenotypes of wild European populations. Mean life history traits of experimental F1 hybrids are compared with pure parental sources and wild European crosses. Our results reveal a biased impact whereby North American beetles benefitted from being admixed with European biocontrol strains. Resemblance between experimental hybrids and wild European invasive crosses further suggests a long‐lasting effect of admixture that may still be at work and fostering invasiveness.

Developmental and Reproductive Fitness of Orius laevigatus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) Reared on Factitious and Artificial Diets

Abstract The developmental and reproductive fitness of the polyphagous predator Orius laevigatus (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) was compared on two factitious foods and four artificial diets. Adults fed factitious foods (Ephestia kuehniella Zeller eggs and Artemia franciscana Kellogg cysts) performed better than those fed artificial diets. Among the artificial diets, a diet composed of liver and ground beef scored better than meridic diets based on egg yolk. Within the egg yolk-based artificial diets, the developmental fitness varied proportionally with the amount of egg yolk present in the diet. A food switching experiment, in which nymphs and adults of the predator were fed either E. kuehniella eggs or an egg yolk-based artificial diet, showed that the impact of adult food on reproductive capacity was greater than that of nymphal food. An optimal adult food was able to wholly compensate for deficiencies incurred by an inferior artificial diet in the nymphal stage. A strong correlation was found between oocyte counts, lifetime oviposition, and the number of eggs laid after 8 d. A rapid dissection assay may thus be effective to reliably and economically assess the fitness of O. laevigatus as a function of the diet. This method also may prove useful as part of quality assurance procedure for commercially produced predators.

Development and survival of Orius albidipennis and O. laevigatus (Het.: Anthocoridae) on various diets

The effect of various diets on nymphal development and survival of two predaceous anthocorid bugs,Orius albidipennis (Reuter) andO. laevigatus (Fieber) was investigated in the laboratory. Five different diets were compared: eggs ofEphestia kuehniella Zeller; eggs ofE. kuehniella plus mixed flower pollen; only mixed flower pollen; pollen from sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Mazurka) flowers; and sweet pepper plants. A high percentage of predators successfully completed nymphal development on those diets containing lepidopterous eggs. When fed on sweet pepper pollen, the survival percentages were 65% forO. laevigatus and 38% forO. albidipennis. No nymphs of either species completed the nymphal stage on mixed flower pollen or on sweet pepper plants. Development was significantly faster on diets containing eggs ofE. kuehniella. Results are discussed in relation to the capability of the bugs to survive periods of prey scarcity and to the optimization of release strategies for these predators in the greenhouse.

Development of the Predatory Stinkbug Brontocoris tabidus Signoret Heteroptera: Pentatomidae on Different Proportions of an Artificial Diet and Pupae of Tenebrio molitor L. Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae

The development of the Neotropical predatory pentatomid Brontocoris tabidus on an artificial diet based on beef meat and liver was evaluated. The predator showed significantly longer nymphal development and lower adult weights on this diet than when reared on pupae of the mealworm Tenebrio molitor. The survival of nymphs fed exclusively on the artificial diet was somewhat lower compared with feeding on T. molitor pupae. When B. tabidus was bred on this artificial diet during part of its nymphal period i.e. during the second; second and third; and second, third and fourth instars , and was subsequently returned to T. molitor pupae, the predator nymphs completed the nymphal stage with a developmental rate similar to that of nymphs fed on live prey throughout. The adults attained after switching from the artificial diet to live prey from the third and fourth instar onwards had similar weights to those in the control. Considering the relatively good results obtained with B. tabidus and other members of the pe...

An efficient synthesis of 1α, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3

Abstract An efficient synthesis of the title compound is reported based on C-1 functionalization of the triazoline Diels-Alder adduct of 25-OH provitamin D3 ( 2C ).

Cyclopentanones—VIII : Stereochemistry of the lithium-liquid ammonia reduction of 2,3-dialkyl-4-hydroxy-2-cyclopentenones

Abstract 2,3-Dialkyl-1,4-cyclopentanediols are obtained by lithium-liquidammonia-alcohol reduction of 2,3-dialkyl-4-hydroxy-2-cyclopentenones. The configuration of the diastereoisomers formed was proved by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and by chemical evidence. In the most abundant isomer the alkyl groups are trans and each is in trans position to the vicinal hydroxyl function. In another diastereoisomer formed in substantial amount the alkyl groups have a cis orientation and are trans to the vicinal hydroxyl function. The 1H-NMR parameters found are more useful generally for configurational assignments to synthetic and modified prostaglandins.