Academic literature on the topic 'Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel'

AbstractThe life cycle of Liposcelis entomophila (Enderlein) (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) was studied at 30 ± 1°C and 75 ± 3% r.h. The mean developmental period of the females was 22.3 days and that of the males was 18.4 days. This corresponded to the males undergoing three, and the females four, nymphal stages. A 28% developmental mortality was observed. The average number of offspring produced in the first fornight was 9.6 and the natural mortality of the females was noted only from the sixth week, increasing to 54.1% by the 12th week. An extraction and culturing regime to obtain populations of one- to three-week old adult females was developed. This procedure was also found to be ideal for L. bostrychophila Badonnel.

The insect growth regulator methoprene was evaluated for control of Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel, Liposcelis decolor (Pearman), Liposcelis entomophila (Enderlein), Liposcelis paeta Pearman (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae), and Lepinotus reticulatus Enderlein (Trogiidae) at application rates of 1, 5, and 10 ppm on maize, wheat, and rice. Methoprene did not completely suppress progeny production during the 40-day test period, but did cause a significant reduction in adult progeny in all psocid species at the application rates of 5 and 10 ppm. At 1 ppm, numbers of adults were reduced for all species on wheat and maize, but only for L. paeta on rice. Nevertheless, the numbers of nymphs present after 40 days generally were not reduced, relative to the controls. Methoprene applied at rates of 1 to 10 ppm to stored grain would not provide adequate control of psocids.

Sampling of arthropods in ground and woody vegetation habitats in highland areas on the islands of Hawaii and Maui revealed six species of psocids of the genus Liposcelis. Three are new and are here described. L. maunakea sp. n. and L. volcanorum sp. n. are closely related and form a small species complex together with L. nasus Sommerman and L. deltachi Sommerman from southwestern United States and northern Mexico. A key to the species of this complex is included. The third new species, L. kipukae sp. n., is a member of group II-C with only 5 ommatidia in the eye. A key to the known species of group II-C with fewer than 7 ommatidia in the eye is included. First Hawaiian records are presented for L. bostrychophila Badonnel, L. deltachi, and L. rufa Broadhead. The first known males of L. bostrychophila are reported and described. This species is very widespread, but generally parthenogenetic.

For the sterile insect technique, and other related biological control methods where large numbers of the target mosquito are reared artificially, production efficiency is key for the economic viability of the technique. Rearing success begins with high quality eggs. Excess eggs are often stockpiled and stored for longer periods of time. Any pests that prey on these eggs are detrimental to stockpiles and need to be avoided. Psocids of the genus Liposcelis (Psocoptera, Liposcelididae) are common scavengers consuming various types of organic material that are distributed globally and thrive in warm damp environments, making insectaries ideal habitats. In this short report, we investigated the species that has been found scavenging stored mosquito eggs in our insectary and identified it to be Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel, 1931. Additional observations were made to determine whether these predators indeed feed on mosquito eggs, and to suggest simple, effective ways of avoiding infestation.

This thesis is a comprehensive treatment of the invasion genetics of two major Liposcelis pest species, Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel and L. decolor (Pearman), in Australian grain storage systems. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPDs) and microsatellite DNA markers were used to investigate Liposcelis invasions in grain storage systems. The RAPD and microsatellite markers used provided insights into the genetic diversity of L. bostrychophila and L. decolor populations both in Australia and internationally, providing information integral to gaining an understanding of Liposcelis invasions in Australian grain storage systems. The thesis is divided into discrete chapters, and for each chapter an abstract is provided. Chapter 1 provides background on Liposcelis invasions in Australia in relation to the biology of Liposcelis species, the infrastructure of the Australian grain industry and the history of invasions in comparison to other invasive invertebrate species. The use of DNA and PCR technologies to investigate Liposcelis invasions are discussed and the aims and objectives of this thesis are introduced. Chapter 2 uses RAPDs to trace the geographic origin of L. bostrychophila populations in Australia from unknown geographic sources internationally. High levels of clonal genetic diversity among populations of L. bostrychophila in Australia and internationally were found. In addition, multiple introductions, from a wide range of international source populations were detected and this obscured our ability to accurately determine the geographic origin of L. bostrychophila in Australia. Given the high clonal genetic diversity found in populations of parthenogenetic L. bostrychophila in Australia, diagnostic Wolbachia PCR primers were used in Chapter 3 to investigate whether L. bostrychophila individuals from these populations were infected by Wolbachia and if infected, to investigate the strain of Wolbachia characteristic of Australian L. bostrychophila populations. Results from Chapter 3 provide the first evidence of multiple Wolbachia infection from strains A and B in Australian L. bostrychophila populations. Chapter 4 details the extensive molecular procedures undertaken to isolate microsatellite loci from Liposcelis decolor using both enrichment and nonenrichment methods. Microsatellite loci were optimised for use in PCR in single individuals following extensive troubleshooting. Troubleshooting efforts focused on elucidating the factors controlling the specificity, efficiency and sensitivity of the PCR to amplify small Liposcelis individuals known to be rich in lipids and proteins, all inhibitory to PCR. In Chapter 5 lipids and proteins were investigated from L. decolor and L. entomophila to determine total concentrations and characterize the lipids from these species. This chapter discusses whether the lipid and protein concentrations found were of a level that could be inhibitory to PCR in relation to the microsatellite techniques used in this study. From the work conducted in both Chapters 4 and 5 a troubleshooting protocol adapted for use in L. decolor was developed and implemented to determine the endogenous and exogenous parameters responsible for the function and reproducibility of PCR of microsatellite loci in L. decolor. In Chapter 6, the novel microsatellites isolated from L. decolor in Chapter 4 were used to investigate genetic structure and gene flow from Australian and international L. decolor populations. In Chapter 6 the first evidence of population differentiation, gene flow and dispersal in invasive populations of L. decolor was found. In addition, the eleven microsatellites isolated from L. decolor were cross-amplified in five other important Liposcelis pests, L. bostrychophila, L. entomophila, L. paeta, L. rufa, and L. corrodens, from which informative population genetic studies are now possible. Finally, Chapter 7 comprises the thesis synopsis, implications and future research.