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BackgroundGolf tourism has recently been introduced to Egypt, and this sport represents a valuable addition to the country’s tourism portfolio, aligning with the growing global demand. The hunting billbug, Sphenophorus venatus, and white grub, Phyllophaga crinita, are considered the most destructive pests to golf courses not only in Egypt but worldwide. This work is regarded as the first record of P. crinita in Egypt. So, many efforts have been carried out to control these pests. In this work, nanopesticides formulations were used against these pests, imidacloprid nanocapsule and chlorfenapyr nanocapsule under laboratory conditions. Three concentrations were used for each nanocapsule. Two stages for each pest were treated: the third- and sixth-instar larvae of S. venatus and the first- and third-instar larvae of P. crinita. ResultsThe results showed that the nanocapsule formulations of both imidacloprid and chlorfenapyr were very effective against S. venatus and P. crinita larvae. The LC50 of imidacloprid and chlorfenapyr nanocapsule against the sixth-instar larvae of S. venatus was 10.3 and 11.8 ppm, respectively, and 8.8 and 9.1 ppm, respectively, against the third-instar larvae. The corresponding results with the third- and first-instar larvae of P. crinita were 11.2 and 17.2 ppm, and 8.7 and 11.6 ppm, respectively. The results also showed imidacloprid nanocapsule was more effective than chlorfenapyr nanocapsule, especially with the first concentration; the percentages of mortality ranged between 91.7 and 96.7% with imidacloprid nanocapsule compared with 75–88.3% with chlorfenapyr nanocapsule.ConclusionThis study is the first to report the use of nanotechnology against significant pests on golf courses in Egypt. The results showed that the nanocapsule formulations were very promising in controlling the two serious insect pests of the golf course, S. venatus and P. crinita larvae. These nanocapsule insecticides are targeted to reduce the concentration of pesticides used, reduce soil contamination by traditional pesticide formulation and the cost of application, and increase the efficacy of pesticides against golf course pests.

Mexico is the center of maize Zea mays L. domestication with a large diversity of landrace genotypes that are of great economic, cultural and social importance. Landrace maize genotypes are mainly cultivated by smallholder farmers for local and specialized markets of culinary dishes, However, all maize genotypes are subject to insect herbivory among which the Fall Armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda Smith and the White grub larvae ( Phyllophaga vetula Horn cause serious yield losses, by feeding on leaves and roots, respectively. Here we investigated the response of landrace and hybrid maize genotypes to herbivory from foliar ( S. frugiperda) and root feeding ( P. vetula) insects with five maize landrace and five hybrid maize genotypes. The main results showed that landrace maize genotypes suffered from a higher level of herbivory by S. frugiperda than hybrid maize genotypes. For root herbivory, no clear differences between landrace and hybrid maize were observed and overall, only one out of the five maize genotypes for each type of maize were negatively affected from the presence of P. vetula. In conclusion, maize genotypes respond differently to root and foliar herbivory, which should be considered when developing pest management strategies in maize agroecosystems.

The levels of different nutraceutical metabolites present in the jicama root were measured when subjecting the plant to induced biotic stress via infestation with Phyllophaga spp. (white grubs). The change in secondary metabolites on the stressed jicama roots (SJ), mostly antioxidants, was followed over 100, 140, and 180 days and compared against the non-infested control jicama (CJ). Our results show that infested (SJ) samples contained higher concentrations of tannins, flavonoids, and total phenols, measured using spectrophotometric methods, peaking at 140 days, and higher overall concentration of saponins. SJ samples showed higher DPPH inhibition, peaking at 100 days. Chlorogenic acid had the highest concentration among the phenolic compounds (7.47 mg g−1), followed by protocatechuic acid, both in SJ, which was possibly related to the lower observed concentrations of caffeic and ferulic acids. As for flavonoids, we observed a high concentration of rutin in CJ and a low concentration of pelargonidin and myricetin in SJ, possibly promoted via the dihydrokaempferol pathway. Taken together, these results show that Phyllophaga spp.-mediated biotic stress affects the concentrations of secondary metabolites in the different maturity stages in jicama, having an effect on its metabolic pathways, which presents an opportunity for the use of material such as agro-industrial waste.

A sexual attractant of some Phyllophaga species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), methyl 2-(methylthio)benzoate, was studied alone and in combination with light from a solar-powered light-emitting diode (LED) to determine their comparative attraction potential for Phyllophaga species in a sugarcane crop. Four trap treatments were evaluated: sex attractant, sex attractant plus light, light alone, and a control trap without attractant or light. The number and species of Phyllophaga captured were determined over two 5 mo adult emergence periods from Mar–Jul in 2014 and 2015. Additionally, the cytochrome oxidase I (CO1) gene of the species that responded to the compound was amplified, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed using those sequences and sequences found in GenBank. Two species of Phyllophaga, Phyllophaga brevidens (Bates) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and Phyllophaga lenis (Horn) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), responded to the compound. The traps with sex attractant plus light treatment captured significantly more beetles than the other treatments. Our results suggest that the combination of methyl 2-(methylthio)benzoate and light can be a relatively selective method for the capture of the males of these species of agricultural importance, and it also attracts some females. Finally, analysis of the sequences of the mitochondrial CO1 gene showed that the Phyllophaga species captured with this compound were phylogenetically related.

Bacillus thuringiensis is the most successful microbial insecticide against different pests in agriculture and vectors of diseases. Its activity is mostly attributed to the Cry proteins expressed during its sporulation phase. However, these proteins are not exclusive to B. thuringiensis. Some cry genes have been found in other Bacillus species, or even in other genera. In this work, cry genes were searched in 223 acrystalliferous bacillaceous strains. From these strains 13 amplicons were obtained, cloned, and sequenced; however, only 6 amplicons tested positive for cry-like genes, and the 6 isolates showed to be the same strain. We report the characterization of an unusual strain of B. cereus (LBIC-004) which is unable to form protein inclusions during the sporulation phase. LBIC-004 showed a high identity to B. cereus using the sequences of 16S rRNA, gyrB and hag genes; in addition, a unique plasmid pattern of the strain was obtained. A 1953-bp cry gene was identified, coding for a 651 amino acid protein with a molecular weight of 74.9 kDa. This protein showed a predicted three-domain structure, similar to all Cry proteins. However, the amino acid sequence of the protein showed only 41% identity its highest hit: the Cry8Ca1 protein, indicating the uniqueness of this cry-like gene. It was cloned and transferred into a mutant acrystalliferous B. thuringiensis strain which was used in bioassays against Caenorhabditis elegans, Aedes aegypti, Manduca sexta and Phyllophaga sp. The recombinant strain showed no crystal formation and no toxicity to the tested species.

Mark-release-recapture studies have been used to evaluate the dispersal ability of different insect species. In the field, we evaluated the dispersal ability of the soil pest species Phyllophaga capillata (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) in soybean (Glycine max) crops, and the daily soil emergence activity of this species under controlled conditions. Field studies were conducted on a soybean seed production farm in Planaltina/DF, Brazil. On four dates, adults of P. capillata were collected, sexed, marked and released in a soybean plot (~ 230 ha). Twelve light traps were set in three concentric circles, with four traps each, at distances of 50, 150 and 250 m from the point of adult release. Under controlled conditions, groups of adults (males and females) were separated into pots containing soil, and the flight ability of the specimens was evaluated daily for 72 h. The average recapture rate of adults was 1.93% for the four collection dates. The highest recapture rate was observed at a distance of 50 m, at the beginning and middle of the swarming period, and at 250 m at the end of the swarm. Males, in general, were more active than females and reached the greatest distance of displacement (250 m). Most specimens (69.5% of males and 52.9% of females) were prone to leave the ground on the three consecutive days of the study. These results provide insights for understanding the dispersal patterns of this pest species suggesting that distances of less than 250 m may allow the dispersal of this pest between contiguous farms within the agricultural landscape.

Phyllophaga (Chirodines) moroni is described based on 8 males collected by black-light trap in a disturbed area of pine-oak forest of the Sierra-Sur region of Oaxaca State, Mexico. This finding represents the fifth described species of the subgenus on the American continent, the second species of the subgenus listed for Oaxaca State, and the third species of the subgenus for Mexico. A key to separate the 5 species in the subgenus Chirodines presently described is provided.

Scarabaeoidea is a diverse and widely distributed insect group; many are agricultural pests including species within the genus Phyllophaga . Species diversity studies in this taxonomic group are done mainly using morphological identification. However, despite existing taxonomic keys for adults and larvae, identification may be difficult due to their complex morphology. Molecular taxonomy can increase the value and accuracy of morphological species identification of larvae and adults. To test this, larvae collected from soil close to maize plants were identified using molecular taxonomy, and compared with adults captured using light traps. The larvae (2021) and adults (2022) were sampled on maize at the same locations in central Mexico. Molecular identification was achieved using three regions within the Cytochrome oxidase gene ( cox ), two in the Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), Cytochrome b (CytB) and 28S rDNA. Cox gene information was more useful than nuclear information (28S). Combined morphological and molecular taxonomy of adults distinguished between seven Phyllophaga species. Although two closely related species, P. polyphyla and P. ravida , were distinguished using cox gene information, greater resolution was obtained using CytB. All analyses identified cryptic species within P. vetula . Species found amongst sampled adults were similar to those found amongst larvae. However, the number of species was greater in adults than in larvae at the same locations. Larval information showed Phyllophaga community structure changed over time. Our findings will contribute to a better understanding of Phyllophaga’s ecology in maize.

Las alteraciones del paisaje pueden afectar los ensambles de escarabajos donde las especies sensibles pueden desaparecer y las poblaciones de especies altamente adaptadas pueden aumentar. Se evaluó la diversidad de escarabajos en un bosque restaurado y tierras de cultivo del bosque seco tropical de Ecuador. Se realizó trampas de caída y recolección manual en tres sitios; dos sitios con tierras de cultivo y un sitio con remanente de bosque secundario. Se usaron cuatro tipos de cebo para atraer escarabajos que se alimentaban de diferentes recursos para lograr una evaluación preliminar adecuada del ensamble de escarabajos. Este estudio es la primera aproximación a la caracterización de la comunidad de coleópteros en el bosque seco tropical de Manabí. Reportamos 64 morfoespecies asociadas con tierras productivas y bosques fragmentados y destacamos la presencia de algunos géneros resilientes como Canthon, Canthidium, Deltochilum y Euspilotus que se han adaptado con éxito a ecosistemas perturbados; por otro lado, Phyllophaga y Diabrotica también fueron detectados principalmente en el paisaje de cultivos. En general, presentamos una línea de base de la composición de escarabajos en un bosque secundario y tierras de cultivo, y brindamos información relevante para una evaluación adicional del cambio de uso del suelo en la región. Landscape alterations may affect beetle assemblages wherein sensitive species can disappear, and highly adapted species populations can increase. Beetle diversity in a restored forest and cropland was assessed in the tropical dry forest of Ecuador. Pitfall trapping and manual collection were performed in three sites: two sites with cropland and one site with secondary forest remnant. Four bait types were used to attract beetles feeding on different resources to achieve an adequate preliminary beetle assessment. This study is the first approach to characterizing the coleopteran community in the tropical dry forest of Manabí. We report 64 morpho-species associated with productive land and fragmented forests and highlight the occurrence of some resilient genera like Canthon, Canthidium, Deltochilum and Euspilotus that have successfully adapted to disturbed ecosystems; on the other hand, Phyllophaga and Diabrotica were also detected mainly in the crop landscape. Overall, present a baseline of the beetle assemblage composition in a secondary forest and cropland, and provide relevant information for further assessment of land use change in the region. 

Whatever the cause, it is extraordinary that dozens of genera of large mammals became extinct during the late Quaternary throughout the Western Hemisphere, including 90% of the genera of the xenarthran suborder Phyllophaga (sloths). Radiocarbon dates directly on dung, bones, or other tissue of extinct sloths place their \"last appearance\" datum at ≈11,000 radiocarbon years before present (yr BP) or slightly less in North America, ≈10,500 yr BP in South America, and ≈4,400 yr BP on West Indian islands. This asynchronous situation is not compatible with glacial-interglacial climate change forcing these extinctions, especially given the great elevational, latitudinal, and longitudinal variation of the slothbearing continental sites. Instead, the chronology of last appearance of extinct sloths, whether on continents or islands, more closely tracks the first arrival of people.