Helopeltis antonii is the major pest affecting cashew plants in Indonesia and causes potential damage to the plant. The development of the population was influenced by the fecundity and fertility of their eggs. The effect of mating on the eggs’ fecundity and the fertility of H. antonii was studied. Laboratory studies at Wonogiri Estate Service in Ngadirojo District, Wonogiri, Indonesia investigated the sexual maturity, the influence of female to male sex ratio on the females’ fecundity and longevity, and the influence of mating frequency to fecundity and the eggs hatchability of H. antonii. The study reveals that H. antonii females and males are ready to mate when they are two days old. The number of eggs laid and the longevity of the females’ lives were not significantly affected by the sex ratio; however, female to male sex ratios of 2:1 and 1:2 tended to produce a greater number of eggs. The fecundity of the female was not significantly influenced by the number of times the female mated. Unmated females laid fewer eggs than females paired with a mature male. The study shows that females need to mate to produce fertile eggs.
Introduction This paper aims to investigate the potential pesticide dermal contamination
among the agricultural community by observing the microenvironmental and
macroactivity interaction between farm children and adult farmer.
Methods A 24 hours timeline activity was observed and recorded in the agricultural
farming village, Kuala Selangor. In this study, 2 homes were monitored for 2
days following a pesticide application. A total of 2 adult farmers and 5
children (7-10 year old) were recruited to participate in this study. Twentyfour
hour videotape segments and time-activity diaries were collected during
the study.
Results The microenvironment and macroactivity interaction were modelled in this
study. By considering only the potential dermal exposure pathway, the
different biological vulnerability and exposure pattern to pesticides were
observed. Finding showed a greater extent of interaction between human and
its environment, where adult farmers are the main contributor of
environmental contaminants, and children is one of the vulnerable receivers
of the contaminants’ residuals from the environment.
Conclusion The daily activities and behaviors practiced by the agricultural community
were among the contributing factors which help to highlight the pesticide
dermal contamination pathway in the farming village. This study
recommends the necessary to consider the microenvironment and
macroactivity of the target community when assess their exposure levels to
the environment contaminants.
The deposition of anticoagulant residues in the eggs of barn owls, Tyto alba by assessing eggshell thickness were
investigated in oil palm plantations. Three study plots were set aside; one plot each baited with chlorophacinone and
bromadiolone, respectively and the third was left unbaited. Four baiting campaigns were conducted on the rodenticide
designated plots, coinciding with the breeding seasons of T. alba. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
showed that 29.73% (n=37) and 5.35% (n=56) of addled eggs collected from rodenticide treated plots contained
bromadiolone and chlorophacinone, respectively, with mean concentration of residues from 0.009 to 0.031 µg/g wet
weight. None of the addled eggs (n=28) collected from the unbaited plot contained bromadiolone or chlorophacinone
residues. The detection of rodenticide residues in both albumen and yolk indicated high risk of secondary poisoning to
both compounds. However, low levels of residues detected have no effects on shape of egg, eggshell mass or thickness.