The possibility of storing natural enemies at low temperatures is important for the mass production of biological control agents. We evaluated the effect of different periods of cold storage on immature mortality, mummy body mass, lifespan, reproduction and flight capacity of the parasitoid Praon volucre (Haliday). One-day-old mummies of the aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) containing pre-pupae of P. volucre were stored in a climatic chamber at 5°C and 70 ± 10% RH in the dark for different periods of time (5, 10, 15 and 20 days). The control consisted of mummies kept at 22 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% RH and a 12 h photophase. Percentage adult emergence, mummy body mass, flight capacity and number of eggs in the ovarioles of P. volucre females decreased with increase in the period of storage, while the longevity of females was only slightly affected. Fat content of mummies, percentage of parasitized aphids and survival of progeny to emergence decreased with increase in the period of storage. Storage of P. volucre pre-pupae for up to 5 days at 5°C did not affect any of the above mentioned parameters. The fact that P. volucre pre-pupae can be stored for 5 days without loss of quality and for 10 days with only a slight loss facilitates the planning of mass production and shipment., Juracy Caldeira Lins, Jr. ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The parasitoid, Anagyrus kamali Moursi (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), has been recently introduced into the Caribbean as a biological control agent against the hibiscus mealybug (HMB), Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Storage of A. kamali that is essential for its use in biological control did not affect the longevity of female and male parasitoids (40.3 ± 14.07 and 31.7 ± 9.57 days, respectively) when kept at 20 ± 2°C in absence of hosts and fed ad libitum with droplets of pure honey. At a storage temperature of 27 ± 2°C the longevity decreased by about 10 days. Fed females did not resorb eggs during the first two weeks of storage at 20 ± 2°. Parasitoid ovogenesis ceased when ovarioles/lateral oviducts were full. The lifetime fecundity was not significantly affected by a storage at 20 ± 2°C of up to 14 days. Foraging activities and oviposition were the main factors influencing the lifespan of female A. kamali.
This event was a collaborative workshop involving scientists, power industry leaders and government officials to outline the future and role of energy storage in ensuring secure energy and to discuss the promising topics for research into energy storage. The workshop sought to present ideas, examples, and projects related to experience with energy storage with a strong emphasis on promoting national awarness and inspiring action towards solving emerging problems. Through this event the scientists hoped to present promising research themes and technologies and challenge the attendees to discuss the feasibility of the technologies and trends for energy storage. The workshop was a part of the Strategy AV21 and was organized with the patronage of the President of the Czech Academy of Sciences Professor Jiří Drahoš by the Institute of the Thermomechanics of the CAS and the Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS. and Magdalena Bendová, Jan Hrubý, Miroslav Chomát, Patrik Zima.