Volume 107, Issue 1

Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a vinegar fruit fly that infests ripening and ripe berries and other thin-skinned fruits in Europe and the Americas. Previous studies have identified numerous wild hosts and have documented movement into crops from these wild hosts. Other studies have documented higher numbers of D. suzukii in crops adjacent to wild hosts. We studied D. suzukii adult movement and distribution in strawberries at an organic research station plot away from alternate hosts in 2016–2017, and at an organic on-farm site with a woody field border in 2017–2018 and 2018–2019. On the research station trial traps were placed 5 m outside the north border of the field and 5, 10, 20, and 40 m into the field. The same design was used in the on-farm trials with the addition of traps along the woody border. Populations of D. suzukii on the research station trial were low and randomly distributed. In contrast, D. suzukii male and female numbers on the on-farm trial were higher in the woods border and strawberry field edge compared with numbers farther into the strawberry plot in both years. The trend was more pronounced for males, especially in 2018–2019. Implications for management of D. suzukii in strawberries are discussed.

Control and monitoring of Anastrepha ludens Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae) involve an underlying negative effect of the capture of non-target organisms. This study aimed to analyze and compare the capture of non-target arthropods between control methods and monitoring traps. Seven treatments were established in citrus orchards, with three replicates each in May to August 2022. Four treatments consisted of mass trapping, two using bait sprays, and a control treatment. Three monitoring traps per treatment baited with Cera Trap ® and torula yeast borax pellets were used to monitor the capture of non-target organisms. Linear mixed models and contingency tables were used to evaluate the capture level between control treatments and monitoring traps. The total number of non-target specimens was 46,084, 41 families of Insecta and two of Arachnida. Diptera was the most diverse group, with 17 families. Fourteen families represented beneficial organisms in five orders. No effects were noted between control methods on the average capture of non-target arthropods and beneficial organisms. Monitoring traps showed differences in the average capture of non-target arthropods and beneficial organisms. Torula yeast was the attractant with the most insect captures. Mass trapping with Cera Trap ® or GF 120 ® with traps baited with Cera Trap ® revealed a decreased capture of beneficial organisms. Further research is needed to assess the impact of A. ludens control methods on non-target species for conservation purposes at the field level.

The Asian subterranean termite, Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae), is a major pest of wooden structures. Native to Southeast Asia, it has successfully invaded various regions worldwide. Developing a molecular technique for colony delineation is critical to evaluate the efficacy of subterranean termite baiting systems against C. gestroi . This study has assessed the robustness of 19 newly developed microsatellite loci for colony delineation of the invasive C. gestroi in both South Florida and Taiwan. Our results suggest that at least nine microsatellite markers, each with two alleles per locus, can accurately distinguish all C. gestroi colonies with little genetic variation in South Florida. Conversely, only five microsatellite loci are needed to delineate C. gestroi colonies in Taiwan. Additionally, differences in colony breeding systems may affect genetic differentiation among C . gestroi colonies. Our study provides a practical genetic method to accurately identify colony affiliation of foragers, which will help in the field evaluation of baiting systems in areas invaded by C. gestroi .

Avocado brown mite, Oligonychus punicae (Hirst) (Acari: Tetranychidae), causes significant damage to crops, such as avocado ( Persea americana Mill. [Lauraceae]). To implement strategies for integrated management of O. punicae , it is necessary to understand its biology when it feeds on different hosts. Life tables of O. punicae on three host plants ( P. americana cv. Hass, Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth [Fabaceae] and Rosa hybrida L. [Rosaceae]) were developed under laboratory conditions. The developmental time of immature females differed among the host plants tested and ranged from 10.09 days on P. americana cv. Hass to 12.78 days on R. hybrida . For immature males, it ranged from 10.08 days on P. americana cv. Hass to 12.80 days on R. hybrida . The highest total fecundity was recorded for P. americana cv. Hass (47.48 eggs/female) and was lowest for R. hybrida (21.12 eggs/female). The highest intrinsic rate of increase ( r m ) of O. punicae was registered on P. americana cv. Hass (0.240 day −1 ) and was lowest on R. hybrida (0.156 day −1 ). The demographic parameters suggest that R. hybrida is a poor host for the development of O. punicae , and the best O. punicae performance was on P. americana cv. Hass.

Traps baited with a lure emitting a natural oil enriched in α-copaene captured more male Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae) than traps baited with a 2 g plug of trimedlure during year-long trials in Tunisian citrus ( Citrus sinensis Osbeck, Rutaceae) and Costa Rican coffee ( Coffea arabica Linnaeus, Rubiaceae). In Costa Rica, traps were plastic McPhail traps while in Tunisia Tephriti traps were used. Trimedlure plugs were changed every six weeks while the natural oil lures were renewed every 12 weeks. During high population season, traps in all locations baited with the natural oil outperformed traps baited with 2 g plugs of trimedlure by 2–3 times. During the low season, a significantly higher percentage of traps baited with the natural oil caught at least one male medfly in comparison to traps baited with 2 g plugs of trimedlure in Tunisia, but statistical differences were not observed in Costa Rica. A longevity trial in Tunisia showed that traps baited with 16–18 weeks aged natural oil lures still captured statistically more male C. capitata than traps baited with 2 g plugs of trimedlure renewed every six weeks. These results show that traps baited with α-copaene lures are more sensitive than traps baited with the widely used 2 g trimedlure plugs.

Attract-and-kill can be a useful tactic in managing insect pests as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) program. An attractant, usually a pheromone or food-based volatile blend, is mixed with a killing agent, usually an insecticide, in some form of applicator or dispenser. HOOK ® products utilize a SPLAT ® gel matrix (ISCA, Riverside, California). HOOK ® SWD has been developed for the management of Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), a major pest of thin-skinned fruit and berry crops. The attractant is a blend of food-based volatiles, and the killing agent is spinosad. This study looked at the use of HOOK ® SWD in combination with insecticide applications to manage D. suzukii in conventional and organic blackberries and blueberries. The experiment was conducted on four farms: a conventional commercial blueberry farm, a commercial organic blueberry farm, a conventional u-pick blackberry farm, and a conventional organic blackberry farm all in north-central Florida. HOOK ® SWD applied at 7- and 14-day intervals demonstrated efficacy in reducing D. suzukii trap catch and emergence at the organic blackberry and conventional blueberry farms. Drosophila suzukii trap catch and emergence counts at the conventional u-pick blackberry and the organic blueberry farms were not significantly different among treatments. Several factors may have contributed to this lack of efficacy including understory weeds, proximity of unmanaged areas, etc. Therefore, HOOK ® SWD shows promise as a D. suzukii management tactic, but further research is needed to optimize its efficacy.

In Florida, strawberries are prone to infestation by Tetranychus urticae Koch (twospotted spider mite; Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae) and Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (chilli thrips; Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Management of these pests using conventional insecticides is becoming difficult, thereby forcing many growers to adopt the use of commercially available biological control agents including Neoseiulus cucumeris Oudemans and Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (both Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae). These predators are mass reared on prey different from T. urticae , and their prey switching capacity is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the predation capacity of A. swirskii and N. cucumeris feeding on familiar and unfamiliar prey. Thus, using T. urticae as a non-familiar prey model organism, a no choice test was conducted where A. swirskii and N. cucumeris were each provided with Acarus spp. (commonly used as prey for commercial rearing of predatory mites) as familiar prey and eggs, deutonymphs, and adult females of T. urticae as unfamiliar prey. Prey consumption was recorded at 12, 24, 36 and 48 h. Our results show that both A. swirskii and N. cucumeris exhibited higher prey consumption when prey was familiar ( Acarus spp.) compared to unfamiliar prey. Additionally, both predators showed higher consumption of eggs compared to T. urticae nymphs and adults. In 12 h, both predators had consumed 50 % of eggs, however, 36–48 h were required for 50 % of the T. urticae adults and nymphs to be consumed. Therefore, strawberry growers utilizing these predatory mites ought to refrain from the use of insecticides known to be detrimental to predatory mites for a period of at least 48 h to allow the predators to adjust to the new prey and environment.

The response of male peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae), to the parapheromone methyl eugenol (ME) was studied using two different bioassays. A laboratory assay was used to assess the short-distance response of males to ME, and a semi-field study, conducted in large screen-cages, was used to assess the attraction of released males to ME-baited traps. The ME response was studied in relation to several physiological parameters. Our findings show that the response of males to ME increased with both age and sexual maturation. Larval diet also influenced adult response to ME. The frequency of attraction to ME among males that had been raised on artificial larval-rearing diets was higher than that observed among males that had been raised on fruit. In addition, we found that solutions of ME (<0.5 %) and sucrose (a phagostimulant) were toxic to adult males. In contrast, ME volatiles were not toxic and exposure to the volatiles significantly reduced the males’ post-exposure response to the attractant. This effect extended for at least 4 weeks. The possibility of being able to reduce the attractive response of irradiated B. zonata males to ME volatiles opens the opportunity of using ME-baits in the field as a method to reduce wild males by attracting them to baited devices, and concomitantly release sterile flies to induce “sterility” on female wild flies.

The abundance and diversity of three taxa of citrus pest predators, syrphids (Diptera), coccinellids (Coleoptera), and chrysopids (Neuroptera) and their association with flowering weed species in commercial citrus orchards in southern California were investigated. The occurrence and frequency of adult predators were determined with vertical yellow sticky traps and by performing 3 min visual counts on flowering weeds from May through November 2021. Syrphid abundance peaked in June and September, with the dominant species being Allograpta obliqua (Say), Toxomerus marginatus (Say), and Paragus tibialis (Fallen). Peak collections of coccinellids occurred in May, June, and September on sticky traps and during September and October in flowering weedy plants. Peak flowering of weed species occurred during May and declined sharply over summer into fall (June–November). The efficacy of yellow 355 mL glycol pan traps, yellow 1774 mL water pan traps, and yellow sticky traps orientated either horizontally or vertically with respect to capturing key natural enemies was evaluated in 2021 and 2022. Significantly more syrphids were captured on the horizontal yellow sticky traps than on the vertical yellow sticky traps or the yellow pan traps filled with glycol or water. Coccinellids were most frequently captured on vertical yellow sticky traps and yellow water pan traps. Numbers of chrysopids captured in all studies were not significant, which was most likely attributable to their nocturnal behavior. Collectively these results suggest that syrphid and coccinellid activity in southern California citrus orchards displayed two seasonal peaks, one in spring and the other in the fall. In the context of future conservation biological control, insectary plantings in spring (April–June) and fall (September–October) would be most beneficial to these predators and would coincide with population peaks of a key citrus pest, Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae).

Biological control of house flies, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) has the potential to improve the efficacy and sustainability of integrated pest management. In a previous study, we demonstrated that three bacteria species ( Serratia marcescens Bizio [Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae], Photorhabdus temperata Fischer-Le Saux et al. [Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae], and Pseudomonas protegens Ramette et al. [Pseudomonadales: Pseudomonadaceae]) are extremely virulent, inducing rapid morbidity and high mortality in adult house flies when injected into the hemocoel but show little effect when applied topically. Here we tested the hypothesis that topical application of these species in combination with the entompathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals. Criv.) Vuill. (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) would result in an increased and rapid mortality if fungal penetration of the fly cuticle allowed for increased delivery of the bacteria into the fly hemocoel. Bacteria and B. bassiana were tested either by application at the same time or by sequential application of the two pathogens 48 h apart. Results indicated little evidence for synergy between B. bassiana and any of the bacterial pathogens. However, P. protegens caused early mortality (<50 % at 3 days) when applied alone and in combination with B. bassiana . A modified disc diffusion assay indicated that P. temperata and P. protegens had inhibitory effects on the vegetative growth of B. bassiana suggesting the release of antifungal molecules by the bacteria. Results with P. protegens were sufficiently encouraging to warrant further investigation of this species and its associated toxins as house fly biological control tools.

The drosophilids Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), Drosophila melanogaster Meigen and Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae), are common pests of Mexican berry plantations. Attract-and-infect-based application strategies using entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), which are more environmentally friendly than synthetic chemical pesticides, are currently under evaluation for their potential at controlling insect pests, as compared to synthetic pesticides. In this study, we evaluated 15 EPF formulations against D. suzukii adults to determine which formulations would work best in an attract-and-infect device in terms of spore accumulation, pathogenicity, and mortality. Formulations of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae), Cordyceps javanica (Friederichs & Bally) (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae), and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) spores exhibited the highest levels of conidia attachment, pathogenicity, and virulence, making them effective against D. suzukii . In a subsequent experiment, these formulations were evaluated against D. melanogaster , Z. indianus , and the honey bee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) . Our results revealed that the formulations containing C. javanica and M. anisopliae were highly virulent not only against D. suzukii , but also against D. melanogaster and Z. indianus, with minimal impact on honey bees. Our results showed that spore formulations of M. anisopliae and C. javanica were the most promising entomopathogens for further testing of attract-and-infect devices to manage D. suzukii , D. melanogaster and Z. indianus in berry crops.

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is a key pest of Brassicaceae. Chemical insecticides are the main method used for P. xylostella management, however, the moth has developed resistance to many insecticides, including biological agents such as Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) ( Bt ) products. Alternative methods need to be adopted to reduce reliance on insecticides. Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a silica powder that kills arthropods by damaging the lipid layer of the epicuticle and causing water loss. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of DE alone and in combination with Bt insecticides by recording mortality and feeding of P. xylostella larvae to determine if the addition of DE to Bt products improved Bt performance. Seven P. xylostella populations (a susceptible laboratory colony and six field colonies) were subjected to seven treatments: DE alone, B . t . kurstaki Berliner and B . t . aizawai Luthy alone and in combination with DE, emamectin benzoate 5G (commercial standard), and untreated control. Two types of bioassays were conducted. A leaf dip method was used to evaluate the effect of exposure to the treatments once the material had dried on the leaf substrate, and the Potter spray tower method was used to evaluate the effect of direct contact of treatments on P. xylostella larvae. DE alone increased P. xylostella mortality compared to untreated controls in four out of seven populations in leaf dip bioassays. DE did not significantly reduce leaf consumption when used alone or in combination with Bt treatments. There was no evidence of DE improving Bt performance. DE showed moderate effectiveness in increasing mortality of some Florida populations of P. xylostella under laboratory conditions. This suggests that its impact under field circumstances may be worthy of further investigation.

The armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is the main pest that attacks corn, and it has acquired resistance to chemical insecticides. In this study, the insecticidal and insectistatic activity of hexanic, acetonic, methanolic, and aqueous extracts of four genotypes of physic nut Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) seeds (Utim 1, Utim 2, Ahuehuetzingo, and Ceprobi) against S. frugiperda larvae was assessed. The acetonic extract at 5,000 ppm of the Utim 1 genotype, presented insectistatic activity by decreasing the weight gain of S. frugiperda larvae at 7 days by 66.7 % and at 14 days by 71.8 %, and prolonged larval development by 13 days, in addition to causing larval and pupal mortality of 72 and 84 %, respectively. The hexanic extract of Utim 2 showed insecticidal activity with a larval and pupal mortality of 80 % at 5,000 ppm. On the other hand, the acetonic extract of the Ahuehuetzingo genotype showed greater insecticidal activity at 5,000 ppm, with 100 % mortality of S. frugiperda larvae and pupae. The hexanic extract of the Ceprobi genotype presented insectistatic activity at 5,000 and 2,500 ppm, by reducing the weight gain of the larvae at 7 and 14 days by 47.6 and 74.3 % for 5,000 ppm and 28.5 and 53.0 % for 2,500 ppm. In addition, the acetonic and aqueous extracts at 5,000 ppm caused mortality of 76 and 80 % in S. frugiperda larvae and pupae, respectively. All concentrations of the Utim 2 and Ahuehuetzingo genotypes caused a phagostimulant effect on the feeding of insect pest larvae. J. curcas seed extracts can be explored as a useful alternative for the agroecological control of S. frugiperda .

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an invasive, polyphagous pest known to disperse between non-crop host plants and crops searching for food. Sugarberry ( Celtis laevigata Willdenow; Cannabaceae) is commonly found in woodland habitats in the southeastern USA and may serve as a non-crop host for H. halys . Therefore, the main objective of this two-year study was to determine if 1) sugarberry serves as a host tree and 2) whether natural enemies attack H. halys sentinel egg masses in the tree canopy. We monitored H. halys in sugarberry trees in woodlands bordering field crops in Prattville, Alabama during 2022 and similarly for orchard crops in Byron, Georgia during 2023. Each year pheromone-baited stink bug traps were deployed in the canopy of trees to capture H. halys . We evaluated parasitism and predation of H. halys by placing sentinel egg masses in tree canopies. H. halys males and females and 2nd through 5th instars were captured in tree traps over the season for each location. Trissolcus euschisti (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) was the only parasitoid species that emerged from H. halys eggs. Chewing and stylet sucking were the primary types of predation on sentinel egg masses. We conclude that sugarberry is a reproductive host for H. halys, and native natural enemies provide biological control services of H. halys eggs on this host.

Classical biological control utilizes natural enemies of invasive non-native plants imported from their native range to manage problematic populations. However, a potential biological control agent must undergo strict host specificity tests to ensure that it does not feed on species native to the invaded range. Nymphaea mexicana Zucc. (Nymphaeaceae) is an invasive waterlily in South Africa that is native to the southern USA and parts of Mexico and is a target for biological control in South Africa. The planthopper, Megamelus toddi Beamer (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), is a potential biological control agent that was imported from Florida, USA for host specificity tests under quarantine conditions. Survival and multigeneration trials were carried out to determine the ability of M. toddi to survive and reproduce on its original host, N. mexicana , as well as Nymphaea nouchali Bur. fil., a waterlily native to South Africa, and Nymphaea marliacea var. chromatella Lat.-Marl., a hybrid of N. mexicana. M. toddi was unable to survive for more than two generations on the hybrid but completed three generations on N. nouchali and N. mexicana , indicating that M. toddi is unsafe for use as a biological control agent in South Africa. Nevertheless, the results from this study contribute information about a species that has not been thoroughly studied and emphasizes the importance of conducting thorough host specificity tests before releasing potential biological control agents.

Spittlebugs are pests that affect forage plants in tropical America, causing damage to such plants and causing significant annual losses in milk and meat production. One of the alternatives for combating these insect pests with minimal environmental impacts is the use of entomopathogenic fungi. The objectives of this research were: (i) to evaluate the endophytic potential of entomopathogenic fungi applied to Urochloa ruziziensis (R.Germ. & C.M.Evrard) Crins (synonymous with Brachiaria ruziziensis ; Poaceae) through seed treatment for the control of the spittlebug species, Mahanarva spectabilis (Distant) and Deois schach (F.) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae); (ii) to analyze the efficiency of banker plants as a means of spreading the fungi to the field; and (iii) to determine the frequency of infection after the storage of treated seeds. U. ruziziensis seeds were treated with a suspension containing 1 × 10 8 conidia of the fungi Fusarium sp. (Hypocreales: Nectriaceae), Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschn.) Sorokīn (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) or a commercial strain of M. anisopliae for 30 min, after which they were planted in 2 L planters and kept in a greenhouse. The surplus of treated seeds was conditioned at 22 °C and sown monthly for 10 months. Insects were fed plants from treated seeds. The entomopathogenic fungi were found to be endophytic and to equally infect the two species of spittlebugs from pastures, M. spectabilis and D. schach, at different stages of development; however, they caused low nymphal mortality. The banker plant technique with plants from seeds treated with entomopathogenic fungi was efficient. Furthermore, it was observed that it is possible to store seeds treated with fungi for 12 months. These results open the perspective of using entomopathogenic fungi with endophytic action as an auxiliary tool in reducing the populations of pasture spittlebugs in tropical regions.

Pseudophilothrips ichini (Hood) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) is a recently released biological control agent for one of the most invasive plants (Brazilian peppertree) in Florida. Limited genetic information hinders efforts to develop effective genetic surveillance techniques. To address this gap, we present the first full mitogenome sequence of this biological control agent, isolated from the colony reared at the University of Florida Norman C. Hayslip Biological Control Research and Containment Laboratory. The complete length of the P. ichini mitogenome is 15,281 base pairs with 83.8 % AT content. Its sequence is most similar to the mitogenome sequence of Acaciothrips ebneri (Karny) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), with an 86.8 % sequence identity. This complete mitochondrial sequence is an important new genomic resource to understand the phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships of the species, offering valuable insight for developing molecular tools for study and enhancement of this biological control agent.

Coleopterans within the family Coccinellidae play an important role in the biological control of Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), a worldwide pest. Here we report an initial assessment of the predatory capacity and biological aspects of a South American coccinellid, Delphastus davidsoni Gordon (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to B. tabaci immature stages under laboratory conditions. Within the 24 h after release, D. davidsoni adults were increasingly more attracted to and consumed six times more B. tabaci fourth instar nymphs than the remaining immature stages. Similarly, D. davidsoni larvae also had a greater consumption of B. tabaci fourth instar nymphs within 24 h after release. Within 10 days after larvae release, there were no significant differences in preference between the nymphal stages. Both D. davidsoni adults and larvae presented a better biological performance when fed with B. tabaci fourth instar nymphs. The larval developmental time and pupal survival for D. davidsoni was optimal when fed fourth instar nymphs. These findings highlight the potential for implementing D. davidsoni in integrated pest management (IPM) programs for B. tabaci and warrant further evaluation under greenhouse and semi-field conditions.

The wasp Ixodiphagus hookeri (Howard; Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitizes the larvae and nymphs of several tick species worldwide. In this study, we investigated whether I. hookeri females are attracted to Rhipicephalus sanguineus Latreille (Ixodida: Ixodidae) nymphs, hair samples from non-infested and infested Schnauzer dog volatiles, and a synthetic blend of compounds isolated from dog hair in a Y-tube glass olfactometer. We also studied the acceptance of fed and unfed R. sanguineus nymphs by female wasps. Our results showed that I. hookeri females were not attracted to R. sanguineus nymphs. In contrast, they were attracted to dog hair samples and extracts from non-infested and R. sanguineus -infested Schnauzer dog hair. Wasps were more attracted to hair samples from R. sanguineus -infested dogs than to those from non-infested dogs. In addition, I. hookeri females were attracted to a synthetic blend composed of hexanal, heptanal, and isovaleric acid, compounds previously isolated from dog hair. In contrast, I. hookeri females were not attracted to binary blends or individual compounds. Female wasps showed a higher acceptance of live-fed and live-unfed R. sanguineus nymphs than of dead fed nymphs washed with dichloromethane. Our results suggests that the host seeking behavior of I. hookeri females is attributable to a blend of volatiles from infested and non-infested schnauzer dogs, used to attack R. sanguineus nymphs.

Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Asian citrus psyllid) is a quarantine pest found in at least 60 countries, causing indirect damage as a primary vector of pathogens associated with Huanglongbing in citrus trees. Huanglongbing-infected trees die within 3–8 years, accompanied by economic losses in citriculture. D. citri has spread in Mexico to several states and is a high risk to Mexican citriculture due to its ability to cause damage and the lack of a disease cure. The primary objective of this research was to enhance our understanding of the current status of D. citri in southeastern Mexico. This study analyzed the distribution of D. citri in Campeche, Mexico from 2013 to 2020. The study generated 572,619 D. citri records from 40,620 yellow sticky traps deployed in 10 of the 12 municipalities of the state. We employed advanced MaxEnt and DivaGIS software to accomplish this study. Results showed population fluctuations with a peak during June and July from 2013 to 2019 and July and September in 2020. The study found a higher presence of D. citri in Campeche, Tenabo, Carmen, Champotón, and Escárcega and a higher incidence in Citrus latifolia Tanaka ex Q. Jiménez and Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck crops. The variance in the number of D. citri adults captured per year and the dispersion index (a parameter measuring the ability of insects to leave one ecosystem and move to another in search of suitable conditions for their survival and reproduction) was greater than the annual mean, demonstrating a spatially distributed, right-skewed aggregate. The elliptical polygon or standard deviation ellipse indicated the tendency for a less elongated ellipse in 2013–2014. From 2015 to 2018 D. citri expanded north towards Hecelchakán and south towards Champotón, Escárcega, and Carmen. In 2019, D. citri expanded north towards Champotón, Campeche, Tenabo, Hecelchakán, and Calkiní. The months with the most activity between 2013 and 2020 were May, June, July, and August, with June having the highest numbers collected. The results of the enveloped tests (parameter measuring how environmental conditions influence the spatial patterns of insect populations) showed the adaptability of D. citri to different conditions. D. citri prefers temperatures of 24.6–27.9 °C and 1,050–1,500 mm of rainfall. Areas with high-risk for D. citri are coastal and northern parts of the study area. Central Campeche is suitable, and southern parts have low to medium risk. Our research shows the relationship between climatic factors and the distribution of D. citri in the state of Campeche, Mexico. Moreover, our findings will be crucial for implementing effective surveillance measures in areas where the probability model indicates the potential presence of D. citri . This is especially significant due to the remarkable adaptability of D. citri to diverse environmental conditions.

New geographic records are presented for species in all three subfamilies of Clusiidae (Diptera: Schizophora) from Nearctic, Palearctic, and Neotropical localities. Three Neotropical species are recorded in the United States for the first time: Sobarocephala lucibilis Lonsdale & Marshall, Sobarocephala oculata Lonsdale & Marshall, and Heteromeringia fumipennis Melander & Argo. Emendations to the key to Nearctic Sobarocephala are provided to accommodate the newly recorded species, and figures and diagnoses of both are given. The boundaries of Sobarocephala affinis (Johnson) and Sobarocephala muesebecki Sabrosky & Steyskal are discussed.

Photuris mcavoyi sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) is described from coastal freshwater interdunal swale wetlands in Sussex County, Delaware, USA. The species is most easily diagnosed from potential sympatric congeners by the combination of a male flash pattern consisting of ∼0.5 s bright yellow signal at irregular intervals (∼3.4–4.1 s), body length ( x ‾ $\bar{x}$  = 9.8 mm) and width ( x ‾ $\bar{x}$  = 3.8 mm), pale scutellum of normal proportions (i.e., not reduced), light brown metacoxae, and pronotum vitta lacking flukes. To date, despite recent survey work at former sites occupied by the species, P. mcavoyi has not been confirmed extant since 1998. Surveys for P. mcavoyi should continue in Delaware and Maryland and should include interdunal wetlands in Virginia and New Jersey. The holotype has been deposited at the National Museum of Natural History (USNM), Washington D. C., United States.

Mexico’s wild bee richness includes 1,800 species, however, there is a lack of studies on this group in the country. Therefore, it is of extreme importance to intensify the study on this group of insects, so this research aimed to compile an inventory of the melittofauna of Sierra de Quila, Jalisco, Mexico, to evaluate alpha diversity in different types of vegetation, and assess which of the most abundant bee species are synanthropic (organisms that live near and benefit from humans and their environmental modifications). Bees were collected and recorded over two years between 10:00 and 16:00 h, in the flora and fauna protection area of Sierra de Quila and its region of influence, using entomological nets. A total of 15,641 individuals of 233 species belonging to 66 genera and five families were recorded, of which Apidae is the best represented family with 88 species, followed by Halictidae with 54 species, Megachilidae with 49 species, Andrenidae with 24 species, and Colletidae with 18 species. Tropical dry forest showed a higher richness of wild bees than the pine-oak forest, eight species were asynanthropic and only five species were eusynanthropic. Our results show that Sierra de Quila is one of the richest areas in bee species for the state of Jalisco, making it an important area for the conservation of this group of native pollinators.

Palpita unionalis Hubner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is one of the primary pests in olive orchards, damaging buds and fruits of the olive tree. The present study investigated the biology of P. unionalis across a temperature gradient and elaborated on the corresponding life tables for a better understanding of its population dynamics in the environment. The biology of the pest was studied at six temperatures (17, 20, 22, 25, 27, and 30 °C). The duration and survival of immature stages, sex ratio, and survival of emerged adults were evaluated. The female fecundity and longevity (pre-oviposition, oviposition, and post-oviposition periods) were calculated. The life tables were elaborated from these parameters. The life cycle of P. unionalis was significantly longer at 17 °C and shorter at 30 °C. Larval survival was significantly reduced at 30 °C, however, adult survival was at a maximum, yet their sex ratio was not affected by temperature. The lower temperature, 20 °C, was optimal for fecundity (586.3 eggs), which was reflected in the highest net reproductive rate (105.7 offspring per individual). The thermal constant ( K ) and the lower thermal threshold ( t 0 ) for egg to adult period were 582.9 degree days and 7.1 °C, respectively. Based on the current study, it is concluded from the parameters of biology and life tables that temperature has a significant role in the population growth of P. unionalis . This should be considered throughout the monitoring and management of P. unionalis at different agro-ecologies in the context of global warming.

Male orchid bees store volatile compounds collected from their orchid mutualists and other sources to use in their courtship. Males of a naturalized orchid bee in Florida, Euglossa dilemma Bembé & Eltz (Hymenoptera: Apidae), intensively and habitually collected from substrates impregnated with triclopyr herbicide, most probably collecting its major breakdown product TMP (3,5,6-trichloro-2-methoxypyridine). Why this occurred and if the practice harmed the bees was considered. The chemical is thought to have low toxicity to bees and orchid bees collect and manage volatile chemicals so that they do not contact the interior of their bodies, both suggesting limited harm from the practice. Molecular similarity comparisons of TMP with 24 volatile compounds collected by E. dilemma found greater than 50 % structural similarities in four compounds according to the maximum common substructure, suggesting that TMP mirrors compounds needed by the bee in its courtship, and probably explains why the bees collect triclopyr. The bizarre but interesting collection of an herbicide by this orchid bee appears to be due to the similarity between the herbicide and chemicals that the bee needs in its courtship. The herbicide does not appear to harm the bee.

The addition of non-crop floral resources is known to improve the fitness of many beneficial arthropods. Orius insidiosus (Say; Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) is a predator of several economically important pests and is known to feed on pollen. Spanish needles, Bidens alba L., and Leavenworth’s tickseed, Coreopsis leavenworthii Torrey & Gray (both Asteraceae), are two Florida native wildflowers that may serve as sources of pollen beneficial to O. insidiosus . The current study investigated the effects of adding flowers from C. leavenworthii and B. alba to the diet of captive O. insidiosus on longevity, nymphal development time, and cannibalism. A mixed diet of flowers and thrips prey increased O. insidiosus adult female longevity. Nymphal development time was reduced when B. alba was added to thrips when compared to a diet of thrips alone. Interestingly, cannibalism was low in all instances, suggesting a negligible effect of cannibalism on O. insidiosus except perhaps in extreme situations. These results indicate that B. alba and C. leavenworthii flowers can increase longevity and fitness of O. insidiosus , thus providing support for the use of these plants to enhance natural enemy services.

Pollinators are critical to ecosystem health and agricultural productivity. Endemic bee diversity and abundance among different crops has not been extensively studied, especially among perennial crops in Washington state. The goals of this study were to characterize bee genera diversity in south central Washington state, determine the abundance and diversity of bees among crop types, and determine if farming practices influence abundance and diversity by comparing bee diversity in managed agricultural sites to adjacent unmanaged, natural sites. This study investigated bee genera diversity and abundance in blueberry fields produced under organic certification programs, conventionally produced Concord juice and wine grape vineyards, conventionally produced spearmint and peppermint fields, and conventionally produced hopyards. The majority of bees found in the study were ground-nesting. Mint fields had the highest pollinator abundance and richness. In general, there was a greater abundance, diversity, and richness of bees found in unmanaged compared with managed sites. This indicates that areas of high agricultural intensity have relatively low bee genera abundance and diversity.

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a worldwide invasive pest. In Mexico, this species attacks various soft berries, plum, and guava. Currently, D . suzukii is monitored using traps baited with various attractants. Nevertheless, previous reports have shown that the performance of attractants may vary from one place to another. Ideally, the attractant used by growers should be as effective, long-lasting, easy to maintain and deploy, and inexpensive as possible. In this study, we compared the performance of home-made and commercial lures in capturing D. suzukii in blueberry crops in Guanajuato and Michoacán, Mexico. We also evaluated whether the capture of D . suzukii using odor-baited traps was enhanced by the incorporation of visual cues. Overall, traps baited with Z-Kinol ® , fermented berries (blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry) alone or blended performed better in capturing D. suzukii flies than fermented banana, apple cider vinegar (ACV), and FLYBUSTER ® Powder. The capture of flies increased by 29, 31, and 38 % when a yellow card was included in traps baited with Z-Kinol ® , fermented blueberry juice, and fermented raspberry juice, respectively. The volatile compounds of fermented berry juices, identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, consisted mainly of esters, particularly ethyl acetate and isopentyl acetate. In brief, our results suggest that traps baited with fermented berries can be used for monitoring and mass trapping of D. suzukii populations in blueberry crops in Mexico.

Orchid bee nests are hidden and cryptic making them difficult to find, which helps protect them from natural enemies. 12 nests of the naturalized orchid bee Euglossa dilemma Bembe & Eltz (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Florida are described, including ten detected from citizen science iNaturalist posted photographs, five of which are used here to show the diversity of nest sites. Five species of plants in Florida, two Dalechampia (Euphorbiaceae) and three Clusia (Clusiaceae), have flowers with valuable resin rewards that female E. dilemma collect to construct their nests and brood cells. Here for the first time, E. dilemma is reported to collect the propolis of honey bees. The ability of E. dilemma to make nests in such diverse objects and situations, especially in human-made objects, probably contributes to its success as a colonizing species in Florida, particularly in human habitats. It also reflects the bee’s considerable awareness to perceive potential nesting opportunities in such diverse sites and objects and to find resin sources, as well as the behavioral plasticity to carry out the nest constructions.

In late 2020, laurel wilt impacted the avocado collection at the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Subtropical Horticulture Research Station in Miami, Florida. Monitoring of the ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) community over the next 18 months suggested that the primary vector, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff, was likely not responsible for spreading the fungal pathogen ( Harringtonia lauricola [T.C. Harr., Fraerich & Aghayeva] Z.W. de Beer & M. Procter; Ophiostomatales). Rather, eight secondary vectors were detected in greater numbers, with Xyleborinus saxesenii (Ratzeburg) being the most abundant. After detection of laurel wilt, beetle numbers increased for 2–4 months, then gradually declined over the next year. This pest suppression was likely due to several countermeasures, including the prompt removal of infected trees and prophylactic macroinfusions with propiconazole fungicides. In addition, to preserve the genetic diversity of the Miami avocado germplasm, the Subtropical Horticulture Research Station is collaborating with other Agricultural Research Service facilities to establish backup collections at alternative locations free of the laurel wilt pathogen and its beetle vectors.

The seedcorn maggot, Delia platura (Meigen; Diptera: Anthomyiidae), is a polyphagous pest that feeds on decaying organic matter, seeds, and seedlings of several crops, including corn ( Zea mays L.; Poaceae). In corn and soybeans, D . platura is a sporadic pest. To make recommendations as to which sticky trap color is more effective at trapping D. platura , we sampled 52 corn fields in four regions across New York State with blue and yellow sticky cards. More adults were caught with blue (77.6 %) than yellow cards (22.4 %). The same pattern was observed when all individuals were combined and separated by females and males. The higher captures with blue sticky cards were consistent across space and time, indicating the effectiveness of trapping adults and monitoring them at a regional scale.

Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are reported for the first time in mangrove trees in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Hypothenemus distinctus Wood was recorded on the branches of Avicennia germinans L. (Acanthaceae), and Hypothenemus birmanus (Eichhoff) was recorded in the seeds of Laguncularia racemosa L. Gaertn . (Combretaceae). H. distinctus has been reported for the first time in Mexico, and H. birmanus has been reported for the first time in Tamaulipas. This work expands the host record of Scolytinae species in Mexico.

Iridopsis panopla Prout (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) is an important lepidopteran defoliator of eucalyptus. I. panopla eggs were collected naturally in a commercial plantation of Eucalyptus urograndis W. Hill (Myrtaceae) in Três Lagoas, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. After nine days, the natural emergence of  Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) occurred from I. panopla eggs. Parasitism was evaluated under laboratory and field conditions, this being the first record for eucalyptus in Brazil. Based on the biological characteristics evaluated in the laboratory, I. panopla eggs are suitable for T. pretiosum reproduction. The obtained percentage parasitism, particularly when 72,000 adult females of T. pretiosum per hectare were employed, provide valuable insights regarding the potential of T. pretiosum as an effective biological control agent against I. panopla in eucalyptus plantations.

Different alternative hosts can reduce or even avoid pre-imaginal conditioning of parasitoids in mass production programs. Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) may be an alternative host for mass rearing the parasitoid Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). The objective of this study was to evaluate the parasitism, emergence, egg-to-adult period, progeny size, sex ratio, and consumption of host tissue per individual of P. elaeisis produced using S. cosmioides pupae in the laboratory. Newly formed S. cosmioides pupae were weighed, individualized in glass tubes and each one was exposed to six newly emerged P. elaeisis females during 48 h. These pupae were transferred to plastic pots until the emergence of P. elaeisis adults. Palmistichus elaeisis parasitized and emerged from 100.0 % and 87.5 % of the S. cosmioides pupae, respectively. The egg-to-adult period of P. elaeisis was 24.28 ± 0.18 days, with 109 ± 2 individuals emerging per host pupae. Mass consumption of the host was 2.56 ± 0.01 mg per parasitoid emerged. This is the first report of P. elaeisis parasitizing and developing in S. cosmioides pupae. The ease of rearing S. cosmioides with an artificial diet, and the high parasitism, emergence, and progeny size of P. elaeisis support the suitability of this alternative host to mass-rearing this parasitoid.

Mitigating tree stress can be a valuable strategy to combat ambrosia beetles, such as the granulate ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky; Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) under nursery conditions. Biochar and kaolin clay are known for their stress-relieving properties but their indirect effects on ambrosia beetle in ornamental or pecan ( Carya spp.) trees have not been determined. Although entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) and Trichoderma spp. (Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae) have shown effectiveness against adult ambrosia beetles, their role in reducing tree attacks is unclear. Thus, the objective was to determine the effects of biochar, kaolin clay, permethrin (industry standard), and entomopathogenic fungi on reducing ambrosia beetle attacks on young redbud ( Cercis canadensis L.; Fabaceae) and pecan trees. The treatments were biochar, kaolin clay, permethrin, biochar + permethrin, kaolin clay + permethrin, B. bassiana , Trichoderma spp., and a nontreated control. Compared to the nontreated trees, biochar and biochar + permethrin treatments significantly reduced ambrosia beetle attacks on redbud trees. Kaolin clay, permethrin, B. bassiana , and Trichoderma spp. did not significantly reduce the number of ambrosia beetle attack holes when compared with the nontreated trees. This suggests that biochar can reduce ambrosia beetle attacks on ornamental trees and should be further evaluated for longer-term effects for multiple seasons.

This study is the first report of the stalk borer Diatraea impersonatella (Walker) on sugarcane in Honduras. A total of 167 larvae were collected from sugarcane crops in the Department Francisco Morazán, Municipality Villa de San Francisco, Honduras, during November 2022 to January 2023. The larval specimens were reared with the objective of obtaining adults for the morphological identification of the species through the inspection of male genitalia.