CABI

About: CABI is a nonprofit organization based out in Wallingford, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Introduced species. The organization has 789 authors who have published 1759 publications receiving 73843 citations. The organization is also known as: Centre for Biosciences and Agriculture International.

Two New Lichenicolous Species of Hobsonia

Abstract: The genus Hobsonia was first described by Massee (1891) for H. gigaspora, a species on bamboo from Venezuela in Berkeley's herbarium at Kew. The conidia arise from a gelatinous sporodochium, and consist of a helically coiled multicellular filament. Linder (1929) synonymized H. ackermannii Patouillard (1902) with H. gigaspora, and transferred Helicomyces mirabilis Peck into Hobsonia. Martin (1959) concluded, however, that the genus was monotypic; the correct name for the type and only species is H. mirabilis (Peck) Linder. This contribution reports on two undescribed lichenicolous fungi which are congeneric with collections of Hobsonia mirabilis we have examined [H. gigaspora, Venezuela, on Bambusa, Herb. Berk. 1879 (K) HOLOTYPE; Helicomyces mirabilis, on Zea mays, Dudley, Herb. M. C. Cooke 1885 (K), authentic specimen; Hobsonia ackermannii, Guadeloupe, on dead wood (FH) HOLOTYPE; H. mirabilis, Hawaii, on petiole of Brassia, 27 Oct. 1969, R. Goos H-369 (IMI 299481)]. No fungi with coiled conidia have previously been recognized growing on lichens.

Establishment of wildflower fields in poor quality landscapes enhances micro-parasite prevalence in wild bumble bees

Abstract: The current worldwide pollinator decline is caused by the interplay of different drivers. Several strategies have been undertaken to counteract or halt this decline, one of which is the implementation of wildflower fields. These supplementary flowers provide extra food resources and have proven their success in increasing pollinator biodiversity and abundance. Yet such landscape alterations could also alter the host–pathogen dynamics of pollinators, which could affect the populations. In this study, we investigated the influence of sown wildflower fields on the prevalence of micro-parasites and viruses in the wild bumble bee Bombus pascuorum, one of the most abundant bumble bee species in Europe and the Netherlands. We found that the effect of sown wildflower fields on micro-parasite prevalence is affected by the composition of the surrounding landscape and the size of the flower field. The prevalence of micro-parasites increases with increasing size of sown wildflower fields in landscapes with few semi-natural landscape elements. This effect was not observed in landscapes with a high amount of semi-natural landscape elements. We elaborate on two mechanisms which can support these findings: (1) “transmission hot spots” within the altered flower-networks, which could negatively impact hosts experiencing an increased exposure; (2) improved tolerance of the hosts, withstanding higher parasite populations.

Host tracking or cryptic adaptation? Phylogeography of Pediobius saulius (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), a parasitoid of the highly invasive horse-chestnut leafminer

Abstract: Classical biological control is often advocated as a tool for managing invasive species. However, accurate evaluations of parasitoid species complexes and assessment of host specificity are impeded by the lack of morphological variation. Here, we study the possibility of host races/species within the eulophid wasp Pediobius saulius, a pupal generalist parasitoid that parasitize the highly invasive horse-chestnut leaf-mining moth Cameraria ohridella. We analysed the population genetic structure, host associations and phylogeographic patterns of P. saulius in Europe using the COI mitochondrial gene. This marker strongly supports a division into at least five highly differentiated parasitoid complexes, within two of which clades with differing degrees of host specialization were found: a Balkan clade that mainly (but not only) attacks C. ohridella and a more generalist European group that attacks many hosts, including C. ohridella. The divergence in COI (up to 7.6%) suggests the existence of cryptic species, although this is neither confirmed by nuclear divergence nor morphology. We do not find evidence of host tracking. The higher parasitism rates observed in the Balkans and the scarcity of the Balkan–Cameraria haplotypes out of the Balkans open the possibility of using these Balkan haplotypes as biological control agents of C. ohridella elsewhere in Europe.

Special issue on the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys: an emerging pest of global concern

Abstract: The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), has emerged as a very damaging invasive insect pest in North America and Europe in the 1990s and 2000s, respectively. Native to eastern Asia, this highly polyphagous pentatomid ([120 different host plants) is spreading rapidly worldwide, notably through human-mediated activities (Haye et al. 2015a). Damage is caused by feeding of the adults and nymphs on fruits, buds, leaves and stems of their host plants (Fig. 1), which include many economically important field and tree crops, vegetables, ornamentals, herbaceous perennials, shrubs and forest trees (Lee et al. 2013). In the mid-Atlantic region of the USA, H. halys has become one of the most significant pests in apple production, causing [$37 million in losses in 2010 (United States Apple Association 2010). In recently invaded areas in Europe and Eurasia, including northern Italy and western Georgia, severe damage has been observed especially in pear and hazelnut orchards. The development of large pest populations outside its native range has recently generated secondary invasions within Europe and North America, accelerating the global spread of this insect (Gariepy et al. 2013, 2015), most recently to Chile (Faúndez and Rider 2017). Aside from being a severe agricultural and horticultural pest, BMSB has become well known as a nuisance pest, as adults often invade human-made structures to overwinter inside protected environments (Inkley 2012). In 2014, Journal of Pest Science published the first papers on the biology, genetic diversity and pathways of this invasive insect in Europe (Gariepy et al. 2013; Haye et al. 2014), followed by a series of papers on its flight capacity, the response of European parasitoids to the invader, new introductions in Europe, and the development of attract-and-kill strategies (Cesari et al. 2015; Gariepy et al. 2015; Haye et al. 2015b; Wiman et al. 2015; Martinson et al. 2015; Morrison et al. 2016). Haye et al. (2015a) called attention to the increasing economic threat to field, fruit and vegetable crops worldwide, suggesting that more coordinated actions are needed to slow its spread and mitigate negative effects in invaded areas. Here, in this special issue, three review articles summarize the current knowledge on the discoveries and applications in chemical ecology of H. halys (Weber et al. 2017), the chemical control options in the USA (Kuhar and Kamminga 2017) and biological control by native parasitoids and predators (Abram et al. 2017). The 23 original research articles by scientists from Europe, China, Australia, New Zealand and North America report new insights into the potential global distribution, bug response to semiochemicals and vibrational signals, interaction with microbial symbionts, behavioral and population response of natural enemies, management using pesticides, including organic materials, as well as trap crops, monitoring, and development of action thresholds for pest populations. We thank numerous experts on H. halys around the world for their contributions. All manuscripts submitted were processed through the peer-reviewed system of the journal, and we are very grateful to the volunteer reviewers who very much helped the editors in selecting and refining the best contributions, which now populate this special issue on the brown marmorated stink bug: an emerging pest of global concern. & Tim Haye t.haye@cabi.org