Journal of Applied Entomologist

Utilizing metagenomics and metabarcoding for assessing the diversity and abundance of entomopathogenic fungi in soil ecosystems

Michelle S Guerrero — 2023-07-10

Entomopathogenic fungi play a crucial role in natural pest control and have received significant attention in the field of biological control. The application of metabarcoding and metagenomic techniques has revolutionized the study of microbial communities in various ecosystems by identifying and characterizing many microorganisms at once. These methods improve soil fungal community assessments for entomopathogenic fungi. These studies require fungal DNA extraction from complex environmental samples like soil. These methods improve soil fungal community assessments for entomopathogenic fungi. These studies require fungal DNA extraction from complex environmental samples like soil. Bead-beating, chemical extraction, and commercial kits extract fungal DNA while minimizing environmental DNA contamination. Shotgun sequencing for metagenomics can sequence all genetic material in a sample without targeting specific genes. This method shows the microbial community, including entomopathogenic fungi. Metagenomic data can reveal the soil microbiome's functional potential and interactions. Shotgun sequencing and ITS barcoding for fungal metabarcoding are popular. The ITS region of the fungal genome is variable, making it a good marker for species identification. Researchers can assess soil entomopathogenic fungi diversity and abundance by amplifying and sequencing the ITS region. In this review, the utility of these approaches for the identification and characterization of entomopathogenic fungi in soil samples was assessed. This review focused on the extraction of soil DNA, shotgun sequencing for metagenomics, and the use of Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) as a barcode for fungal metabarcoding. Insights into the potential applications and future directions in the study of entomopathogenic fungi were given. These insights were provided by highlighting the benefits and limitations of these methodologies.

Biological control of mosquito larvae using aquatic insect, Diplonychus sp

Joydeep Das — 2023-07-18

For dipteran larvae, water bugs are voracious feeders. The predatory activities of such aquatic insects, as well as those of their vertebrate and invertebrate predators, may have a strong influence on the evolution of aquatic insect communities. Predator – prey relations also impact on reproduction, feeding, abiotic adaptation and defense, which are the four basic survival and sustainability requirements of animals. Diplonychus rusticus is an insect native to the India, Australia, and Philippines, commonly known as "water bug." It lives in shallow waters and feeds on aquatic insects, including mosquito larvae. Water bugs could be an effective biological control agent for dengue-carrying mosquitoes in a study conducted by Dr. Pio Javier of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños Laguna, Philippines. He found that water bug can consume 86-99 full-grown mosquito larvae per day, is tolerable for chlorinated water, and can reproduce easily. As a result, water bugs can be distributed to all mosquito habitats, such as used tires, water containers and other mosquito breeding sites.

European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychi-dae) and its management by using Horticulture mineral oils (HMOs) in apple orchards of Kashmir

Muneer Ahmad — 2023-07-24

The European red spider mite, Panonychus ulmi, is a major pest in almost all fruit growing regions of the world and affects the fruit production in Kashmir if not controlled early. The aim of the study was to find the effect of Bal spray oil Horticultural mineral oil (HMO) for its bio efficacy, phytotoxicity and effect on natural enemies against European red mite Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Acari; Tetranychidae) on apple orchards variety red delicious at two locations in Kashmir during the year 2014 and 2015. Hindustan Petroleum (HMO) was used as standard check for conducting the experiment. Both the mineral oils were sprayed during dormant and summer seasons to suppress different stages of the pests. Different concentrations of oil were sprayed viz., 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 % during dormant season. All the concentrations significantly reduced the insect pest populations over the standard check. The HMO Balspray resulted in highest mean mortality of (80.84%) at 2.5% followed by 77.46% mean mortality at 2.0% and at 1.0% concentration the molecule recorded mean mortality of (67.00%). Two parasitoids (Amblyseius fallacis coccinellids), were found associated with the infested orchard with European red mite (ERM).

Winter packings in honey bees (Apis cerana) to reduce winter mortality in Kashmir Himalayas

Muneer Ahmad — 2023-07-28

Bees provide a range of ecosystem services that contribute to the wellbeing of people whilst maintaining the planet’s life support systems by pollination services. It is very important to save this creature by caring its health. A colony of honey bees (Apis cerana) does not hibernate in winter. The bees form cluster, clinging tightly together on the combs of hive. They employ fairly sophisticated thermal management strategies to prepare the nest and protect the colony from freezing. However, the precise nature of the cluster, its response to external temperature and ability to survive extreme cold for extended periods in chilly winter in Kashmir was studied in this programme. the activity of honey bees in harsh winter in Kashmir valley especially the 40 days which starts from 20^th December to January 30^th which cause winter mortality in bees. Colony winter mortality varied considerably in different regions of the state. Survey conducted during2015-2020 revealed that 72.55 percent farmers used gunny bags as packing material while as 26.93 percent use rice straw. Our study shows highest 80.00percent survivability of bees with using packing combination of Paper Rice straw gunny bags. The economics of migratory and non-migratory honey bees were worked out in our study Programme.