Genetic differentiation was studied among populations of the salt marsh beetle Pogonus littoralis (Coleoptera: Carabidae), comparing Atlantic and Mediterranean populations over a large part of its range. The genetic structure of this highly mobile beetle was investigated by studying allozyme polymorphism at nine enzyme loci in 13 populations. Mediterranean P. littoralis were highly significantl...

In an earlier study, we showed that the ingestive responses of the generalist caterpillar Spodoptera littoralis to foods imbalanced in their protein:carbohydrate content is similar to generalist locusts, but differs from that of specialist-feeding locusts. Here we further pursued the comparison by repeating the experiments using a closely related specialist caterpillar, Spodoptera exempta. Firs...

Biochemical and histological analysis were performed on 4 larval instar of the cotton leaf worm Spodoptera littoralis to determine the effect of abamectin (LC50) on the biomarkers acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), α-, βesterase and mixed function oxidase (MFO).Biochemical analysis showed a severe reduction in the enzymatic activities of GST and α-esterase, as compare...

The pyrokinin/pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PK/PBAN) family plays a significant role in the regulation of reproductive and developmental processes in a variety of insects. A transPro, type I beta-turn has been previously identified as important for the activity of PK/PBAN peptides. A PK/PBAN analog (PPK-Jo) incorporating a novel dihydroimidazole transPro mimetic motif was eval...

Climate warming is expected to impact the response of species insecticides. Recent studies show that this interaction between insecticides and temperature can depend on other factors. Here, we tested for influence transgenerational effects Insecticide × Temperature in crop pest moth Spodoptera littoralis. Specifically, analysed reaction norms among experimental clutches based a split-plot desig...

Foliar frost resistance of three endemic New Zealand land trees, Nothofagus menziesii (Hook. f.) Oerst. (Fagaceae), Pittosporum eugenioides A. Cunn. (Pittosporaceae) and Griselinia littoralis Forst. f. (Cornaceae), was examined as the trees hardened from late summer to midwinter in a lowland forest site. The lowest temperatures causing 50% damage (LT(50)) occurred in late winter and were simila...

Drosophila littoralis is a latitudinally widespread European species of the Drosophila virilis group. The species has ample genetic variation in photoperiodism (adult diapause) and circadian rhythmicity (pupal eclosion rhythm), with adaptive latitudinal clines in both of them. The possible common genetic basis between the variability of photoperiodism and circadian rhythms was studied by a long...

BACKGROUND Various proteins that display carbohydrate-binding activity in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner are classified into the C-type lectin family. They have one or two C-type carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRDs) composed of 110-130 amino acid residues in common. C-type lectins mediate cell adhesion, non-self recognition, and immuno-protection processes in immune responses and thus play signif...

Hymenocallis littoralis has allelochemical importance such as defensive compounds, insect repellents, attractants, and their role in ecological balance. Antioxidant activities of Hymenocallis littoralis bulb, anther, flower, stem, leaves and root methanolic extracts were evaluated using Ferric Reducing Antioxdiant Power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total phenolic and flavonoid ...