Phenotypic heterogeneity in microbial communities enables genetically identical organisms to behave differently even under the same environmental conditions. Photorhabdus luminescens, a bioluminescent Gram-negative bacterium, contains a complex life cycle, which involves a symbiotic interaction with nematodes as well as a pathogenic association with insect larvae. P. luminescens exists in two d...

Small scale distribution of insect root herbivores may promote plant species diversity by creating patches of different herbivore pressure. However, determinants of small scale distribution of insect root herbivores, and impact of land use intensity on their small scale distribution are largely unknown. We sampled insect root herbivores and measured vegetation parameters and soil water content ...

Aiming to characterize the potential off-target effects of fluazuron on ticks, biochemical analyses were conducted to evaluate changes in the carbohydrate metabolism of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks after exposure to fluazuron. Hemolymph and fat body were collected from female ticks before and after (4, 8 and 15 days) exposure to fluazuron. Spectrophotometric analyses were done to q...

Pseudomonas protegens is a biocontrol rhizobacterium with a plant-beneficial and an insect pathogenic lifestyle, but it is not understood how the organism switches between the two states. Here, we focus on understanding the function and possible evolution of a molecular sensor that enables P. protegens to detect the insect environment and produce a potent insecticidal toxin specifically during ...

Mosquito control evaluations of the granular formulation of 0.5% pyriproxyfen were undertaken in marshes and a pond in Busan during the period of July through September, 2001. In marsh condition where Culex pipiens pallens were predominantly breeding, the treatment of pyriproxyfen produced over an average of 95% mosquito larval reduction at a concentration of 0.05 mg/l for the first 4 weeks in ...

The inhibitory function of Dimilin (Diflubenzuron), mostly a chitin synthesis regulator, on the ecdysis of mosquitoes (Anopheles gambiae s.l., Culex quinquefasciatus) and housefly was evaluated in the field and in laboratory. Three formulations of Diflubenzuron were evaluated in this study: Dimilin, Wettable powder (25%), Dimilin granules (2%), and Dimilin tablets (2%). The laboratory and field...

The granular formulation of 0.5% pyriproxyfen was evaluated for inhibition of emergence of Aedes togoi in brackish water of rock pools near a coastal area in Pusan, South Korea. Complete adult emergence inhibition in 4th-stage larval and pupal isolations was affected from 5-40 days at 0.05 mg/l after treatment. Most inhibition rates were over 80% throughout the test period at all test concentra...

Sensitive and selective enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in the immobilized antigen format were developed for fenoxycarb (1), an insect growth regulator (IGR). The parent molecule [ethyl 2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)ethylcarbamate] was derivatized at several positions to obtain haptens (2-5) that were used to produce protein conjugates and rabbit polyclonal antisera. Amino derivatives of feno...