Evaluating Penetration Ability of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Larvae into Multilayer Polypropylene Packages
The larvae of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), can invade or penetrate packaging materials and infest food products. Energy bars with three polypropylene packaging types were challenged with eggs (first instars), third instars, and fifth instars of P. interpunctella to determine package resistance at 28 °C and 65% r.h. The packing types were also challenged with two male and two female pupae of P. interpunctella under similar conditions in order to determine which package provided the greatest protection against larval penetration. Samples infested with eggs, third instars, and pupae were evaluated after 21 days and 42 days to count the number of larvae, pupae, and adults found inside the packages. Packages challenged with fifth instars were observed after 21 days to count the number of larvae, pupae, and adults inside each package. The number and diameter of the holes were determined in each package, followed by the amount of damage sustained to the energy bar. Third and fifth instars showed a higher tendency to penetrate all of the packaging types. First instars showed a reduction in package penetration ability compared with third and fifth instars. The increase in exposure time resulted in an increase in the damage sustained to the energy bars. Among packaging types, the thickest package (Test A) was most resilient to penetration by all of the larval stages. In conclusion, energy bar manufacturers need to invest more effort into improving packaging designs, creating thicker gauge films, or advancing odor barrier technology, in order to prevent penetration and infestation by P. interpunctella larvae.
Effect of Pheromones, Plant Volatiles and Spinosad on Mating, Male Attraction and Burrowing of Cadra cautella (Walk.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Simple Summary Sex pheromones used at higher concentrations than their availability in insects have been successful in decreasing the insect population. Furthermore, botanical oils have also had negative impacts on the insect population level. In the first study, we investigated the combined effect of sex pheromones and plant oils on mating of almond moth. The second study sought the burrowing ability of almond moth larvae through different flour media. Mating declined on the presence of pheromones and botanical oils, whereas burrowing ability differed with flour type. Exposure to spinosad affected both mating success and larval penetration through flour media. The findings of this study reveal that various applications of sex pheromones, plant oils and spinosad ensure the better protection of cereal-based agricultural produce from insect infestation during storage. Abstract Mating disruption of Cadra cautella (Walk.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) using its sex pheromone components, (Z, E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate (ZETA) and (Z)-9-tetradecadien-1-yl acetate (ZTA), is successful in its population management. In addition, botanical oils have extensively been investigated in stored product pest management, but the effect of synthetic sex pheromones on the mating of C. cautella in the presence of plant volatiles is still unknown. Spinosad is used in food facilities as a contact insecticide but, if C. cautella larvae burrow into food, they may escape from spinosad. Importantly, the impact of spinosad on burrowing ability of C. cautella remains unknown. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the effects of sex pheromone components ZETA and ZTA in the presence of botanical oils on the mating of C. cautella and the burrowing ability of C. cautella larvae in different types of flour treated with spinosad. In the first study, male and female moths were introduced into the cubicle having botanical oils and pheromone components. The mating status of female moths and male moth attraction to the trap was determined. The control experiments had only the botanical oils or pheromones. In the second study, burrowing ability of C. cautella larvae through different flour types was evaluated over 10 d. The flour was sprayed with spinosad (treatments) or water (controls). The mating success was higher with botanical oils alone but declined with exposure to pheromone either alone or combined with botanical oils. No differences in male attraction to traps were observed in botanical only, pheromone only or pheromone + botanical oil treatments. The burrowing of C. cautella larvae differed with flour type and spinosad altered burrowing ability. Thus, we conclude that the mating and burrowing of C. cautella is influenced by its pheromone and by exposure to botanicals and spinosad.
The Impact of EU Unfair Contract Terms Law on U.S. Business-to-Consumer Internet Merchants
When the Court of Appeals for Versailles issued its decision in AOL France v. UFC Que Choisir2 in September 2005, it sent the message to U.S. Internet businesses that even contractual boilerplate localized for European markets may be invalid in European consumer transactions. In that case, a French consumer advocacy group challenged the terms AOL offered its French customers after AOL had made extensive revisions to its standard form contracts to respond to the concerns regarding those terms expressed in an advisory opinion by a French consumer protection agency. In 2004, a trial court invalidated nearly every term in the revised agreement; the appeals court affirmed on all counts. Subsequently, in July 2006 following concerns raised by the Office of Fair Trading (“OFT”), a United Kingdom government agency charged with “making sure markets work well for consumers,”3 Dell Corporation Limited changed its online terms and conditions to make them fairer to consumers.4 European consumer contract law had an impact in both cases. At issue for AOL France and Dell Corporation Limited was the application of France’s and the UK’s consumer contract law which is based on the Unfair Contract Terms Directive of 19945 and calls into question the validity of many of the terms that U.S. courts routinely enforce in transactions involving American consumers and merchants.