Academic literature on the topic 'Insects'

La localité de Meskine à Maroua, longtemps considérée comme une zone céréalière de l’Extrême-nord du Cameroun, est devenue, de nos jours, une région de production de tomate par excellence. Les producteurs de cette culture font face à plusieurs contraintes parmi lesquelles les activités des insectes ravageurs. Dans le but de contribuer à l’amélioration de la production de cette culture, la présente étude a permis d’établir une liste des insectes ravageurs et utiles pullulant dans les champs de tomate. Les insectes, collectés par aspiration et par fauchage, ont été identifiés dans les laboratoires de Zoologie appliquée des universités de Ngaoundéré et Yaoundé I au Cameroun. L’inventaire a montré que les insectes inféodés à la culture de la tomate dans la localité de Meskine à Maroua sont représentés par huit (8) ordres, vingt-une (21) familles et vingt-deux (22) genres. Ces insectes. Bien que la majorité de ces insectes soit des ravageurs, on note la présence de quelques prédateurs et pollinisateurs. La détermination de l’entomofaune de la culture de tomate dans cette localité est un outil qui peut ainsi servir à la conception de stratégies de lutte contre les ravageurs. Mots clés: Lycopersicon esculentum, insectes ravageurs, insectes prédateurs, Maroua. English Title: Entomofauna associated to the tomato crops (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) in the locality of Meskine, Far North region, Cameroon Meskine in the Far North region, Cameroon has long been considered as cereal zone production. This locality has become today a region of tomato production per excellence. Farmers in this locality are faced to many constrains among which activities of insect pests. In order to improve the production of this crop, the present study allows us to establish a list of potential insect pests and benefit insects of tomato crops. Insects collected using aspirator and sweep net were identified in the laboratories of applied Zoology at the Universities of Ngaoundéré and Yaoundé I, Cameroon. The results of our study showed that, insects associated to tomatoes in the locality of Meskine were from eight (8) orders, twenty-one (21) families and twenty-two (22) genera. Although the majority of these insects were represented by potential insect pests, some predators and pollinators were recorded. The establishment of the lists of harmful and benefits insects associated to the tomato crop in this locality can therefore be used to design strategies for the management of insect pests.Keywords: Lycopersicon esculentum, insect pests, predator insects, Maroua

Description de l’étude. La consommation d’insectes en République démocratique du Congo (RDC) semble être culturelle et ne varierait que selon l'emplacement, la population d'insectes et le groupe ethnique. Elle ferait partie intégrante de l’identité culturelle des Congolais.Objectif. L’étude vise à analyser les représentations sociales de la consommation d’insectes en RDC afin de comprendre les déterminants.Méthodes. Les données ont été collectées auprès de 308 ménages moyennant un questionnaire commun et un guide d’entretien pour le focus group, de juillet 2018 à mars 2019.Résultats. Les résultats de l’étude ont montré que les personnes enquêtées ont des perceptions positives sur les insectes. Ainsi, 95,1 % des répondants considèrent les insectes comme un aliment potentiel et une excellente source de protéines et de lipides. Par ailleurs, une partie de personnes interviewées ont des perceptions négatives sur les insectes telles que vecteurs des maladies, ravageurs de cultures etc. Diverses raisons justifient l’intérêt accordé à la consommation des insectes par la majorité des répondants : le goût (78,9 %), la valeur nutritive (76,6 %), les habitudes alimentaires (43,8 %), la disponibilité sur les marchés 26,4 %. L'analyse du test d’indépendance de la consommation d’insectes et quelques caractéristiques sociodémographiques indique que l’état matrimonial, le genre du chef de ménage, le prix sur les marchés, les habitudes alimentaires, la disponibilité des insectes sur les marchés et la valeur nutritive des insectes sont des facteurs influençant la consommation d'insectes par la population de la partie ouest de la RDC.Conclusion. La consommation d'insectes est influencée par les pratiques culturelles de la population enquêtée. Cependant, la saisonnalité de la production naturelle des insectes, la hausse des prix pendant les périodes de rareté et leur collette dans la nature, selon la densité aléatoire des plantes hôtes, représentent les principales contraintes liées aux variations de consommation des insectes. Compte tenu de l'importance économique, écologique et nutritionnelle des insectes comestibles, il convient de recourir à courte terme aux pratiques durables de récolte des insectes afin de préserver leur l'environnement, particulièrement les plantes hôtes. Il s’agit à long terme en parallèle d’envisager leur domestication. Description of the subject. Insect consumption in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) appears to be cultural and would vary only by location, insect population, and ethnic group. It would be an integral part of the cultural identity of the Congolese.Objectives. This study aims to analyze the social representations of insect consumption in the DRC in order to understand the determinants.Methods. Data was collected from 308 households using a common questionnaire and an interview guide for the July 2018 and March 2019 focus groups.Results. The results of the study showed that the people surveyed have positive perceptions about insects. Thus, 95.1% of respondents consider insects as a potential food and an excellent source of proteins and lipids. Furthermore, some of the people interviewed have negative perceptions of insects as vectors of diseases, crop pests, etc. Various reasons justify the interest given to the consumption of insects by the majority of respondents: taste (78.9 %), nutritional value (76.6 %), eating habits (43.8 %), availability on the markets 26.4 %. The analysis of the test of independence of insect consumption and some socio-demographic characteristics indicates that marital status, gender of the head of household, market price, food habits, availability of insects in markets and the nutritional value of insects are factors influencing the consumption of insects by the population of the western part of the DRC.Conclusion The consumption of insects is influenced by the cultural practices of the surveyed population. However, the seasonal nature of the natural production of insects, the rise in prices during periods of scarcity and their collect in nature, according to the random density of host plants, represent the main constraints linked to variations in insect consumption. Given the economic, ecological and nutritional importance of edible insects, it is advisable to resort in the short term to sustainable insect harvesting practices in order to preserve their environment, particularly the host plants. In the long term, it is also a question of considering their domestication.

Pour déterminer la richesse spécifique, la fréquence relative, les produits alimentaires recherchés, les insectes pollinisateurs et l’impact de ces insectes sur les rendements, deux traitements ont été formés à partir du marquage de 240 boutons floraux en 2015 et 2017 chacun selon la présence ou l’absence de protection contre les insectes. Les observations ont été faites sur les fleurs de Abelmoschus esculentus en libre pollinisation du 11 au 22 septembre 2015 et du 7 au 19 septembre 2017 à Wourndé et Palar respectivement. La diversité spécifique des insectes floricoles de gombo était de 17 et 20 espèces respectivement à Wourndé et à Palar. L’indice de Jacard (J = 0,15) révèle une similarité entre les deux sites, preuve que les conditions environnementales sont similaires dans les deux habitats. Les insectes butinaient les fleurs du gombo de 8 h à 13 h, avec le pic de l’activité de l’ensemble de visites de ceux-ci situé entre 10 h et 11 h. Les insectes développaient un comportement très élaboré lors de la récolte du nectar et/ou du pollen et la consommation du pétale. On peut regrouper ces insectes en pollinisateur majeur (Lipotriches collaris), pollinisateurs mineurs [Sphecodes albilabris, Camponotus flavomarginatus, le Vespidae (1 sp.), Lasioglossum albilabris, Seladonia sp., Lasioglossum albipes, Lipotriches pulchriventris et le Formicidae (1 sp.)] et pollinisateurs occasionnels. La comparaison des rendements des fleurs non protégées à celui des fleurs protégées des insectes ont montré que les insectes ont un impact positif sur ce rendement. L’influence de ces insectes est estimée à 9,57%, 7,18% et 4,34% pour le taux de fructification, le nombre de graines/capsule et le pourcentage de graines normales respectivement. Afin d’améliorer le rendement de A. esculentus, il est conseillé de préserver les insectes floricoles non nuisibles dans les champs de gombo en évitant les traitements aux pesticides pendant la période de floraison lorsqu’ils ne se justifient pas. ABSTRACT To determine the species richness, the relative frequency, desired food products, the pollinating insects and impact of these insects on the yields, two treatments were formed from the marking of 240 flower buds in 2015 and 2017, differentiated according to the presence or absence of protection against insect’s activities. Observations were made on free-pollinated Abelmoschus esculentus flowers from 11 to 22 September 2015 and from 7 to 19 September 2017 in Wourndé and Palar respectively. The specific diversity of the flowering insects of okra was 17 and 20 species respectively in Wourndé and Palar. The Jacard index (J = 0.15) reveals a similarity between the two sites, proof that the environmental conditions are similar in both habitats. The insects foraged the flowers of the okra from 8h to 13h, with the peak of the activity of the set of visits of them located between 10 h and 11 h. The insects developed a much elaborated behaviour during the harvest of the nectar and / or the pollen and the consumption of petal. These insects can be grouped into major pollinators (Lipotriches collaris), minor pollinators [Sphecodes albilabris, Camponotus flavomarginatus, Vespidae (1 sp.), Lasioglossum albilabris, Seladonia sp., Lasioglossum albipes, Lipotriches pulchriventris and Formicidae (1 sp.)).] and occasional pollinators. By comparing the yield of unprotected flowers to that of insect-protected flowers, it appeared that insects have a positive impact on this yield. The influence of these insects is estimated at 9.57 %, 7.18 % and 4.34 % for the fruiting rate, the number of seeds / capsule and the percentage of normal seeds respectively. To improve the yield of A. esculentus, it is advisable to preserve the flower-dwelling insects in okra fields by avoiding pesticide treatments during the flowering period when they are not justified.

From the point of view of the current environmental situation which leads to non-availability of agricultural land, water resource, emission of greenhouse gases ultimately causing global warming, Entomophagy i.e. practice of eating edible insects comes as a rescue to the future feed security system. Edible insects, considered as an inexhaustible natural resource have larger food value with high content of fat, protein, crude fiber, vitamins and minerals making it nutritionally comparable with other protein sources. Some edible insects also have increased levels of omega-6 & 3 fatty acids. Studies have calculated that livestock rearing leads to about 18% greenhouse gas emission whereas barring a few insects like cockroaches, termites which produce small amount of CH4, others have practically no such harmful environmental impact. Socio- economic picture of edible insect trade comes clearly from South-East Asia with its well-established farms and trade routes. The market value for insects often exceeds from that of its other protein counterparts, as a result of which, insect farming can prove to be a rich source of income for farmers. Insect rearing requires very little technical knowledge and principal investment, so it can be taken on by anyone. In future, as prices of conventional protein rises, insects may well prove to be a cheaper source. Here in this review paper, Insect’s contribution to food security, solution to the problem of protein shortages, recent growth in demand for edible insects, consumer awareness and acceptance of insects as food has been discussed.

Abstract Toxic candlenut (Reutealis trisperma) is an important plantation commodity that serves as barrier to prevent erosion, as main material for bio-pesticides and as renewable source of biofuel production. It has been studied that toxic candlenut development in post-mining field can restore soil structure while also influencing environment surrounding, including insects. The study examined insect diversity in the R. trisperma plantation aged ±7 years in Bajawa field, East Nusa Tenggara from July 2018 until February 2019. Insect were collected by installed malaise traps, yellow traps, and pitfall traps in 5 different plots A, B, C, D, and E for 24 hours. Collected insects were then identified in the laboratory using identification book. The results showed there were 13 orders of insects were collected by traps. The diversity index (H’) of insect in the area were 4.053; 3.305; 3.521; 2.973 and 2.611 while the Evenness index (E) of insect were 0.872; 0.836; 0.780; 0.665 and 0.614 respectively. Insect diversity in the Bajawa plantation was high and the dominan individual was Hymenopteran and Dipteran. Several insects were in R. trisperma plant, as herbivores, predators, parasitoids, and pollinators. Further research is needed to determine each family of insect’s role in the R. trisperma plantation.

In the Al-quran there are many verses that explain the animals that exist in this universe, one of which is about Insect. The research on Insect diversity around the Surabaya Undaan Park aims to describe the diversity of Insects and compare the number of members of each order in the Insect class around the Surabaya Undaan Park and look for their relevance to the Qur'anic proposition about the creation of Insects. The method used in this research assignment was observation, which was to go directly to the field to catch Insects in 5 plots in the vicinity of Surabaya Undakan Park with 4 repetitions in each plot, then collect data to be identified. Based on the results of observations, collection and identification, it can be found that there are various Insects in the area. This was evidenced by the discovery of various orders from Insectas, among others: Order Lepidoptera, Order Odonata, Order Hymenoptera, Order Diptera, and Order Orthoptera. Comparison of the number of species from each order is different. The most dominant number of species is in the order of Lepidoptera which was then followed by the order Hymenoptera.

The purpose of the research is development of a method for long-term preservation of collectible insects in cotton mattresses and entomological boxes against pests.Materials and methods. The work was carried out in 2004–2019. The patent search was carried out in accordance with the task and search rules. There are enough literary sources and titles of protection found on the problem under study. Experimental studies have been carried out to develop a method that ensures long-term preservation of collection insects in cotton mattresses and entomological boxes against pests.Results and discussion. An entomological killing jar has been developed to ensure long-term preservation of collectible insects. The result is achieved by the fact that insects death occurs slower in the killing jar than in the killing jar with ether or chloroform, which allows the organophosphate insecticide with a long residual effect to fumigate through the respiratory trachea into the insect's body and dissolve in the fat body, hemolymph and muscles. Collection insect's body becomes completely poisonous to pests. It ensures long-term preservation, repellency and insecticidal properties of the insect’s entomological museum.

Abstract The study presents results of colour preference of insects (Insecta), mainly from the order Hymenoptera (families Apidae, Formicidae). The research was carried out in the vicinity of the Beniakovce village (near the Košice city) over the years 2010–2012. Trapping by coloured water traps was conducted at ten sites with 50 Moerick′s water traps coloured with five different colours (white, yellow, blue, purple, and red). On the study area there were 12 357 individuals captured, belonging to 17 higher taxa (class, order, suborder) or genus morpho group of families Apidae and Formicidae. The highest abundance was found in Diptera followed by Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. Obtained results were in accordance with literature data, which showed that yellow colour was the most preferred by insects. Our results confirmed high degree of diversity of insect’s fauna in the study area. Our study suggested that a modified Moerick′s water traps may be a valuable tool in studies on insect diversity, distribution, seasonal abundance, and foraging behaviour as well.

The field experiment was conducted to study about insect biodiversity and their succession in blackgram crop at the crop research farm, College of Agriculture, OUAT, Bhawanipatna during rabi 21. Twenty seven insects belong to seven orders and twenty two families were recorded during different growth stages of crop in an overlapping manner. Beside the insects twelve numbers of predators, three numbers of parasitoids and two pollinators were also noticed. The highest diversity index and evenness of insects were recorded at 42 SMW (0.902 and 1.000) followed by 50 SMW (0.833 and 0.710) respectively. The diversity of insects was almost uniform because of the evenness of the species. The insect order homoptera and the insect white fly came under superdominant class of dominance during all the growth stages of crop, whereas coleoptera and hemiptera were categorized under sub-dominant class at vegetative stage and flowering to podding stage of crop growth respectively. The insect orders hemiptera, coleoptera, diptera and hymenoptera and the insects i.e., galerucid beetle, jassid, stem fly, aphids and thrips came under recedent class of dominance. The relative abundance and dominant status of insect’s revealed that the maximum numbers of insects were belongs to orders homoptera (75.22%) followed by hemiptera (7.92%), coleoptera (6.30%), diptera (4.62%), hymenoptera (4.05%), orthoptera (0.89%), lepidoptera (0.86%) and odonata (0.09%).Chrysomelid beetles were noticed first during the early vegetative stage of crop followed by stem fly, white fly, leaf webber and semiloopers at the vegetative stage, tobacco caterpillar from late vegetative to pod filling stage, thrips in flowering stage, pod borers, pod bugs, aphids, pentatomid bugs and bihar hairy caterpillar from flowering to crop maturity stage and the pod fly and pod wasp from pod filling to pod maturity stage of the crop. Jassids, grasshoppers and predators like spiders, coccinellids beetles and parasitoids were appeared from mid vegetative stage and continued till fag end of the crop. The peak activities of insects were recorded from flowering to pod maturity stage of the crop.

The interest in edible insects’ mass rearing has grown considerably in recent years, thereby highlighting the challenges of domesticating new animal species. Insects are being considered for use in the management of organic by-products from the agro-industry, synthetic by-products from the plastics industry including particular detoxification processes. The processes depend on the insect’s digestive system which is based on two components: an enzymatic intrinsic cargo to the insect species and another extrinsic cargo provided by the microbial community colonizing—associated with the insect host. Advances have been made in the identification of the origin of the digestive functions observed in the midgut. It is now evident that the community of microorganisms can adapt, improve, and extend the insect’s ability to digest and detoxify its food. Nevertheless, edible insect species such as Hermetia illucens and Tenebrio molitor are surprisingly autonomous, and no obligatory symbiosis with a microorganism has yet been uncovered for digestion. Conversely, the intestinal microbiota of a given species can take on different forms, which are largely influenced by the host’s environment and diet. This flexibility offers the potential for the development of novel associations between insects and microorganisms, which could result in the creation of synergies that would optimize or expand value chains for agro-industrial by-products, as well as for contaminants.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2005.
Adviser: Sara M. Lewis. Submitted to the Dept. of Biology. Includes bibliographical references. Access restricted to members of the Tufts University community. Also available via the World Wide Web;

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Resumo: A presente pesquisa teve por objetivos estabelecer uma metodologia para criação de O. invirae e identificar genótipos de palma de óleo que apresentem fontes de resistência a esse inseto, nas categorias por não preferência para alimentação, antibiose e tolerância, sendo esta última baseada na produtividade após simulação de desfolha nas plantas. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em laboratório, exceto o teste de tolerância, o qual foi em condições de campo. Para a metodologia de criação, as lagartas foram criadas individualmente em placas de Petri até o quarto ínstar e posteriormente transferidas para recipientes maiores onde permaneceram até a emergência dos adultos. Foram utilizados 5 genótipos de palma de óleo para os testes de não preferência para alimentação, antibiose e tolerância, quais sejam: Deli x LaMe tratamento testemunha, Compacta x Ekona; Deli x Ekona; Compacta x Nigéria e Compacta x Ghana. Os testes com e sem chance de escolha, foram realizados com lagartas de O. invirae recém-eclodidas e com 12 dias de idade. Foram avaliados o consumo e a atratividade a 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 e 30 minutos e 1, 2, 6, 12, 24, 48 e 72 horas, após a liberação dos insetos. No teste de antibiose, as lagartas de O. invirae foram alimentadas com folíolos dos cinco genótipos até o final da fase larval. No teste de tolerância, os genótipos foram submetidos a desfolha simulada, ou seja, 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% e 100%. Avaliando a produção por 14 meses após a desfolha. O ciclo de vida desde o ovo até a ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)
Abstract: This research aimed to establish a methodology for creating O. invirae and identify genotypes palm oil presenting this insect resistance sources in the categories by not feeding preference, antibiosis and tolerance, the latter being based on productivity simulation after defoliation in plants. The experiments were conducted in the laboratory, but the tolerance test, which was under field conditions. For the creation of methodology, the caterpillars were reared individually in Petri dishes until the fourth instar and then transferred to larger containers where they remained until the emergence of adults. 5 oil palm genotypes were used for the test no preference for food, antibiosis and tolerance, which are: Deli x Lame control treatment, Compact x Ekona; Deli x Ekona; Compact x Nigeria and Compact x Ghana. The tests with and without choice, were carried out with crawler O. invirae newly hatched and 12 days old. They were evaluated consumption and attractiveness to 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 30 minutes and 1, 2, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the release of the insects. In antibiosis test, Crawler O. invirae were fed leaflets of the five genotypes by the end of the larval stage. In the tolerance test, the genotypes were simulated peeling, is, 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. Evaluating production for 14 months after defoliation. The life cycle from egg to the emergence of O. invirae adult was completed in 64.59 days. In the test free choice, the most attractive genotypes were Compacta x ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)
Doutor

Thesis (doctoral)--Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2002.
Thesis documentation sheet inserted. Appendix reprints three manuscripts and one published paper, three of which are co-authored with others. Includes bibliographical references. Also issued electronically via World Wide Web in PDF format; PDF version lacks abstract, ack., and appendix. One ill. in PDF version is in col.

La demanda mundial d’aliments ha dut al desenvolupament d’una intensa activitat agrícola produint la fragmentació, modificació i simplificació dels hàbitats naturals ja documentats com una de les principals causes de l’extinció i pèrdua de la diversitat d’espècies. La biodiversitat que tenen els ecosistemes proveeix d’una sèrie de serveis ecosistèmics a l’ésser humà i el control biològic natural de plagues es un dels serveis que s’ha vist alterat especialment als agroecosistemes. Tot i que existeix una creixent literatura científica que suggereix que la presència d’hàbitats naturals beneficia als enemics naturals als groecosistemes, l’eficiència del control biològic segueix sent un dels principals reptes en aquests estudis, oncs els efectes varien molt entre espècies i entre estudis. Entendre els patrons d’abundància i moviment de les espècies d’enemics naturals i d’herbívors, així com les interaccions entre aquests en els paisatges agrícoles, es espacialment i temporal complex. Si bé la gestió dels hàbitats agrícoles ofereix solucions per a reduir la pèrdua del rendiment degut a les plagues, en el cas dels virus, la simplificació excessiva de la diversitat dels cultius, els sistemes intensius de cultiu i l’ús de productes fitosanitaris interfereixen amb les funcions ecològiques dels agroecosistemes alterant la epidemiologia de malalties a les plantes. Amb l’objectiu d’oferir una perspectiva general sobre la’influència que el paisatge agrícola pot tenir sobre el control biològic i la epidemiologia viral, aquesta tesis s’ha enfocat en analitzar els efectes del paisatge agrícola des d’una perspectiva de composició espacial i del maneig del camp sobre espècies d’insectes herbívors i depredadors, així com en els principals virus que afecten al cultiu del panís a la zona de la Vall de l’Ebre. La primera part de la tesis està orientada a (1) l’ampliació en el coneixement de quins són els tipus d’estudis que s’estan duent a terme per analitzar els efectes de l’agroecosistema en el control biològic, les diferents metodologies i els resultats més recents (Capítol 1), i (2) els diferents efectes que té l’estructura (composició i configuració) del paisatge i les variables locals en les espècies de depredadors i herbívors presents en el cultiu de panís (Capítol 2). La segona part de la Tesi està orientada a estudiar els efectes del paisatge sobre tres dels principals virus que afecten al cultiu de panís (1) dos virus generalistes de vector: el virus del mosaic de la canya de sucre (SCMV) i el virus del mosaic nanitzant del panís (MDMV) (Capítol 3), i un virus especialista de vector: el virus del nanisme rugós del panís (MRDV) (Capítol 4). Les principals conclusions d’aquesta tesis doctoral són: (1) els estudis de caràcter funcional on s’estudia composició del paisatge han demostrat que les espècies d’enemics naturals necessiten hàbitats specífics, però que altres variables com són els efectes locals del cultiu també poden afectar a les seves dinàmiques i les de les plagues amb més força; (2) la superfície de fruiters afecta negativament als depredadors potencials del panís, però que les cobertes vegetals d’aquests afecten positivament a certes espècies d’herbívors en absència del panís; (3) l’alfals actua com un cultiu que aporta depredadors i herbívors al cultiu de panís actuant com un recurs per a les espècies més importants dels hàbitats seminaturals; (4) la incidència viral al panís està influïda principalment per la data de sembra i per la cobertura i presència d’espècies de gramínies als marges. Aquests resultats obren una via en el coneixement dels efectes que produeixen tant la composició del paisatge agrícola com el maneig del propi camp en l’abundància i distribució d’herbívors, depredadors i de virus en el cultiu de panís. Aquests resultats a més suggereixen que s’han de contemplar mesures de gestió a escala local que garanteixin nivells mínims de biodiversitat i sostenibilitat com a base inicial per al desenvolupament de programes més eficients de control biològic de plagues i virus.
La demanda mundial de alimentos ha llevado al desarrollo de una intensa actividad agrícola produciendo una fragmentación, modificación y simplificación de los hábitats naturales ya documentada como una de las principales causas de la extinción y pérdida de la diversidad de especies. La cantidad, estructura y forma de la superficie de estos hábitats naturales fragmentados genera efectos positivos o negativos sobre la abundancia y diversidad de las especies. La biodiversidad que tienen los ecosistemas provee de una serie de servicios ecosistémicos al ser humano, y el control biológico natural de plagas es uno de los servicios que se ha visto alterado especialmente en los agroecosistemas. Aunque existe una creciente literatura científica que sugiere que la presencia de hábitats naturales beneficia a los enemigos naturales en los agroecosistemas, la eficiencia del control biológico sigue siendo uno de los principales retos en estos estudios, pues los efectos varían mucho entre especies y entre estudios. Entender los patrones de abundancia y movimiento de las especies de enemigos naturales y de herbívoros en los paisajes agrícolas, así como las interacciones entre estos, es espacial y temporalmente complejo. Si bien la gestión de los hábitats agrícolas ofrece soluciones para reducir la pérdida de rendimiento debido a las plagas, en el caso de los virus la simplificación excesiva de la diversidad de los cultivos, los sistemas intensivos de cultivo y el uso de productos fitosanitarios interfieren con las funciones ecológicas de los agroecosistemas alterando la epidemiología de enfermedades en las plantas. Con el objetivo de ofrecer una perspectiva general sobre la influencia que el paisaje agrícola puede tener sobre el control biológico y la epidemiología viral, esta tesis se ha centrado en analizar los efectos del paisaje agrícola desde una perspectiva de composición espacial y del manejo del campo sobre especies de insectos herbívoros y depredadores, así como en los principales virus que afectan al cultivo de maíz en la zona del Valle del Ebro. La primera parte de la tesis está orientada a (1) la ampliación en el conocimiento de cuáles son los tipos de estudios que se están realizando para analizar los efectos del agroecosistema en control biológico, las diferentes metodologías y los resultados más recientes (Capítulo 1), y (2) los efectos que tiene la estructura (composición y configuración) del paisaje y las variables locales en las especies de depredadores y herbívoros presentes en el cultivo del maíz (Capítulo 2). La segunda parte de la tesis está orientada a estudiar los efectos del paisaje sobre tres de los principales virus que afectan al cultivo del maíz (1) dos virus generalistas de vector: el virus del mosaico de la caña de azúcar (SCMV) y el virus del mosaico enanizante del maíz (MDMV) (Capítulo 3), y un virus especialista de vector: el virus del enanismo rugoso del maíz (MRDV) (Capítulo 4). Las principales conclusiones de esta tesis son: (1) los estudios de carácter funcional donde se analiza la composición del paisaje han demostrado que las especies de enemigos naturales necesitan de hábitats específicos, pero que otras variables como son los efectos locales del cultivo también pueden afectar a las dinámicas de los enemigos naturales y los herbívoros con más fuerza; (2) la superficie de frutales afecta negativamente a los depredadores potenciales en el maíz, pero que las cubiertas vegetales de estos afectan positivamente a ciertas especies de herbívoros; (3) la alfalfa actúa como un cultivo que aporta depredadores y herbívoros al cultivo del maíz actuando como un recurso para las especies con mayores efectos que los hábitats semi-naturales; (4) la incidencia viral en el maíz está influenciada principalmente por la fecha de siembra y por la cobertura y presencia de especies de gramíneas en los márgenes. Estos resultados abren una vía en el conocimiento de los efectos que produce tanto la composición del paisaje agrícola como el manejo del propio campo en la abundancia y distribución de herbívoros, depredadores y de virus en el cultivo del maíz. Además, son una base para predecir las consecuencias de la modificación de las prácticas agrícolas en el control biológico de plagas y de virus en el cultivo del maíz. Estos resultados además sugieren que deben de contemplarse medidas de gestión a escala local que garanticen niveles mínimos de biodiversidad y sostenibilidad como base inicial para el desarrollo de programas más eficientes de control biológico de plagas y virus.
The global demand for food has led to the development of intense agricultural activity resulting in fragmentation, modification and simplification of natural habitats already documented as one of the main causes of extinction and loss of species diversity. The quantity, structure and surface shape of these fragmented natural habitats generate positive or negative effects on the abundance and diversity of species. The biodiversity that ecosystems have provides a series of ecosystem services to humans, and natural biological control is one of the services that has been altered, especially in agroecosystems. Although there is growing scientific literature that suggests that the presence of natural habitats benefits natural enemies in agroecosystems, the efficiency of biological control remains one of the main challenges in these studies, as the effects vary greatly between species and between studies. Understanding the patterns of abundance and movement of natural enemies and herbivores, as well as understanding the interactions between them, is spatially and temporarily complex in agricultural landscapes. While agricultural habitat management offers solutions to reduce yield loss due to pests, in the case of viruses, the excessive simplification of crop diversity, intensive cropping systems and the use of phytosanitary products interfere with the ecological functions of agroecosystems, altering the epidemiology of diseases in plants. With the aim of offering a general perspective on the influence that the agricultural landscape can have on biological control and viral epidemiology, this thesis has focused on analysing the effects of the agricultural landscape from a spatial composition and field management perspective on species of herbivorous and predatory insects, as well as in the main viruses that affect the cultivation of maize in the area of the Ebro Valley. The first part of the thesis is aimed at (1) broadening the knowledge of identifying the types of studies that are being conducted to analyse the effects of agroecosystem on biological control, the different methodologies and the most recent results (Chapter 1), and (2) the effects of the structure (composition and configuration) of the landscape and the local variables in the predators and herbivores present in the cultivation of maize (Chapter 2). The second part of the thesis is aimed at studying the effects of the landscape on three of the main viruses that affect the cultivation of maize (1) two generalist vector viruses: the sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) and the maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) (Chapter 3), and a vector specialist virus: the maize rough dwarf virus (MRDV) (Chapter 4). The main conclusions of this thesis are as follows: (1) functional studies where landscape composition is studied have shown that natural enemy species need specific habitats, while other variables such as the local effects of the crop can also affect the dynamics of natural enemies and herbivores with greater weight; (2) the surface of orchards negatively affects potential predators in maize, but the plant cover of these positively affects certain species of herbivores; (3) alfalfa acts as a crop that contributes predators and herbivores to the cultivation of maize acting as a resource for species with higher effects than semi-natural habitats; and (4) the viral incidence in maize is mainly influenced by the planting date and the cover and presence of grass species at the edges. These results offer additional knowledge about the effects produced by both the composition of the agricultural landscape and the management of the field itself in the abundance and distribution of herbivores, predators and viruses in the cultivation of maize. In addition, they provide a basis for predicting the consequences of the modification of agricultural practices in the biological control of pests and viruses in the cultivation of maize. These results also suggest that local management measures that guarantee minimum levels of biodiversity and sustainability should be considered as the initial basis for the development of more efficient biological control programmes for pests and viruses.

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Diapriidae (Hymenoptera, Diaprioidea) é cosmopolita, com três subfamílias, 194 gêneros e 2080 espécies descritas. Diapriinae, Belytinae e Ambositrinae ocorrem no Neotrópico. Belytinae e Ambositrinae parasitam imaturos de Mycetophilidae e Sciaridae (Diptera) e os Diapriinae parasitam principalmente Diptera, com algumas espécies associadas a formigas. Ismaridae é cosmopolita, com apenas um gênero, Ismarus Haliday, com 32 espécies, das quais 12 relatadas para o Neotrópico e duas delas para o Brasil; são parasitoides secundários de larvas de Dryinidae (Hymenoptera). Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo estudar os Diapriidae e Ismaridae de cinco áreas de preservação da Mata Atlântica do Estado de São Paulo. As coletas foram realizadas mensalmente entre outubro de 2009 e março de 2011 no Parque Estadual Intervales (PEI), em Ribeirão Grande e na Estação Ecológica Juréia-Itatins (EEJI), em Iguape; entre novembro de 2009 e dezembro de 2010 no Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar-Núcleo Picinguaba (PESM-NP), em Ubatuba; entre novembro de 2009 e agosto de 2011 no Núcleo Santa Virgínia (PESM-NSV), em São Luiz do Paraitinga e entre dezembro de 2009 e fevereiro de 2011 no Parque Estadual Morro do Diabo (PEMD), em Teodoro Sampaio. Em cada área foram instaladas cinco armadilhas Malaise distantes 50 m entre si, ativas durante todo o período. O material biológico foi encaminhado ao Laboratório de Sistemática e Bioecologia de Parasitoides e Predadores da Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA), em Ribeirão Preto, SP, onde os Diapriidae foram triados e identificados em subfamílias e gêneros. Exemplares de Szelenyiopria Fabritius, Ismarus e de Propsilomma (Ashmead) foram identificados em espécies. Exemplares de Szelenyiopria e Ismarus pertencentes à Coleção de Hymenoptera da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo foram incluídos neste estudo. Foram coletados 11.464 exemplares ...
Diapriidae (Hymenoptera, Diaprioidea) is cosmopolitan, with three subfamilies, 194 genera and 2080 described species. Diapriinae, Belytinae and Ambositrinae occur in the Neotropics. Belytinae and Ambositrinae parasitize immature Mycetophilidae and Sciaridae (Diptera) and Diapriinae parasitize mostly Diptera, with some species associated to ants. Ismaridae is cosmopolitan, with only one genus, Ismarus Haliday, with 32 species, of which 12 related to the Neotropics and two of them to Brazil; are secondary parasitoid larvae of Dryinidae (Hymenoptera). This research aimed to study the Diapriidae Ismaridae and five conservation areas of the Atlantic Forest of State of São Paulo. Samples were collected monthy between Octuber 2009 and March 2011 at Parque Estadual Intervales (Ribeirão Grande) and Estação Ecológica Juréia-Itatins (Iguape); between November 2009 and December 2010 at Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar-Núcleo Picinguaba (Ubatuba); between November 2009 and August 2011 at Núcleo Santa Virgínia (São Luiz do Paraitinga) and December 2009 and February 2011 at Parque Estadual Morro do Diabo (Teodoro Sampaio). In each área were installed five Malaise traps, distant 50 meters apart and active throughout entire the period. The biological material was sent to the Laboratório de Sistemática e Bioecologia de Parasitoides e Predadores of the Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA), in Ribeirão Preto, State of São Paulo where identified the subfamilies and genera. Specimens of Szelenyiopria Fabritius, Ismarus and Propsilomma (Ashmead) were identified in species. Specimens of Szelenyiopria and Ismarus belonging to Coleção de Hymenoptera da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo were included in this study. Were collected 11.464 specimens of Diapriidae, of three subfamilies: Belytinae (9.833 exemplars/85.8% the total collected), Diapriinae (1.603/14.0%) and Ambositrinae ...

Orientador: Nelson Wanderley Perioto
Coorientador: Rogéria Inês Rosa Lara
Banca: Odair Aparecido Fernandes
Banca: Valmir Antonio Costa
Resumo: Diapriidae (Hymenoptera, Diaprioidea) é cosmopolita, com três subfamílias, 194 gêneros e 2080 espécies descritas. Diapriinae, Belytinae e Ambositrinae ocorrem no Neotrópico. Belytinae e Ambositrinae parasitam imaturos de Mycetophilidae e Sciaridae (Diptera) e os Diapriinae parasitam principalmente Diptera, com algumas espécies associadas a formigas. Ismaridae é cosmopolita, com apenas um gênero, Ismarus Haliday, com 32 espécies, das quais 12 relatadas para o Neotrópico e duas delas para o Brasil; são parasitoides secundários de larvas de Dryinidae (Hymenoptera). Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo estudar os Diapriidae e Ismaridae de cinco áreas de preservação da Mata Atlântica do Estado de São Paulo. As coletas foram realizadas mensalmente entre outubro de 2009 e março de 2011 no Parque Estadual Intervales (PEI), em Ribeirão Grande e na Estação Ecológica Juréia-Itatins (EEJI), em Iguape; entre novembro de 2009 e dezembro de 2010 no Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar-Núcleo Picinguaba (PESM-NP), em Ubatuba; entre novembro de 2009 e agosto de 2011 no Núcleo Santa Virgínia (PESM-NSV), em São Luiz do Paraitinga e entre dezembro de 2009 e fevereiro de 2011 no Parque Estadual Morro do Diabo (PEMD), em Teodoro Sampaio. Em cada área foram instaladas cinco armadilhas Malaise distantes 50 m entre si, ativas durante todo o período. O material biológico foi encaminhado ao Laboratório de Sistemática e Bioecologia de Parasitoides e Predadores da Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA), em Ribeirão Preto, SP, onde os Diapriidae foram triados e identificados em subfamílias e gêneros. Exemplares de Szelenyiopria Fabritius, Ismarus e de Propsilomma (Ashmead) foram identificados em espécies. Exemplares de Szelenyiopria e Ismarus pertencentes à Coleção de Hymenoptera da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo foram incluídos neste estudo. Foram coletados 11.464 exemplares ...
Abstract: Diapriidae (Hymenoptera, Diaprioidea) is cosmopolitan, with three subfamilies, 194 genera and 2080 described species. Diapriinae, Belytinae and Ambositrinae occur in the Neotropics. Belytinae and Ambositrinae parasitize immature Mycetophilidae and Sciaridae (Diptera) and Diapriinae parasitize mostly Diptera, with some species associated to ants. Ismaridae is cosmopolitan, with only one genus, Ismarus Haliday, with 32 species, of which 12 related to the Neotropics and two of them to Brazil; are secondary parasitoid larvae of Dryinidae (Hymenoptera). This research aimed to study the Diapriidae Ismaridae and five conservation areas of the Atlantic Forest of State of São Paulo. Samples were collected monthy between Octuber 2009 and March 2011 at Parque Estadual Intervales (Ribeirão Grande) and Estação Ecológica Juréia-Itatins (Iguape); between November 2009 and December 2010 at Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar-Núcleo Picinguaba (Ubatuba); between November 2009 and August 2011 at Núcleo Santa Virgínia (São Luiz do Paraitinga) and December 2009 and February 2011 at Parque Estadual Morro do Diabo (Teodoro Sampaio). In each área were installed five Malaise traps, distant 50 meters apart and active throughout entire the period. The biological material was sent to the Laboratório de Sistemática e Bioecologia de Parasitoides e Predadores of the Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA), in Ribeirão Preto, State of São Paulo where identified the subfamilies and genera. Specimens of Szelenyiopria Fabritius, Ismarus and Propsilomma (Ashmead) were identified in species. Specimens of Szelenyiopria and Ismarus belonging to Coleção de Hymenoptera da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo were included in this study. Were collected 11.464 specimens of Diapriidae, of three subfamilies: Belytinae (9.833 exemplars/85.8% the total collected), Diapriinae (1.603/14.0%) and Ambositrinae ...
Mestre

The quest for patterns in community organisation is a daunting task which may be made easier by concentrating on communities associated with a restricted range of resources and therefore of relative simplicity. Here, the phytophagous insect community on the African fig tree Ficus burtt-davyi Hutch. was studied in an attempt to gain some insight into the factors which influence the composition of insect herbivore communities at a very local level, on individual plants of one host species at a single location. The tree's phenological patterns were detennined, due to their relevance to herbivores, particularly those which are host-specific feeders. The trees exhibited inter-tree asynchrony and intra-tree synchrony in fruit crop initiation, whereas leaf production was synchronous both within and between trees. Sixteen frequently occurring phytophagous insect species fed on the 123 F. burtt-davyi trees in the study area over a period of one year. Factors with the potential to influence the composition of this community were investigated at levels of the whole community (species richness), the guild, and the individual species. At each 'level' the effects of the measured factors on fluctuations in community composition were investigated, both over time (i.e. temporally) and spatially from tree to tree. During the year the phytophage community was influenced largely by temperature, although rainfall and tree phenological changes did exert varying influences on the abundances of guilds and individual species. Tree to tree variation in species richness (and thus commensurately, in the frequencies of occurrence of guilds and individual species) was influenced primarily by tree architectural complexity. Architecturally more complex trees hosted a greater number of species, a relationship largely attributable to effects of passive sampling and within-tree microhabitat heterogeneity and/or the availability of living space. The distributions of the leaf and stem piercing species were strongly associated with the presence of ants and this relationship manifested itself within the community as a whole. The degree of isolation of trees had consequences for individual species and for overall species richness, with the numbers of species present decreasing as trees became more isolated. A detailed analysis of guild distributional patterns revealed that the most important influential factors were those also evident at the level of the whole community and that species within guilds were, on the whole, no more similar to one another with respect to their habitat preferences than species from different guilds. The grouping of species into functional units therefore threw no additional light on the way in which this community is organised. An analysis of possible interspecific interactions between all of the phytophagous species in the community revealed only positive associations, both between species within guilds and between those in different guilds. These were doubtless attributable to autocorrelation as a result of similar habitat preferences. Competition was therefore rejected as an organising force within the community.

AbstractInsects serve as ecosystem engineers in grasslands. Their impacts are comparable in scale to those of mammals, but because they are so much smaller, their roles and influences are not always as obvious. The roles that insects play in grasslands are as diverse as Class Insecta itself, including herbivory, pollination, seed dispersal, soil profile modification, nutrient cycling, parasitism, and serving as intermediaries between plants and wildlife in food webs. In the context of their effects on grassland wildlife species, insects serve as essential food resources for many species of birds, bats, reptiles, mammals, amphibians, fish, and other insects. Insects also have significant effects on the habitat structure available for wildlife because they can, on the one hand, enhance the productivity of grassland vegetation, but alternatively, they have the power to completely defoliate a grassland. From the perspective of food webs, insects play multiple roles. They can serve as food for wildlife, but they also can serve as parasites, vectors of disease, and decomposers. Ecological changes in grasslands due to events such as fire, grazing, herbicide or insecticide application, and habitat fragmentation or loss can affect both wildlife and insects. For that reason, ecologists are often interested in linking the study of a particular wildlife species to the associated insect community. Insects are simply less visible ecological engineers, continually interacting with wildlife, and modifying the habitat where they coexist with wildlife in grassland ecosystems.

AbstractThe study of the spatial dynamics of forest insects has a long history, and many forest insect species have served as model systems for studying conceptual processes of population biology and ecology. Because forest insect population data were often collected from georeferenced locations, even prior to the development of geodatabases and spatial statistical software, they provide an important historical resource for understanding insect population dynamics and changes in those dynamics through time. Advances in spatial statistics have furthermore enabled forest entomologists to consider forest insect dynamics over multiple spatial and temporal scales, and vast spatial and temporal extents. In this chapter, we first introduce the importance of scaling in studies of spatial dynamics, and review spatial pattern formation in forest insect populations. We conclude the chapter by addressing metapopulation dynamics, and the concept of spatial synchrony in outbreaking forest insects.

AbstractThe insects that feed on reproductive structures of forest trees are not only economically important, they are fascinating examples of the ability of insects to adapt to and exploit the many niches available in forest ecosystems. Cones, fruits, seeds, nuts, catkins and pollen are rich food sources available to insect herbivores. These reproductive structures are qualitatively and quantitatively different from vegetative parts of the tree, in terms of food quality, spatial and temporal distribution, and plant protective strategies. In this chapter we will explore types of reproductive structure herbivory, nutritive value and host defenses, insect strategies and community structure, evolutionary consequences for the host, and implications for management.

Over the past decade, the potential of edible insects as a novel food ingredient in high value-added products has been investigated to find alternatives to conventional animal protein sources that are over-exploited and harmful to the environment. One of the most challenge for the edile insect industry is to improve the consumer acceptability for this non conventional food matrix. Although there are many complex factors that influence the consumers' perceptions and acceptability of insects as food, it is well-documented that insect-based foods in which insects were not visible to the consumer created less aversion, highlighting the importance of developing products with processed insects. In this context, the development of edible insect ingredients, from meal until insect protein isolate, is currently largely studied. More specifically, and because these ingredients are composed of a high amount of proteins, this macronutrient is of specific significance. In this context, edible insect proteins represent a great opportunity for the development of the edible insect industry due to their interesting nutritional aspect and bioactive properties. However, for the development of edible insect-based food for human consumption, it become necessary to control the impact of conventional and emerging food processing on the insect protein structures and techno-functional properties. Simultaneously, it is crucial to ensure that the insect-based food products generated after the different processing steps are safe for the consumer, mainly in terms of microbial contaminations and allergenicity. Consequently, and regarding the different points indicated above, this presentation will highlight the different opportunities and challenges regarding the development of insect protein-rich food ingredients.

Over the last decades, a decline in insect populations has been observed. Public lighting infrastructure is both expanding to previously unlit areas, and already existing infrastructure is being replaced LED lighting. Consequently, there is a growing imperative to investigate the impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on nocturnal insect communities. As the correlated colour temperature (CCT) of LEDs is a customisable industry standard, this paper studies its impact on the abundance of attracted nocturnal insects. Data were collected using three LED light sources switching subsequently between 2700K and 6500K, with a similar luminous flux of 6696 lm and 7440 lm, respectively. A vertically positioned white surface gathers attracted insects and facilitates the image-based assessments. Observations during a pilot experiment of four nights in the Belgian Famenne-Ardenne region currently show that the number of attracted insects was 13% higher at 2700K than at 6500K. Broader tests across a wide range of ecosystems and light characteristics will be performed to confirm to which extent these results may be generalized and can inform the development of insect-friendly lighting.

DARPA’s MAV project has accelerated a lot of studies on insect flights to gain insights for flapping MAV development [1]. In particular, the insects adept at hovering have become major subjects of these investigations [2–3]. Due to the great contributions by pioneers, we are now able to well explain how the insects produce the enhanced aerodynamic forces in the hovering flight at intricate flow regime [4].

The insect fauna of Mongolia includes about 12,000 species belonging to 24 orders. The only order, Orthoptera, is richer in species in Mongolia than in the Far East of Russia. All other units show greater diversity in the Russian Far East than in Mongolia. There are a significant number of very interesting endemics. Tizanuras of the family Machilidae are relic insects, represented by five species in Mongolia. As examples of widespread Central Asian insects, a number of species of darkling beetles and weevils can be indicated, most of which are endemic to Mongolia or Central Asia.

Insect and pollinator populations are vitally important to the health of ecosystems, food production, and economic stability, but are declining worldwide. New, cheap, and simple monitoring methods are necessary to inform management actions and should be available to researchers around the world. Here, we evaluate the efficacy of a commercially available, close-focus automated camera trap to monitor insect–plant interactions and insect behavior. We compared two video settings—scheduled and motion-activated—to a traditional human observation method. Our results show that camera traps with scheduled video settings detected more insects overall than humans, but relative performance varied by insect order. Scheduled cameras significantly outperformed motion-activated cameras, detecting more insects of all orders and size classes. We conclude that scheduled camera traps are an effective and relatively inexpensive tool for monitoring interactions between plants and insects of all size classes, and their ease of accessibility and set-up allows for the potential of widespread use. The digital format of video also offers the benefits of recording, sharing, and verifying observations.

The gut microbiota affects silkworm growth and development and is particularly associated with food absorption, nutrient use, and disease immunity. The behaviour and evolution of insects are inuenced by interactions with their microbiome. In cases of nutritional deciency or other health conditions, certain microbes can be given as dietary supplements to promote insect reproduction, food conversion, and growth as well as health parasitic infection. An overview of insect-microbiota interactions is provided, as well as information on the function of probiotics, their typical application in the rearing of insects for food and feed, and their interactions with the host microbiota. The improvement of the silkworm's growth and development is greatly aided by nutrition

Structural details on the interacting faces of toxins and sodium channels (Navs), and particularly identification of elements that confer specificity for insects, are difficult to approach and require suitable experimental systems. Therefore, natural toxins capable of differential recognition of insect and mammalian Navs are valuable leads for design of selective compounds in insect control. We have characterized several scorpion toxins that vary in preference for insect and mammalian Navs, and identified residues important for their action. However, despite many efforts worldwide, only little is known about the receptor sites of these toxins, and particularly on differences between these sites on insect and mammalian Navs. Another problem arises from the massive overuse of chemical insecticides, which increases resistance buildup among various insect pests. A possible solution to this problem is to combine different insecticidal compounds, especially those that provide synergic effects. Our recent finding that combinations of insecticidal receptor site-3 toxins (sea anemone and scorpion alpha) with scorpion beta toxins or their truncated derivatives are synergic in toxicity to insects is therefore timely and strongly supports this approach. Our ability to produce toxins and various Navs in recombinant forms, enable thorough analysis and structural manipulations of both toxins and receptors. On this basis we propose to (1) restrict by mutagenesis the activity of insecticidal scorpion -toxins and sea anemone toxins to insects, and clarify the molecular basis of their synergic toxicity with antiinsect selective -toxins; (2) identify Nav elements that interact with scorpion alpha and sea anemone toxins and those that determine toxin selectivity to insects; (3) determine toxin-channel pairwise side-chain interactions by thermodynamic mutant cycle analysis using our large collection of mutant -toxins and Nav mutants identified in aim 2; (4) clarify the mode of interaction of truncated -toxins with insect Navs, and elucidate how they enhance the activity of insecticidal site-3 toxins. This research may lead to rational design of novel anti-insect peptidomimetics with minimal impact on human health and the environment, and will establish the grounds for a new strategy in insect pest control, whereby a combination of allosterically interacting compounds increase insecticidal action and reduce risks of resistance buildup.