Browsing by Author "Liu, Tong-Xian"

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Age-Stage, Two-Sex Life Table: an Introduction To Theory, Data Analysis, and Application
(E Schweizerbartsche verlagsbuchhandlung, 2020) Chi, Hsin; You, Minsheng; Atlihan, Remzi; Smith, Cecil L.; Kavousi, Aurang; Ozgokce, Mehmet Salih; Liu, Tong-Xian
The life table is a type of research tool that is frequently used in many studies involving population and community ecology. They are the basis for many comprehensive studies in pest management, pesticide resistance, predator-prey relationships, biological control, mass-rearing and harvesting of insects, plant resistance, etc. Because the morphology, physiology, survival, fecundity, and predation/consumption rate of most arthropods will vary significantly depending on their developmental stage and sex, precise description of stage differentiation and inclusion of both sexes are critical for attaining realistic and accurate life table analyses and correctly evaluating the overall fitness of populations. Since traditional female age-specific life tables ignore the male individuals in a population and are incapable of describing the unique and important feature of stage differentiation (i.e., metamorphosis) that is a defining characteristic of insects and mites, their application to data analysis involving these groups will inevitably result in miscalculations and limit the practical application of these life tables. On the other hand, the age-stage, two-sex life table (hereafter referred to as the two-sex life table whenever appropriate), can precisely delineate stage differentiation and includes both sexes in data analysis, description, and interpretation, and in practical applications. In this review, the problems of female age-specific life tables are examined, followed by a discussion of the advantages of using the two-sex life table. Finally, applications of the two-sex life table in various types of entomological research are discussed and accompanied by examples.
Volatile Organic Compounds Released From Cabbage Plants Infested With Wingless Green Peach Aphid (Myzus Persicae) Attracts More Conspecifics
(John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2025) Ahmed, Nazeer; Darshanee, Hewa Lunuwilage Chamilla; Smagghe, Guy; Atlihan, Remzi; Al-Mekhlafi, Fahd A.; Wadaan, Mohammed A.; Liu, Tong-Xian
BACKGROUNDPlants release a diverse array of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that play a role in interactions with other plants and arthropod herbivores. The potential of using plants that emit either repellent or attractive VOCs to help managing insect populations have been shown. However, the response of the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), a major sucking insect pest worldwide, to VOCs from cabbage and infested with conspecific remains unknown. This study investigated how VOCs released by cabbage infested or uninfested by Myzus persicae influenced host selection in seven different cultivars. and compared under infested and non-infested conditions.RESULTSUsing headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS), we identified 22 VOCs from non-infested cabbage plants and 33 from aphid-infested plants across the seven cabbage cultivars. Infested plants emitted a greater diversity and higher amounts of volatiles, dominated by terpenes and green leaf volatiles. Caryophyllene was the only compound common in both infested and non-infested plants. In olfactometer assays, wingless Myzus persicae showed a significant attraction to conspecific-infested plants with the strongest response to the cultivar QG 80. However, this increased attraction was not consistent across all cultivars, highlighting the need for further studies to understand the ecological implications and potential benefits or drawbacks of this attraction.CONCLUSIONOur findings highlight the potential of using VOC-emitting trap crops for the targeted management of Myzus persicae. By identifying key volatiles that attract aphids, this study provides a foundation for developing eco-friendly pest control strategies. (c) 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.