An apparatus and method for measuring feeding preference and host selection of bactrocera cucurbitae larvae

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of bactrocera cucurbitae larvae feeding preference and host selection determination device and use method, it is related to insect feeding preference and host selection determination technical field, including box and box cover, box cover is set in the upper end of box, the bottom of box is set with the drop port in the center, the lower end of drop port is set with threaded tube, threaded tube is connected with drop pipe, fixed device is set on box, fixed device includes the fixed nail being set above box and the fixed magnet being set below box, the upper end of fixed magnet is set with positioning card, the center of positioning card is set with positioning hole, positioning hole is connected with threaded tube, the lower end of positioning card is set with card fixed plate, the center of card fixed plate is set with fixed hole, fixed hole is connected with threaded tube, card fixed plate is set in the upper end of fixed magnet.The application uses the above-mentioned structure of a kind of bactrocera cucurbitae larvae feeding preference and host selection determination device and use method, with the advantages of simple structure, easy to operate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of insect feeding preference and host selection measurement technology, and in particular to a device and method for measuring the feeding preference and host selection of melon fly larvae. Background Technology

[0002] melon fly ( Zeugodacus cucurbitae ), also known as the Oriental fruit fly, belongs to the order Diptera, family Tetriphitidae, and genus Flyflies (… Bactrocera The melon fly (Macquarius macquarius) is a globally significant invasive agricultural pest. It has a wide host plant range, damaging up to 100 species. Based on its feeding targets and dietary range, the melon fly is a typical polyphagous herbivorous insect. Host plants for herbivorous insects are generally divided into two categories: feeding hosts and oviposition hosts. Herbivorous insects primarily obtain the nutrients needed for growth from their feeding hosts, while reproducing on their oviposition hosts. Through long-term co-evolution, the growth and development of insects after feeding are closely related to the types of plants they feed on. Numerous studies have shown that different host plants have a significant impact on the growth, development, reproduction, and life history of herbivorous insects. Given a choice, herbivorous insects often choose the host plant that is optimal for their growth and development. Therefore, clarifying the relationship between the feeding preferences of herbivorous insects and their host selection and growth and development, and understanding their feeding preferences and host selection, is of great guiding significance for the integrated management and occurrence prediction of herbivorous pests.

[0003] Currently, the "leaf disc method" is the main method for determining the feeding preferences and host selection of herbivorous insects. However, this method is difficult to use because plant leaves are hard to fix and mark, and the insects are easily damaged or unevenly distributed when introduced, which affects the accuracy of the experiment. In addition, it is time-consuming and labor-intensive and cannot meet the requirements of accurate and rapid measurement. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a device and method for measuring the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae, which solves the problems and defects of the traditional leaf disc method and provides a simple and easy-to-operate device for measuring feeding preferences and host selection.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a device and method for determining the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae, comprising a box body and a box lid. The box lid is disposed at the upper end of the box body. A feeding port is provided at the center of the bottom of the box body. A threaded tube is provided at the lower end of the feeding port, and the threaded tube is connected to the feeding tube. A fixing device is provided on the box body. The fixing device includes a fixing nail disposed at the upper end of the box body and a fixing magnet disposed at the lower end of the box body. A positioning card is provided at the upper end of the fixing magnet. A positioning hole is provided at the center of the positioning card, and the positioning hole is connected to the threaded tube. A card fixing plate is provided at the lower end of the positioning card. A fixing hole is provided at the center of the card fixing plate, and the fixing hole is connected to the threaded tube. The card fixing plate is disposed at the upper end of the fixing magnet.

[0006] Preferably, the positioning card has evenly arranged positioning rings, and the positioning rings are numbered on the outside of the positioning rings. The positioning card is made of transparent PVC material.

[0007] Preferably, the upper end of the positioning ring is connected to the fixing pin, and the fixing pin includes a circular plastic-coated iron sheet and a stainless steel needle welded to the center of the circular plastic-coated iron sheet.

[0008] Preferably, the lower end of the box is provided with support feet, and there are four support feet, which are arc-shaped structures.

[0009] Preferably, both the box body and the box lid are made of transparent acrylic plastic.

[0010] Preferably, the card fixing plate is made of rigid transparent PVC material.

[0011] Preferably, the delivery tube is a closed circular tube with threads on the inner side.

[0012] A method for using a device for determining the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae includes the following steps:

[0013] Step 1: Assemble the test device. Take out the box, positioning card and card fixing plate. First, put the positioning card into the threaded tube, and then screw the card fixing plate into the threaded tube to make the box, positioning card and card fixing plate tightly connected and not shake. Take out the fixing nail and put it into the bottom of the box so that the edge coincides with the positioning hole on the positioning card. Then, stick the fixing magnet to the bottom of the box to prevent the fixing nail from moving.

[0014] Step 2: Host fruit preparation. Taking the determination of the feeding preferences of melon fly larvae on three host fruits—cucumber, zucchini, and loofah—as an example, the pulp was cut into thin slices of about 3 mm and then prepared into circles using a press slicer for testing.

[0015] Step 3: Randomly group the positioning rings. Use DPS to randomly group the positioning rings. Place the corresponding host fruit slices on the fixed nails that have been placed. Gently press the fruit slices to insert the fixed nails into the fruit. After placing them, put the box lid on the box body.

[0016] Step 4: Preparation of insects to be tested. Select 100 second-instar melon fly larvae with normal activity and uniform size, who have been starved for 6 hours, and place them in the release tube, then connect the spiral tube.

[0017] Step 5: Place the apparatus containing larvae and fruit pieces in a low-light artificial climate chamber set at 27°C. After 24 hours, record the number of melon fly larvae on each fruit piece. The experiment was repeated 4 times.

[0018] Preferably, the press-type slicer is provided with a press handle at the upper end, and the bottom of the press handle has a blade slot.

[0019] Therefore, this invention provides a device and method for determining the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae using the aforementioned structure. The fixture prevents plants from remaining stationary during insect feeding, thus avoiding confusion about plant species and preventing overlapping plants that could hinder insect counting. The positioning rings ensure consistent spacing between plants, preventing errors caused by human operation. Random grouping based on positioning numbers and plant species records eliminates the need for additional markings on the plants, ensuring complete consistency in all factors except plant species and guaranteeing accurate test results. The insertion port allows each insect to enter the device simultaneously, ensuring each insect's initial position is consistent with the distance between it and the plant, preventing damage from manual insect insertion that could reduce the success rate. The press-type slicer ensures each prepared plant disc is the same size, and the area calculation tube, with an inner diameter matching the plant disc size, allows for rapid determination of the area of ​​the leaf consumed by the insect.

[0020] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a device for measuring the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the box body of the device for measuring the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the fixture for a device for measuring the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae according to the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the positioning card of a device for determining the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae according to the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the card fixing plate of a device for determining the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae according to the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 An exploded view of a device for measuring the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae according to the present invention;

[0027] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the dispensing tube of a device for measuring the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the area calculation tube of a device for measuring the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae according to the present invention;

[0029] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the structure of a press-type slicer for a device for determining the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae according to the present invention;

[0030] Figure Labels

[0031] 1. Box lid; 2. Box body; 21. Dispensing port; 22. Support foot; 23. Threaded tube; 3. Fixer; 31. Fixing nail; 32. Fixing magnet; 311. Stainless steel needle; 312. Circular plastic-coated iron sheet; 4. Positioning card; 41. Positioning hole; 42. Positioning ring; 43. Positioning ring number; 5. Card fixing plate; 51. Fixing hole; 6. Dispensing tube; 7. Area calculation tube; 71. Grid; 72. Plastic tube body; 8. Press-type slicer; 81. Press handle; 82. Cutting ring blade. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0033] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this invention shall have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in this invention do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed following the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are used only to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0034] Example

[0035] Please see Figure 1-7 This invention provides a device and method for determining the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae, including a box body 2 and a box cover 1. The box cover 1 is located at the upper end of the box body 2. A feeding port 21 is located at the center of the bottom of the box body 2. A threaded tube 23 is located at the lower end of the feeding port 21 and is connected to the feeding tube 6. A fixture 3 is located on the box body 2. The fixture 3 includes a fixing nail 31 located above the box body 2 and a fixing magnet 32 ​​located below the box body 2. A positioning card 4 is located at the upper end of the fixing magnet 32. A positioning hole 41 is located at the center of the positioning card 4 and is connected to the threaded tube 23. A card fixing plate 5 is located at the lower end of the positioning card 4. A fixing hole 51 is located at the center of the card fixing plate 5 and is connected to the threaded tube 23. The card fixing plate 5 is located at the upper end of the fixing magnet 32.

[0036] The positioning card 4 has evenly arranged positioning rings 42, and the positioning rings 42 have positioning ring numbers 43 on the outside. The positioning card 4 is made of transparent PVC material.

[0037] The lid 1 of this invention is made of transparent acrylic plastic, with an inner radius of 153 mm, a thin wall thickness of 3 mm, and a top opening of 30 mm. The lid 1 is designed to prevent insects from flying out during the measurement process.

[0038] The box body 2 is made of transparent acrylic plastic. The transparent acrylic plastic of the box body 2 facilitates the setting of the positioning card 4 and the fixing device 3, and facilitates the observation of the measurement process. The internal dimensions are a radius of 150 mm, a thickness of 3 mm on all sides, and a height of 47 mm. The box body 2 has a 12 mm radius injection port 21 at its center, which has a protrusion inside to allow the test insects to climb into the box body 2. There are four arc-shaped support feet 22 at the bottom of the box body 2. The support feet 22 are set to four, with a height of 30 mm, to support the entire device.

[0039] The fixing nail 31 in the fixing device 3 consists of a circular plastic-coated iron sheet 312 with a radius of 15 mm and a stainless steel needle 311 with a diameter of 0.6 mm and a length of 3 mm welded to the center of the circular plastic-coated iron sheet 312. The fixing nail 31 is used to fix the plant to be tested. The fixing magnet 32 ​​has a thickness of 3 mm and a radius of 15 mm. By attracting the fixing nail 31 with the plant to be tested to the bottom of the box 2, the plant is prevented from being misplaced due to insect feeding.

[0040] The positioning card 4 is made of transparent PVC, with a thickness of 0.5 mm and a radius of 150 mm. It has a positioning hole 41 with a radius of 15 mm at its center, which can be inserted into the threaded tube 23 under the delivery port 21 to ensure that the edge of the positioning card 4 coincides with the bottom edge of the box body 2. There are 24 positioning rings 42 with a radius of 15 mm evenly arranged on the positioning card 4. The outer side of the positioning rings 42 has non-repeating positioning ring numbers 1-24. The fixing nails 31 coincide with the positioning rings 42. There are multiple fixing nails 31. The fixing nails 31 are located on the upper part of the box body 2, and the positioning card 4 is located on the lower part of the box body 2. The fixing magnets 32 are located on the lower part of the positioning card 4 and serve to fix the fixing nails 31.

[0041] The card fixing plate 5 is made of rigid transparent PVC with a thickness of 0.5 mm and a radius of 150 mm. There is a fixing hole 51 with a radius of 15 mm at its center. The fixing hole 51 can be tightly connected to the threaded tube 23 under the insertion port 21 to fix and position the card 4.

[0042] The area calculation tube 7 is a transparent acrylic plastic tube 72 with an inner dimension of 15 mm, a thickness of 3 mm, and a height of 27 mm. Figure 8 As shown, its top is closed and engraved with a 1 mm × 1 mm grid 71 for calculating the feeding area.

[0043] The delivery tube 6 is a closed circular tube with an inner diameter of 30 mm, a thickness of 3 mm, and a depth of 15 mm. It has threads on the inside and is connected to the threaded tube 23 below the delivery port 21. The function of the delivery tube 6 is to facilitate the entry of the insect to be tested into the measuring device and at the same time reduce the loss of the insect to be tested.

[0044] The bottom of the pressing handle 81 of the press-type slicer 8 has a blade holder for fixing the cutting ring blade 82, such as... Figure 9 As shown, the plant to be tested was prepared using a press-type slicer 8, which facilitates the measurement.

[0045] The method and steps for determining the feeding preferences and host selection of herbivorous insects using the device of this invention are as follows:

[0046] Step 1: Assemble the test apparatus. Take out the box body 2, positioning card 4, and card fixing plate 5. First, put the positioning card 4 into the threaded tube 23, and then screw the card fixing plate 5 into the threaded tube 23 to ensure that the box body 2, positioning card 4, and card fixing plate 5 are tightly connected and do not wobble. Take out the fixing nail 31 and put it into the bottom of the box body 2 so that the edge coincides with the positioning hole 41 on the positioning card 4. Attach the fixing magnet 32 ​​to the bottom of the box body 2, and fix the positioning card 4 and card fixing plate 5 at the same time to prevent the fixing nail 31 from moving.

[0047] Step 2, host fruit preparation. Taking the determination of the feeding preferences of melon fly larvae on three host fruits—cucumber, zucchini, and loofah—as an example, the fruit flesh was cut into thin slices of about 3 mm, and then prepared into circles using a press-type slicer 8 for testing.

[0048] Step 3: Randomly group the positioning ring numbers. Use DPS (V7.05) to randomly group the positioning ring numbers 43. For example, 6, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, and 22 are variety one; 1, 2, 3, 7, 12, 19, 23, and 24 are variety two; and 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 21 are variety three. Then, place the corresponding host fruit slices on the fixed nails 31 that have been arranged, and gently press the fruit slices to insert the fixed nails 31 into the fruit. After the arrangement is complete, put the box lid 1 on the box body 2.

[0049] Step 4, preparation of the insects to be tested. Select 100 second-instar melon fly larvae with normal activity and uniform size, which have been starved for 6 hours, and place them in the release tube 6. Then connect the spiral tube 23 to the tube, taking care not to damage the larvae during the connection.

[0050] Step 5: Place the apparatus containing larvae and fruit pieces in a low-light artificial climate chamber set at 27℃. After 24 hours, record the number of melon fly larvae on each fruit piece. The larval feeding rate is calculated as follows: Larval feeding rate (%) = Number of larvae fed (N) / Number of tested larvae (100). The experiment was repeated 4 times.

[0051] Feeding rate of melon fly larvae on different host fruits

[0052] Among the three host fruits, the cucumber fly had the highest feeding rate on cucumber (59.88%), followed by zucchini, while the loofah had the lowest feeding rate (13.57%) (P < 0.05).

[0053] Table 1. Feeding rate of melon fly larvae on fruits of different hosts

[0054]

[0055] Note: The feed consumption rates in the table are mean ± standard error. Different lowercase letters in the same column indicate significant differences. Significance was calculated using the DPS 7.05 (Tukey method, P < 0.05). Tables 2 and 3 are the same.

[0056] Comparison of host displacement rates between the traditional disc method and this method

[0057] The feeding rate of melon fly larvae was measured using the methods described above, and the number of host fruit segments displaced 24 hours after feeding was recorded. The experiment was conducted in four replicates.

[0058] The displacement rate of the traditional leaf disc method was 26.23%, significantly higher than that of this device. Because this device included a fixator, no displacement of the host fruit slices due to feeding by melon fly larvae was observed.

[0059] Table 2 Host plant displacement rate during the application of the traditional leaf disc method and this method

[0060]

[0061] Comparison of the time required to introduce fruit fly larvae between the traditional leaf disc method and this method.

[0062] The feeding rate of melon fly larvae was measured using the method described above. Larvae were selected and placed in feeding tube 6 for later use. The larvae in feeding tube 6 were then shaken into a petri dish using the traditional leaf disc method. The remaining larvae were then picked up with a small brush and placed into the petri dish. The time from the initial picking to the final placement of the larvae into the apparatus was recorded. The experiment was repeated four times.

[0063] The traditional leaf disc method takes up to 89.57 seconds to introduce fruit fly larvae, while the present invention only requires screwing the introduction tube onto the device to complete the process, so the introduction time of the device is only 3.23 seconds, which is significantly shorter than the traditional leaf disc method.

[0064] Table 3. Time required to introduce fruit fly larvae in the traditional leaf-disc method and this method.

[0065]

[0066] The above results show that the device and method used in this invention are significantly superior to the traditional leaf disc method. It can accurately determine the host selection and feeding preference, and the host fruit slices will not be displaced due to larval feeding. The larvae are also more easily and conveniently introduced into the device.

[0067] The foregoing has described in detail the device, method and results for measuring the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae. However, with slight adjustments to the method and structure of this invention, such as the size of the box, the feeding preferences and host selection of other types of herbivorous insects can be measured, and the leaf feeding area can be calculated efficiently.

[0068] Therefore, this invention provides a device and method for determining the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae using the aforementioned structure. The fixture prevents plants from remaining stationary during insect feeding, thus avoiding confusion about plant species and preventing overlapping plants that could hinder insect counting. The positioning rings ensure consistent spacing between plants, preventing errors caused by human operation. Random grouping based on positioning numbers and plant species records eliminates the need for additional markings on the plants, ensuring complete consistency in all factors except plant species and guaranteeing accurate test results. The insertion port allows each insect to enter the device simultaneously, ensuring each insect's initial position is consistent with the distance between it and the plant, preventing damage from manual insect insertion that could reduce the success rate. The press-type slicer ensures each prepared plant disc is the same size, and the area calculation tube, with an inner diameter matching the plant disc size, allows for rapid determination of the area of ​​the leaf consumed by the insect.

[0069] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and not to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can still be made to the technical solutions of the present invention, and these modifications or equivalent substitutions cannot cause the modified technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for determining the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae, characterized in that: The device includes a box body and a box lid. The box lid is located at the upper end of the box body. A dispensing port is located at the center of the bottom of the box body. A threaded tube is located at the lower end of the dispensing port and is connected to the dispensing tube. A retainer is provided on the box body. The retainer includes a fixing nail located above the box body and a fixing magnet located below the box body. A positioning card is located at the upper end of the fixing magnet. A positioning hole is located at the center of the positioning card and is connected to the threaded tube. A card fixing plate is located at the lower end of the positioning card. A fixing hole is located at the center of the card fixing plate and is connected to the threaded tube. The card fixing plate is located at the upper end of the fixing magnet. The positioning card has evenly arranged positioning rings, and the positioning rings are numbered on the outside of the positioning rings. The positioning card is made of transparent PVC material. The steps for using the device are as follows: Step 1: Assemble the test device. Take out the box, positioning card and card fixing plate. First, put the positioning card into the threaded tube, and then screw the card fixing plate into the threaded tube to make the box, positioning card and card fixing plate tightly connected and not shake. Take out the fixing nail and put it into the bottom of the box so that the edge coincides with the positioning hole on the positioning card. Then, stick the fixing magnet to the bottom of the box to prevent the fixing nail from moving. Step 2: Host fruit preparation. Taking the determination of the feeding preferences of melon fly larvae on three host fruits—cucumber, zucchini, and loofah—as an example, the pulp was cut into thin slices of about 3 mm and then prepared into circles using a press slicer for testing. Step 3: Randomly group the positioning rings. Use DPS to randomly group the positioning rings. Place the corresponding host fruit slices on the fixed nails that have been placed. Gently press the fruit slices to insert the fixed nails into the fruit. After placing them, put the box lid on the box body. Step 4: Preparation of insects to be tested. Select 100 second-instar melon fly larvae with normal activity and uniform size, who have been starved for 6 hours, and place them in the release tube, then connect the spiral tube. Step 5: Place the device containing larvae and fruit pieces in a low-light artificial climate chamber set at 27℃. After 24 hours, record the number of melon fly larvae on each fruit piece. The experiment was repeated 4 times. The delivery tube is configured as a closed circular tube, and the inner side of the delivery tube has threads; The press-type slicer is equipped with a press handle at the top, and the bottom of the press handle has a blade bayonet.

2. The device for determining the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper end of the positioning ring is connected to the fixing pin, which includes a circular plastic-coated iron sheet and a stainless steel needle welded to the center of the circular plastic-coated iron sheet.

3. The device for determining the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower end of the box is provided with four support feet, which are arc-shaped.

4. The device for determining the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the box body and the box lid are made of transparent acrylic plastic.

5. The device for determining the feeding preferences and host selection of melon fly larvae according to claim 1, characterized in that: The card fixing plate is made of rigid transparent PVC material.

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