We present a field-based approach to detect and monitor insects with resistance to insecticidal toxins produced by transgenic plants. Our objective is to estimate the phenotypic frequency of resistance in a population by relating the densities of insects on genetically transformed plants to densities on nontransformed plants. We focus on European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), in sweet corn, Zea mays L., expressing Cry1Ab from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki Berliner to illustrate principles underlying the method. The probability of detecting one or more rare, resistant larvae depends on sample size, the density of larvae on nontransformed plants, and an assumed frequency of resistant phenotypes in a given population. Probability of detection increases with increases in sample size, background density, or the frequency of resistant individuals. Following binomial probability theory, if a frequency of 10⁻⁴ is expected, 10³–10⁴ samples must be collected from a B. thuringiensis (Bt) crop to have at least a 95% probability of locating one or more resistant larvae. In-field screens using transgenic crops have several advantages over traditional laboratory-based methods, including exposure to a large number of feral insects, discrimination of resistant individuals based on Bt dosages expressed in the field, incorporation of natural and Bt-induced mortality factors, simultaneous monitoring for more than one insect species, and ease of use. The approach is amenable to field survey crews working in research, extension, and within the seed corn industry. Estimates of the phenotypic frequency of resistance from the in-field screen can be useful for estimating initial frequency of resistant alleles. Bayesian statistical methods are outlined to estimate phenotype frequencies, allele frequencies, and associated confidence intervals from field data. Results of the approach are discussed relative to existing complementary methods currently available for O. nubilalis and corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie).

New formulations of formic acid and thymol, both individually and in combination with various essential oils, were compared with Apistan to determine their efficacy as fall treatments for control of V arroa jacobsoni (Oudemans), a parasitic mite of the honey bee, Apis mellifera L. Percent mite mortality in colonies treated with 300 ml of 65% formic acid averaged 94.2 ± 1.41% (least square means ± SE, n = 24), equivalent to those receiving four, 10% strips of Apistan (92.6 ± 1.79%, n = 6). Treatment with thymol ( n = 24) resulted in an average mite mortality of 75.4 ± 5.79%, significantly less than that attained with Apistan or formic acid. The addition of essential oils did not affect treatment efficacy of either formic acid or thymol. The ratio of the coefficients of variation for percentage mortality for the formic acid (CV_FA) and Apistan (CV_A) groups was CV_FA/CV_A = 0.66. This indicates that the formic acid treatment was as consistent as the Apistan treatment. Thymol treatments did not provide as consistent results as Apistan or formic acid. Coefficient variation ratios for percentage mortality for the thymol group (CV_T) with the Apistan and formic acid groups were CV_T/CV_A = 4.47 and CV_T/CV_FA = 6.76, respectively. In a second experiment, colonies received a 4-wk fall treatment of either 300 ml of 65% formic acid ( n = 24) or four, 10% strips of Apistan ( n = 6). The next spring, mite levels in the formic acid group (554.3 ± 150.20 mites) were similar to those in the Apistan treatment group (571.3 ± 145.05 mites) ( P = 0.93). Additionally, the quantities of bees, brood, pollen, and nectar/honey in the two treatment groups were not significantly different ( P ≥ 0.50 each variable). These results suggest that formic acid is an effective alternative to Apistan as a fall treatment for varroa mites in temperate climates.

β-Exotoxin (thuringiensin) was found in high titers in centrifugation supernatants and acetone/lactose powders produced from centrifugation pellets of strains Guat 1 and HD 2 of Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner). Diets containing powders of either strain were toxic, diets containing Guat 1 supernatant were not toxic, diets containing HD 2 supernatant were slightly toxic, and diets containing powders or supernatants from uninoculated culturing medium spiked with β-exotoxin were not toxic. Most mortality occurred within 3 d when flies fed on powders but not until 6–7 d when flies fed on HD 2 supernatant. These results indicated that the primary toxic principals of the powders were endotoxins/spores and that β-exotoxin alone was not toxic to adult flies at the concentrations found in the supernatants or powders.

Twenty isolates of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorkin (Ma) were evaluated to determine their virulence against last instar and adult emergence of Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew). Larvae were exposed by immersion in a conidial suspension at a concentration of 10⁸ UFC/ml under laboratory conditions. Larvae and pupae cumulative mortality rates ranged from 37.9 to 98.75%. Thirteen isolates caused mortality rates >83.7%, and their LT₅₀ values ranged from 1.8 to 6.2 d. The Ma2, Ma8, and Ma16 isolates were evaluated at seven different concentrations ranging from 10¹ to 10⁷ UFC/ml, showing LC₅₀ values from 3.7 to 4.8 × 10⁵ UFC/ml. In a field-cage experiment, 200 ml of a conidial suspension of Ma2, at a concentration of 2.5 × 10⁶ UFC/ml, was applied on 2,500 cm² soil surface (2 × 10⁵ UFC/cm²). The fungus reduced adult emergence, 22% fewer adults emerging in a sandy loam soil, and 43% fewer in loam soil, compared with the controls. M. anisopliae may offer a preferable alternative to chemicals as a biological control agent against A. ludens.

Effects of sublethal exposure to abamectin on the biological performance of Neoseiulus longispinosus (Evans) were studied under ambient laboratory conditions of 28 ± 2°C and 80 ± 15% RH with 24 h light. The red form of the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, complex (Acari: Tetranychidae), was offered as prey. The LC₅₀ obtained from the contact bioassay at 48 h after treatment was 0.015 ppm (AI). A big change in kill for a given variation in dosage for the regression slope probably indicated that abamectin was unlikely selective. Sublethal exposures to abamectin caused a reduction in survival with the female reaching 50% mortality by the sixth day and the male 4 d later. The mean preoviposition period was extended by almost 1 d, whereas the mean oviposition period was shortened by almost 5 d causing a reduction in the mean fecundity female⁻¹ to almost half that of the untreated females. The net reproductive rate (R_o), the intrinsic rate of increase (r_m), and the finite rate of increase (λ) of the treated females were markedly inferior. Treated males were seriously affected; the mean life span was almost half that of the untreated.

The Diaprepes root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) is the most severe weevil pest in Florida citrus. Entomopathogenic nematodes have effectively suppressed larval populations of D. abbreviatus. Our objective was to conduct a broad laboratory comparison of entomopathogenic nematodes for virulence toward larvae of D. abbreviatus. The study was conducted at three temperatures (20, 24, and 29°C) and included nine entomopathogenic species and 17 strains: Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (Baine, NJ1, Hb, Hbl, HP88, and Lewiston strains), H. indica Poinar, Karunakar & David (original and Hom1 strains), H. marelatus Liu & Berry (IN and Point Reyes strains), H. megidis Poinar, Jackson & Klein (UK211 strain), H. zealandica Poinar (NZH3 strain), Steinernema riobrave Cabanillas, Poinar & Raulston (355 strain), S. carpocapsae (Weiser) (All strain), S. feltiae (Filipjev) (SN and UK76 strains), and S. glaseri (Steiner) (NJ43 strain). At 20°C, the greatest mortality was caused by S. riobrave although it was not significantly greater than H. bacteriophora (Baine), H. bacteriophora (Hb), H. bacteriophora (Hbl), and H. indica (original). At 24 and 29°C, S. riobrave caused greater larval mortality than other nematodes tested. Two strains of H. indica, H. bacteriophora (Baine), and S. glaseri were next in terms of virulence at 29°C. Our results suggest that S. riobrave has the greatest potential for control of D. abbreviatus.

Laboratory, greenhouse and field studies were conducted to characterize the insecticidal properties of genetically altered forms of Autographa californica (Speyer) nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcNPV) and Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) NPV (HzNPV) against selected heliothine species. The altered viruses each contained a chimeric 0.8-kb fragment encoding the insect-specific, sodium channel neurotoxin from the Algerian scorpion Androctonus australis Hector (AaIT, hence recombinant viruses designated Ac-AaIT and Hz-AaIT). Based on LD₅₀ values, results from diet-overlay bioassays showed Ac-AaIT and Hz-AaIT to be equally virulent against larval tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), but Hz-AaIT averaged 1,335-fold greater bioactivity than Ac-AaIT against larval cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). Hz-AaIT killed larvae of both heliothine species at rates significantly faster than those imparted by HzNPV (viral LT₅₀ values averaged 2.5 and 5.6 d, respectively). In greenhouse studies, foliar sprays of Ac-AaIT and Hz-AaIT were equally effective in controlling H. virescens on cotton; however, Hz-AaIT provided control of H. zea on cotton at a level superior to that of Ac-AaIT. For example, after three weekly sessions of foliar application and H. zea artificial infestation, cotton treated with Ac-AaIT or Hz-AaIT at 10 × 10¹¹ occulsion bodies (OB)/ha averaged 2.5 and 16.2 nondamaged flower buds per plant, respectively. Another greenhouse study conducted against heliothine species on cotton showed that the quicker killing speed exhibited by Hz-AaIT led to improved plant protection versus HzNPV. Finally, results from three field trials demonstrated that Hz-AaIT at 5–12 × 10¹¹ OB/ha provided control of the heliothine complex in cotton at levels slightly better than Bacillus thuringiensis, equal to the macrolide, spinosad, and only slightly less than that of selected pyrethroid and carbamate insecticides. Overall, results from these studies indicate that, because of host range differences between the two wild-type viruses, HzNPV is the better vectoring agent (versus AcNPV) for designing recombinant clones as insecticides targeted at the multi-species heliothine complex. Further, these studies suggest that if appropriately tailored for the pest complex, recombinant NPVs may be very effective, insect-specific approaches to managing pests in many cropping scenarios. Possible Hz-AaIT deployment strategies for control of heliothine species on conventional and transgenic cotton varieties are discussed.

The susceptibility of larvae, prepupae, and pupae of the grass looper Mocis latipes (Guenée) to the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar) NC strain was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 120 nematodes per larva, applied in 1 ml of sterile-distilled water, were bioassayed, applying them to groups of 20 individuals of each instar, prepupa or pupa. Mortality was recorded daily for 5 d. All instars and the prepupal stage were the most susceptible to H. bacteriophora. Mortality ranged from 22.5 to 100%. Prepupae had 97.5–100% mortality starting at 10 nematodes per prepupa. Pupal mortality ranged from 27.5 to 41.3% as nematode concentration was increased. H. bacteriophora presented LC₅₀ values that ranged between 5.26 and 37.66 nematodes per larva and LT₅₀ values that ranged between 1.5 and 4.3 d. Results of this study suggest that H. bacteriophora has potential as a biocontrol agent against M. latipes.

The kill times of two viruses infectious to the heliothine pest complex indigenous to Texas cotton have been significantly reduced by expressing a scorpion toxin gene. Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) and Helicoverpa zea NPV express the toxin only in permissive lepidopteran hosts. The toxin, however, could indirectly harm members of upper trophic levels that feed upon and parasitize infected larvae producing the toxin. In this study, the effects of recombinant and wild-type viruses on Microplitis croceipes (Cresson) were studied in cotton using Heliothis virescens (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) as hosts. Two recombinant viruses, their two wild-type progenitor viruses, and untreated cotton served as the five treatments of study. Larvae were previously parasitized 2 and 4 d before being confined for 72 h to cotton terminals treated with field rates of virus or left untreated. The sexes of adult M. croceipes that emerged from the recovered H. virescens larvae were determined and their head capsule widths were measured. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) searched their extracts for virus DNA. There were no differences in percentage emergence and sex ratios of parasitoids among recombinant, wild-type, and control treatments. Significantly more wasps emerged from the 4-d cohort, but these wasps were significantly smaller than wasps from the 2-d cohort regardless of treatment. Finally, PCR found only 15–25% of the recovered H. virescens larvae and none of the emergent M. croceipes had detectable levels of viral DNA. Recombinant and wild-type viruses had a similar, minimal impact on emergent wasps, and the probability of virus dispersal via parasitoids is low in the system tested.

The development of resistance in aphid populations highlights the importance of biological control as a pest management tactic. Four treatments were evaluated to determine the effects of pesticides on the population dynamics of Aphis gossypii Glover and Neozygites fresenii (Nowakowski) Batko: (1) weekly applications of the insecticide imidacloprid (Provado 1.6 F); (2) weekly applications of the fungicide chlorothalonil (Bravo 720); (3) applications of imidacloprid (Provado 1.6 F) when aphid densities exceeded 30 aphids per leaf, and (4) untreated control. Differences in aphid density among the four treatments were shown only to be significant during the 1997 growing season; however, aphid densities were greater in the chlorothalonil treatment than in the other treatments during each growing season. Percentage of N. fresenii-killed aphids was most often highest in the chlorothalonil treatment as well. The fungal epizootic caused by N. fresenii was delayed ≈1 wk in the chlorothalonil treatment when compared with the other treatments. This delay allowed the aphids to temporarily escape suppression by the fungus and to continue to increase in density until the density-dependent effects of the epizootic overwhelmed the aphid population. N. fresenii also appeared to persist in the system when imidacloprid was in use and does appear responsible for initial aphid reductions. Treatment did not appear to have a large influence on yield outcome. Yield was variable from year to year and from location to location.

Field studies were conducted in 1996 and 1997 to reevaluate the use of augmentative releases of Trichogramma wasps for heliothine management in cotton. In 1996, nine releases of Trichogramma exiguum Pinto & Platner, spaced 3–4 d apart, were made into three 0.4-ha cotton plots. Six weekly releases were made in 1997, each containing two T. exiguum cohorts developmentally staggered by 45°C degree-days. Field release rates, estimated from laboratory and field quality control data, averaged 108,357 T. exiguum ♀♀ per hectare per cohort per release in 1996 and 193,366 ♀♀ per hectare per cohort per release in 1997. In 1996, mean ± SD adult emergence under laboratory conditions for released cohorts was 92 ± 7%; 62 ± 5% of emerged adults were females, 3 ± 2% of females displayed brachyptery (nonfunctional wings), mean female longevity under laboratory conditions was 15 ± 4 d, and mean ± SD field emergence was 97 ± 2%. Quality control measurements were similar in 1997. In 1996, mean ± SD percent parasitism of heliothine eggs in field plots on the sampled dates ranged from 67 ± 4 to 83 ± 5% in T. exiguum release plots and 25 ± 9 to 55 ± 8% in control plots. In 1997, parasitism levels ranged from 74 ± 4 to 89 ± 5% in T. exiguum release plots and 18 ± 18 to 69 ± 11% in control plots. Despite increased parasitism levels in T. exiguum release plots, there were no significant differences in density of fifth instars, boll damage, or yield between T. exiguum release and control plots. Therefore, it is concluded that Trichogramma augmentation is not an effective heliothine management tool in North Carolina cotton.

Field studies were conducted in 1996 and 1997 to determine the fate of naturally oviposited F3 heliothine eggs in cotton plots treated with augmentative releases of Trichogramma exiguum Pinto & Platner and nontreated plots. Four cohorts of newly oviposited eggs (<24 h old) were followed in 1996 and two cohorts in 1997. In 1996, mean ± SD percent parasitism, estimated by in-field studies following the fate of naturally oviposited eggs, ranged from 7 ± 7 to 61 ± 8% in T. exiguum release plots and 0 ± 0 to 35 ± 13% in control plots. The mean ± SD percent of eggs hatched in T. exiguum release plots ranged from 1 ± 2 to 11 ± 4% and 7 ± 4 to 28 ± 10% in control plots. In 1997, mean ± SD percent egg parasitism ranged from 27 ± 4 to 40 ± 3% in T. exiguum release plots and 15 ± 18 to 25 ± 8% in control plots. The mean ± SD percent of eggs hatched in T. exiguum release plots ranged from 7 ± 3 to 12 ± 2% and 18 ± 6 to 28 ± 8% in control plots. Despite increased parasitism and reduced egg hatch in T. exiguum release plots, overall, there was no significant difference in larval density (all instars combined) between T. exiguum release and control plots. Combined analysis of the heliothine larval populations and egg fate data revealed that the additional egg mortality produced by released T. exiguum was offset by lower larval mortality in release plots. Because of the occurrence of compensatory mortality, the egg stage of heliothines is not an appropriate target for biological control using Trichogramma wasp releases.

Phylogenetic relationships among populations of the polyphagous pea leafminer, Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard), were investigated using DNA sequence data. Maximum parsimony analysis of 941 bp of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I and II genes showed that L. huidobrensis contains two well-defined monophyletic groups, one composed of specimens from California and Hawaii and one composed of specimens from South and Central America together with populations that have been recently introduced into other parts of the world. The differentiation between the two clades within L. huidobrensis is equivalent to that seen between other agromyzid species, suggesting that L. huidobrensis as currently defined contains two cryptic species. This finding is consistent with field observations of differences in pest status and insecticide resistance between L. huidobrensis populations. Until additional studies are complete, no changes in L. huidobrensis taxonomy are proposed. However, researchers and quarantine officials may wish to consider the findings of the current study in designing research, pest management, and quarantine programs for L. huidobrensis.

Three approaches were used to investigate effects of host plant epicuticular waxes on oviposition site selection by Plutella xylostella (L.). In the first approach, oviposition on canola (Brassica napus L.) that had epicuticular wax reduced by application of a carbamate herbicide (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate) was compared with oviposition on untreated control plants. A second approach compared oviposition on sibling strains of B. napus with different wax blooms (glossy and waxy), and a third approach compared oviposition by P. xylostella on parafilm that had been applied to glossy and waxy B. napus strains for transfer of leaf components. Significantly more eggs were deposited on herbicide-treated plants (with reduced epicuticular wax) than on untreated controls. Similarly, more eggs were deposited on glossy than on waxy sibling strains of B. napus. In parafilm assays significantly more eggs were deposited on treated than on untreated parafilm. Several mechanisms could explain the differences in attractiveness of surfaces with varying wax content as oviposition sites for P. xylostella, including visual, chemical, and tactile differences between substrates. These mechanisms are discussed.

Mobility and distribution of adult tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), was studied on a day-neutral strawberry cultivar (‘Selva’) in 1991 and 1992 at L’Acadie, Quebec, Canada. On cage-covered plants, individuals were located mainly on reproductive parts. Study of the flight activity with sticky posts revealed that most captures were obtained <1 m from ground level and that the time of the day at which the maximum counts occur varied among seasons. Three pest-sampling methods (white sticky trap, tapping of flower clusters, and D-Vac) were evaluated over continuous 24-h periods. Maximum captures of adults with white sticky traps were made at midday (1000–1400 hours), whereas the two other methods proved more effective at the beginning (0600–0800 hours) or the end of the day (2000–2200 hours) or during night time. For nymphs, maximum catches were obtained during the day with tapping and D-Vac; white sticky traps were ineffective. Because the D-Vac captures individuals present on all parts of the plant, these counts were used to monitor the effectiveness of the two other sampling techniques. The data suggest that tapping flower clusters throughout the day is a very effective sampling method to estimate nymphal tarnished plant bug populations in strawberries. However, sampling of populations with a high proportion of adults should take into account the bias caused by their flight activity, and sampling should be conducted early in the morning or at the end of the day.

Studies examined hairy chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus hirtus Montandon, damage, population density, and movement in stands of perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L., containing various proportions of endophyte infected plants (E ). Our main objective was to determine the utility of mixtures containing E for management of chinch bugs. Chinch bug damage and population density decreased linearly as the proportion of E increased. This trend held true even when chinch bug populations were extremely high. Chinch bug nymphs emigrated more quickly from stands containing 100% E than they did from stands containing 50 or 0% E , whereas adult chinch bug emigration was relatively unaffected by the proportion of E . Our results indicate that turfgrass mixtures containing E can reduce chinch bug damage and population density.

Accelerometer, electret microphone, and piezoelectric disk acoustic systems were evaluated for their potential to detect hidden insect infestations in soil and interior structures of plants. Coleopteran grubs (the scarabaeids Phyllophaga spp. and Cyclocephala spp.) and the curculionids Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) and Otiorhynchus sulcatus (F.) weighing 50–300 mg were detected easily in the laboratory and in the field except under extremely windy or noisy conditions. Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) larvae weighing 1–12 mg could be detected in small pots of wheat in the laboratory by taking moderate precautions to eliminate background noise. Insect sounds could be distinguished from background noises by differences in frequency and temporal patterns, but insects of similarly sized species could not be distinguished easily from each other. Insect activity was highly variable among individuals and species, although D. abbreviatus grubs tended to be more active than those of O. sulcatus. Tests were done to compare acoustically predicted infestations with the contents of soil samples taken at recording sites. Under laboratory or ideal field conditions, active insects within ≈30 cm were identified with nearly 100% reliability. In field tests under adverse conditions, the reliability decreased to ≈75%. These results indicate that acoustic systems with vibration sensors have considerable potential as activity monitors in the laboratory and as field tools for rapid, nondestructive scouting and mapping of soil insect populations.

Competition was investigated between two pest earth mite species, Penthaleus major Dugés and Halotydeus destructor Tucker, which occur sympatrically and are major pests of southern Australian pastures and crops. Three geographically separate pasture sites within Victoria were sampled monthly. Abundance patterns were similar across sites in that there was a marked increase in numbers of H. destructor in spring. Field competition plots were set up on pasture. In the first season, H. destructor had a negative effect on P. major but not vice versa. During the summer, diapause and ensuing generation, density-dependent (intraspecific) competition was evident in P. major but not in H. destructor. The interspecific asymmetry was switched in the following season, with P. major dominating most plots and having a negative effect on the reproductive output of H. destructor. These findings indicate that suppression or eradication of one species of earth mite from pastures may result in another species increasing in relative abundance.

Experiments were conducted to measure the effect of feeding by the planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) on photosynthesis and the translocation of assimilates in rice plants, Oryza sativa L. We used mature japonica rice plants and applied the ¹³CO₂ feeding method to evaluate those physiological effects. The photosynthetic rate was suppressed by N. lugens infestation, especially at the lower leaf position, with rates 30% lower than that of control plants at the booting stage. Leaf nitrogen concentration in infested plants was also lower than that in control plants. After flowering, the chlorophyll content and total plant dry weight were reduced by N. lugens. Stem and sheath dry weights were significantly reduced by N. lugens infestation, whereas panicle dry weight was not affected. Little effect was found on disruption in translocation of assimilates, even when ¹³CO₂ was supplied to the infested leaves. Results suggested that removal of assimilates and reduction in photosynthesis by N. lugens have the greatest effect on growth and yield of rice plants as compared with the disruption in the translocation of assimilates. Plant death can occur by N. lugens infestation if the amount of energy supplied is less than that required for tissue maintenance.

The combined effect of planting date, insecticide treatment, and host-plant resistance was studied in northeast Louisiana for management of the sorghum midge, Stenodiplosis sorghicola (Coquillett), during 1994 and 1995. Significantly higher numbers of sorghum midges were observed visiting flowering spikelets of the midge-susceptible sorghum hybrid (Delta and Pine Land ‘DP1552’) than those of the midge-resistant sorghum hybrid (DeKalb ‘DK-60’). Numbers of midges averaged 1.2 and 0.6 per flowering panicle in the susceptible and resistant sorghum hybrids, respectively, in 1994 and 1.8 and 1.0, respectively, in 1995. Midge densities increased significantly as the sorghum flowering season progressed. Sorghum midge reached peak densities during the first half of August in 1994 and 1995. The length of the flowering period in the early-planted (mid-March) sorghum was significantly longer compared with the flowering periods in the mid-April, mid-May, or mid-June planted sorghums. This resulted in prolonged exposure of flowering panicles to ovipositing midges and increased midge damage in the early-planted (mid-March) sorghum. Damage by sorghum midge was significantly higher in the early-planted (mid-March) sorghum hybrids than in the late-planted (mid-June) sorghum hybrids. The midge-susceptible hybrid produced highest yields when planted in mid-April and mid-May (optimum period) and lower yields when planted very early (i.e., mid-March) or late (i.e., mid-June). No significant differences were observed in yields for the resistant hybrid at any planting date in 1994. However, in 1995, significantly lower yields were recorded in resistant sorghum planted in mid-June. Levels of sorghum midge damage and sorghum seed yields in the untreated resistant hybrid were not significantly different than those observed in the insecticide-treated susceptible hybrid. Numbers of adult midges captured on sticky traps were positively correlated to numbers of visual estimates of ovipositing midge females visiting flowering spikelets.

The phenology of damage by the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), on nectarines was investigated using sticky cards and direct sampling of buds between 1993 and 1995 in the interior of British Columbia, the most susceptible period for damage by western flower thrips to nectarines. The life stage responsible for damage and variation in susceptibility to damage of 11 different nectarine varieties were determined. To evaluate the predictive ability of 2 sampling methods, thrips were counted from both buds and sticky cards before petal fall and correlated to damage levels at husk drop. Damage to nectarines was caused almost entirely by larval feeding at petal fall. No predictive relationships between adult or larval densities of western flower thrips and subsequent damage to fruit were apparent. Varieties did not differ in terms of larval densities at petal fall or the subsequent damage to fruit. Female western flower thrips oviposit in nectarine buds from dormant through bloom stages primarily in sepal tissues in the early buds, and in filaments and petals as these become available.

Floral nectar characteristics of nine inbred lines of onion (Allium cepa L.) were examined to determine their influence on the attractiveness of the onion flowers to honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Potassium concentrations and sugar concentrations of the nectar did not significantly correlate with the number of bee visits received by an umbel. The average amount of nectar produced by both the umbels and the individual florets was significantly positively correlated with the number of bee visits. Our results suggest that selection for flowers with high nectar production may lead to a higher rate of pollination of the onion seed crop.

The effects of methoprene and permethrin on larvae of Heteropeza pygmaea Winnertz and Mycophila speyeri (Barnes), two Cecidomyiid species of paedogenetic insect mushroom pest, were investigated in sterile culture at concentrations of 0.1–100 μg/g. The two highest concentrations of permethrin caused complete mortality of M. speyeri but only low mortality of H. pygmaea. The main sublethal effects of permethrin on both species were reduced fecundity and reduced mother–larval width. Methoprene had only sublethal effects on both species. At all doses, methoprene caused an increase in H. pygmaea generation time but a reduction in hemipupal width and fecundity according to dosage. The effects on M. speyeri were similar but more severe.

Fourteen collard entries, Brassica oleraceae L., Acephala group, were evaluated for resistance to natural populations of Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring in replicated field plots in Charleston, SC. Glossy-leaf phenotypes (‘SC Glaze’, ‘SC Landrace’, ‘Green Glaze’) were the most resistant collard entries and had fewer whiteflies than the nonglossy, open-pollinated cultivars. Also, two F₁ hybrid cultivars with normal, nonglossy leaves (‘Blue Max’ and ‘Top Bunch’) were resistant. In laboratory experiments, there were no differences in the intrinsic rate of growth (r_s) of B. argentifolii populations on either glossy or nonglossy collard phenotypes. Over a 2-yr period, there were no differences in the abundance of whiteflies on the glossy phenotype of Green Glaze when it was planted in solid 20-plant plots or when it was alternated (every other plant) with the nonglossy phenotype of Green Glaze. In a similarly designed experiment, there was no difference in the resistance of Blue Max in either solid or mixed planting scheme compared with the susceptible ‘Morris Heading’. Higher numbers of whiteflies and parasitoids (primarily Eretmocerus spp.) were collected on yellow sticky cards in the solid plantings of the nonglossy phenotype of Green Glaze than were collected in the solid plantings of the glossy Green Glaze phenotype. Counts on sticky cards in the mixed plots were intermediate. These data show that planting pattern of collard entries is relatively unimportant in the deployment of these sources of host plant resistance. The data also suggest that nonpreference is the primary mode of resistance to whiteflies for certain collard entries.

The mango weevil, Cryptorhynchus (=Sternochetus) mangiferae (F.), is a federally quarantined pest that prevents shipment of mangos from Hawaii into the continental United States. Although this monophagous weevil allegedly causes reduced seed germination, damage to the fruit pulp, and premature fruit drop in mangos, there are few studies examining these potential sources of crop loss. We conducted studies to assess the effect of mango weevil infestation on seed viability while making observations on the frequency of pulp feeding. Naturally infested seeds from mature fruit were planted in pots and scored for successful germination. Germination rates for infested seeds were equal to those of uninfested control seeds in a polyembryonic cultivar (‘Common’), whereas germination was significantly reduced for infested seeds of a monoembryonic cultivar (‘Haden’) compared with uninfested control seeds but germination of infested seeds was still >70%. To assess seed tolerance of damage, seeds were artificially damaged by cutting away 25, 50, or 75% of the cotyledon before planting and scored for germination. None of the damage treatments was significantly different from the undamaged controls, indicating that mango seeds can withstand substantial damage and still germinate successfully. Over the 2-yr period we conducted experiments, only four of 3,602 mango fruits (0.11%) showed evidence of direct feeding damage to the pulp. Results suggest that C. mangiferae is a less serious pest of mangos than previously thought.

The trail-following behavior of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.), was evaluated by comparing the distance between cockroach movement paths and preapplied “trails” of fecal extract. For each cockroach group tested (adult males, females, gravid females, and late instars), the mean perpendicular distance of the cockroach from the trail was significantly less than the distance from a control trail. The results indicated that the German cockroaches did exhibit trail-following behavior. Trail- following accuracy varied among the cockroach groups. The mean distance from the fecal trail ranged from 18.45 to 110.05 cm with adult males ≤ adult females ≤ late instars < gravid females. Very dilute fecal extract could still induce trail-following behavior in adult male cockroaches. A 5.6% concentration of fecal extract in methanol was able to induce trail-following behavior in 50% of the cockroaches. Although German cockroaches have demonstrated trail-following behavior, fecal trails are still not thought to be actively deposited. Rather, the passive distribution of fecal material within the home range results in the accumulation of trails along frequently traveled routes (i.e., between resources and the cockroach harborage).

Pharaoh ant, Monomorium pharaonis (L.), infestations often consist of several colonies located at different nest sites. To achieve control, it is desirable to suppress or eliminate the populations of a majority of these colonies. We compared the trophallactic distribution and efficacy of two ant baits, with different modes of action, among groups of four colonies of Pharaoh ants. Baits contained either the metabolic-inhibiting active ingredient hydramethylnon or the insect growth regulator (IGR) pyriproxyfen. Within 3 wk, the hydramethylnon bait reduced worker and brood populations by at least 80%, and queen reductions ranged between 73 and 100%, when nests were in proximity (within 132 cm) to the bait source. However, these nest sites were reoccupied by ants from other colonies located further from the bait source. The pyriproxyfen bait was distributed more thoroughly to all nest locations with worker populations gradually declining by 73% at all nest sites after 8 wk. Average queen reductions ranged from 31 to 49% for all nest sites throughout the study. Even though some queens survived, brood reductions were rapid in the pyriproxyfen treatment, with reductions of 95% at all locations by week 3. Unlike the metabolic inhibitor, the IGR did not kill adult worker ants quickly, thus, more surviving worker ants were available to distribute the bait to all colonies located at different nest sites. Thus, from a single bait source, the slow-acting bait toxicant provided gradual, but long-term control, whereas the fast-acting bait toxicant provided rapid, localized control for a shorter duration.

The oral toxicity of boron compounds to the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr), was evaluated in laboratory tests. The ants were provided 25% sucrose water containing 0.5 and 1% boric acid, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, and borax. Lethal times of these solutions were a function of the concentration of boron. In field tests, the ants showed no discrimination between disodium octaborate tetrahydrate and boric acid. There was a significant reduction in consumption of sucrose water with >1% boric acid.

Toxicity and metabolism of t-permethrin were evaluated in two colonies (UF and ARS) of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), collected in Gainesville, FL. The UF colony (LC₅₀ = 1.86 μg per vial) was approximately twofold more tolerant of t-permethrin than the ARS colony (LC₅₀ = 0.89 μg per vial) at the LC50. The synergists piperonyl butoxide and S,S,S-tributylphosphorotrithioate increased t-permethrin toxicity four- and threefold (at the LC₅₀) in the UF and ARS colonies, respectively. Despite these differences in t-permethrin susceptibility, microsomal oxidase activities toward surrogate substrates (aldrin epoxidase, and methoxyresorufin O-demethylase), cytochrome P450 content, and microsomal esterase activity toward α-naphthyl acetate did not differ significantly between the colonies. Moreover, no significant differences in qualitative and quantitative metabolism of [¹⁴C]t-permethrin were observed between the UF and ARS colonies for three enzyme sources (microsomal oxidase, microsomal esterase, and cytosolic esterase). Based on in vitro metabolism assays, the major detoxification route of t-permethrin in the UF and ARS termite colonies appears to be hydrolysis catalyzed by microsomal esterases.

Susceptibility to Cry1Ab toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) was determined for 12 field populations of neonate corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), from the United States. Earworm larvae were exposed to artificial diet treated with increasing Bt concentrations, and mortality and growth inhibition were evaluated after 7 d. The range of variation in Bt susceptibility indicated by growth inhibition was very similar to that indicated by mortality. Although interpopulation variation in susceptibility to both proteins was observed, the magnitude of the differences was small (less than or equal to fivefold). These results suggest that the observed susceptibility differences reflect natural variation in Bt susceptibility among corn earworm populations rather than variation caused by prior exposure to selection pressures. Therefore, corn earworms apparently are susceptible to Bt toxins across most of their geographic range.

A house fly strain, ALHF, was collected from a poultry farm in Alabama after a control failure with permethrin, and further selected in the laboratory with permethrin for five generations. The level of resistance to permethrin in ALHF was increased rapidly from an initial 260-fold to 1,800-fold after selection. Incomplete suppression of permethrin resistance by piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and S,S,S,-tributylphosphorotrithioate (DEF) reveals that P450 monooxygenase- and hydrolase-mediated detoxication, and one or more additional mechanisms are involved in resistance to permethrin. The ALHF strain showed a great ability to develop resistance or cross-resistance to different insecticides within and outside the pyrethroid group including some relatively new insecticides. Resistance to beta-cypermethrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, and propoxur (2,400–4,200-, 10,000-, and >290-fold, respectively, compared with a susceptible strain, aabys) in ALHF house flies was partially or mostly suppressed by PBO and DEF, indicating that P450 monooxygenases and hydrolases are involved in resistance to these insecticides. Partial reduction in resistance with PBO and DEF implies that multiresistance mechanisms are responsible for resistance. Fifteen- and more than fourfold resistance and cross-resistance to chlorpyrifos and imidacloprid, respectively, were not effected by PBO or DEF, indicating that P450 monooxygenases and hydrolases are not involved in resistance to these two insecticides. Forty-nine-fold cross-resistance to fipronil was mostly suppressed by PBO and DEF, revealing that monooxygenases are a major mechanism of cross-resistance to fipronil. Multiresistance mechanisms in the ALHF house fly strain, however, do not confer cross-resistance to spinosad, a novel insecticide derived from the bacterium Saccharopolyspora spinosa. Thus, we propose that spinosad be used as a potential insecticide against house fly pests, especially resistant flies.

Field studies were conducted in 1996 and 1997 to determine injury by and survival of late-instar European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), on genetically altered Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner corn, Zea mays L. Cry1Ab events 176, Bt11, MON810, and MON802; Cry1Ac event DBT418; and Cry9C event CBH351 were evaluated. Plants of each corn hybrid were manually infested with two third-, fourth-, or fifth-instar O. nubilalis. Larvae were held in proximity to the internode of the plant above the ear with a mesh sleeve. Larvae were put on the plants during corn developmental stages V8, V16, R1, R3, R4, R5, and R6. This study shows that not all B. thuringiensis hybrids provide the same protection against O. nubilalis injury. Hybrids with B. thuringiensis events Bt11, MON810, MON802, and CHB351 effectively protected the corn against tunneling by late-instar O. nubilalis. Event 176 was effective in controlling late-instar O. nubilalis during V12 and V16 corn developmental stages; however, significant tunneling occurred by fourth instars during R3 and R5. Event DBT418 was not effective in controlling late-instar O. nubilalis during corn vegetative or reproductive stages of development. Whether the B. thuringiensis hybrids satisfied high- and ultrahigh-dose requirements is discussed.

Laboratory bioassays were used to develop a diagnostic assay test for identifying greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), populations that are insecticide-resistant. Petri dish assays with chlorpyrifos showed greenbug mortality should be monitored after 2 h of exposure. One-hour exposure did not kill a high percentage of susceptible greenbugs, and a 3-h exposure killed too many resistant greenbugs. Ethanol and methanol were both good solvents for mixing with chlorpyrifos in the petri dish assay. From the laboratory bioassays, four diagnostic concentrations of chlorpyrifos (3, 10, 30, and 100 ppm) were evaluated in the field by Texas A&M University agricultural research and extension entomologists across the Texas High Plains. Results from the diagnostic assay tests were compared with gel-electrophoresis resistance tests to validate resistance detection. The diagnostic assay tests gave the same greenbug resistance identification as the gel-electrophoresis analysis in 21 of 22 field bioassays in 1994 and 35 of 39 field bioassays in 1995. Diagnostic concentrations of 30 and 100 ppm chlorpyrifos killed ≥85 and ≥90%, respectively, of greenbugs identified by gel-electrophoresis as susceptible and < 40% and <55%, respectively, of resistant greenbugs. The diagnostic assay technique is a quick, reliable, and inexpensive method for detecting insecticide resistance in greenbug populations.

In Australia, transgenic cotton plants expressing the cry1Ac gene from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner variety kurstaki are less toxic to first-instar Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) after the plant is producing fruit. We developed two bioassay methods (leaf mush, leaf disk) to test if the physiological state of the plants explained changes in toxicity and a third method (diet incorporation) was developed to quantify the toxicity of Bt leaves when mixed in chickpea diet. Cry1Ac protein was less toxic to H. armigera larvae when the protein was mixed with leaves from fruiting versus presquare conventional cotton. Differences in LC₅₀ varied from 2.4- to 726-fold, depending on the source of toxin and conventional plant material. These results suggest that plant-toxin interactions in fruiting cotton are reducing the toxicity of the Cry1Ac protein. The possible role of tannins in these changes is discussed.

Feeding behavior of third-instar bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), was observed in pure and mixed stands of nontransgenic and transgenic cotton (BTK), Gossypium hirsutum L., expressing an insecticidal protein CryIA(c) from a bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner subsp. kurstaki. Five plant stands composed of BTK and non-BTK plants were evaluated; two pure stands and three mixed stands. Percentage ratios of BTK to non-BTK plants in the stands were 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100, respectively. In all stands with BTK plants, fewer bollworm and tobacco budworm larvae were found on BTK plants than non-BTK plants 24 h after infestation with third instars. At 48 h, significantly fewer tobacco budworm larvae, but not fewer bollworm larvae, were found on BTK plants. However, the number of larvae of either insect did not increase on non-BTK plants compared with the initial infestation density of three larvae per plant. The number of obacco budworm injured flower buds, and capsules was lower in all plant stands containing BTK plants compared with the pure stand of non-BTK at 48 h after infestation. Higher numbers of larvae on non-BTK plants were possibly the result of larval intoxication, reduced feeding, and increased plant abandonment and death on BTK plants rather than a classical feeding preference. Unexpectedly, the number of flower buds and capsules injured by bollworm and tobacco budworm when averaged per plant for all plants in a stand, differed little among the 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75 plant mixtures. These data suggest that larvae of both species frequently moved among plants, feeding indiscriminately on BTK and non-BTK plants.

Host selection, development, survival, and reproduction of the turnip aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach), on selected green and red cabbage varieties, Brassicae oleracea L. variety capitata, were studied in the laboratory. Although numbers of alate L. erysimi on different varieties varied generally, more alate adults and nymphs were observed on green than on red varieties on day 3; whereas, these differences were not so significant on day 15. There were no significant differences in alate adults on all six varieties on day 15. Numbers of nymphs and apterous adults of L. erysimi varied among the varieties. When mean numbers of those aphids on green varieties were compared with those on red varieties, the green varieties had more nymphs and apterous adults than those on the red varieties. Developmental durations of L. erysimi nymphs also varied among all varieties, and the nymphs fed on green varieties developed longer than those fed on red varieties. Adult longevities on these cabbage varieties were not significantly different; whereas, the adult fecundities were. Survival rates of L. erysimi varied greatly among all varieties, but there are no significant differences between the green and red varieties. Factors that might affect aphid host selection, growth, longevity, fecundity, and survivorship were discussed.

Durable resistance to greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), in wheat is a goal of wheat improvement teams, and one that has been complicated by the regular occurrence of damaging biotypes. Simulation modeling studies suggest that pyramiding resistance genes, i.e., combining more than one resistance gene in a single cultivar or hybrid, may provide more durable resistance than sequential releases of single genes. We examined this theory by pyramiding resistance genes in wheat and testing a series of greenbug biotypes. Resistance genes Gb2, Gb3, and Gb6, and pyramided genes Gb2/Gb3, Gb2/Gb6, and Gb3/Gb6 were tested for effectiveness against biotypes E, F, G, H, and I. By comparing reactions of plants with pyramided genes to those with single resistance genes, we found that pyramiding provided no additional protection over that conferred by the single resistance genes. Based on the results of this test, we concluded that the sequential release of single resistance genes, combined with careful monitoring of greenbug population biotypes, is the most effective gene deployment strategy for greenbug resistance in wheat.

Twenty-three Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say), populations collected in the southeastern (Alabama and Mississippi), midwestern (Indiana), and northwestern (Idaho and Washington) United States from 1995 to 1999 were evaluated for biotype composition based on response to Hessian fly resistance genes H3, H5, H6, and H7H8 in wheat, Triticum aestivum L. Biotypes L and O, combined, made up at least 60% of all Alabama populations. Biotype L was predominant in the northern third of Alabama and biotype O in the southern two-thirds of the state. Based on biotype data, wheat cultivars with H7H8 resistance should be highly effective in central and southern Alabama. Fifty-four percent of the Mississippi population consisted of biotype L, and the remaining virulent biotypes (B, D, E, G, J, and O) ranged in frequency from 1 to 17%. The Mississippi population also contained 4% of the avirulent biotype GP. Only biotypes D and L were found in Indiana populations, but biotype L was predominant. Hessian fly populations from Idaho and Washington contained one or more of the virulent biotypes D-H, J, and L-O; however, only biotypes E, F, and G occurred at frequencies >12%. The avirulent biotype GP made up 25–57% of Idaho and Washington populations, a much higher percentage than found in populations from the eastern United States. Although the highest level of virulence in Idaho and Washington populations was found to resistance genes H3 and H6, the frequency of biotype GP would indicate that the currently deployed gene H3 would provide a moderate to high level of resistance, depending on location. Nine of the populations, plus populations collected from the mid-Atlantic state area in 1989 and 1996, also were tested against the wheat cultivar ‘INW9811’ that carries H13 resistance to Hessian fly biotype L and two Purdue wheat lines with unidentified genes for resistance. The H13 resistance in INW9811 was highly effective against all populations tested from the eastern and northwestern U.S. wheat production areas, except Maryland and Virginia. Population studies also indicated that wheat line CI 17960-1-1-2–4-2-10 likely carries the H13 resistance gene, based on the similarity of its response and that of INW9811 to eight fly populations. Continued monitoring of biotype frequency in Hessian fly populations is required for optimal deployment and management of resistance genes in all wheat production areas.

During 1996, 1997, and 1999, studies were conducted in cotton, sugar beets, alfalfa, yardlong bean, and peanut fields to compare insect catches in CC traps equipped with different trap base colors. The studies were conducted in southwestern United States, China, and India. The nine colors, white, rum, red, yellow, lime green, spring green, woodland green (dark green), true blue, and black, varied in spectral reflectance in the visible (400–700 nm) and near-infrared (700–1050 nm) portions of spectrum. Lime green, yellow, and spring green were the three most attractive trap base colors for silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring, and leafhopper, Empoasca spp. adults. The three trap base colors were moderately high in the green, yellow, and orange spectral regions (490–600 nm), resembling the spectral reflectance curve of the abaxial (underleaf) surfaces of green cotton leaves. True blue and white were the most attractive trap base colors for western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), adults. The true blue and white trap bases were moderately high in the blue spectral region (400–480 nm).

Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) and Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky have been reported as the two most serious pests of stored maize in sub-Saharan Africa and smallholder farmers are in urgent need of guidelines for their proper management. In this article we investigate the injury rates attributable to these two species in terms of percentage weight loss and percentage grain damage, and we derive functional response models for the two species on maize. The models successfully described the progression of grain injury in an extensive data set compiled from previously published studies, comprising 46 time series of data relating maize injury and insect pest density. The grain injury models can be used in conjunction with predictive models of pest population dynamics to guide the development of integrated management strategies for postharvest maize pests in West Africa and comparable regions elsewhere.

A series of experiments was conducted to determine the effect of a flour food source on survival of red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), and confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum (DuVal), exposed to the labeled rate (0.5 mg/cm²) of Protect-It, a marine formulation of diatomaceous earth. Beetles were exposed at 27°C, and 40, 57, and 75% RH in 62-cm² petri dishes. When beetles were exposed for 1 or 2 d in dishes with the labeled rate (0.5 mg/cm², or 31 mg per dish) of diatomaceous earth or in dishes containing flour at varying levels from 0 to 200 mg mixed with the labeled rate of diatomaceous earth, survival of both species increased as the amount of flour increased, and quickly plateaued at levels approaching 100%. In a second set of experiments, beetles were transferred to dishes containing flour at varying levels from 0 to 200 mg after they were exposed for 1 or 2 d in dishes with the labeled rate of diatomaceous earth alone. There were no significant differences in beetle survival among the levels of flour, however, survival in dishes with flour was usually greater than survival in dishes with diatomaceous earth alone. In a third test, beetles were exposed for 1, 2, and 3 d in dishes with either the labeled rate of diatomaceous earth alone (clean dishes), dishes with diatomaceous earth and empty straws, or dishes with diatomaceous earth and ≈300 mg of flour packed in the straws. Survival was not significantly different between clean dishes or dishes with straws, but survival in dishes containing the straws with flour was usually 100%, regardless of exposure interval. In all experiments, confused flour beetles were less susceptible to diatomaceous earth than red flour beetles. In addition, survival was negatively related to exposure interval and positively related to relative humidity.

Four organophosphate insecticides, azamethiphos, fenitrothion, chlorpyrifos-methyl, and pirimiphos-methyl, were tested as surface treatments on concrete (porous surface) and galvanized steel (nonporous surface) panels (0.3 by 0.3 m) against adults of three Liposcelid psocid spp.—Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel, Liposcelis entomophila (Enderlein), and Liposcelis paeta Pearman. Residual efficacy of these chemicals was assessed at 30 ± 1°C, 70 ± 2% RH, and a photoperiod of 12:12 (L: D) h from 1 d after treatment (0 wk) and thereafter at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8, and then every 4 wk up to week 40. Mortality was recorded at exposure periods of 6 h and then every 24 h until end-point was achieved. L. bostrychophila was the most susceptible species to the organophosphates tested, followed by L. paeta and L. entomophila. We conclude that for long-term protection, azamethiphos is the preferred organophosphate against L. bostrychophila (up to 36 wk on steel and 24 wk on concrete storage surfaces) and L. paeta infestations only on steel surface (up to 28 wk). None of the four organophosphates tested, however, would provide long-term protection against L. paeta on concrete surface and against L. entomophila infestations on either concrete or steel storage surfaces.

Simulation studies were conducted to determine temperature accumulations below defined thresholds and to show the impact of controlled aeration on populations of the rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrigineus (Stephens), a major secondary pest of stored wheat, Triticum aestivum (L.). Recorded data from weather stations in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, eastern New Mexico, and eastern Colorado (356 total) were used to determine hours of temperature accumulation below 23.9°C in June and July, 15.6°C in September and October, and 7.2°C in December. At an airflow rate of 0.0013 m³/s/m³ (0.1cubic ft ³/min/bu), which requires 120 h of temperatures below the specified threshold to complete an aeration cycle, summer cooling at 23.9°C in bulk-stored wheat could be completed throughout the hard red winter wheat zone except for extreme southern Texas. An early-autumn cooling cycle at 15.6°C could not be completed throughout most of Texas and Oklahoma before the end of September. The late-autumn cooling cycle could be completed in all states except Texas by the end of November. Five geographic regions were delineated and the times required for completion of the summer, early-autumn, and late-autumn cooling cycles within each region were estimated. Population growth of the rusty grain beetle was modeled for San Antonio, TX; Abilene, TX; Tulsa, OK; Topeka KS; and Goodland, KS, by predicting the numbers of adults in the top, outer middle, outer periphery, and the center of the bin during a 1-yr storage season. Populations of C. ferrugineus in San Antonio and Austin were predicted to exceed the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) threshold of two beetles per kilogram of wheat in all four levels of the bin during late autumn, decline during the winter, and increase the following spring. In Midland, TX, and Oklahoma City, OK, populations were predicted to exceed the threshold only in the top and outer middle of the bin, whereas populations in the Kansas locations were not predicted to exceed the threshold at any time.

A bioassay and graduated temperature water baths were used to document the induction of thermotolerance in third-instar Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew). The 99% lethal time dose for larvae exposed to 44°C core temperatures in artificial fruit is 61.5 min when a slow heating rate (120 min ramp) is applied, but only 41.9 min when a fast heating rate (15 min ramp) is applied. In electrophoretic profiles a heat inducible protein of molecular weight 32 kDa was detected in 76% of the larvae exposed to the slow ramp treatment, but only 42% of the larvae in the fast ramp treatment. Results from this research demonstrate that thermotolerance can be induced under conditions used to commercially disinfest fresh produce and highlight the necessity for specifying heating rates in quarantine treatment schedules.

Parasitoids of dried-fruit insects were surveyed at a culled fig warehouse in Fresno, CA. Three parasitoids of pyralid larvae were found: Habrobracon hebetor (Say), Venturia canescens (Gravenhorst), and at least one species in the genus Goniozus Förster. Two parasitoids of pyralid pupae also were noted: Mesostenus gracilis (Cresson) and a new species of Psilochalcis Keifer. The latter is a new host association. Several beetle parasitoids were present, including Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard), three species of Cephalonomia Westwood, Laelius centratus (Say), and Cerchysiella utilis Noyes. C. utilis, a parasitoid of driedfruit beetle, Carpophilus hemipterus (L.), is a new record for California. Most activity by parasitoids (detected by yellow flight traps) occurred directly above the fig mass. Pyralid parasitoids exhibited two peaks of seasonal activity; one in late summer through early fall, shortly after new figs were brought into the warehouse, and one in the spring. H. hebetor generally attacked older host larvae, whereas V. canescens equally attacked older and younger larvae, indicating that these two parasitoids may coexist by exploiting different portions of the host population. H. hebetor was active throughout the winter, suggesting that winter release of H. hebetor could be used to control diapausing pyralid populations in dried fruit and nut storage areas.

Pupation sites of cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché), larvae were determined in three styles of nylon and one style of wool carpet. Nylon saxony carpet had 59.3% of pupae at the top of the pile and 40% at the base of the pile. In nylon contract carpet, 55.2% of pupae were found at the top, 42.6% in the middle, and only 2.2% at the base of the pile. Nylon loop carpet contained 59.2% of pupae at the base, 25.5% in the middle, and 15.3% in the top of the pile. Wool loop carpet had 92.4% at the base and 3.8% both in the middle and top of the pile. Bioassays comparing the control of pupae manually placed at the base of carpets to that in carpets with natural pupation showed that control of pupae in the latter was 39–68% higher. Pupal control after natural pupation was greatest in nylon saxony and nylon contract carpets and lowest in nylon loop and wool loop carpets. Additional studies demonstrated that vacuuming provided the same level of pupal control on nylon saxony carpet as a spray application of permethrin to the carpet surface. Therefore, pupae that survived chemical and mechanical control treatments in nylon saxony carpet probably pupated away from the surface of the pile. Application of permethrin to the base of nylon saxony carpet did not significantly increase control. Future bioassays with cat flea pupae in carpet should be performed after natural pupation and consider carpet make and style.

Screwworm flies, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), were fed on honey and spray dried egg product; honey, molasses, and spray dried egg product; honey and spray dried meat protein; as well as on a control diet of honey and horsemeat, which is the standard diet used for screwworm adult colony in the mass-rearing facility. In general, the weight of eggs laid by females fed on the diet of spray dried egg product was significantly higher than that laid by females fed on the standard horsemeat diet. Egg production declined when spray dried meat protein replaced the egg product. Partial replacement of honey with molasses in the egg diet did not decrease egg production, compared with the control diet. The use of spray dried egg diet has advantages over the horsemeat diet, such as storage, handling, preparation, feeding, and expense. A cost analysis suggests that replacing the horsemeat with spray dried egg product, and half of the honey with molasses, would reduce the cost of the diet by more than US $100,000 annually.