Specificity of Developmental Resistance in Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) to two DNA-Insect Viruses

Gypsy moth （Lymantria dispar） larvae displayed marked developmental resistance within an instar to L dispar M nucleopolyhedrovirus （LdMNPV） regardless of the route of infection （oral or intrahemocoelic） in a previous study, indicating that in gypsy moth, this resistance has a systemic component. In this study, gypsy moth larvae challenged with the Amsacta moorei entomopoxvirus （AMEV） showed developmental resistance within the fourth instar to oral, but not intrahemocoelic, inoculation. In general, gypsy moth is considered refractory to oral challenge with AMEV, but in this study, 43% mortality occurred in newly molted fourth instars fed a dose of 5×10^6 large spheroids of AMEV; large spheroids were found to be more infectious than small spheroids when separated by a sucrose gradient. Developmental resistance within the fourth instar was reflected by a 2-fold reduction in mortality （18%-21%） with 5 X 106 large spheroids in larvae orally challenged at 24, 48 or 72 h post-molt. Fourth instars were highly sensitive to intrahemocoelic challenge with AMEV; 1PFU produced approximately 80% mortality regardless of age within the instar. These results indicate that in gypsy moth, systemic developmental resistance may be specific to LdMNPV, reflecting a co-evolutionary relationship between the baculovirus and its host.

Synergic effect of sex pheromone(7R,8S)-cis-7,8-epoxy-2-methyloctadec-17-ene on(+)-disparlure of the Asian gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar, in Korea

field attraction test of (7R,8S)-cis-7,8-epoxy-2- methyloctadec-17-ene (= 7R,8S-epo-2me-17ene-18Hy), a trace component of the sex pheromone gland of the Asian gypsy moth,(Lymantria dispar), traps that were baited with the trace component attracted more L. dispar than traps baited with (7S,8R)-cis-7,8-epoxy-2-methyloctadec-17-ene (= 7S,8R-epo-2me-17ene-18Hy) and unbaited traps. However, traps baited with 7R,8S-epo-2me-17ene-18Hy were less attractive than traps baited with (+)-disparlure [=(7R,8S)-cis-7,8-epoxy-2-methyloctadecane], the sex pheromone of L. dispar. Combination tests with (?)-disparlure, 7R,8S-epo-2me-17ene-18Hy, and 7S,8R-epo-2me- 17ene-18Hy revealed that 7R,8S-epo-2me-17ene-18Hy acted synergistically with (?)-disparlure.

Population Dynamic and Biological Characteristics of the Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar （Lepidoptera： Lymantriidae） in West-Siberian Geographic

Gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar （L.） is one of the most widespread defoliators of deciduous and larch forests in Kazakhstan. Preferred host plants, flying capacity of females and neonate caterpillars, preferred places for egg laying, major factors of mortality and other characteristics vary considerably between different populations of the pest. According to several year researches on gypsy moth, in Kazakhstan, the main biological characteristics of this pest in the regions were investigated. Results of research showed that gypsy moth exists in central and northern of theses regions. From biological and geographical aspects, gypsy moth which there is in Kazakhstan is close to the same species from Siberia western regions. The pest lays on the different heights of trees trunk. It was found that the number of eggs in each egg mass and egg masses laid by the pest are different. The lack of egg eaters and the over- reproduction of the pest at the natural conditions have resulted in the development of bacterial and viral diseases in the populations of this pest from the regions of Kazakhstan to Siberia west.

Primary Host Tree Species of the Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar （Lepidoptera： Lymantriidae）in Hyrcanian Forests

Invasions by exotic insects and diseases are one of the most important threats to the stability and productivity of forest ecosystems around the world. Lymantria dispar （Lepidoptera： Lymantriidae） in Iran was observed for the first time in 1937 by Jalal Afshar in oak forests of the Guilan state region. Since its introduction, gypsy moth has spread to the northern, western and south-western regions of Iran. The largest outbreaks of gypsy moth occurred in the Talesh Oak forests of the Hyrcanian zone in 1975. The gypsy moth is a highly polyphagous folivore species that feeds on over 300 species of woody plants. Among its most preferred hosts are oaks and aspens. Some trees are resistant to the gypsy moth including honey locust, black locust, silver maple, green ash, dogwood, sycamore, horse chestnut, firs, and tulip trees. Defoliation during severe outbreaks alters the appearance of forest habitats and leads to tree mortality and changes in stand composition. This study was conducted during 2008 and 2009 in an effort to determine the primary host tree species that the gypsy moth infests in the Hyrcanian forests of lran. For that purpose all egg masses in the area were counted and conclusively significant differences in defoliation levels among tree species were found. The primary host tree species of gypsy moth in Iran was Persian ironweed, Parrotia persica.

Extraction optimization of insecticidal compounds from Lysurus mokusin by response surface methodology

We optimized the extraction process of Lysurus mokusin(L.)Fr.insecticidal compound(LMIC)using response surface methodology with ultrasonic extraction(UE).The surface morphologies of maceration extract(ME)and UE residues were compared by scanning electron microscopy,and then the activity of LMIC on Lymantria dispar(Asian gypsy moths)larvae was determined.Results showed that the optimal condition of UE was followed by 80 min of extraction time,60%of ethanol concentration and 80 mL g^-1 of liquid–solid ratio.The surface morphologies of UE residue were looser and rougher than ME residue.The corrected mortalities of LMIC on L.dispar larvae was 59.77%.This result indicated that L.mokusin was a good candidate as pesticide for pest management.

Molecular cloning, characterization, and antioxidant function of catalase in Lymantria dispar asiatic (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) under avermectin stress

The critical antioxidant catalase(CAT)breaks down hydrogen peroxide induced by environmental stresses.Here we cloned full length catalase cDNA from Lymantria dispar asiatic(LdCAT).Bioinformatic analyses showed that open reading frames of LdCAT contains 1524 bp,encoding 507 amino acids with molecular weight of 126.99 kDa,theoretical pI of 5.00,aliphatic index of 29.92,grand average of hydropathicity of 0.764,and instability index(II)of 46.56.Protein BLAST and multiple sequence alignment indicated that LdCAT had high identity with CAT from other insects,especially lepidopterans.In a phylogenetic analysis,LdCAT was most similar to CAT from Spodoptera litura and S.exigua.Quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction showed that LdCAT transcripts in all instar larvae and the five tissues tested,verifying the ubiquity of LdCAT in L.disapr.Moreover,LdCAT of third instar larvae was significantly upregulated after they fed on avermectin at sublethal and LC10 doses.The highest relative transcript levels were found 2 h after an avermectin spray at LC90,and in the cuticula,rather than heads,fat bodies,malpighian tubes,and midguts after a spray avermectin at a sublethal concentration.The expression level of LdCAT under pesticide stresses here suggested that CAT is an important antioxidant enzyme of L.disapr defensing against pesticide stress and may be a good target for controlling this pest.

Insights into the Temporal Gene Expression Pattern in Lymantria dispar Larvae During the Baculovirus Induced Hyperactive Stage

Baculoviruses are effective biological control agents for many insect pests. They not only efficiently challenge the host immune system but also make them hyperactive for better virus dispersal. Some investigations have focused on the viral mechanisms for induction of such altered response from the host. However, there are no current studies monitoring changes in gene expression during this altered phenotype in infected larvae. The L. dispar multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus(Ld MNPV) induces hyperactivity in third instar L. dispar larvae at 3-days post infection(dpi), to continued till 6 dpi. The transcriptome profiles of the infected and uninfected larvae at these time points were analyzed to provide new clues on the response of the larvae towards infection during hyperactivity. Gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed, most of the differentially expressed genes(DEGs) were involved in proteolysis, extracellular region, and serine-type endopeptidase activity. Similarly, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome enrichment analysis showed maximum enrichment of 487 genes of the signal transduction category and neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction sub-category with 85 annotated genes. In addition, enrichment map visualization of gene set enrichment analysis showed the coordinated response of neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction genes with other functional gene sets, as an important signal transduction mechanism during the hyperactive stage. Interestingly all the DEGs in neuroactive ligand–receptor interactions were serine proteases, their differential expression during the hyperactive stage correlated with their conceivable involvement in disease progression and the resulting altered phenotype during this period. The outcome provides a basic understanding of L. dispar larval responses to Ld MNPV infection during the hyperactive stage and helps to determine the important host factors involved in this process.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Both Enantiomers of Disparlure

Starting from propargyl alcohol （12）, and on the basis of Zhou＇s modified Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, the sex pheromone of the Gypsy moth, disparlure （＋）-8 and its enantiomer （-）-8 have been synthesized, each in six steps, with overall yields of 29% for （＋）-8 and 27% for （-）-8 （ee〉98%）. The use of the sequential coupling tactic renders the method flexible, which is applicable to the synthesis of other cis-epoxy pheromones.