Report of the Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae) in Japan

The Mexican bean beetle (Epilachna varivestis) regurgitome and insights into beetle-borne virus specificity

For nearly 400 million years, insects and plants have been embattled in an evolutionary arms race. Insects have developed diverse feeding strategies and behaviors in an effort to circumvent and overcome an extensive collection of plant defense tactics. Sap-sucking insects often inject saliva into hosts plants, which contains a suite of effector proteins and even microbial communities that can a...

An effect of sub-lethal doses of cryolite on Mexican bean beetle larvae, Epilachna varivestis.

A Sweet Story: Bean pod mottle virus Transmission Dynamics by Mexican Bean Beetles (Epilachna varivestis)

Worldwidecrop losses due to plant diseases exceed $60 billion annually. Next to fungi, viruses represent the greatest contributor to those losses, and these are transmitted in nature primarily by insects. Mexican bean beetles (Epilachna varivestis) are formidable pests of soybean, as well as efficient vectors of several soybean-infecting viruses, including Bean podmottle virus (BPMV). Beetle-bo...

A Bacillus thuringiensis S-layer protein involved in toxicity against Epilachna varivestis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).

The use of Bacillus thuringiensis as a biopesticide is a viable alternative for insect control since the insecticidal Cry proteins produced by these bacteria are highly specific; harmless to humans, vertebrates, and plants; and completely biodegradable. In addition to Cry proteins, B. thuringiensis produces a number of extracellular compounds, including S-layer proteins (SLP), that contribute t...

Antifeedant and insecticidal activities of selected plant extracts against Epilachna beetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Six different indigenous plants were screened for antifeedant and insecticidal activity against fourth instar larvae of Epilachna beetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata, which is a severe pest on brinjal. Among the plants screened, Achyranthes aspera showed higher activity against the selected pest. Ethyl acetate extracts of A. aspera showed higher antifeedant index and insecticidal activit...