Influence of host plant nitrogen fertilization on haemolymph protein profiles of herbivore Spodoptera exigua and development of its endoparasitoid Cotesia marginiventris

Citation: Chen, Y., Ruberson, J. R., & Ni, X. (2014). Influence of host plant nitrogen fertilization on haemolymph protein profiles of herbivore Spodoptera exigua and development of its endoparasitoid Cotesia marginiventris. Retrieved from http://krex.ksu.eduNitrogen has complex effects on plant-herbivore-parasitoid tri-trophic interactions. The negative effects of host plant low nitrogen fertilization on insect herbivores in many cases can be amplified to the higher trophic levels. In the present study, we examined the impact of varying nitrogen fertilization (42, 112, 196, and 280 ppm) on cotton plants (Gossypium hirsutum L.) on the interactions between the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and the hymenopteran endoparasitoid Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). We predicted that the development and fitness of C. marginiventris would be adversely affected by low host plant nitrogen fertilization through the herbivore S. exigua. The percentage of C. marginiventris offspring developing to emerge and spin a cocoon, and total mortality of parasitized S. exigua larvae were unaffected by nitrogen level. The developmental time of C. marginiventris larvae in S. exigua larvae feeding on low (42 ppm) nitrogen cotton plants was approximately 30% longer than that of those feeding on high (112, 196, and 280 ppm) nitrogen plants. Parasitoid size (length of right metathoracic tibia), a proxy for fitness, of C. marginiventris males was positively affected by nitrogen level. Total amounts of S. exigua haemolymph proteins were not affected by nitrogen level, but were reduced by parasitism by C. marginiventris. Two proteins with molecular weights of ca. 84 and 170 kDa dominated the S. exigua larval haemolymph proteins. Concentrations of the 170 kDa haemolymph protein were unaffected by nitrogen treatment, but parasitism reduced concentrations of the the 170 kDa protein. Concentrations of the 84 kDa protein, on the other hand, were interactively affected by parasitism and nitrogen treatment: higher nitrogen fertilization (112, 196, and 280 ppm) increased protein concentrations relative to the 42 ppm treatment for unparasitized S. exigua larvae, whereas nitrogen treatment had no effects on parasitized larvae. For S. exigua larvae feeding on 42 ppm nitrogen plants, parasitism increased concentration of the 84 kDa protein, while for those feeding on 112, 196, and 280 ppm nitrogen plants, parasitism decreased concentrations of the protein. Possible mechanisms and ecological consequences for the extended development of C. marginiventris on S. exigua hosts grown on low-nitrogen plants are discussed

Abundance and diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods of pest management importance in commercial Bt and non-Bt cotton fields

The modified population dynamics of pests targeted by the Cry1Ac toxin in Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) transgenic cotton (Bt cotton) and possible reduced insecticide use in these transgenic varieties may exert a variety of effects on ground-dwelling predator communities. A survey of ground-dwelling arthropods was carried out weekly each of 3 years (during the cropping season) in commercial Bt and non-Bt cotton fields. Sixty-five taxa of ground-dwelling arthropods (carabids, cicindelines, staphylinids, dermapterans, heteropterans and araneids) of importance for cotton pest management were recorded in the survey. Species abundance and dynamics across seasons were evaluated with univariate analysis of variance for higher taxa or multivariate principal response curve analysis for the whole community of 65 taxa. Diversity and richness indices and cumulative species curves also were calculated. The analyses demonstrated no differences in the ground-dwelling arthropod communities between cotton types. One araneid species, Pardosa pauxilla, comprised ~80% of all araneids, Labidura riparia comprised ~96% of all dermapterans, Megacephala carolina comprised ~97% of cicindelines and four carabid species (Selenophorus palliatus, Apristus latens, Harpalus gravis and Anisodactylus merula) comprised ;80% of carabid species. M. carolina outnumbered all other collected species in each of the 3 years. When only predatory carabid species were considered, A. merula, Calosoma sayi, Harpalus pennsylvanicus and Stenolophus ochropezus were predominant and numbers trapped were similar between cotton types. The abundance of dermapterans, staphylinids, araneids and heteropterans varied among sample dates and across seasons but did not differ between cotton types. The frequent capture of M. carolina, S. palliatus and P. pauxilla in all fields and seasons in both cottons suggests that these species may be important for monitoring further changes in local communities as result of agricultural practices

Habitat Influences Arthropod Biodiversity

Biodiversity is an important indicator of environmental health. Insects are very interconnected ecologically, very adaptable, and highly diverse, making them excellent indicators for environmental health. Human interference tends to disrupt ecosystems to make them less diverse (Benton et al. 2003). A greater variety of plants should be expected to support a greater variety of insects, aiding environmental health (e.g., Diniz et al. 2010). We tested the effect of degree of habitat disturbance/plant diversity on insect diversity in 6 habitats over three dates, expecting to see greater insect diversity where there is greater plant diversity. We calculated insect biodiversity using Simpson’s Index of Diversity, and found greater insect abundance and diversity in more diverse habitats. Insect diversity is important for habitat health, so as insect diversity declines, other animals in those ecosystems suffer as well, as the food web is disrupted (Kemp and Ellis 2017)

Optimum timing for integrated pest management: Modelling rates of pesticide application and natural enemy releases

Many factors including pest natural enemy ratios, starting densities, timings of natural enemy releases, dosages and timings of insecticide applications and instantaneous killing rates of pesticides on both pests and natural enemies can affect the success of IPM control programmes. To address how such factors influence successful pest control, hybrid impulsive pest–natural enemy models with different frequencies of pesticide sprays and natural enemy releases were proposed and analyzed. With releasing both more or less frequent than the sprays, a stability threshold condition for a pest eradication periodic solution is provided. Moreover, the effects of times of spraying pesticides (or releasing natural enemies) and control tactics on the threshold condition were investigated with regard to the extent of depression or resurgence resulting from pulses of pesticide applications. Multiple attractors from which the pest population oscillates with different amplitudes can coexist for a wide range of parameters and the switch-like transitions among these attractors showed that varying dosages and frequencies of insecticide applications and the numbers of natural enemies released are crucial. To see how the pesticide applications could be reduced, we developed a model involving periodic releases of natural enemies with chemical control applied only when the densities of the pest reached the given Economic Threshold. The results indicate that the pest outbreak period or frequency largely depends on the initial densities and the control tactics

Natural Enemies and Biological Control of Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) in North America

Stink bugs comprise a significant and costly pest complex for numerous crops in the United States, including row crops, vegetables, and tree fruits and nuts. Most management relies on the use of broad-spectrum and disruptive insecticides with high human and environmental risks associated with them. Growing concerns about pesticide resistance in stink bugs are forcing pest managers to explore safer and more sustainable options. Here, we review the diverse suite of natural enemies of stink bugs in the US, noting that the egg and the late nymphal and adult stages of stink bugs are the most commonly attacked by parasitoids, whereas eggs and young nymphs are the stages most commonly attacked by predators. The effectiveness of stink bugs’ natural enemies varies widely with stink bug species and habitats, influencing the biological control of stink bugs across crops. Historically, biological control of stink bugs has focused on introduction of exotic natural enemies against exotic stink bugs. Conservation and augmentation methods of biological control have received less attention in the US, although there may be good opportunities to utilize these approaches. We identify some considerations for the current and future use of biological control for stink bugs, including the potential for area-wide management approaches

Quality of life of patients with diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2 from a regerral health care center in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Quality of life (QoL) characteristics are important in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM 1 and 2). Aim: Evaluate QoL and DM-associated factors among diabetic patients. Methods: Patients attending a University Hospital interviewed about sociodemographic, clinical and QoL characteristics, with QoL measured via the EQ-5D. Descriptive analysis, correlation, linear regression, univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. Results: 346 patients took part, comprising 67% women, 59% with DM2, and 32% DM1. DM 1 patients had a mean QoL of 0.7369, with retinopathy, depression, dyslipidemia and a serious hypoglycemic crisis significantly reducing QoL. Patients with DM type 2 had mean QoL 0.6582, with hypertension, neuropathy, depression, cancer and dyslipidemia significantly reducing QoL. Reduced QoL also correlated with a lack of physical exercise. Males with both DM1 and 2 had a better QoL. Conclusion: Need for better disease monitoring and control combined with effective activities to improve self-care, reduce complications and improve patients’ QoL

Análise farmacoepidemiológica e farmacoeconômica dos medicamentos inibidores do fator de necrose tumoral para o tratamento da artrite psoriásica no Sistema Único de Saúde

Introduction: psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect multiple joints and is associated with psoriasis. It presents low prevalence and results in a significant functional disability and a decrease in the quality of life of patients affected. The first biological agents included in the Brazilian National Health System (SUS) for the treatment of PsA were inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF), infliximab, adalimumab and etanercept. However, these drugs were not previously analyzed for their effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness in the treatment of PsA under the SUS perspective. Objectives: to analyze the profile of medication request for the treatment of PsA in Specialized Component of Pharmaceutical Services (SCPS) of the SUS and to demonstrate the stages and the time elapsed in the flow of processes; to evaluate the effectiveness and to describe the side effects to the drugs adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab; to estimate costs and to analyze the medication persistence in the treatment of PsA, and finally; to perform a cost-utility analysis of PsA treatment comparing adalimumab and etanercept. Methods: A non-concurrent prospective study was conducted to verify the time spent between the prescription and dispensing of medicines by SCPS. The total time spent was described by means of median and interquartile range (IQR). The factors associated with the time spent on medication requests were verified through linear regression. The effectiveness and safety in the use of anti-TNF agents were evaluated in an open prospective cohort. Subjects were followed for approximately one year, with interviews at the beginning of treatment, at six and 12 months for evaluation of effectiveness, safety, functionality and quality of life. The activity of the disease was measured by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI). The reach of inactive disease by BASDAI and of remission or mild disease activity measured by CDAI was defined as an effectiveness measure. The functionality was evaluated through the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the quality of life by EuroQol 5 dimensions (EQ-5D). The predictors of non-effectiveness were verified by logbinomial regression. The medication persistence and the costs of PsA treatment were identified in a historical cohort, constructed by a deterministic-probabilistic linkage of the databases of the Department of Information Technology of SUS (DATASUS). Treatment discontinuation was defined as absence of dispensation after 90 days of initiation of treatment. Medication persistence was described graphically by means of Kaplan-meier curves and compared by means of the log-rank test. Predictors of medication non-persistence were verified by COX regression. The costs were described by mean and SD in terms of direct costs with anti-TNF agents and other outpatient and inpatient costs. The economic analysis was constructed using a Markov analytical decision model, with a time horizon of five years and discount rate of 5%, from the SUS perspective. Four scenarios were created, with variations in costs, utilities and transition probabilities, and deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyzes were performed. Results: The median time between the medical consultation and the first dispensation was 66 days (IQR, 44-90). The processing of the process in the State, which includes the request of the medicine until the authorization of the treatment, was the stage that contributed the most to the total time spent. Factors associated with a longer time for medication supply were prescriptions from clinics and specialty centers, dermatologists, unauthorized processes, and non-persistent patients on treatment in 12 months. In the prospective cohort, no statistically significant differences were observed between the three anti-TNF agents in use in the proportion of patients who achieved good clinical response by BASDAI and CDAI at six and 12 months of followup in the first line of treatment. Patients who used adalimumab and etanercept showed improved clinical measures of disease activity, functionality and quality of life compared to baseline. Patients who achieved good clinical response presented better quality of life compared to those who did not reach good clinical response. The predictors of non-effectiveness by CDAI at 12 months were poorer quality of life, use of infliximab, concomitant use of NSAIDs, and have comorbidity. For BASDAI, the predictors of non-effectiveness were greater functional impairment and use of infliximab. The main adverse reactions were alopecia, headache, site reaction, influenza, asthenia and infections. In the historical cohort, adalimumab (51%) was the most used anti-TNF agent. Individuals on adalimumab had greater medication persistence in relation to etanercept and infliximab (p <0.05). The costs with anti-TNF agents accounted for approximately 90% of total costs and were similar among anti-TNF agents in PsA patients. The predictors of medication non-persistence were females, younger patients, residents in the Northeast and North regions, use of infliximab and etanercept and higher Charlson Comorbidity index. In the economic model, etanercept was the most cost-effective. With a willingness to pay of one gross domestic product per capita, adalimumab becomes the most cost-effective drug in one of four analysis scenarios. The deterministic sensitivity analysis identified that costs were the parameters that most impact the choice of the most cost-effective drug. Probability sensitivity analysis indicated that etanercept is the drug most likely to be cost effective. Conclusion: Reducing the total time spent on medication supply can bring benefits to patients' health and treatment. Effectiveness in treatment with anti-TNF agents has been demonstrated and it has been found that health outcomes are similar among the first-line drugs. However, a significant portion of the patients did not reach the expected response, which indicates the need for new treatment approaches. The anti-TNF agents were well tolerated and showed wellestablished adverse events. Medication persistence was lower than in other countries. Etanercept was the most cost-effective drug. A considerable price reduction of anti-TNF agents has been observed over the years. This reinforces the role of costs as an important factor to be evaluated in relation to cost-effectiveness or cost-utility of these drugs and points to the benefits of price renegotiation for the allocative efficiency in public management.Introdução: A artrite psoriásica (AP) é uma doença inflamatória crônica que pode acometer múltiplas articulações e está associada a psoríase. Apresenta baixa prevalência e resulta em importante incapacidade funcional e diminuição da qualidade de vida dos pacientes acometidos. Os primeiros agentes biológicos incluídos no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) para o tratamento da AP foram os inibidores do fator de necrose tumoral (anti-TNF), infliximabe, adalimumabe e etanercepte. Entretanto, estes medicamentos não foram analisados quanto a sua efetividade, segurança e custo-utilidade no tratamento da AP sob a perspectiva do SUS. Objetivos: analisar o perfil de solicitação de medicamentos para o tratamento da AP no Componente Especializado da Assistência Farmacêutica (CEAF) do SUS e demonstrar as etapas e o tempo decorrido no fluxo de processos; avaliar a efetividade e descrever as reações adversas dos medicamentos adalimumabe, etanercepte e infliximabe; estimar os gastos e analisar a persistência no tratamento da AP e, por fim; realizar uma análise de custo-utilidade do tratamento da AP, comparando os medicamentos adalimumabe e etanercepte. Métodos: Um estudo prospectivo não concorrente foi conduzido para verificar o tempo gasto entre a prescrição médica e a dispensação dos medicamentos pelo CEAF. O tempo total gasto foi descrito por meio de mediana e intervalo interquartil (IIQ). Os fatores associados ao tempo gasto na solicitação de medicamentos foram verificados por meio de regressão linear. A efetividade e segurança no uso de agentes anti-TNF foram avaliadas em uma coorte prospectiva aberta. Os indivíduos foram acompanhados por aproximadamente um ano, com entrevistas no início do tratamento, aos seis e doze meses para avaliação da efetividade, segurança, qualidade de vida e funcionalidade. A atividade da doença foi medida pela escala Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) e pelo índice composto Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI). Foi definida como medida de efetividade o alcance de doença inativa medida pelo BASDAI e alcance de remissão ou atividade leve da doença pelo CDAI. A funcionalidade foi avaliada por meio do Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) e a qualidade de vida pelo EuroQol 5 dimensões (EQ-5D). Os preditores de não efetividade foram verificados por regressão log-binomial. A persistência na medicação e os custos do tratamento da AP foram identificados em uma coorte histórica, construída por pareamento determinístico-probabilístico das bases de dados do Departamento de Informática do SUS (DATASUS). A descontinuação no tratamento foi definida como ausência de dispensação após 90 dias do início de tratamento. A persistência na medicação foi descrita graficamente por meio de curvas de Kaplan-meier e comparada por meio do teste de log-rank. Os preditores de descontinuação do tratamento foram verificados por meio de regressão de COX. Os custos foram descritos por meio de média e desvio padrão, em termos de custos diretos com agentes anti-TNF e outros custos ambulatoriais e hospitalares. A análise de custo-utilidade foi construída por meio de um modelo de decisão analítica de Markov, com horizonte temporal de cinco anos, taxa de desconto de 5% e sob a perspectiva do SUS. Foram criados quatro cenários, com variações de custos, utilidades e probabilidades de transição, e realizadas análises de sensibilidade determinística e probabilística. Resultados: O tempo mediano entre a prescrição médica e a primeira dispensação do medicamento foi de 66 dias (IIQ, 44-90). O trâmite do processo no Estado, que inclui desde a solicitação do medicamento até a autorização do tratamento, foi o estágio que mais impactou no tempo total gasto. Os fatores associados ao maior tempo para o fornecimento dos medicamentos foram prescrições provenientes de clínicas e centros de especialidades, de dermatologistas, de processos não deferidos e de pacientes não persistentes no tratamento em 12 meses. Na coorte prospectiva, não foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os três agentes anti-TNF em uso na proporção de pacientes que atingiram boa resposta clínica medida pelo BASDAI e CDAI em seis e 12 meses de acompanhamento em primeira linha de tratamento. Pacientes que utilizaram adalimumabe e etanercepte apresentaram melhora das medidas clínicas de atividade da doença, funcionalidade e qualidade de vida comparado a linha de base. Pacientes que atingiram boa resposta clínica apresentaram melhor qualidade de vida em comparação aos que não atingiram boa resposta clínica. Os preditores de não efetividade medidos pelo CDAI em 12 meses foram pior qualidade de vida, uso de infliximabe, uso concomitante de AINEs e ter uma comorbidade. Pelo BASDAI, os preditores de não efetividade foram maior comprometimento funcional e uso de infliximabe. As principais reações adversas foram alopecia, dor de cabeça, reação no local da aplicação, gripe, astenia e infecções. Na coorte histórica, indivíduos em uso de adalimumabe apresentaram maior persistência na medicação quando comparados aos indivíduos em uso de etanercepte e infliximabe (p <0,05). Os custos com agentes anti-TNF corresponderam a aproximadamente 90% dos custos totais e foram semelhantes entre os agentes anti-TNF em pacientes com AP. Os preditores de não persistência foram sexo feminino, pacientes mais jovens, residentes nas regiões Nordeste e Norte do país, uso de infliximabe e etanercepte e maior índice de Comorbidade de Charlson. No modelo econômico, etanercepte foi o medicamento com melhor relação de custo utilidade e mais custo efetivo. Com uma disponibilidade a pagar de um PIB per capita, adalimumabe passa a ser o medicamento mais custo efetivo em um dos quatro cenários de análise. A análise de sensibilidade determinística identificou que os custos são os parâmetros que mais impactam na escolha do medicamento mais custo efetivo. A análise de sensibilidade probabilística indicou que etanercepte é o medicamento com maior probabilidade de ser custo efetivo. Conclusão: A redução do tempo total gasto na obtenção de medicamentos pode trazer benefícios ao tratamento e ao estado de saúde dos pacientes. A efetividade no tratamento com agentes anti-TNF foi demonstrada e verificou-se que os resultados em saúde são similares entre os medicamentos para a primeira linha de tratamento. Entretanto, uma parcela significativa dos pacientes não alcançou a resposta esperada, o que indica a necessidade de novas abordagens de tratamento. Os medicamentos foram bem tolerados e mostraram eventos adversos bem estabelecidos. A persistência na medicação foi inferior a observada em outros países. Etanercepte foi o medicamento mais custo efetivo. Observou-se uma considerável redução de preços dos agentes anti-TNF ao longo dos anos. Isso reforça o papel dos custos como um importante fator a ser avaliado quanto a relação de custo-efetividade ou custo-utilidade desses medicamentos e aponta para os benefícios da renegociação de preços para a eficiência alocativa na gestão pública.Outra Agênci

Estudo de utilização de medicamentos e fatores associados à polifarmácia em pacientes portadores de Diabetes Mellitus em municípios de Minas Gerais

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a worldwide epidemic, it is a major challenge for health systems in the world. It is a chronic disease of multiple etiology, due to the lack and/or the inability of insulin to properly exert its effects. Recent studies in different populations of patients with DM reported the use of a large number of drugs, leading these patients to the practice of polypharmacy. However, no studies have been observed the association of polypharmacy its associated factors. In this sense, the aim of the study was to evaluate the profile of drug use and factors associated with polypharmacy in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) in Minas Gerais, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was performed in 63 municipalities of Minas Gerais in January and February 2014. A descriptive analysis was used for the characteristics of respondents and medicines in use by the Anatomical-Therapeutic-Chemical encoding. The association between socio-demographic and clinical characteristics with polypharmacy was observed by means of logistic regression. 2619 people with DM were interviewed, most had 60 years or more and were female, and 83.7% with type 2 DM and 10.4% with type 1 DM. Polypharmacy was observed in 56.5% of participants. The most frequent therapeutic classes were drugs for DM, agents on the renin-angiotensin system and diuretics. Age over 40 years, bad or very bad self-reported health, presence of five or more comorbidities, diagnostic time above 10 years, have consulted the physician four times or more in the last year, lack of regular physical activity, interruption of usual activities during the last 15 days and have private health insurance were factors associated with polypharmacy. Most participants had polypharmacy, which increases the risk of adverse reactions and drug interactions. Factors such as age, comorbidities and access to health services contributed to increased use of medication. Therefore, there is need for trained professionals to provide proper care, improve the quality of medication and minimize the negative consequences on the health of this population.O Diabetes Mellitus (DM) apresenta-se como uma epidemia mundial e um grande desafio para os sistemas de saúde de todo o mundo. É uma doença crônica, de etiologia múltipla, decorrente da deficiência na produção de insulina e/ou da sua incapacidade em exercer adequadamente seus efeitos. Verifica-se que estudos recentes em diferentes populações de pacientes com DM relatam o uso de um elevado número de medicamentos, o que caracteriza a prática de polifarmácia. Entretanto, não foram identificados estudos que enfoquem a polifarmácia e seus fatores associados. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o perfil de utilização de medicamentos e os fatores associados à polifarmácia em indivíduos com diabetes mellitus (DM) em Minas Gerais, Brasil. Realizou-se estudo transversal em 63 municípios mineiros em janeiro e fevereiro de 2014. Foi realizada análise descritiva das características dos entrevistados e dos medicamentos em uso pela codificação Anatômica-Terapêutica-Química. Testou-se a associação entre características sócio-demográficas e clínicas com a polifarmácia, por meio de regressão logística. Dos 2619 entrevistados com DM, a maioria tinha 60 anos ou mais e era do sexo feminino, sendo 83,7% com DM tipo 2 e 10,4% com DM tipo 1. Polifarmácia foi observada em 56,5% dos participantes. Os medicamentos para DM, os atuantes no sistema renina-angiotensina e os diuréticos foram as classes terapêuticas mais frequentes. Ter idade acima de 40 anos, autopercepção de saúde ruim ou muito ruim, presença de cinco ou mais comorbidades, tempo de diagnóstico acima de 10 anos, ter consultado ao médico quatro vezes ou mais no último ano, ausência de atividade física regular, interrupção das atividades habituais nos últimos 15 dias e ter plano de saúde particular foram os fatores associados com polifarmácia. A maioria dos participantes estava em polifarmácia, o que pode aumentar o risco de reações adversas e interações medicamentosas. Fatores como envelhecimento, presença de comorbidades e acesso aos serviços de saúde contribuíram para maior uso de medicamentos. Por isso, há necessidade de profissionais capacitados para prover o cuidado adequado, melhorar a qualidade do uso de medicamentos e minimizar as consequências negativas na saúde dessa população

Predation on stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in cotton and soybean agroecosystems

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are significant pests of cotton and soybeans in the southeastern United States with annual control costs exceeding $14 million in these crops. Three of the most prominent stink bug pests are the southern green (Nezara viridula), brown (Euschistus servus) and green (Chinavia hilaris) stink bugs. To determine trophic linkages between generalist arthropod predators and these pests, species-specific 16S molecular markers were designed and used to detect the presence of prey DNA in predator gut-contents. Over 2700 predators were collected over two growing seasons in cotton and soybean in southern Georgia in 2011 and 2012 and screened for stink bug DNA. Trophic linkages were analyzed relative to prey availability, crop type and field location. The frequency of stink bug DNA in predator guts was negligible on E. servus (0.23%) and C. hilaris (0.09%). Overall gut content detection of N. viridula was 3.3% and Geocoris sp. (Hemiptera: Geocoridae), Orius sp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and Notoxus monodon (Coleoptera: Anthicidae) were the primary predators. This contrasts with previous studies that reported a much more diverse suite of predators consuming stink bugs with much higher frequency of gut-content positives. The discrepancy between studies highlights the need for replicating studies in space and time, especially if the goal is to implement effective and durable conservation biological control in integrated pest management

Ecological compatibility of GM crops and biological control

Insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant genetically modified (GM) crops pervade many modern cropping systems (especially field-cropping systems), and present challenges and opportunities for developing biologically based pest-management programs. Interactions between biological control agents (insect predators, parasitoids, and pathogens) and GM crops exceed simple toxicological relationships, a priority for assessing risk of GM crops to non-target species. To determine the compatibility of biological control and insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant GM crop traits within integrated pest-management programs, this synthesis prioritizes understanding the bi-trophic and prey/host-mediated ecological pathways through which natural enemies interact within cropland communities, and how GM crops alter the agroecosystems in which natural enemies live. Insect-resistant crops can affect the quantity and quality of non-prey foods for natural enemies, as well as the availability and quality of both target and non-target pests that serve as prey/hosts. When they are used to locally eradicate weeds, herbicide-tolerant crops alter the agricultural landscape by reducing or changing the remaining vegetational diversity. This vegetational diversity is fundamental to biological control when it serves as a source of habitat and nutritional resources. Some inherent qualities of both biological control and GM crops provide opportunities to improve upon sustainable IPM systems. For example, biological control agents may delay the evolution of pest resistance to GM crops, and suppress outbreaks of secondary pests not targeted by GM plants, while herbicide-tolerant crops facilitate within-field management of vegetational diversity that can enhance the efficacy of biological control agents. By examining the ecological compatibility of biological control and GM crops, and employing them within an IPM framework, the sustainability and profitability of farming may be improved