Mathematical Model for Two-Spotted Spider Mites System: Verification and Validation

This paper presents and compares four mathematical models with unique spatial effects for a prey-predator system, with Tetranychus urticae as prey and Phytoseiulus persimilis as predator. Tetranychus urticae, also known as two-spotted spider mite, is a harmful plant-feeding pest that causes damage to over 300 species of plants. Its predator, Phytoseiulus persimilis, a mite in the Family Phytoseiidae, effectively controls spider mite populations. In this study, we compared four mathematical models using a numerical simulation. These models include two known models: self-diffusion, and cross-diffusion, and two new models: chemotaxis effect model, and integro diffusion model, all with a Beddington-De Angelis functional response. The modeling results were validated by fitting experimental data. Results demonstrate that interaction scheme plays an important role in the prey-predator system and that the cross-diffusion model fits the real system best. The main contribution of this paper is in the two new models developed, as well as the validation of all the models using experimental data.

Efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae in controlling the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae on common bean in screenhouse and field experiments

The efficacy of aqueous and emulsifiable formulations of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae isolate ICIPE78 was evaluated on the population density of Tetranychus urticae infesting common bean plants under screenhouse and field conditions. Synthetic acaricide abamectin was included as a check. Bean plants were artificially infested with T. urticae and allowed to multiply. Three treatments were applied in the screenhouse and 1 treatment in field trials. Mite density was recorded 2 d before spraying and weekly postspraying. The number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, and the dry weight of seeds per plant were recorded only in the screenhouse trials. In both screenhouse and field trials, fungal formulations applied at the concentration of 108 conidia/mL and the aearicide reduced the population density of mites as compared to the controls. There were signif- icant differences in T. urticae population densities between the treatments at the various post-spraying sampling dates. In the screenhouse, the mite densities were near zero from 3-week postspraying in the treated leaves. At 4-week postspraying, there were no more leaves in the untreated control （T1） and in the control water ＋ Silwet-L77 （T2）. Fungal formulations were as effective as abamectin in reducing mite densities in both screenhouse and field experiments. There were significant differences in the production parameters during the 2 screenhouse trials, with fungal and abamectin treatments generally having the highest yield. Results of this study underline the potential of the M. anisopliae isolate ICIPE78 as an alternative to acaricides for T. urticae management.

Lack of fitness cost and inheritance of resistance to abamectin based on the establishment of a near-isogenic strain of Tetranychus urticae

Many populations of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, have developed high levels of resistance to the pesticide abamectin in China and other countries. This study developed a near-isogenic line to understand better the inheritance, cross-resistance, and fitness costs associated with abamectin resistance in the field population of T. urticae in China. We introduced the trait that confers extremely high abamectin resistance in a field-collected population of T. urticae into a susceptible laboratory strain(IPP-SS) to generate an abamectin-resistant near-isogenic line(NIL-Aba).This process was carried out through multiple backcrossing to IPP-SS and via parthenogenesis and abamectin screening. Compared with IPP-SS, the NIL-Aba strain had a 25 147-fold resistance to abamectin and a high level of cross-resistance to bifenthrin(288.17-fold), an intermediate level to emamectin benzoate(42.57-fold), and low levels to bifenazate, chlorfenapyr, cyflumetofen, cyenopyrafen, and cyetpyrafen with resistance ranging from 3.18-to 9.31-fold.But it had no cross-resistance to profenofos. The resistance to abamectin in NIL-Aba was autosomal, incompletely dominant, and polygenic. Based on two sex life table parameters, no fitness cost was found in NIL-Aba. Establishing the NIL-Aba strain provides a reliable basis for an in-depth study of abamectin resistance in T. urticae. New information on toxicological characteristics and fitness cost should facilitate the management of abamectin resistance in field populations of T. urticae.

The Influence of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) Life Table and Reproductive Parameters by Applying Si on Bean at Library Condition

Two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is one of the important pests of bean, which can cause severe damages on it. Silicon is one of the micronutrient elements, as its spray on the leaves can decrease the population of the pest. In this research, the impact of four different doses of Si (0, 1, 1/5, 2 ppm) was investigated on biological and population growth parameters of T. urticae. The experiments were carried out in Petri dishes in an incubator at 25°C ± 2°C, 65% ± 5% RH and 16 L: 8 D. The duration of developmental stage was significantly affected by Si dose. The longest immature period, the shortest longevity of females and the shortest oviposition period were obtained at 2 ppm. In addition, Si dose significantly affected population growth parameters of the mite. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) of the mite ranged from 0.246 to 0.215 day which lowest and the highest values were at 2 ppm and control plants, respectively. The lowest net reproductive rate (R0) and finite rate of increase (λ) of the mite and the highest value of mean generation time (T) and doubling time (DT) were estimated at 2 ppm. The results of this peruse represented that 2 ppm had better potential for decreasing the population of the two-spotted spider mite, and it can be used in the mite integrated pest management programs.

Ethanol Extraction of Hyoscyamus niger and Hypericum calycinum Evaluated for Acaricidal Activity against Tetranychus urticae Koch （Acari： Tetranychidae）

Hyoscyamus niger L. （Solanaceae） and Hypericum calycinum L. （Hypericaceae） were collected from two provinces Bursa and Ankara in Turkey during flowering stages. Extracts obtained from H. niger and H. calycinum were tested against two-spotted mite as an acaricidal pesticide. Bioassay experiments were carried out under laboratory conditions using two different methods namely, leaf disc dipping and direct leaf spraying. Two-spotted mite was reared in insectary using Phaseolus vulgaris L. （Fabaceae）. In the leaf dipping method, H. niger extract resulted in an effective adjusted mortality for larvae of 87.13% and for adults of 81.66%. For H. calycinum the adjusted mortality for larvae and adults was 77.77% and 85.97% respectively at the highest concentration. In larval stage, LCs0 values were 5.47 w/v and 3.32 w/v dipping and spraying method respectively. In addition, adult stage, it was determined that LCs0 values were 1.17 w/v and 3.56 w/v in both methods. For leaf spraying method. H. niger resulted in an adjusted showed an effect against larvae and adults mortality rate was 95% and 91% respectively. However, H. calycinum mortality percentage was 80% and 87% at 12% concentration, with LC50 values of 9.62 w/v and 2.13 w/v in dipping method. In this research apart from mortality effects on egg, reproduction was also investigated. Each concentration showed that treated females laid less eggs compared to the untreated females.

Acaricidal Activity of Extracts of Juglans regia L. on Tetranychus urticae Koch （Acari： Tetranychidae）

Two-spotted spider mite （Tetranychus urticae Koch） （Acari： Tetranychidae） is a very serious pest worldwide, causing considerable damage to vegetables, flowers and fruit crops. The application of plant extracts to control insects can be an effective alternative. In this study, the efficacy of an extract from Juglans regia L. （Juglandecaea） was tested as an alternative to conventional acaricides. Using two different methods, bioassays were used to determine the effects of varying concentrations J. regia （1%, 3%, 6%, 12%） of the extracts. Experiments were carried out using 3 cm diameter leaf disks of Phaseolus vulgaris L. In addition, the effects of the extract on mite reproduction and oviposition were investigated. As a result, in the leaf dipping method, the 12% concentration of the extract caused the highest mortality of nymph （90%） and adult （83.00%） stages. For the spraying method, the mortality of adults at the same concentration was 100%. In bioassays at lower concentrations, the adult mites laid lower numbers of eggs in comparison to the untreated mites. The highest effect occurred at concentration of 12% and the lowest effect was at 1%. The extract was no observed ovicidal effect.

Comparative life table analysis of Tetranychus urticae （Acari Tetranychidae） on 14 soybean genotypes

The life table parameters of two-spotted spider mite （TSSM）, Tetranychus urticae Koch, on 14 soybean genotypes （Sari, Sahar, Tellar, Zane, Ks3494, LI7, Dpx, 032, 033, Clark, Hill, 127, Tms and Williams） were evaluated at 28 ±1℃, 65% ± 5% RH and a photoperiod of 16 ： 8 h L ： D. The survivorship data （lx） of adult females were fitted to the Weibull frequency distribution model in all genotypes tested. Based on the Weibull parameters, the survival curve was type I on all genotypes, which indicated that the mortality mostly occurred in old individuals. Furthermore, two mathematical models （Analytis and Enkegaard） were fitted to age-specific fecundity data （mx）. The highest intrinsic rate of increase （rm） was recorded on L17 （0.392） and the lowest values of this parameter were obtained on Tms （0.233）, Hill （0.236）, 032 （0.236）, 127 （0.237） and Clark （0.240）. In addition, net reproductive rate （R0） and finite rate of increase （λ） of the TSSM had the highest value on L17 as 45.521 and 1.475, respectively. The lowest values of these parameters were recorded on Tms as 12.149 and 1.258, respectively. Doubling time （DT） varied significantly on different genotypes and the shortest and longest values of this period were obtained on L17 and 032, respectively. Our findings revealed that Tms, Hill, 032, 127 and Clark were less suitable genotypes, suggesting that they are more resistant to the TSSM than the other genotypes.

Sex roles and sexual selection： lessons from a dynamic model system

Our understanding of sexual selection has greatly improved during the last decades. The focus is no longer solely on males, but also on how female competition and male mate choice shape ornamentation and other sexually selected traits in females. At the same time, the focus has shifted from documenting sexual selection to exploring variation and spatiotemporal dynamics of sexual selection, and their evolutionary consequences. Here, I review insights from a model system with exceptionally dynamic sexual selection, the two-spotted goby fish Gobiusculus flavescens. The species displays a complete reversal of sex roles over a 3-month breeding season. The reversal is driven by a dramatic change in the operational sex ratio, which is heavily male-biased at the start of the season and heavily female-biased late in the season. Early in the season, breeding-ready males outnumber mature females, causing males to be highly competitive, and leading to sexual selection on males. Late in the season, mating-ready females are in excess, engage more in courtship and aggression than males, and rarely reject mating opportunities. With typically many females simultaneously courting available males late in the season, males become selective and prefer more colorful females. This variable sexual selection regime likely explains why both male and female G. flavescens have ornamental colors. The G. flavescens model system reveals that sexual behavior and sexual selection can be astonishingly dynamic in response to short-term fluctuations in mating competition. Future work should explore whether sexual selection is equally dynamic on a spatial scale, and related spatiotemporal dynamics.