The application of juvenile hormone (or chemical analogs, such as methoprene) to newly emerged adult male fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) represents a promising method to improve the efficiency of the Sterile Insect Technique against economically important species. This procedure has been shown to accelerate male sexual maturity in species with a long pre-copulatory period, and could allow for release of sterile males at younger ages and a greater release rate of sterile males overall. Topical application of methoprene has been shown to enhance male mating competitiveness. The present study investigated the effect of methoprene on maturation speed in males of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (a ‘slow’ maturing species) and the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (a ‘fast’ maturing species). For both species, newly emerged males were treated with acetone containing methoprene (treated) or acetone alone (control). The mating propensity of males was then monitored in non-competitive environments with mature females. Contrary to other studies, we found no evidence that methoprene accelerated male sexual activity in either a wild-like or mass-reared strain of B. dorsalis or a mass-reared (genetic sexing strain) of C. capitata. Possible explanations for these results are discussed.

The Aradidae of Louisiana are poorly known, with only 5 species reported from the state. We examined 251 adult flat bugs from Louisiana in the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum, confirming the presence of 4 species (Aradus falleni Stål, Acaricoris ignotus Harris and Drake, Notapictinus aurivilli (Bergroth), and Mezira sayi Kormilev) and adding 14 more in 4 subfamilies (Aneurinae: Aneurus fiskei Heidemann, Aneurus pygmaeus Kormilev; Aradinae: Aradus acutus Say, Aradus aequalis Say, Aradus kormilevi Heiss, Aradus ornatus Say, Aradus robustus Uhler; Carventinae: Neoproxius gypsatus (Bergroth); Mezirinae: Neuroctenus pseudonymus Bergroth, Neuroctenus simplex (Uhler), Mezira emarginata (Say), Mezira froeschneri Davidová-Vilímová et al., Mezira granulata (Say), and Mezira lobata (Say)) to the state's fauna. Habitats recorded for these species are discussed.

Long term trapping studies of the invasive moth Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) were conducted at various latitudes from Puerto Rico to South Carolina. Three flight periods per year were identified at the 5 temperate sites studied, which covered the majority of the infested range on mainland United States. In general, the 3 flight periods across a latitudinal gradient from south Florida to central, coastal South Carolina were a spring flight during Feb–-May, a summer flight during Jun–Aug, and a fall flight during Sep–Nov. At any 1 site, each flight period lasted about 2 months. In the tropical areas of the Florida Keys and a Caribbean Island, the insect exhibited overlapping generations. Previous studies of this insect (as a biological control agent) report 2 flight periods per year in its native range of Argentina and its introduced range of Australia and South Africa. A synthetic pheromone-baited trap was a good indicator of generational time, and we suggest that trapping assays in these areas will likely identify 3 generations rather than 2. Initiation and timing of the 3 generational flights has importance in the current United States and Mexico monitoring program for presence and expansion of this invasive pest, development of mapping programs to identify monitoring windows and management efforts with the Sterile Insect Technique.

Two new species, Fiorianteon isoneuron sp. nov and Anteon gaoligongense sp. nov, are described, respectively, from Xiaowutaishan Provincial Nature Reserve (Hebei Province, China) and Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve (Yunnan Province, China). Fiorianteon isoneuron can be recognized from the related Palaearctic species F. junonium Olmi by the different shape of parameres (without a notch in dorsal view in F. junonium, with a deep notch in F. isoneuron) and stigmal vein (distal part much shorter than proximal part in F. junonium, about as long as in F. isoneuron). Anteon gaoligongense can be recognized from the related Oriental species A. indicum Olmi by the different shape of segment 5 of fore tarsus (with basal part much longer than distal part in A. indicum, slightly shorter than distal part in Anteon gaoligongense). Keys are provided for the determinations of the above species with illustrations of male genitalia and female chelae.

Translation provided by the authors.

The West Indian sweetpotato weevil Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a major pest of sweetpotato Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam (Solanales: Convolvulaceae) in some countries. In order to improve mass-rearing for an eradication program employing the sterile insect technique (SIT), optimal population density of E. postfasciatus in an artificial diet was examined. Six population densities (1000, 4000, 7000, 10000, 13000, and 16000 individuals per container with 200 g of artificial diet) were compared for effect on the number of eggs collected and hatchability. The total number of eggs collected after 24 d increased with an increase in population density and reached a saturation level at 13,000 individuals, whereas hatchability was not affected by population density. The results indicated that optimal population density in mass rearing was 13,000 individuals on 200 g of artificial diet. Furthermore, we examined cannibalism by adult weevils in the presence of other diets. The result suggested that egg cannibalism may be a major reason for the low rate of egg collection in the mass rearing of E. postfasciatus.

A 5-year study of long-term (40 years) study plots was conducted on the Osceola National Forest in northern Florida to determine how dormant-season fire frequency (annual, biennial, quadrennial, or unburned) affects ground-dwelling macroarthropod use of coarse woody debris in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forests. Pitfall traps were used to sample arthropods near logs or metal drift fences of equal length. Samples were identified to genus or the lowest practical taxonomic level. Overall, significantly more arthropods and more arthropod biomass were captured near drift fences than near logs. Similarity of arthropods captured near logs or drift fences ranged from 64.4% in annually burned plots to 69.2% in quadrennially burned plots, with no significant differences noted. Likewise, Shannon diversity, evenness, richness, and number of rare genera were the same for traps regardless of the trap location. Interaction between fires and trap location were observed in 31 of 932 arthropod taxa. Of those, 10 taxa had significantly higher numbers captured in traps near logs in some burn treatments but there was no consistent pattern between log use and fire frequency. In most cases, more were captured in log pitfalls in frequently burned plots but that was not the case for at least 4 taxa. Where interactions between trap location and fire frequency were not significant, arthropods in an additional 101 taxa were captured in higher numbers at 1 trap location or the other. Of those, 73 were captured in higher numbers in pitfalls near drift fences and 28 were captured in higher numbers near logs. Results showed no increase in log usage by general or more mobile ground-dwelling arthropods as more frequent burning reduced the herbaceous and woody under story. However, logs were clearly important to a wide variety of arthropods regardless of burn frequency.

Parasitoid releases against the birch leafminer Fenusa pusilla (Lepeletier) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) in eastern North America began in 1974, with releases in eastern Canada, followed by others in the Middle Atlantic States and New England. Of 4 parasitoids released, only 1, the ichneumonid Lathrolestes nigricollis (Thompson), established and spread widely. Studies of its preliminary impacts were made in several locations in the 1980s and 1990s, but full impact of the parasitoid on host density was not yet achieved in that period. Here we report results of surveys in 7 states (MA, CT, RI, NY, PA, NJ, DE) in 2007 documenting the current birch leaf miner levels (as % of leaves mined in spring) and parasitism. Survey results show that the pest has declined dramatically to barely detectable levels in 5 states (MA, CT, RI, NY, PA) but that in southern NJ, the pest remains abundant (ca 50% leaves mined) despite significant parasitism levels. Survey results, in context with previous evaluations made when populations were still declining, show that the project has been completely successful in much of the northeastern USA, but that there is a southern limit to efficacy in mid-New Jersey. Possible reasons for lack of control in this area, in contrast to high levels of control elsewhere, are discussed.

The pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green), is a highly polyphagous pest that invaded southern Florida in 2002 and is now widely established throughout most of the state. Although Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. is a preferred and economically important host of M. hirsutus, the susceptibility and expression of feeding symptoms by different cultivars have not been evaluated. Cultivars of H. rosa-sinensis were infested with M. hirsutus and evaluated daily for 40 d for the onset and percentage of terminals expressing feeding symptoms. Under different initial densities of M. hirsutus, the cultivar ‘President’ showed no difference in the latency to expression of feeding symptoms, which occurred between 7 and 15 d after infestation, but did show significant differences between initial density and percentage of terminals expressing feeding symptoms from 10 d onward. When infested with 20 females, 80% of ‘President’ terminals exhibited symptoms 30 d after infestation. Four other cultivars initially infested with 10 female M. hirsutus showed significant differences in the onset and severity of feeding symptoms. All plants of the cultivars ‘Florida Sunset’ and ‘Joanne’ expressed damage symptoms at 12 ± 2 SE d and 10 ± 1 d, respectively, following infestation. Only a single plant of the cultivars ‘Double Red’ and ‘Snow Queen’ showed such symptoms at 19 and 30 d after infestation, respectively. Significant differences between cultivar and the percentage of terminals expressing feeding symptoms were observed from 20 d onward. Terminals sampled from all plants after 40 d revealed that egg, nymph, and adult female M. hirsutus were found on all plants, including those that did not exhibit feeding symptoms. These data have shown that hibiscus cultivars differ in their expression of M. hirsutus feeding symptoms, that M. hirsutus can reproduce on cultivars of hibiscus that do not express feeding symptoms, and that feeding symptoms are not a reliable indicator of infestation by M. hirsutus, highlighting the need for further investigation of the mechanisms underlying differences among cultivars.

Antrusa montecristiensis, a new species of Dacnusini from Montecristo island (Italy), is described, illustrated, and compared with allied species. Specific keys of the genus Antrusa for the West Palaearctic region are provided. The preimaginal phases and the venom apparatus of A. curtitempus Fischer, Tormos, Docavo & Pardo, are described, illustrated, and compared with species of allied genera. The larva stages are similar to those of Dacnusa; the immature larvae differ in the number and distribution of the setae of the abdominal and thoracic segments, and the mature larva in the type of the tegumental differentations of the thorax and abdomen as well as in the number and size of the sensilla of the maxillary palpi. The venom apparatus of this species is very similar to that of Antrusa flavicoxa (Thomson), differing from it in length of the reservoir and the number of gland filaments.

Two new genera of Tropidocephalini (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Delphacidae: Delphacinae) are described from Hainan Province, China. They are Yuanchia Chen and Tsai gen. nov. and Neocarinodelphax Chen and Tsai gen. nov. One new species, Yuanchia maculata Chen and Tsai sp. nov. (China: Hainan: Diaoluoshan) and 1 new combination, Neocarinodelphax hainanensis (Qin and Zhang 2005) comb. nov. (China: Hainan: Wuzhishan, Tongshi, Yancheng) (transferred from Carinodelphax Ding and Yang) are described or redescribed and illustrated.

Parasitoids of Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) infesting wild guava (Psidium guajava L.) and peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) fruits in the southernmost extension of the Bolivian Yungas forest, in the Province of Tarija, were surveyed in Dec (early summer), Feb (mid summer) and Mar (late summer) 1999 and 2000. The abundance patterns and diversity of fruit fly larval-pupal parasitoid species were similar to previously published data for the southern and northern Yungas forests of Argentina. A total of 1,600 guavas and 800 peaches, weighing 57.713 kg and 24.544 kg, respectively, were collected yielding 13,080 tephritid puparia, 78.4% of which were A. fraterculus and 21.6% Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). We reared 712 larval-pupal parasitoids of the following species: Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti), D. brasiliensis (Szépligeti), D. crawfordi (Viereck), Opius bellus Gahan, Utetes anastrephae (Viereck) (all Braconidae, Opiinae), Aganaspis pelleranoi (Brèthes) Odontosema anastrephae Borgmeier, and Lopheucoila anastrephae (Rohwer) (all Figitidae, Eucoilinae). Utetes anastrephae, O. anastrephae, and L. anastrephae are new fruit fly parasitoid reports for Bolivia, as well as O. anastrephae in the South American Yungas forest. A thorough sampling of other C. capitata and Anastrepha host plants, mostly native fruit species, will be necessary in the Yungas forest of Bolivia before further conclusions on abundance and composition of all fruit fly parasitoids can be reached.

The red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst, an important pest of coconut, banana, and date palms is a new invasive pest in the Western Hemisphere. The red palm mite (RPM) has been observed attacking bananas and plantains in Dominica and in Florida (M. A. Hoy, A. Cocco, personal observation). In order to develop an efficient method to rear the RPM in quarantine for a classical biological control project, several banana and plantain varieties were tested as hosts for the RPM. Bananas are more desirable than coconut (a favored host plant) because bananas are easier to rear in small cages and will produce new shoots quickly after pruning. Red palm mite females did not establish on the banana and plantain varieties (Dwarf Cavendish, Dwarf Nino, Gran Nain, Dwarf Zan Moreno, Dwarf Green, Truly Tiny, Musa sumatrana × Gran Nain, Dwarf Puerto Rican, Rose, Nang Phaya, Misi Luki, Manzano, Lady Finger, Glui Kai, and Ebun Musak) of leaf discs tested, but they established on coconut leaf discs. The mites could not be reared on potted banana trees (Glui Kai, Dwarf Green, and Nang Phaya varieties), but a multigenerational colony has been maintained on coconut trees and leaf discs. No RPM females survived on native palms tested (saw palmetto, cabbage palm, and dwarf palmetto), but RPM completed a generation on needle palm, with longer development time, higher mortality, and lower fecundity than when reared on coconut discs. Our results indicate that coconut leaf discs and trees are better hosts for rearing RPM in quarantine than banana, plantain varieties, or native palms tested. Quarantine tests and field observations suggest that the host range of RPM may not be as broad as some reports indicate because plants from which RPM adults and/or eggs have been collected might not be suitable for establishment of a multigenerational colony. More studies under natural conditions need to be conducted to evaluate the ability of R. indica to establish and spread on native and ornamental palms in natural landscapes in Florida.

Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, Anacardiaceae) is a perennial tree native to Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The plant was introduced into the USA before 1900. Originally grown as an ornamental, Brazilian peppertree is now considered an noxious plant in Hawaii and Florida, where it is ranked among the most important threats to biodiversity in natural areas. Recent surveys conducted in northeastern Argentina recovered one fungus associated with distorted leaves and 36 phytophagous insects collected on Brazilian peppertree. A leaf-feeding notodontid moth, a new species of gracillariid leaf blotch miner, and a stem-boring weevil have been selected for further studies to determine their potential as biological control agents of Brazilian peppertree in the USA. The results of these surveys are summarized herein and descriptions are included of the insects that are considered most promising for biological control of this weed.

Black carpenter ants, Camponotus pennsylvanicus (DeGeer), are nearly ubiquitous in North American forests. These ants are documented as predators of red oak borer, Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman), a native longhorn beetle that experienced an unprecedented population increase synonymous with an oak decline event in the oak hickory forests of the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas from the late 1990s until 2005. We examined previous red oak borer emergence holes, tree crown conditions, and site aspects in 13 pre-established vegetation monitoring plots and correlated these forest and tree attributes with the presence or absence of black carpenter ants. At each site, all red oaks >10 cm diameter at breast height were baited for black carpenter ants with a mixture of tuna and honey. Black carpenter ants were more frequently found on trees with low levels of previous red oak borer infestation versus those trees with previously high infestations. These data suggest a potential role for black carpenter ants in the dynamics of red oak borer populations. Distribution of black carpenter ants in red oaks prior to and during the outbreak is unknown. Future investigations should be directed at efforts to understand whether black carpenter ants simply prefer different tree and site attributes than red oak borer or if, via predation, these ants are acting as agents of red oak borer control.

Phorid flies are well known myrmecophilic organisms and are often parasitoids of ants. In some cases, phorids live commensally with ants, with the colony offering protection and/or feeding opportunities. In this study we examined the phorid Commoptera solenopsidis in association with a new host species, Pheidole dentata. An ethogram was performed describing the fly and its association with different P. dentata castes. The flies spent most of their time performing grooming behaviors, allogrooming ants, or self-grooming and most commonly were associated with the major workers. We discuss the significance of this association as well as the possible evolutionary driving force behind C. solenopsidis having multiple hosts.

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, (Insecta: Hemiptera: Psyllidae), has been identified as a damaging pest and an efficient vector of the plant infecting bacterium (Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus) which is strongly associated with the disease Huanglongbing (HLB), known as ‘Citrus greening disease’. Huanglongbing has caused extensive economic losses in the citrus industries worldwide. Traditional control measures of the psyllid have proven to be ineffective and costly. Biological control measures have been shown to provide environmentally friendly management tools for insect pests. In this study, an expression library was prepared from adult psyllids in search of new pathogens that can be use as biological control agents. We identified 2 viral sequences: one 616 base pairs and a second, 792 base pairs. Both had significant similarity to viruses within the insect Reovirus group. Phylogenetic and homology comparisons indicated that the viral sequences were most closely related to the viruses in the Family Reoviridae, Genus Fijivirus, specifically Nilaparvata lugens reovirus, NLRV.

The genus Onesia (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is essentially Australasian/Oceanian and Palaearctic Regions in distribution. Two new species of the genus from China are described, viz. Onesia dynatophallus Xue & Bai sp. nov and Onesia franzaosternita Xue & Dong sp. nov. A key to Onesia species in China and a map of their distribution are given. The type specimens are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Shenyang Normal University.

Two new cicada species, Haphsa stellata Lee, sp. nov. and Haphsa aculeus Lee, sp. nov., from India and Thailand, respectively, are described. Haphsa velitaris (Distant) and Haphsa crassa Distant are transferred to Meimuna Distant to become Meimuna velitaris (Distant) comb. nov. and Meimuna crassa (Distant) comb. nov. Meimuna durga (Distant) is transferred to Haphsa Distant to become Haphsa durga (Distant) comb. nov.

Two new species, Platylomia constanti Lee, sp. nov. and Platylomia maxima Lee, sp. nov., of the Platylomia spinosa species group are described from Luzon, Philippines. These new species are distinguished from their congeners by the combination of the following characters: larger body, long operculum, wide abdomen, presence of infuscation only at bases of apical cells 2 and 3 on the fore wing, blackish ground color of the dorsal and ventral parts of the body, and the different shape of the uncal lobe. The 2 new species are different from each other not only in collection altitude and season but also in morphology such as the shape of the dorsal beak, shape of the male operculum, shapes of some markings on the body, and the length of the basal vein of the apical cell 1.

A multiplex PCR method was developed and used to determine the infection rate of Kneallhazia solenopsae in individual Pseudacteon curvatus flies in north-central Florida. Among P. curvatus flies infected with K. solenopsae, 2 amplicons were produced, one of 800 nucleotides from the P. curvatus 18S rRNA gene, and one of 318 nucleotides from the K. solenopsae 16S rRNA gene. Multiplex PCR of DNA extracted from P. curvatus flies was capable of detecting 117.5 ± 82.7 K. solenopsae spore equivalents. The mean K. solenopsae infection rate of P. curvatus from 4 sites in Gainesville and Williston, Florida, was 12.3 ± 5.0%. The K. solenopsae infection rate for P. curvatus was independent of the K. solenopsae infection rate observed among S. invicta nests from where the fly collections took place. Not all P. curvatus flies that developed in K. solenopsae-infected fire ants were positive for K. solenopsae upon eclosion. Among 50 P. curvatus flies known to develop in K. solenopsae-infected S. invicta workers, 12 (24%) were positive for K. solenopsae at eclosion.

Adult reproductive biology, including fecundity and mating propensity, may be affected by larval host for insects such as the papaya fruit fly, Toxotrypana curvicauda that do not require protein to produce eggs. Although the reproductive biology of papaya fruit flies that were reared on papaya fruit Carica papaya L. is known, little is known of flies that develop on alternate host fruit such as Jacaratia mexicana (Caricaceae). Therefore, uninfested J. mexicana fruit were collected from the field and infested by exposing them to oviposition in the laboratory by papaya fruit flies that were obtained from field-infested papaya. Puparia of females were longer then puparia of males, but there was no difference in either puparial width or weight. Females 6 d old produced 26 eggs/ovary. There was a positive linear relationship between puparial weight and number of chorionated eggs in mature females (6–8 d old), but puparial weight was not correlated with adult longevity. Females produced 2.99 eggs per mg of weight of puparium. Adult females were larger and heavier than adult males. Papaya fruit flies reared on J. mexicana are smaller, lighter, and have fewer eggs than reported for flies reared on C. papaya.

Pupal duration, longevity, and behavior of males and females of Carmenta theobromae (Busck), an insect pest of economic importance in cocoa plantations (Theobroma cacao (L.)) were studied. Perforated pods from cocoa farms in Curiepe, Miranda state, Venezuela were collected and taken to INIA-Miranda. Carmenta theobromae larvae and pupa were extracted from infested pods. All stages (larvae, pupae, and adults) were kept at 28 ± 5°C, 70 ± 15% RH and a photoperiod 12: 12 (L:D). Emergence and daily activity of adults kept in observation chambers was recorded. Pupal development time was 12.78 ± 2.50 d and adult longevity was 5.10 ± 1.96 and 4.39 ± 1.57 d for males and females, respectively. Emergence of adults began between 0730 and 0800 h, and continued until 1400 and 1500 h for females and males, respectively. Adult emergence peaked at 0800 h for both sexes, and the adult sex ratio was 1.2:1 (male: female). Female calling behavior occurred between 1430 and 1930 h, with a pronounced peak at 1730 h, and continued until the third day after emergence. This behavior coincided with more intense flight, walking or wing fluttering in males. The results suggest that C. theobromae females release a sex pheromone between 1430 and 1930 h.

Translation by the authors.

Two closely related species of Anthocoridae, the minute pirate bugs Orius insidiosus (Say) and O. pumilio (Champion), were collected together from false Queen Anne's lace/ large bullwort (Ammi majus) planted on an organic farm in Gainesville, Alachua Co., FL., over a period of 5 successive weeks. The presumptive prey on the false Queen Anne's lace was a single species of thrips, Frankliniella bispinosa (Morgan). In the first 4 weekly collections from the flower heads, the densities of O. insidiosus adults were 2.7-fold higher than those of O. pumilio. No eggs or nymphs of either species were observed on the plants. Sex ratios (males:females) of 2.7 and 1.0 were observed for O. insidiosus and O. pumilio, respectively. A colony of O. insidiosus was established from field-collected specimens. The sex ratio of the F1 generation from this colony was 1.0, suggesting that the skewed field sex ratio was not a genetic phenomenon. These data demonstrate that these sympatric predators coexist at least temporarily, feeding on pests of the false Queen Anne's lace.

Late-instars of Bryothinusa koreana Ahn & Jeon are described for the first time based upon DNA sequence data of larvae and adults. Twelve larvae were collected on Geoje Island, Korea, in association with adults of B. koreana. The partial cytochrome oxidase II gene (410 bp) was sequenced from the larvae and from several identified adult Bryothinusa specimens, including B. koreana. The intraspecific p-distances of adult B. koreana were from 0 to 4.44%, and interspecific pairwise distances were 10.77% to 13.47%. The sequence results of the larvae were similar to those of adult B. koreana. Based on these results, the larvae were identified as B. koreana and diagnostic characters of the species are provided, with illustrations of features.