The hardwood of Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (brazilwood, Pernambuco, ibirapitanga) is currently the most profitable material used for violin bow due to the unique vibrational properties and dimensional stability. Although this species is resistant to the wood decay caused by termites and rot fungi, an experimental plantation in Southeastern Brazil has been attacked by the ambrosia beetle Platypus...

The generalist feeding strategy of larvae of the western tree hole mosquito, Aedes sierrensis, is central to understanding the community-level effects of the tritrophic interactions among mosquito larvae, midsized organisms (such as protozoa), and lowerlevel organisms (such as bacteria and fungi) in west coast phytotelmata. Laboratory microcosm experiments were conducted to characterize the fee...

Entomopathogenic ascomycete fungi are ubiquitous in soil and on phylloplanes, and are important natural enemies of many soil-borne arthropods including larval western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, which is a major pest of corn. We measured the prevalence of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato in ten cornfields in Iowa, USA by baiting with larval insects. B....

The fungus Lecanicillium is belonging to the order Hypocreales and is described as anamorphic Cordycipitaceae. This genus is known by its ability to infect other species of fungi such as Agaricus spp., Sphaerotheca spp. [1], Puccinia spp. [2]...etc. On the other hand, it was recorded as entomopathogenic fungus as it can parasitize some species of insects like Mosquito larvae [3]&[4] Bombyx mori...

In vitro tests were carried out to verify the activity of 26 Brazilian isolates of predatory fungi of the genus Arthrobotrys on a free-living nematode (Panagrellus sp.) and on infective larvae of Cooperia punctata, a parasitic gastrointestinal nematode of cattle. The results showed that the free-living nematode Panagrellus sp. was the most preyed upon, compared to C. punctata, for all the funga...

We report here on terahertz (THz) digital holography on a biological specimen. A continuous-wave (CW) THz in-line holographic setup was built based on a 2.52 THz CO(2) pumped THz laser and a pyroelectric array detector. We introduced novel statistical method of obtaining true intensity values for the pyroelectric array detector's pixels. Absorption and phase-shifting images of a dragonfly's hin...

Paenibacillus larvae is a Gram-positive bacterium that causes American foulbrood, an important disease in apiculture. We report the first complete genome sequence of a P. larvae phage, phiIBB_Pl23, isolated from a hive in northern Portugal. This phage belongs to the family Siphoviridae.

We present here the complete genome sequences of nine phages that infect Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood disease in honeybees. The phages were isolated from soil, propolis, and infected bees from three U.S. states. This is the largest number of P. larvae phage genomes sequenced in a single publication to date.

Feed security, feed quality and issues surrounding the safety of raw materials are always of interest to all livestock farmers, feed manufacturers and competent authorities. These concerns are even more important when alternative feed ingredients, new product developments and innovative feeding trends, like insect-meals, are considered. The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is considered a ...

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are cosmopolitan soil borne pathogens that cause epizootics in various insect orders. EPF isolates of Metarhizium brunneum and M. pinghaense have shown the potential for use as biological agents important agricultural pests. The aim current study was to test persistence on apple bark over a period three weeks, under laboratory conditions. Apple sprayed with conidial...