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Michael Traugott - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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ORIGINAL PAPER Occurrence of Agriotes wireworms in Austrian agricultural land
2016Co-Authors: Karin Staudacher, Nikolaus Schallhart, Peter Pitterl, Bernhard Kromp, Johann Glauninger, Michael TraugottAbstract:are abundant soil-dwelling herbivores which can inflict considerable damage to field crops. In Europe up to 40 species occur, differing in their ecology and pest status. Their distribution in the larval stage, however, has rarely been assessed because of the considerable effort in collect-ing wireworms and the difficulties in identifying them to species-level. Here, we examined the occurrence of Agriotes wireworms in Austrian agricultural land with regard to their association with climatic and soil parameters. Using a molecular identification system, 1348 field-collected larvae from 85 sites were identified to species-level. Three species, Agriotes obscurus, Agriotes brevis, Agriotes ustulatus, and two that could not be discerned molecularly (Agriotes line-atus and Agriotes proximus), were assigned to two ecolog-ical groups: (i) A. brevis/A. ustulatus, found in areas with a warmer, drier climate and alkaline soils, and (ii) A. obscurus/ A. lineatus/proximus which occur mainly at higher altitude characterised by lower temperatures, higher precipitation and acidic, humus-rich soils. Agriotes sputator was abun-dant throughout Austria, confirming its euryoecious nature. Only one larva of Agriotes litigiosus was found, prohibiting further analysis. These data contribute to a characterisation of species-specific traits in Agriotes larvae in agricultural land, an important prerequisite to develop efficient control strategies for these wireworms
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raw data Wallinger et al MER-12-0242
2016Co-Authors: Corinna Wallinger, Karin Staudacher, Nikolaus Schallhart, Eva Peter, Phillipp Dresch, A Juen, Michael TraugottAbstract:Molecular detection rates of different Agriotes larvae feeding on different plant species - feeding experiments with fresh plants and decaying tissu
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Appendix B. Densities of Agriotes larvae in maize rows and inter-crop strips in the three different cropping treatments in August and September 2009.
2016Co-Authors: Karin Staudacher, Nikolaus Schallhart, Corinna Wallinger, Anita Juen, Bettina Thalinger, Michael TraugottAbstract:Densities of Agriotes larvae in maize rows and inter-crop strips in the three different cropping treatments in August and September 2009
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Appendix A. Screening results (molecular gut content and stable isotope analysis) of Agriotes larvae collected in the three different cropping treatments in August and September 2009.
2016Co-Authors: Karin Staudacher, Nikolaus Schallhart, Corinna Wallinger, Anita Juen, Bettina Thalinger, Michael TraugottAbstract:Screening results (molecular gut content and stable isotope analysis) of Agriotes larvae collected in the three different cropping treatments in August and September 2009
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Appendix A. Tables and figures displaying the original isotopic signature of every single Agriotes larva analyzed in the experiment. Separate figures are provided for every plant–labeling combination.
2016Co-Authors: Nikolaus Schallhart, Karin Staudacher, Corinna Wallinger, Manuel Josef Tusch, Michael TraugottAbstract:Tables and figures displaying the original isotopic signature of every single Agriotes larva analyzed in the experiment. Separate figures are provided for every plant–labeling combination
Renata Bazok - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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linking climate change and insect pest distribution an example using Agriotes ustulatus shall coleoptera elateridae
Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 2018Co-Authors: Maja Cacija, Antonela Kozina, Jasminka Igrc Barcic, Renata BazokAbstract:Agriotes ustulatus (Schaller, 1873) (Coleoptera: Elateridae) is an economically important agricultural pest. Recently, changes in the distribution and abundance of this species in Croatia have been established. The present study aimed: (i) to determine the abundance and dominance of A. ustulatus in four regions in Croatia; (ii) to test the effect of temperature and rainfall on dominance and distribution; and (iii) to determine the flight activity of the A. ustulatus adults (peak and swarming period). From 2001 until 2010, five Agriotes species were captured by pheromone traps placed in 17 fields within four counties. Differences in air temperature and rainfall were determined between regions. The highest dominance of A. ustulatus was recorded in the warmest eastern county and the species was classified as eudominant. High dominance was also observed in the western county, confirming that A. ustulatus occurs in higher population in this area. Species was subdominant where the mean air temperature was the lowest. The increase in dominance in the west could be explained by the significant positive correlation found between air temperature and dominance. The seasonal activity of the adults was from June to mid-August, with peak flight at the end of June.
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Climatic, Edaphic Factors and Cropping History Help Predict Click Beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) (Agriotes spp.) Abundance
Journal of insect science (Online), 2015Co-Authors: Antonela Kozina, Darija Lemić, Renata Bazok, Katarina M. Mikac, Christopher M. Mclean, Marija Ivezić, J. Igrc BarcicAbstract:It is assumed that the abundance of Agriotes wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) is affected by agro-ecological factors such as climatic and edaphic factors and the crop/previous crop grown at the sites investigated. The aim of this study, conducted in three different geographic counties in Croatia from 2007 to 2009, was to determine the factors that influence the abundance of adult click beetle of the species Agriotes brevis Cand., Agriotes lineatus (L.), Agriotes obscurus (L.), Agriotes sputator (L.), and Agriotes ustulatus Schall. The mean annual air temperature, total rainfall, percentage of coarse and fine sand, coarse and fine silt and clay, the soil pH, and humus were investigated as potential factors that may influence abundance. Adult click beetle emergence was monitored using sex pheromone traps (YATLORf and VARb3). Exploratory data analysis was preformed via regression tree models and regional differences in Agriotes species' abundance were predicted based on the agro-ecological factors measured. It was found that the best overall predictor of A. brevis abundance was the previous crop grown. Conversely, the best predictor of A. lineatus abundance was the current crop being grown and the percentage of humus. The best predictor of A. obscurus abundance was soil pH in KCl. The best predictor of A. sputator abundance was rainfall. Finally, the best predictors of A. ustulatus abundance were soil pH in KCl and humus. These results may be useful in regional pest control programs or for predicting future outbreaks of these species.
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Ecomorphological variation of the wireworm cephalic capsule: studying the interaction of environment and geometric shape.
PloS one, 2014Co-Authors: Hugo A. Benítez, Antonela Kozina, Darija Lemić, Maja Čačija, Thomas A. Püschel, Renata BazokAbstract:Studying the association between organismal morphology and environmental conditions has been very useful to test hypothesis regarding the influence of climate on shape. It has been long recognized that different environments produce dissimilar stress levels in insects, which can be reflected on the ability of an individual to overcome these pressures and spread further. Agriotes (Coleoptera: Elateridae) species infest agricultural fields in different parts of Croatia, inhabiting different climatic conditions. Previous biological studies have indicated that there is a relationship between some Agriotes biological parameters such as density and climatic conditions such as soil moisture and temperature. However, it is still unknown how these environmental properties influence the wireworm morphological structure. This is highly relevant because the head of this species is directly involved in the mobility in the soil, thus affecting the invasive capacity of this insect. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess the association between different climatic conditions and the morphological variation of Agriotes cephalic capsule. Advanced multivariate analysis and geometric morphometric tool were applied to study the covariation between shape and environmental variables. Partial Least Squares methods were used in order to analyse the association between the wireworm head shape and three different climatic conditions: soil type, temperature and rainfall. Our results showed that there is a high covariation between the wireworm head shape and the climatic conditions. It was suggested that the observed shape–environment association could be result of the high plasticity of this species in relation to its invasive capacity.
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Influence of climatic conditions on the distribution, abundance and activity of Agriotes lineatus L. adults in sex pheromone traps in Croatia
International Journal of Biometeorology, 2013Co-Authors: Antonela Kozina, Maja Čačija, Jasminka Igrc Barčić, Renata BazokAbstract:The aims of this work were: (i) to determine the distribution and abundance of Agriotes lineatus , (ii) correlate the abundance with the prevailing climatic conditions to establish how temperature and rainfall are influencing the dominance, and (iii) to determine the activity characteristics of the adults. Investigations were conducted in 17 fields grouped in four regions characterized by different climatic conditions. Using sex pheromone traps the most important Agriotes species ( A. lineatus L., A. sputator L., A. obscurus L., A. brevis Cand. and A. ustulatus Schall.) were collected. The monitoring period for A. brevis , A. sputator , A. lineatus and A. obscurus was from the 18th to the 32nd, and for A. ustulatus from the 23rd to the 32nd week of the year. A total of 61,247 individuals Agriotes were captured, of which 24,916 individuals were A. lineatus . Abundance and dominance of A. lineatus were significantly higher in the region of Zagreb compared to other regions. Moving east, rainfall decreased and temperatures increased and associated with that the abundance and dominance indices were lower. It was determined that the abundance of A. lineatus was negatively correlated with average air temperature ( r = −0.5201; p
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Influence of climatic conditions on the distribution, abundance and activity of Agriotes lineatus L. adults in sex pheromone traps in Croatia
International journal of biometeorology, 2012Co-Authors: Antonela Kozina, Maja Čačija, Jasminka Igrc Barčić, Renata BazokAbstract:The aims of this work were: (i) to determine the distribution and abundance of Agriotes lineatus, (ii) correlate the abundance with the prevailing climatic conditions to establish how temperature and rainfall are influencing the dominance, and (iii) to determine the activity characteristics of the adults. Investigations were conducted in 17 fields grouped in four regions characterized by different climatic conditions. Using sex pheromone traps the most important Agriotes species (A. lineatus L., A. sputator L., A. obscurus L., A. brevis Cand. and A. ustulatus Schall.) were collected. The monitoring period for A. brevis, A. sputator, A. lineatus and A. obscurus was from the 18th to the 32nd, and for A. ustulatus from the 23rd to the 32nd week of the year. A total of 61,247 individuals Agriotes were captured, of which 24,916 individuals were A. lineatus. Abundance and dominance of A. lineatus were significantly higher in the region of Zagreb compared to other regions. Moving east, rainfall decreased and temperatures increased and associated with that the abundance and dominance indices were lower. It was determined that the abundance of A. lineatus was negatively correlated with average air temperature (r = −0.5201; p < 0.0001). Compared to earlier data from the region of Zagreb the dominance index decreased. This might be a result of climate change as established average yearly temperature in these regions increased for 1.04 °C compared to the average data for the period 1961–1990. Other potentially damaging Agriotes species (A. brevis and A. ustulatus) were also present in high abundances in some micro-regions.
Antonela Kozina - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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linking climate change and insect pest distribution an example using Agriotes ustulatus shall coleoptera elateridae
Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 2018Co-Authors: Maja Cacija, Antonela Kozina, Jasminka Igrc Barcic, Renata BazokAbstract:Agriotes ustulatus (Schaller, 1873) (Coleoptera: Elateridae) is an economically important agricultural pest. Recently, changes in the distribution and abundance of this species in Croatia have been established. The present study aimed: (i) to determine the abundance and dominance of A. ustulatus in four regions in Croatia; (ii) to test the effect of temperature and rainfall on dominance and distribution; and (iii) to determine the flight activity of the A. ustulatus adults (peak and swarming period). From 2001 until 2010, five Agriotes species were captured by pheromone traps placed in 17 fields within four counties. Differences in air temperature and rainfall were determined between regions. The highest dominance of A. ustulatus was recorded in the warmest eastern county and the species was classified as eudominant. High dominance was also observed in the western county, confirming that A. ustulatus occurs in higher population in this area. Species was subdominant where the mean air temperature was the lowest. The increase in dominance in the west could be explained by the significant positive correlation found between air temperature and dominance. The seasonal activity of the adults was from June to mid-August, with peak flight at the end of June.
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Ecomorphological Variation of the Wireworm Cephalic Capsule: Studying the Interaction of Environment and Geometric Shape
2015Co-Authors: Hugo A. Benı́tez, Darija Lemic, Antonela KozinaAbstract:Studying the association between organismal morphology and environmental conditions has been very useful to test hypothesis regarding the influence of climate on shape. It has been long recognized that different environments produce dissimilar stress levels in insects, which can be reflected on the ability of an individual to overcome these pressures and spread further. Agriotes (Coleoptera: Elateridae) species infest agricultural fields in different parts of Croatia, inhabiting different climatic conditions. Previous biological studies have indicated that there is a relationship between some Agriotes biological parameters such as density and climatic conditions such as soil moisture and temperature. However, it is still unknown how these environmental properties influence the wireworm morphological structure. This is highly relevant because the head of this species is directly involved in the mobility in the soil, thus affecting the invasive capacity of this insect. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess the association between different climatic conditions and the morphological variation of Agriotes cephalic capsule. Advanced multivariate analysis and geometric morphometric tool were applied to study the covariation between shape and environmental variables. Partial Least Squares methods were used in order to analyse the association between the wireworm head shape and three different climatic conditions: soil type, temperature and rainfall. Our results showed that there is a high covariation between the wireworm head shape and the climatic conditions. It was suggested that the observed shape–environment association could be result of the hig
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Climatic, Edaphic Factors and Cropping History Help Predict Click Beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) (Agriotes spp.) Abundance
Journal of insect science (Online), 2015Co-Authors: Antonela Kozina, Darija Lemić, Renata Bazok, Katarina M. Mikac, Christopher M. Mclean, Marija Ivezić, J. Igrc BarcicAbstract:It is assumed that the abundance of Agriotes wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) is affected by agro-ecological factors such as climatic and edaphic factors and the crop/previous crop grown at the sites investigated. The aim of this study, conducted in three different geographic counties in Croatia from 2007 to 2009, was to determine the factors that influence the abundance of adult click beetle of the species Agriotes brevis Cand., Agriotes lineatus (L.), Agriotes obscurus (L.), Agriotes sputator (L.), and Agriotes ustulatus Schall. The mean annual air temperature, total rainfall, percentage of coarse and fine sand, coarse and fine silt and clay, the soil pH, and humus were investigated as potential factors that may influence abundance. Adult click beetle emergence was monitored using sex pheromone traps (YATLORf and VARb3). Exploratory data analysis was preformed via regression tree models and regional differences in Agriotes species' abundance were predicted based on the agro-ecological factors measured. It was found that the best overall predictor of A. brevis abundance was the previous crop grown. Conversely, the best predictor of A. lineatus abundance was the current crop being grown and the percentage of humus. The best predictor of A. obscurus abundance was soil pH in KCl. The best predictor of A. sputator abundance was rainfall. Finally, the best predictors of A. ustulatus abundance were soil pH in KCl and humus. These results may be useful in regional pest control programs or for predicting future outbreaks of these species.
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Ecomorphological variation of the wireworm cephalic capsule: studying the interaction of environment and geometric shape.
PloS one, 2014Co-Authors: Hugo A. Benítez, Antonela Kozina, Darija Lemić, Maja Čačija, Thomas A. Püschel, Renata BazokAbstract:Studying the association between organismal morphology and environmental conditions has been very useful to test hypothesis regarding the influence of climate on shape. It has been long recognized that different environments produce dissimilar stress levels in insects, which can be reflected on the ability of an individual to overcome these pressures and spread further. Agriotes (Coleoptera: Elateridae) species infest agricultural fields in different parts of Croatia, inhabiting different climatic conditions. Previous biological studies have indicated that there is a relationship between some Agriotes biological parameters such as density and climatic conditions such as soil moisture and temperature. However, it is still unknown how these environmental properties influence the wireworm morphological structure. This is highly relevant because the head of this species is directly involved in the mobility in the soil, thus affecting the invasive capacity of this insect. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess the association between different climatic conditions and the morphological variation of Agriotes cephalic capsule. Advanced multivariate analysis and geometric morphometric tool were applied to study the covariation between shape and environmental variables. Partial Least Squares methods were used in order to analyse the association between the wireworm head shape and three different climatic conditions: soil type, temperature and rainfall. Our results showed that there is a high covariation between the wireworm head shape and the climatic conditions. It was suggested that the observed shape–environment association could be result of the high plasticity of this species in relation to its invasive capacity.
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Influence of climatic conditions on the distribution, abundance and activity of Agriotes lineatus L. adults in sex pheromone traps in Croatia
International Journal of Biometeorology, 2013Co-Authors: Antonela Kozina, Maja Čačija, Jasminka Igrc Barčić, Renata BazokAbstract:The aims of this work were: (i) to determine the distribution and abundance of Agriotes lineatus , (ii) correlate the abundance with the prevailing climatic conditions to establish how temperature and rainfall are influencing the dominance, and (iii) to determine the activity characteristics of the adults. Investigations were conducted in 17 fields grouped in four regions characterized by different climatic conditions. Using sex pheromone traps the most important Agriotes species ( A. lineatus L., A. sputator L., A. obscurus L., A. brevis Cand. and A. ustulatus Schall.) were collected. The monitoring period for A. brevis , A. sputator , A. lineatus and A. obscurus was from the 18th to the 32nd, and for A. ustulatus from the 23rd to the 32nd week of the year. A total of 61,247 individuals Agriotes were captured, of which 24,916 individuals were A. lineatus . Abundance and dominance of A. lineatus were significantly higher in the region of Zagreb compared to other regions. Moving east, rainfall decreased and temperatures increased and associated with that the abundance and dominance indices were lower. It was determined that the abundance of A. lineatus was negatively correlated with average air temperature ( r = −0.5201; p
Lorenzo Furlan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Female Responses to Synthetic Pheromone and Plant Compounds in Agriotes brevis Candeze (Coleoptera: Elateridae)
Journal of Insect Behavior, 2018Co-Authors: József Vuts, Lorenzo Furlan, Miklos TothAbstract:Traps baited with synthetic pheromone components of Agriotes brevis [geranyl butanoate + ( E,E )-farnesyl butanoate] captured significantly higher numbers of not only male, but also female beetles, compared to unbaited controls. Catches of both sexes showed a clear positive relationship with increasing doses. In electroantennogram tests, antennal responses of females and males to a number of known Agriotes pheromone components, identified from pheromone glands, showed a similar trend, with geranyl butanoate eliciting the strongest responses. This suggests that the female and male A. brevis antennae are similar with respect to the perception of pheromone compounds, and female beetles have the sensory capabilities to perceive the pheromone components which they produce. Addition of the plant-derived compounds ( Z )-3-hexenyl acetate, methyl benzoate, ( Z )-3-hexenol and methyl salicylate (identified earlier from foliage as attractive for A. brevis ) to the synthetic pheromone significantly increased catches. All the above results suggest that geranyl butanoate and ( E,E )-farnesyl butanoate are constituents of an aggregation pheromone of A. brevis , in contrast to the general view of click beetle pheromones being “classical” sex pheromones. These findings could be useful for more precise monitoring and forecasting of damage, based on female catches.
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Development of a female attractant for the click beetle pest Agriotes brevis
Pest management science, 2013Co-Authors: József Vuts, Lorenzo Furlan, Éva Bálintné Csonka, Christine M. Woodcock, John C. Caulfield, Patrick Mayon, John A. Pickett, Michael A. Birkett, Miklos TothAbstract:BACKGROUND: Traps suitable for catching female Agriotes click beetles may provide better reconnaissance than pheromonebaited traps which catch only males, thereby contributing to more efficient crop protection. The basis for this study came from (i) observations of female Agriotes brevis (Candeze) aggregating beneath foliage of Medicago sativa (L.) and Lolium italicum (A. Br.) placed on plastic sheets on bare soil, and (ii) field tests demonstrating attraction of females to traps baited with foliage from these plants. The aim was to identify and field test volatile compounds from M.sativa and L.italicum leaves. RESULTS: A number of electrophysiologically active chemicals were identified from headspace extracts of M. sativa and L. italicum. Three different synthetic blends of the identified compounds, comprising four, seven and nine components, were field tested. The four- and nine-component blends caught more female A. brevis than unbaited traps, with the proportion of females not differing between blends. CONCLUSION: The plant-derived blends were shown to catch female A. brevis under field conditions when applied in traps. Of these, the four-component blend, given its relatively simple composition [(Z)-3-hexenyl acetate:methyl benzoate:(Z)-3-hexen1-ol:methyl salicylate 300:5:30:30 mg bait −1 ], may be a suitable ‘standard’ blend for bait optimisation. c � 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
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Effect of male mass trapping of Agriotes species on wireworm abundance and potato tuber damage.
Bulletin of Insectology, 2013Co-Authors: Muhammad Sufyan, Daniel Neuhoff, Lorenzo FurlanAbstract:The use of sex pheromones as an option to control wireworms via mass trapping and the biology of Agriotes lineatus (L.) were investigated in a long-term field experiment at an organic research farm in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Plots supplied with sex pheromone traps were compared with untreated control plots. Over 5 years, a total of 12,378 male adults of A. lineatus, Agriotes obscurus (L.) and Agriotes sputator (L.) were captured in six traps located at 40 m distance in a grass-clover ley. The swarming period of the males lasted from late April to late August with one major and a small peak in the successive years for all three species. During 2006 and 2008 A. lineatus was the dominant species trapped with 4,005 male adults followed by A. obscurus (3,045) and A. sputator (1,213). The total number of wireworms captured over all sampling dates only slightly differed between the two pheromone treated plots (201 individuals) and the two control plots (230 individuals) suggesting no effect of mass trapping on wireworm abundance. The peak oviposition period of A. lineatus lasted from May to early June. Over a 30 month period the larvae passed through 8 instar stages (life cycle not completed) and attaining L4 instar stage before the first and L8 before the second overwintering. Non-chemical wireworm control will have to focus on cultural approaches including soil tillage and rotation design taking data on biology into account.
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assessment of the range of attraction of pheromone traps to Agriotes lineatus and Agriotes obscurus
Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 2011Co-Authors: Muhammad Sufyan, Daniel Neuhoff, Lorenzo FurlanAbstract:1 The range of attraction of YATLOR pheromone traps was studied to gain information on the number of traps needed for mass trapping of males of two Agriotes species. 2 Male click beetles of the species Agriotes lineatus (L.) and Agriotes obscurus (L.) (25–30 individuals per release point) were marked and released at a distance of 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 60 m from a pheromone trap both along and opposite to the known prevailing wind direction. Traps were regularly inspected over approximately 1 month. The percentage of recaptured beetles was calculated and analyzed using analysis of variance. Maximum sampling ranges and effective sampling areas were calculated. 3 Averaged over all five trials and distances, approximately 40% of the released beetles (A. lineatus and A. obscurus) were recaptured. The percentage recapture of male adults was significantly affected by release distance, whereas no differences were found for species and release direction. 4 Males were recaptured from all release points and the percentage recapture decreased (in part significantly) with increasing distance from 76% (2 m) to 35% (15 m) and 9% (60 m), respectively. Most of the beetles were recaptured within the first 3 days after release, independent of the distance, except 60 m. The effective sampling area for A. lineatus was 1089 m2 after 12 days and increased to 1735 m2 after 30 days. Corresponding values for A. obscurus were considerably higher: 1518 m2 for 12 days and 2633 m2 for 30 days. 5 We conclude that the range of attraction of the pheromone traps for A. lineatus and A. obscurus is comparatively low, providing high percentage recapture only for release distances up to 10 m. Accordingly, any approach targeted on preventing mating by male mass trapping would require a dense network of pheromone traps.
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PCR-based species identification of Agriotes larvae.
Bulletin of entomological research, 2010Co-Authors: Karin Staudacher, Lorenzo Furlan, P. Pitterl, P.c. Cate, Michael TraugottAbstract:Click beetle larvae within the genus Agriotes (Coleoptera: Elateridae), commonly known as wireworms, are abundant ground-dwelling herbivores which can inflict considerable damage to field crops. In Central Europe up to 20 species, which differ in their distribution, ecology and pest status, occur in arable land. However, the identification of these larvae based on morphological characters is difficult or impossible. This hampers progress towards controlling these pests. Here, we present a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based approach to identify, for the first time, 17 Agriotes species typically found in Central Europe. Diagnostic sequence information was generated and submitted to GenBank, allowing the identification of these species via DNA barcoding. Moreover, multiplex PCR assays were developed to identify the nine most abundant species rapidly within a single-step reaction: Agriotes brevis, A. litigiosus, A. obscurus, A. rufipalpis, A. sordidus, A. sputator, A. ustulatus, A. lineatus and A. proximus. The latter two species remain molecularly indistinguishable, questioning their species status. The multiplex PCR assays proved to be highly specific against non-agrioted elaterid beetles and other non-target soil invertebrates. By testing the molecular identification system with over 900 field-collected larvae, our protocol proved to be a reliable, cheap and quick method to routinely identify Central European Agriotes species.
Miklos Toth - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Female Responses to Synthetic Pheromone and Plant Compounds in Agriotes brevis Candeze (Coleoptera: Elateridae)
Journal of Insect Behavior, 2018Co-Authors: József Vuts, Lorenzo Furlan, Miklos TothAbstract:Traps baited with synthetic pheromone components of Agriotes brevis [geranyl butanoate + ( E,E )-farnesyl butanoate] captured significantly higher numbers of not only male, but also female beetles, compared to unbaited controls. Catches of both sexes showed a clear positive relationship with increasing doses. In electroantennogram tests, antennal responses of females and males to a number of known Agriotes pheromone components, identified from pheromone glands, showed a similar trend, with geranyl butanoate eliciting the strongest responses. This suggests that the female and male A. brevis antennae are similar with respect to the perception of pheromone compounds, and female beetles have the sensory capabilities to perceive the pheromone components which they produce. Addition of the plant-derived compounds ( Z )-3-hexenyl acetate, methyl benzoate, ( Z )-3-hexenol and methyl salicylate (identified earlier from foliage as attractive for A. brevis ) to the synthetic pheromone significantly increased catches. All the above results suggest that geranyl butanoate and ( E,E )-farnesyl butanoate are constituents of an aggregation pheromone of A. brevis , in contrast to the general view of click beetle pheromones being “classical” sex pheromones. These findings could be useful for more precise monitoring and forecasting of damage, based on female catches.
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Development of a female attractant for the click beetle pest Agriotes brevis
Pest management science, 2013Co-Authors: József Vuts, Lorenzo Furlan, Éva Bálintné Csonka, Christine M. Woodcock, John C. Caulfield, Patrick Mayon, John A. Pickett, Michael A. Birkett, Miklos TothAbstract:BACKGROUND: Traps suitable for catching female Agriotes click beetles may provide better reconnaissance than pheromonebaited traps which catch only males, thereby contributing to more efficient crop protection. The basis for this study came from (i) observations of female Agriotes brevis (Candeze) aggregating beneath foliage of Medicago sativa (L.) and Lolium italicum (A. Br.) placed on plastic sheets on bare soil, and (ii) field tests demonstrating attraction of females to traps baited with foliage from these plants. The aim was to identify and field test volatile compounds from M.sativa and L.italicum leaves. RESULTS: A number of electrophysiologically active chemicals were identified from headspace extracts of M. sativa and L. italicum. Three different synthetic blends of the identified compounds, comprising four, seven and nine components, were field tested. The four- and nine-component blends caught more female A. brevis than unbaited traps, with the proportion of females not differing between blends. CONCLUSION: The plant-derived blends were shown to catch female A. brevis under field conditions when applied in traps. Of these, the four-component blend, given its relatively simple composition [(Z)-3-hexenyl acetate:methyl benzoate:(Z)-3-hexen1-ol:methyl salicylate 300:5:30:30 mg bait −1 ], may be a suitable ‘standard’ blend for bait optimisation. c � 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
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New sex attractant composition for the click beetle Agriotes proximus: similarity to the pheromone of Agriotes lineatus.
Journal of chemical ecology, 2007Co-Authors: Miklos Toth, József Vuts, Lorenzo Furlan, Mitko Subchev, Teodora B. Toshova, István Szarukán, Amália Xavier, Venyamin G. YatsyninAbstract:While testing traps baited with a blend of geranyl octanoate and geranyl butanoate (pheromone components previously identified for Agriotes lineatus, Coleoptera, Elateridae) in Portugal and Bulgaria, large numbers of the closely related Agriotes proximus were captured. In the literature, two different compounds, (E,E)-farnesyl acetate and neryl isovalerate had previously been identified as pheromone components of A. proximus. Subsequent field tests, conducted in several European countries, revealed that A. proximus was weakly attracted to geranyl butanoate on its own, while A. lineatus was weakly attracted to geranyl octanoate on its own. However, the largest catches for both species were observed with a blend of both compounds. No A. proximus was caught in traps baited with the blend of (E,E)-farnesyl acetate and neryl isovalerate at any of the test sites. In electroantennographic studies, antennae of male A. proximus and A. lineatus both gave greater responses to geranyl butanoate than to geranyl octanoate, suggesting that the perception of these two compounds was similar for both species. A 1:1 blend of geranyl octanoate and geranyl butanoate can be used as a bait in traps for the detection and monitoring of both A. lineatus and A. proximus in many European countries.
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Click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) and their seasonal swarming as established by pheromone traps in different plant habitats in Bulgaria. 1: Meadow
Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, 2004Co-Authors: Mitko Subchev, Lorenzo Furlan, Teodora B. Toshova, Miklos TothAbstract:Sex pheromone traps were used for the first time in Bulgaria for seasonal monitoring of several species of Agriotes (Coleoptera, Elateridae). Five target species - Agriotes lineatus (L.), Agriotes sputator (L ), Agriotes ustulatus (SCHALLER), Agriotes brevis CANDEZE and Agriotes obscurus (L.), and two non-target species - Cidnopus pilosus (LESKE) and Cidnopius minutus (L.), were caught in a meadow in 2000 and 2001. Pheromone traps for all the target species caught showed high species-specificity, however, no catches were observed in traps baited with the sex pheromones for Agriotes litigiosus (Rossi), Agriotes rufipalpis BRULLC and Agriotes sordidus (ILLIGER). The swarming period of A. lineatus lasted from the end of April to the middle of August and that of A. sputator from April (or earlier) to the first half of July. A. brevis has an expanded swarming period of several months, extending from the beginning of April to the beginning of October. Catches of adult A. ustulatus were recorded only in the summer, from the end of June till the end of August. A single specimen of A. obscurus was caught in June, and the non-target species, C. pilosus and C. minutus, were caught in May.
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Geranyl hexanoate attracting male click beetles Agriotes rufipalpis Brullé and Agriotes sordidus Illiger (Col., Elateridae)
Journal of Applied Entomology, 2002Co-Authors: Miklos Toth, Lorenzo Furlan, István Szarukán, István UjváryAbstract:In field screening tests in Hungary, traps baited with geranyl hexanoate captured males of the click beetle Agriotes rufipalpis Brulle´ , whereas in Italy males of Agriotes sordidus Illiger (Col., Elateridae) were captured. Geranyl hexanoate-baited traps could be very useful in rationalizing the control of these pests. Such traps can give useful information without making expensive and time-consuming 2 samplings of the soil layers in search of larvae. Traps can be effective also in describing swarming patterns and identifying the peak of male activity, thus yielding an estimate of the level of adult populations, making it possible to forecast future outbreaks and to concentrate agronomic and chemical control strategies against the pests most effectively.