Agricultural and medical insect pests are damaging edible crops, spreading diseases, harming non-target fauna flora. Prominent polyphagous harass farmers in the agronomy sector, causing uncountable revenue corrosion. Ecofriendly phytopesticides can avoid consequences of bulk usage synthetic chemicals. In this study, toxic effect on third-instar larvae four different species (Spodoptera litura, ...

The challenges of maintaining cohesion while making collective decisions in social or aggregating insects can result in the emergence of a leader or leaders. Larval aggregations of the steel-blue sawfly Perga affinis forage nocturnally, and some larvae lead the aggregation on foraging trips more often than expected by chance. We investigated the relationship between these leader and follower ro...

Experiments have shown that interspecific interactions within consumer guilds can alter patterns of distribution, abundance and size of species. Plastic behavioural responses can be modulated by agonistic interactions. In many cases, consumers compete for space and shelters, and these interactions change the manner in which they exploit food. This study investigates the consequences of competit...

The sigma virus (DMelSV), which is a natural pathogen of Drosophila melanogaster, is the only Drosophila-specific rhabdovirus that has been described. We have discovered two new rhabdoviruses, D. obscura and D. affinis, which we have named DObsSV and DAffSV, respectively. We sequenced the complete genomes of DObsSV and DMelSV, and the L gene from DAffSV. Combining these data with sequences from...

A population of western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) living below a wastewater treatment plant in the vicinity of Birmingham (AL, USA) was studied for evidence of exposure to estrogens. Mosquitofish are sexually dimorphic live-bearing fish. Males have an elongated and modified anal fin, called a gonopodium, used in mating. It has been hypothesized that exposure to estrogens and/or anti-andro...

Seasonal fluctuations in zooplankton abundance between July 1973 and July 1974 showed a clear peak in total copepods and rotifers in February-March, and a less pronounced peak in July-August. Standing crop and production estimates for the two dominant copepods, Acarfia fonsa and Eurytemoru uffinis, revealed that the February-March peak was primarily E. affinis and sustained far higher biomass (...

Aspergillus section Circumdati or the Aspergillus ochraceus group, includes species with rough walled stipes, biseriate conidial heads, yellow to ochre conidia and sclerotia that do not turn black. Several species are able to produce mycotoxins including ochratoxins, penicillic acids, and xanthomegnins. Some species also produce drug lead candidates such as the notoamides. A polyphasic approach...