Japanese Journal of Applied Entomology and Zoology

The head capsule width of larvae of Pieris rapae crucivora collected in cruciferous crop fields at Hirosaki, Shimokita and Central Hokkaido in 1962 and 1963 was measured by the authors. The frequency distributions of the measurements represented five separated peaks. Remarkable diferences in head width of each instar were not observed among the larvae collected from different crop fields or at different seasons in the same locality and also among those from different localities. However, the range of individual variation was narrower in the Central Hokkaido population than in the Shimokita and Hirosaki ones. The growth ratio of head width between the first and second instars was the largest, and it gradually decreased in the later instars. The GAINES and CAMPBELL'S formula fitted more precisely to the growth of head capsule width of P.rapae crucivora larvae measured in this report, compared with the DYAR'S or the TOKUNAGA'S formula of insect growth.

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Relations between esterase activities in the third-instar larvae from various silkworm strains (94 strains) and their Sumithion-susceptibilities were described in this paper. Interstrain difference in activity of esterase hydrolysing β-naphthylacetate was correlated with Sumithion-susceptibility of each strain, i.e., the silkworm strain showing higher activity of esterase was generally less susceptible to Sumithion. Agar-gel electrophoretic study revealed that the esterase of the third-instar larva was separated into six bands which hydrolyze β-naphthylacetate. Of these six bands, the E_3-esterase with medium mobility was most commonly detected in the larvae from higher susceptible larvae. When Sumithion was topically applied to the larvae, the esterase was found on electrophoretic pattern as a temporary change of mobility and disappearance of some specific esterase-bands.

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Total chlorine, total phosphorus and total mercury contents in the five Japanese storks, Ciconia ciconia boyciana SWINHOE, which died between 1965 and 1966 at Obama (Fukui Pref.) and Toyooka (Hyogo Pref.) were determined by VOLHARD'S method, vanadomolybdate method and dithizone (column) chromatographic method, respectively. Total mercury contents in the 'dojo' fish, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus CANTOR, the catfish, Parasilurus asotus L. and the crucians, Carassius carassius L. which had been given to the birds as diets during rearing at Toyooka were also determined. The results were obtained that significant amounts of mercury were found in these birds, especially : the maximum values being 98.6 ppm in kidney, 61.5 ppm in liver and 21.5 ppm in feather, while 2.1 ppm in liver and 1.4 ppm in feather in the control little egret (normal adult), Egretta garzetta garzetta L. Small amounts of mercury (below 0.3 ppm) were also found in their diets. The chlorine and phosphorus contents in their organs were not considered to be so significant as to cause their death. However, thinking the mercury amounts accumulated in each bird, whatever direct cause of their death might be, it was highly possible that they died of chronic poisoning by mercury in diets taken for a long period.

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The flight habits of fruit-piercing moths, such as Calpe gruesa, Adris tyrannus amurensis and others, were examined in various places of a peach orchard illuminated by several kinds of lamp in 1965-1966. It was recognized that moths' flying to orchard were inhibited by illumination throughout various kinds of lamp. In such areas of the orchard, illuminated brighter than 2 lux, the number of months were estimated less than 40% against that of untreated area in general. The moths' micro distribution in the orchard was also examined in relation to the light elements. From these experiments the illumination level or luminosity in orchard as a whole, not of lamp itself, was recognized as an important factor to inhibit the moths' coming and piercing. In this paper, some discussions on the illumination program were also described, including the information of the yellow fluorescent lamp (40 W).

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