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Prof. Gianandrea Salerno
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, University of Perugia, Italy

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Research Keywords & Expertise

0 Insect –plant mechanical and chemical interactions
0 Indirect plant defences
0 Constitutive or induced by herbivores
0 Insect electrophysiology
0 Behaviour and chemical ecology of egg-parasitoid

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Journal article
Published: 23 July 2021 in Sustainability
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In the present investigation, we compared the reduction in attachment ability of the southern green stinkbug Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) to glass induced by three different nanoparticle (kaolin, zeolite, and calcium carbonate) films. Using traction force experiments, behavioral experiments, and scanning electron microscopy observations, we analyzed the insect attachment ability and linear speed on untreated and treated glass with the three particle films. The three nanomaterials strongly reduced insect attachment ability mainly owing to contamination of attachment pads. The ability to reduce insect attachment was different for the three tested particle films: kaolin and zeolite induced a significantly higher reduction in N. viridula safety factor than calcium carbonate. The coating of the surface was more uniform and compact in kaolin and zeolite compared to calcium carbonate particle film. Moreover, kaolin and zeolite particles can more readily adhere to N. viridula attachment devices, whereas calcium carbonate particles appeared less adherent to the cuticular surface compared to the two aluminosilicate (kaolin and zeolite) particles. Only the application of kaolin reduced insect linear speed during locomotion. Nanoparticle films have a great potential to reduce insect attachment ability and represent a good alternative to the use of insecticides for the control of pentatomid bugs and other pest insects.

ACS Style

Gianandrea Salerno; Manuela Rebora; Silvana Piersanti; Valerio Saitta; Alexander Kovalev; Elena Gorb; Stanislav Gorb. Reduction in Insect Attachment Caused by Different Nanomaterials Used as Particle Films (Kaolin, Zeolite, Calcium Carbonate). Sustainability 2021, 13, 8250 .

AMA Style

Gianandrea Salerno, Manuela Rebora, Silvana Piersanti, Valerio Saitta, Alexander Kovalev, Elena Gorb, Stanislav Gorb. Reduction in Insect Attachment Caused by Different Nanomaterials Used as Particle Films (Kaolin, Zeolite, Calcium Carbonate). Sustainability. 2021; 13 (15):8250.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gianandrea Salerno; Manuela Rebora; Silvana Piersanti; Valerio Saitta; Alexander Kovalev; Elena Gorb; Stanislav Gorb. 2021. "Reduction in Insect Attachment Caused by Different Nanomaterials Used as Particle Films (Kaolin, Zeolite, Calcium Carbonate)." Sustainability 13, no. 15: 8250.

Article
Published: 16 July 2021 in Communications Biology
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Here, the ultrastructure and development of the white patches on thorax and head of Bactrocera oleae are analysed using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and fluorescence microscopy. Based on these analyses and measurements of patch reflectance spectra, we infer that white patches are due to modified air sacs under transparent cuticle. These air sacs show internal arborisations with beads in an empty space, constituting a three-dimensional photonic solid responsible for light scattering. The white patches also show UV-induced blue autofluorescence due to the air sac resilin content. To the best of our knowledge, this research describes a specialized function for air sacs and the first observation of structural color produced by tracheal structures located under transparent cuticles in insects. Sexual dimorphism in the spectral emission also lays a structural basis for further investigations on the biological role of white patches in B. oleae.

ACS Style

Manuela Rebora; Gianandrea Salerno; Silvana Piersanti; Alexander Kovalev; Stanislav Gorb. Cuticular modified air sacs underlie white coloration in the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae. Communications Biology 2021, 4, 1 -12.

AMA Style

Manuela Rebora, Gianandrea Salerno, Silvana Piersanti, Alexander Kovalev, Stanislav Gorb. Cuticular modified air sacs underlie white coloration in the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae. Communications Biology. 2021; 4 (1):1-12.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Manuela Rebora; Gianandrea Salerno; Silvana Piersanti; Alexander Kovalev; Stanislav Gorb. 2021. "Cuticular modified air sacs underlie white coloration in the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae." Communications Biology 4, no. 1: 1-12.

Journal article
Published: 18 March 2021 in Journal of Plant Research
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In ecosystems, plants are continuously challenged by combined stress conditions more than by a single biotic or abiotic factor. Consequently, in recent years studies on plant relationships with multiple stresses have aroused increasing interest. Here, the impact of inoculation with fungal pathogens with different lifestyles on Arabidopsis plants response to the following infestation with the invasive crop pest Eurydema oleracea was investigated. In particular, as fungal pathogens the necrotroph Botrytis cinerea and the biotroph Golovinomyces orontii were used. Plants exposed to B. cinerea, but not to G. orontii, showed reduced herbivore feeding damage. This difference was associated to different hormonal pathways triggered by the pathogens: G. orontii only induced the salicylate-mediated pathway, while B. cinerea stimulated also the jasmonate-dependent signalling, which persisted for a long time providing a long-term defence to further herbivore attack. In particular, the lower susceptibility of B. cinerea-infected Arabidopsis plants to E. oleracea was related to the stimulation of the JA-induced pathway on the production of plant volatile compounds, since treatment with VOCs emitted by B. cinerea inoculated plants inhibited both insect plant choice and feeding damage. These results indicate that necrotrophic plant pathogenic fungi modulate host volatile emission, thus affecting plant response to subsequent insect, thereby increasing the knowledge on tripartite plant–microbe–insect interactions in nature.

ACS Style

Luisa Ederli; Gianandrea Salerno; Mara Quaglia. In the tripartite combination Botrytis cinerea–Arabidopsis–Eurydema oleracea, the fungal pathogen alters the plant–insect interaction via jasmonic acid signalling activation and inducible plant-emitted volatiles. Journal of Plant Research 2021, 134, 523 -533.

AMA Style

Luisa Ederli, Gianandrea Salerno, Mara Quaglia. In the tripartite combination Botrytis cinerea–Arabidopsis–Eurydema oleracea, the fungal pathogen alters the plant–insect interaction via jasmonic acid signalling activation and inducible plant-emitted volatiles. Journal of Plant Research. 2021; 134 (3):523-533.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luisa Ederli; Gianandrea Salerno; Mara Quaglia. 2021. "In the tripartite combination Botrytis cinerea–Arabidopsis–Eurydema oleracea, the fungal pathogen alters the plant–insect interaction via jasmonic acid signalling activation and inducible plant-emitted volatiles." Journal of Plant Research 134, no. 3: 523-533.

Original research
Published: 17 March 2021 in Ecology and Evolution
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Search image formation, a proximal mechanism to maintain genetic polymorphisms by negative frequency‐dependent selection, has rarely been tested under natural conditions. Females of many nonterritorial damselflies resemble either conspecific males or background vegetation. Mate‐searching males are assumed to form search images of the majority female type, sexually harassing it at rates higher than expected from its frequency, thus selectively favoring the less common morph. We tested this and how morph coloration and behavior influenced male perception and intersexual encounters by following marked Ischnura elegans and noting their reactions to conspecifics. Contrary to search image formation and associative learning hypotheses, although males encountered the minority, male‐like morph more often, sexual harassment and clutch size were similar for both morphs. Prior mating attempts or copula with morphs did not affect a male's subsequent reaction to them; males rarely attempted matings with immature females or males. Females mated early in the day, reducing the opportunity for males to learn their identity beforehand. Once encountered, the male‐like morph was more readily noticed by males than the alternative morph, which once noticed was more likely to receive mating attempts. Flexible behavior gave morphs considerable control over their apparency to males, influencing intersexual encounters. Results suggested a more subtle proximal mechanism than male learning maintains these color polymorphisms and call for inferences of learning to be validated by behavior of wild receivers and their signalers.

ACS Style

Silvana Piersanti; Gianandrea Salerno; Viviana Di Pietro; Leonardo Giontella; Manuela Rebora; Albyn Jones; Ola M. Fincke. Tests of search image and learning in the wild: Insights from sexual conflict in damselflies. Ecology and Evolution 2021, 11, 4399 -4412.

AMA Style

Silvana Piersanti, Gianandrea Salerno, Viviana Di Pietro, Leonardo Giontella, Manuela Rebora, Albyn Jones, Ola M. Fincke. Tests of search image and learning in the wild: Insights from sexual conflict in damselflies. Ecology and Evolution. 2021; 11 (9):4399-4412.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Silvana Piersanti; Gianandrea Salerno; Viviana Di Pietro; Leonardo Giontella; Manuela Rebora; Albyn Jones; Ola M. Fincke. 2021. "Tests of search image and learning in the wild: Insights from sexual conflict in damselflies." Ecology and Evolution 11, no. 9: 4399-4412.

Original paper
Published: 23 January 2021 in Zoomorphology
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The present ultrastructural investigation using scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as light and fluorescence microscopy describes in detail the attachment devices and tarsal gland of the bug Coreus marginatus (L.) (Hemiptera: Coreidae). In particular, the fine structure of pulvilli reveals a ventral surface rich with pore channels, consistent with fluid emission, and a folded dorsal surface, which could be useful to enhance the pulvillus contact area during attachment to the substrate. The detailed description of the tarsal gland cells, whose structure is coherent with an active secretory function, allows us to consider the tarsal gland as the plausible candidate for the adhesive fluid production. Scolopidia strictly adhering to the gland cells are also described. On the basis of the fine structure of the tarsal gland, we hypothesise a fluid emission mechanism based on changes of the hydraulic pressure inside the gland, due to the unguitractor tendon movements. This mechanism could provide the fluid release based on compression of the pad and capillary suction, as demonstrated in other insects. The data here reported can contribute to understanding of insect adhesive fluid production, emission and control of its transport.

ACS Style

Manuela Rebora; Gianandrea Salerno; Silvana Piersanti; Elena V. Gorb; Stanislav N. Gorb. Attachment devices and the tarsal gland of the bug Coreus marginatus (Hemiptera: Coreidae). Zoomorphology 2021, 140, 85 -102.

AMA Style

Manuela Rebora, Gianandrea Salerno, Silvana Piersanti, Elena V. Gorb, Stanislav N. Gorb. Attachment devices and the tarsal gland of the bug Coreus marginatus (Hemiptera: Coreidae). Zoomorphology. 2021; 140 (1):85-102.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Manuela Rebora; Gianandrea Salerno; Silvana Piersanti; Elena V. Gorb; Stanislav N. Gorb. 2021. "Attachment devices and the tarsal gland of the bug Coreus marginatus (Hemiptera: Coreidae)." Zoomorphology 140, no. 1: 85-102.

Journal article
Published: 16 December 2020 in Insects
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Dragonflies are hemimetabolous insects, switching from an aquatic life style as nymphs to aerial life as adults, confronted to different environmental cues. How sensory structures on the antennae and the brain regions processing the incoming information are adapted to the reception of fundamentally different sensory cues has not been investigated in hemimetabolous insects. Here we describe the antennal sensilla, the general brain structure, and the antennal sensory pathways in the last six nymphal instars of Libellula depressa, in comparison with earlier published data from adults, using scanning electron microscopy, and antennal receptor neuron and antennal lobe output neuron mass-tracing with tetramethylrhodamin. Brain structure was visualized with an anti-synapsin antibody. Differently from adults, the nymphal antennal flagellum harbors many mechanoreceptive sensilla, one olfactory, and two thermo-hygroreceptive sensilla at all investigated instars. The nymphal brain is very similar to the adult brain throughout development, despite the considerable differences in antennal sensilla and habitat. Like in adults, nymphal brains contain mushroom bodies lacking calyces and small aglomerular antennal lobes. Antennal fibers innervate the antennal lobe similar to adult brains and the gnathal ganglion more prominently than in adults. Similar brain structures are thus used in L. depressa nymphs and adults to process diverging sensory information.

ACS Style

Silvana Piersanti; Manuela Rebora; Gianandrea Salerno; Sylvia Anton. The Antennal Pathway of Dragonfly Nymphs, from Sensilla to the Brain. Insects 2020, 11, 886 .

AMA Style

Silvana Piersanti, Manuela Rebora, Gianandrea Salerno, Sylvia Anton. The Antennal Pathway of Dragonfly Nymphs, from Sensilla to the Brain. Insects. 2020; 11 (12):886.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Silvana Piersanti; Manuela Rebora; Gianandrea Salerno; Sylvia Anton. 2020. "The Antennal Pathway of Dragonfly Nymphs, from Sensilla to the Brain." Insects 11, no. 12: 886.

Journal article
Published: 28 September 2020 in Journal of Insect Physiology
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The present investigation reports data on the attachment ability of the Southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), a relevant pest in the world, along its whole life cycle. Using a centrifugal force tester, we evaluated a) the differences in the attachment ability among the four active nymphal developmental instars (N2-N5 nymphs) and adult to hydrophilic glass, showing an increased attachment ability during ontogenesis, owing to increased pulvilli size and efficiency; b) the possible role of growth and body shape on insect attachment ability on hydrophilic glass during the intermoult period, revealing that N. viridula nymphs attach stronger (higher safety factor) in the first part of the intermoult period; c) the age-specific differences in the attachment ability of adults of both sexes on hydrophilic glass, showing the best performance at an intermediate age, in agreement with a higher proportion of resilin in comparison with younger or older insects; d) the difference in attachment ability on hydrophilic vs. hydrophobic glass along the insect development, revealing a strong effect of surface hydrophobicity on reducing the attachment of N. viridula nymphs and adults. The results on the attachment ability of a hemimetabolous insect along its life cycle are relevant because they 1) shed light on different adaptations of attachment pads in relation to insect size, shape and age; 2) deepen the knowledge on the functional morphological adaptations, thus potentially contributing to the development of suitable control systems for this important pest insect.

ACS Style

Gianandrea Salerno; Manuela Rebora; Silvana Piersanti; Yoko Matsumura; Elena Gorb; Stanislav Gorb. Variation of attachment ability of Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) during nymphal development and adult aging. Journal of Insect Physiology 2020, 127, 104117 .

AMA Style

Gianandrea Salerno, Manuela Rebora, Silvana Piersanti, Yoko Matsumura, Elena Gorb, Stanislav Gorb. Variation of attachment ability of Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) during nymphal development and adult aging. Journal of Insect Physiology. 2020; 127 ():104117.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gianandrea Salerno; Manuela Rebora; Silvana Piersanti; Yoko Matsumura; Elena Gorb; Stanislav Gorb. 2020. "Variation of attachment ability of Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) during nymphal development and adult aging." Journal of Insect Physiology 127, no. : 104117.

Original paper
Published: 27 March 2020 in Arthropod-Plant Interactions
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Flies of the genus Bradysia (Diptera, Sciaridae) are considered as major insect pests of greenhouse-grown horticultural crops. The ability of hooked trichomes of the French bean Phaseolus vulgaris to impale and entrap herbivorous insects thus resulting in insect reduced longevity, reproduction and larval mortality is well known. The present study investigates under laboratory conditions the ability of hooked trichomes of bean leaves to entrap fungus gnats Bradysia paupera, in order to estimate the reduction of their population. We characterized the entrapment mechanism of hooked trichomes towards B. paupera using cryo-scanning electron microscopy, and evaluated the silicon distribution in hooked trichomes with the energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. We evaluated the trapping efficiency of hooked trichomes in fertilized and unfertilized bean plants towards B. paupera, in comparison with insects feeding on the plant leaf such as black bean aphid Aphis fabae and young stages of the southern green stinkbug Nezara viridula. For B. paupera, we recorded about 30% of entrapped insects in unfertilized plants. Considering the number of entrapped insects in relation to the leaf surface, the percentage of entrapped insect was higher in unfertilized than in fertilized plants having lower density of hooked trichomes. The presence of P. vulgaris plants in greenhouses could represent a useful method in integrated pest management to reduce Bradysia spp. population.

ACS Style

Manuela Rebora; Gianandrea Salerno; Silvana Piersanti; Elena Gorb; Stanislav Gorb. Entrapment of Bradysia paupera (Diptera: Sciaridae) by Phaseolus vulgaris (Fabaceae) plant leaf. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 2020, 14, 499 -509.

AMA Style

Manuela Rebora, Gianandrea Salerno, Silvana Piersanti, Elena Gorb, Stanislav Gorb. Entrapment of Bradysia paupera (Diptera: Sciaridae) by Phaseolus vulgaris (Fabaceae) plant leaf. Arthropod-Plant Interactions. 2020; 14 (4):499-509.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Manuela Rebora; Gianandrea Salerno; Silvana Piersanti; Elena Gorb; Stanislav Gorb. 2020. "Entrapment of Bradysia paupera (Diptera: Sciaridae) by Phaseolus vulgaris (Fabaceae) plant leaf." Arthropod-Plant Interactions 14, no. 4: 499-509.

Journal article
Published: 17 March 2020 in Insects
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The olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae) is the major pest of cultivated olives (Olea europaea L.), and a serious threat in all of the Mediterranean Region. In the present investigation, we demonstrated with traction force experiments that B. oleae female adhesion is reduced by epicuticular waxes (EWs) fruit surface, and that the olive fruit fly shows a different ability to attach to the ripe olive surface of different cultivars of O. europaea (Arbequina, Carolea, Dolce Agogia, Frantoio, Kalamata, Leccino, Manzanilla, Picholine, Nostrale di Rigali, Pendolino and San Felice) in terms of friction force and adhesion, in relation with different mean values of olive surface wettability. Cryo-scanning morphological investigation revealed that the EW present on the olive surface of the different analyzed cultivars are represented by irregular platelets varying in the orientation, thus contributing to affect the surface microroughness and wettability in the different cultivars, and consequently the olive fruit fly attachment. Further investigations to elucidate the role of EW in olive varietal resistance to the olive fruit fly in relation to the olive developmental stage and environmental conditions could be relevant to develop control methods alternative to the use of harmful pesticides.

ACS Style

Manuela Rebora; Gianandrea Salerno; Silvana Piersanti; Elena Gorb; Stanislav Gorb. Role of Fruit Epicuticular Waxes in Preventing Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae) Attachment in Different Cultivars of Olea europaea. Insects 2020, 11, 189 .

AMA Style

Manuela Rebora, Gianandrea Salerno, Silvana Piersanti, Elena Gorb, Stanislav Gorb. Role of Fruit Epicuticular Waxes in Preventing Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae) Attachment in Different Cultivars of Olea europaea. Insects. 2020; 11 (3):189.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Manuela Rebora; Gianandrea Salerno; Silvana Piersanti; Elena Gorb; Stanislav Gorb. 2020. "Role of Fruit Epicuticular Waxes in Preventing Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae) Attachment in Different Cultivars of Olea europaea." Insects 11, no. 3: 189.

Journal article
Published: 18 January 2020 in Zoology
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Fruit features represent a trade-off between dispersal and protection against frugivore insects. To prevent insect attack, plants evolved chemical and physical barriers, mainly studied in leaves, while limited knowledge is available for fruits, especially concerning mechanical barriers. We used the Mediterranean fruit fly to shed light on the mechanical ecology of insect-fruit attachment in a pest species. We tested the following hypotheses: is there any sexual dimorphism in attachment devices and attachment ability? Can the attachment ability of females of Ceratitis capitata to fruits of various host plants vary according to fruit surfaces with different morphology (smooth, hairy, waxy) or physico-chemical properties? The tarsal attachment devices were studied using Cryo-SEM and TEM. The maximum friction forces of C. capitata females on fruit surfaces of typical host plants were evaluated using a load cell force transducer. The attachment ability of both sexes on artificial surfaces was evaluated using a centrifugal force tester. Our data revealed sexual dimorphism in the size of pulvilli, which are wider in females. A higher friction force is exerted by females in comparison with males, in agreement with the need to firmly adhere to the host plant fruit during oviposition. Among the tested fruits, the stronger friction force was recorded on hairy or rough surfaces while a force reduction was recorded on waxy fruits. To unravel the mechanical ecology of insect-plant interaction between plants and species of Tephritidae can be useful to develop non-chemical methods to control these important crop pests.

ACS Style

Gianandrea Salerno; Manuela Rebora; Silvana Piersanti; Elena Gorb; Stanislav Gorb. Mechanical ecology of fruit-insect interaction in the adult Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). Zoology 2020, 139, 125748 .

AMA Style

Gianandrea Salerno, Manuela Rebora, Silvana Piersanti, Elena Gorb, Stanislav Gorb. Mechanical ecology of fruit-insect interaction in the adult Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). Zoology. 2020; 139 ():125748.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gianandrea Salerno; Manuela Rebora; Silvana Piersanti; Elena Gorb; Stanislav Gorb. 2020. "Mechanical ecology of fruit-insect interaction in the adult Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)." Zoology 139, no. : 125748.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2020 in Journal of Experimental Biology
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The moth Malacosoma castrensis (Lasiocampidae) is commonly found along the Northern Germany coasts whose habitat is mainly represented by salt marshes subjected to sea level variations. Surprisingly, terrestrial caterpillars can withstand many hours being flooded by the seawater. The ability to withstand periods of submersion in a terrestrial insect raises the problem of respiration related to avoiding water percolation into the tracheal system. In the present study, we investigated under laboratory conditions the role of water-repellent cuticle structures in oxygen supply in caterpillars of M. castrensis submerged in water. For this purpose, air-layer stability tests using force measurements, and micromorphology of cuticle structures using SEM and fluorescence microscopy were performed. A plastron appeared when a caterpillar is under water. Plastron stability, its’ gasses composition, and internal pressure were estimated. The plastron is stabilized by long and rare hairs, which are much thicker than the corresponding hairs of aquatic insects. Thick and stiff hairs with sclerotized basal and middle regions protrude into the water through plastron – water interface, while substantial regions of thin and flexible hairs are aligned along the plastron – water interface and their side walls can support pressure in plastron even below atmospheric pressure. Additional anchoring points between hair's stalk and microtrichia near to the hair base provide enhanced stiffness to the hair layer and prevent hair layer from collapse and water entering between hairs. Advancing contact angle on hairs is more than 90°, which is close to the effective contact angle for the whole caterpillar.

ACS Style

Alexander Kovalev; Manuela Rebora; Gianandrea Salerno; Stanislav Gorb. Air-entrapping capacity in the hair coverage of Malacosoma castrensis (Lasiocampidae: Lepidoptera) caterpillar: a case study. Journal of Experimental Biology 2020, 1 .

AMA Style

Alexander Kovalev, Manuela Rebora, Gianandrea Salerno, Stanislav Gorb. Air-entrapping capacity in the hair coverage of Malacosoma castrensis (Lasiocampidae: Lepidoptera) caterpillar: a case study. Journal of Experimental Biology. 2020; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alexander Kovalev; Manuela Rebora; Gianandrea Salerno; Stanislav Gorb. 2020. "Air-entrapping capacity in the hair coverage of Malacosoma castrensis (Lasiocampidae: Lepidoptera) caterpillar: a case study." Journal of Experimental Biology , no. : 1.

Addendum
Published: 19 December 2019 in Plant Signaling & Behavior
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We recently reported the transcriptomic signature of salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthetic and responsive genes in Arabidopsis thaliana plants infested with the herbivore Eurydema oleracea. We demonstrated that insect feeding causes induction of both SA- and JA-mediated signaling pathways. Using transgenic SA-deficient NahG plants, we also showed antagonistic cross-talk between these two phytohormones. To gain more insight into the roles of the SA and JA pathways in plant defenses against E. oleracea, we report here on the dynamics of SA and JA levels in the wild-type genotype Col-0 and the transgenic Arabidopsis NahG mutant that does not accumulate SA. We show that SA strongly accumulates in the wild-type plants after 24 h of herbivore infestation, while JA levels do not change significantly. On the contrary, in the infested NahG plants, SA levels were not affected by E. oleracea feeding, whereas JA levels which were constitutively higher than the wild-type did not significantly change after 6 hours of herbivore feeding. Accordingly, when the wild-type and the jar1-1 mutant (which fails to accumulate JA-Ile) Arabidopsis plants were challenged with E. oleracea in a two-choice arena, the insect fed preferentially on the jar1-1 plants over the wild-type. These data support the conclusion that E. oleracea infestation strongly induces the SA pathway in the wild-type, thus antagonizing JA-mediated plant defenses against herbivory, as a strategy to suppress plant immunity.

ACS Style

Alma Costarelli; Chantal Bianchet; Luisa Ederli; Gianandrea Salerno; Silvana Piersanti; Manuela Rebora; Stefania Pasqualini. Salicylic acid induced by herbivore feeding antagonizes jasmonic acid mediated plant defenses against insect attack. Plant Signaling & Behavior 2019, 15, 1704517 .

AMA Style

Alma Costarelli, Chantal Bianchet, Luisa Ederli, Gianandrea Salerno, Silvana Piersanti, Manuela Rebora, Stefania Pasqualini. Salicylic acid induced by herbivore feeding antagonizes jasmonic acid mediated plant defenses against insect attack. Plant Signaling & Behavior. 2019; 15 (1):1704517.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alma Costarelli; Chantal Bianchet; Luisa Ederli; Gianandrea Salerno; Silvana Piersanti; Manuela Rebora; Stefania Pasqualini. 2019. "Salicylic acid induced by herbivore feeding antagonizes jasmonic acid mediated plant defenses against insect attack." Plant Signaling & Behavior 15, no. 1: 1704517.

Journal article
Published: 10 December 2019 in Journal of Insect Physiology
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The cabbage stink bugs of the genus Eurydema, encompassing several oligophagous species, such as Eurydema oleracea (L.), are known to be important pests of cabbage, broccoli, and other cole crops in Europe. Despite their economic importance, the knowledge regarding the role of chemical cues in host plant selection of these species is very limited. The present investigation on E. oleracea at the adult stage revealed the use of olfaction in host plant selection of this species and demonstrated with behavioural tests that E. oleracea preferred feeding on wild Eruca sativa, rather than on Brassica oleracea. Moreover, ultrastructural data revealed the antennal sensilla of E. oleracea, encompassing single walled and double walled olfactory sensilla, and electroantennographic recordings revealed their sensitivity to several host plant VOCs from E. sativa and B. oleracea. The data shown in the present research may be useful in the development of semiochemical-based strategies or trap crops for the control of this pest in the field.

ACS Style

Silvana Piersanti; Manuela Rebora; Luisa Ederli; Stefania Pasqualini; Gianandrea Salerno. Role of chemical cues in cabbage stink bug host plant selection. Journal of Insect Physiology 2019, 120, 103994 .

AMA Style

Silvana Piersanti, Manuela Rebora, Luisa Ederli, Stefania Pasqualini, Gianandrea Salerno. Role of chemical cues in cabbage stink bug host plant selection. Journal of Insect Physiology. 2019; 120 ():103994.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Silvana Piersanti; Manuela Rebora; Luisa Ederli; Stefania Pasqualini; Gianandrea Salerno. 2019. "Role of chemical cues in cabbage stink bug host plant selection." Journal of Insect Physiology 120, no. : 103994.

Original paper
Published: 07 November 2019 in Arthropod-Plant Interactions
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The study of defense mechanisms of plants against herbivorous insects can clarify the evolutionary mechanisms of these interactions and has significant implications for agriculture. The herbivore Eurydema oleracea is an invasive crop pest; however, knowledge on how it affects plant immune responses is lacking. In the present study, we demonstrate that insect feeding causes the induction of both salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA)-mediated signaling pathways in infested Arabidopsis plants. Using transgenic SA-deficient NahG, we show that the two phytohormones crosstalk antagonistically. In particular, the rapid and strong induction of SA-related gene expression partially suppresses the JA-dependent signaling pathway. This results in increased plant susceptibility to the herbivore, evidenced by an increase of leaf damage inflicted by the adult insects and increased development of the nymphs. Our findings suggest that E. oleracea manipulates hormone signaling components of Arabidopsis as a strategy of attack to suppress plant defense traits. Our work contributes to knowledge on the adaptation of insect pests to plant responses, and is useful for developing management strategies to combat harmful herbivores in agriculture.

ACS Style

Luisa Ederli; Gianandrea Salerno; Chantal Bianchet; Manuela Rebora; Silvana Piersanti; Stefania Pasqualini. Eurydema oleracea negatively affects defenses in Arabidopsis by inducing salicylic acid-mediated signaling pathway. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 2019, 14, 139 -148.

AMA Style

Luisa Ederli, Gianandrea Salerno, Chantal Bianchet, Manuela Rebora, Silvana Piersanti, Stefania Pasqualini. Eurydema oleracea negatively affects defenses in Arabidopsis by inducing salicylic acid-mediated signaling pathway. Arthropod-Plant Interactions. 2019; 14 (1):139-148.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luisa Ederli; Gianandrea Salerno; Chantal Bianchet; Manuela Rebora; Silvana Piersanti; Stefania Pasqualini. 2019. "Eurydema oleracea negatively affects defenses in Arabidopsis by inducing salicylic acid-mediated signaling pathway." Arthropod-Plant Interactions 14, no. 1: 139-148.

Original paper
Published: 19 August 2019 in Journal of Pest Science
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The present study investigates under controlled conditions the effect of kaolin particle film on reduction of insect attachment ability. Two economically important polyphagous insect pests characterized by different attachment devices were tested, the Southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) and the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). We performed traction force experiments with females pulling on treated (covered with kaolin particle film) and untreated (control) natural (leaf surfaces with different morphological traits) and artificial (hydrophilic and hydrophobic glass) surfaces. The data demonstrated that insect adhesion is heavily affected by kaolin particle film in both tested species. The degree of reduction of insect adhesion to the treated substrates compared with the untreated ones differed according to the kind of treated substrate owing to its initial wettability and morphology (presence of trichomes). To unravel the insect adhesion reduction mechanism of kaolin particle film, we evaluated the safety factor for females before and after walking on treated surfaces and analyzed under cryo-SEM the tarsal attachment devices of N. viridula and C. capitata after walking on treated surfaces. We observed contamination by the kaolin nanoflakes in both the smooth pads of the bug and the hairy pads of the fly. The present study can help to better understand the mechanism of action of kaolin particle film and can contribute to develop future physical control barriers against pest insects, particularly relevant owing to the need to reduce the negative impacts of pesticides on environment and human health.

ACS Style

Gianandrea Salerno; Manuela Rebora; Alexander Kovalev; Elena Gorb; Stanislav Gorb. Kaolin nano-powder effect on insect attachment ability. Journal of Pest Science 2019, 93, 315 -327.

AMA Style

Gianandrea Salerno, Manuela Rebora, Alexander Kovalev, Elena Gorb, Stanislav Gorb. Kaolin nano-powder effect on insect attachment ability. Journal of Pest Science. 2019; 93 (1):315-327.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gianandrea Salerno; Manuela Rebora; Alexander Kovalev; Elena Gorb; Stanislav Gorb. 2019. "Kaolin nano-powder effect on insect attachment ability." Journal of Pest Science 93, no. 1: 315-327.

Journal article
Published: 14 June 2019 in Insects
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Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) is considered as one of the most destructive foodstuff pests. Due to their efficiency, low toxicity for mammalians and low environmental impact, plant-derived essential oils (EOs) are promising tools for pest control. In particular, the OEs extracted from Lamiaceae are considered among the most bioactive in terms of repellent and/or insecticidal effect. Here, we investigated the repellence of the EOs extracted from two aromatic plant species typical of the flora of the Ecuadorian Andes, Clinopodium tomentosum and C. nubigeum, against adults of S. zeamais. The behavioral assays carried out at concentrations ranging from 0.7 to 23.9 μL L-1 air in a two-way static olfactometer showed a significant repellent effect starting from the concentration of 8.4 mL L-1 air both for the EO of C. nubigenum and C. tomentosum. We also carried out a complete structural analysis of the antenna of S. zeamais using scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), in order to characterize the olfactory sensilla equipment. In this species, there is no sexual dimorphism also as regards to the antennal morphology and the sensilla type and distribution. We identified six type of sensilla, among which at least three types (Sensillum Trichoideum 1, Sensillum Trichoideum 2 and Grooved Peg Sensillum) can be considered as olfactory. Electroantennography (EAG) recordings carried out on S. zeamais revealed a positive dose-response to both EOs, without differences between the two sexes.

ACS Style

Roberto Romani; Stefano Bedini; Gianandrea Salerno; Roberta Ascrizzi; Guido Flamini; Maria Cristina Echeverria; Priscilla Farina; Barbara Conti. Andean Flora as a Source of New Repellents against Insect Pests: Behavioral, Morphological and Electrophysiological Studies on Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Insects 2019, 10, 171 .

AMA Style

Roberto Romani, Stefano Bedini, Gianandrea Salerno, Roberta Ascrizzi, Guido Flamini, Maria Cristina Echeverria, Priscilla Farina, Barbara Conti. Andean Flora as a Source of New Repellents against Insect Pests: Behavioral, Morphological and Electrophysiological Studies on Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Insects. 2019; 10 (6):171.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Roberto Romani; Stefano Bedini; Gianandrea Salerno; Roberta Ascrizzi; Guido Flamini; Maria Cristina Echeverria; Priscilla Farina; Barbara Conti. 2019. "Andean Flora as a Source of New Repellents against Insect Pests: Behavioral, Morphological and Electrophysiological Studies on Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)." Insects 10, no. 6: 171.

Original research article
Published: 12 April 2019 in Frontiers in Physiology
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Insect parasitoids are under selection pressure to optimize their host location strategy in order to maximize fitness. In parasitoid species that develop on host eggs, one of these strategies consists in the exploitation of oviposition-induced plant volatiles (OIPVs), specific blends of volatile organic compounds released by plants in response to egg deposition by herbivorous insects. Plants can recognize insect oviposition via elicitors that trigger OIPVs, but very few elicitors have been characterized so far. In particular, the source and the nature of the elicitor responsible of egg parasitoid recruitment in the case of plants induced with oviposition by stink bugs are still unknown. In this paper, we conducted behavioral and molecular investigations to localize the source of the elicitor that attracts egg parasitoids and elucidate the role of host mating in elicitation of plant responses. We used as organism study model a tritrophic system consisting of the egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis, the stink bug host Nezara viridula and the plant Vicia faba. We found that egg parasitoid attraction to plant volatiles is triggered by extracts coming from the dilated portion of the stink bug spermathecal complex. However, attraction only occurs if extracts are obtained from mated females but not from virgin ones. Egg parasitoid attraction was not observed when extracts coming from the accessory glands (mesadene and ectadene) of male hosts were applied, either alone or in combination to plants. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis correlated with olfactometer observations as the protein profile of the dilated portion of the spermathecal complex was affected by the stink bug mating status suggesting post-copulatory physiological changes in this reproductive structure. This study contributed to better understanding the host location process by egg parasitoids and laid the basis for the chemical characterization of the elicitor responsible for OIPV emission.

ACS Style

Gianandrea Salerno; Francesca Frati; Eric Conti; Ezio Peri; Stefano Colazza; Antonino Cusumano. Mating Status of an Herbivorous Stink Bug Female Affects the Emission of Oviposition-Induced Plant Volatiles Exploited by an Egg Parasitoid. Frontiers in Physiology 2019, 10, 398 .

AMA Style

Gianandrea Salerno, Francesca Frati, Eric Conti, Ezio Peri, Stefano Colazza, Antonino Cusumano. Mating Status of an Herbivorous Stink Bug Female Affects the Emission of Oviposition-Induced Plant Volatiles Exploited by an Egg Parasitoid. Frontiers in Physiology. 2019; 10 ():398.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gianandrea Salerno; Francesca Frati; Eric Conti; Ezio Peri; Stefano Colazza; Antonino Cusumano. 2019. "Mating Status of an Herbivorous Stink Bug Female Affects the Emission of Oviposition-Induced Plant Volatiles Exploited by an Egg Parasitoid." Frontiers in Physiology 10, no. : 398.

Journal article
Published: 03 December 2018 in Journal of Insect Physiology
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Insects devote a high amount of time to self-groom to remove foreign material, especially from their sensory appendages. Using various microscopy techniques and behavioural experiments on intact and ablated insects, the present study investigates the antennal grooming of the green stinkbug Nezara viridula, which represents a serious pest of different crops in most areas of the world. The antennal grooming behaviour encompass an action of scraping involving the tibial comb complex (tibial comb + fossula) of both forelegs, generally followed by the tibial comb complex grooming of one leg using the tarsal hairy pad of the opposite leg (rubbing). From our observations, we can exclude a role in the antennal grooming of other structures such as the foretibial apparatus, while we show an involvement of this last structure in repositioning the stylets inside the labium. The external and internal morphology (cryo-scanning and transmission electron microscopy) and the evidence for the presence of the elastic protein resilin (confocal laser scanning microscopy) in some parts of both the tibial comb complex and the foretibial apparatus are shown and their functional roles are discussed. For the first time we demonstrated here the multipurpose role of the basitarsal hairy pad that is involved in antennal grooming and adhesion to the substrate.

ACS Style

Manuela Rebora; Gianandrea Salerno; Silvana Piersanti; Jan Michels; Stanislav Gorb. Structure and biomechanics of the antennal grooming mechanism in the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula. Journal of Insect Physiology 2018, 112, 57 -67.

AMA Style

Manuela Rebora, Gianandrea Salerno, Silvana Piersanti, Jan Michels, Stanislav Gorb. Structure and biomechanics of the antennal grooming mechanism in the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula. Journal of Insect Physiology. 2018; 112 ():57-67.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Manuela Rebora; Gianandrea Salerno; Silvana Piersanti; Jan Michels; Stanislav Gorb. 2018. "Structure and biomechanics of the antennal grooming mechanism in the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula." Journal of Insect Physiology 112, no. : 57-67.

Erratum
Published: 09 October 2018 in Animal Behaviour
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ACS Style

Manuela Rebora; Francesca Frati; Silvana Piersanti; Gianandrea Salerno; Roberto Selvaggini; Ola M. Fincke. Erratum to “Field tests of multiple sensory cues in sex recognition and harassment of a colour polymorphic damselfly” [Animal Behaviour 136 (2018) 127–136]. Animal Behaviour 2018, 145, 171 .

AMA Style

Manuela Rebora, Francesca Frati, Silvana Piersanti, Gianandrea Salerno, Roberto Selvaggini, Ola M. Fincke. Erratum to “Field tests of multiple sensory cues in sex recognition and harassment of a colour polymorphic damselfly” [Animal Behaviour 136 (2018) 127–136]. Animal Behaviour. 2018; 145 ():171.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Manuela Rebora; Francesca Frati; Silvana Piersanti; Gianandrea Salerno; Roberto Selvaggini; Ola M. Fincke. 2018. "Erratum to “Field tests of multiple sensory cues in sex recognition and harassment of a colour polymorphic damselfly” [Animal Behaviour 136 (2018) 127–136]." Animal Behaviour 145, no. : 171.

Journal article
Published: 24 September 2018 in Knowledge & Management of Aquatic Ecosystems
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The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii is the most cosmopolitan invasive freshwater crayfish species in the world. High tolerance to a wide range of environmental conditions, among which its great ability to survive drought conditions, and the economic importance are the main factors of its spreading success. The present study tests for the first time the survival of this species to different relative humidity (RH) conditions (plastic boxes with humidity controlling salt solutions at 30%, 50%, 70%, 100% RH) and its ability to orient in humidity gradients (dual-choice chambers 50–78% RH, 60–75% RH). P. clarkii shows a great ability to survive out of water, positively related to the RH conditions, surviving more than two days at very low humidity (30% RH) and more than one month at 100% RH. In addition the crayfish showed a positive hygrotaxis spending most of their time in the area of the choice chambers with a higher RH. The results of the present investigation are particularly relevant considering that one of the major challenges to predict and control biological invasion lies in understanding which biological and ecological features might favor the colonization of alien invasive species in new areas.

ACS Style

Silvana Piersanti; Matteo Pallottini; Gianandrea Salerno; Enzo Goretti; Antonia Concetta Elia; Ambrosius Josef Martin Dörr; Manuela Rebora. Resistance to dehydration and positive hygrotaxis in the invasive red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii. Knowledge & Management of Aquatic Ecosystems 2018, 36 .

AMA Style

Silvana Piersanti, Matteo Pallottini, Gianandrea Salerno, Enzo Goretti, Antonia Concetta Elia, Ambrosius Josef Martin Dörr, Manuela Rebora. Resistance to dehydration and positive hygrotaxis in the invasive red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii. Knowledge & Management of Aquatic Ecosystems. 2018; (419):36.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Silvana Piersanti; Matteo Pallottini; Gianandrea Salerno; Enzo Goretti; Antonia Concetta Elia; Ambrosius Josef Martin Dörr; Manuela Rebora. 2018. "Resistance to dehydration and positive hygrotaxis in the invasive red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii." Knowledge & Management of Aquatic Ecosystems , no. 419: 36.