A new wheat viral disease was found in China. Bullet-shaped viral particles within the nucleus of the infected wheat leave cells, which possessed 180-210 nm length and 35-40 nm width, were observed under transmission electron microscopy. A putative wheat-infecting rhabdovirus vectored by the leafhopper Psammotettix alienus was identified and tentatively named wheat yellow striate virus (WYSV). ...

The new genus Barrerablissus and the new species B. strigosus are described from Napo Province, Ecuador. A key to the known genera of the Western Hemisphere Blissidae with apterous or micropterous condition is included. Dorsal and ventral view and digital photographs of head, pronotum, scutellum, metathoracic scent gland auricle and male genital capsule are added.

OBJECTIVES To compare cancer mortality rates in Amazon cantons (counties) with and without long-term oil exploration and extraction activities. METHODS Mortality (1990 through 2005) and population census (1990 and 2001) data for cantons in the provinces of the northern Amazon Region (Napo, Orellana, Sucumbios, and Pastaza), as well as the province with the capital city of Quito (Pichincha pro...

Phytophagous insects can encounter Salmonella enterica on contaminated plant surfaces and transmit externally adhered and internalized bacteria on and among leaves. Excretion of ingested S. enterica by the leafhopper Macrosteles quadrilineatus has been previously reported; however, the sites of persistence of ingested bacteria remain undetermined. Fluorescence microscopy revealed the presence a...

BACKGROUND Driven by accelerating transformation of land use in the Amazon, studies addressing the impacts of deforestation and mercury (Hg) leaching on the geophysical, biological, social, health, economic and political systems of Amazonian countries are crucial to evaluate the population health risks of these rapid changes. METHODS We used an ecosystem approach, integrating Hg measurements ...

BACKGROUND Leafhoppers (HEmiptera: Cicadellidae) are plant-phloem feeders that are known for their ability to vector plant pathogens. The black-faced leafhopper (Graminella nigrifrons) has been identified as the only known vector for the Maize fine streak virus (MFSV), an emerging plant pathogen in the Rhabdoviridae. Within G. nigrifrons populations, individuals can be experimentally separated ...

The insect-transmissible strain GII-3 of Spiroplasma citri contains plasmids pSci1-6, five of which (pSci1-5) encode adhesin-like proteins and one (pSci6) encodes protein P32, which has been associated with insect transmissibility. In contrast, S. citri strains ASP-1 and 44, which cannot be transmitted via injection into the leafhopper vector Circulifer haematoceps, lack these proteins and also...

Rain and dew droplets can dislodge or drown small insects and may be important factors that drive adaptations for avoidance and escape. Studying the microstructure of small insects and insect behaviour can help understand these adaptations. We quantified avoidance behaviour and entrapment of nymphs and adults of the tea green leafhopper (Empoasca onukii) using simulated rainfall onto host plant...

Plant reoviruses are known to exploit virion-packaging tubules formed by virus-encoding non-structural proteins for viral spread in insect vectors. Tubules are propelled by actin-based tubule motility (ABTM) to overcome membrane or tissue barriers in insect vectors. To further understand which insect factors mediate ABTM, we utilized yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation...

The rice cultivar ASD7 (Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica) is resistant to the brown planthopper (BPH; Nilaparvata lugens Stål) and the green leafhopper (Nephotettix virescens Distant). Here, we analyzed multiple genetic resistance to BPH and the green rice leafhopper (GRH; Nephotettix cincticeps Uhler). Using two independent F2 populations derived from a cross between ASD7 and Taichung 65 (Oryza sat...