Many species of ixodid ticks in the United States are parasitic on cattle and pose a threat to veterinary and public health for those engaged in occupations in pasturelands. While encountered often, nymphs and larvae of the most common tick species can be difficult to identify, yet research associated with tick ecology and epidemiology of tick-borne infection requires proper identification. High-quality images were prepared of the larval and nymphal stages of the most common species of ticks in Oklahoma pastures: larvae of the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (Linnaeus), Gulf coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum Koch, winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus (Packard), American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say), blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, and brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latrielle); and nymphs of A. americanum, A. maculatum, D. variabilis, I. scapularis, and R. sanguineus. A dichotomous key and pictorial guide for each life stage were prepared.

Supplemental control with diamides for bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), in Bt cotton is becoming more frequent, but there is little information on net returns to growers. The value of spraying Bt cotton with commercially available diamides was evaluated at seven locations in the Mississippi Delta cropping region in 2014 and 2015. Plots of Bollgard II®, Widestrike 3®, and non-Bt cotton varieties planted at each location were divided into five subplots. Treatments randomly assigned to subplots of each cotton cultivar were: 1) lowest labeled rate of chlorantraniliprole applied at threshold, 2) lowest labeled rate of flubendiamide applied at threshold, 3) lowest labeled rate of λ-cyhalothrin chlorantraniliprole applied at threshold, 4) sprayed check, which was the maximum labeled rate of chlorantraniliprole applied on a 3-week schedule and initiated before first bloom to minimize damage from heliothines, and 5) nontreated check. Each plot was monitored weekly for larval abundance and plant damage by examining 100 plants at random. Supplemental control applications were initiated when larval abundance (≥4 per 100 plants) and plant damage (>2% damaged bolls with larvae present) met economic thresholds outlined by the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Following first bloom, all non-target pests were controlled with broadcast sprays of insecticide with low or no known toxicity to heliothines. No differences were detected in yield among treatments for any given Bt cotton variety. In non-Bt cotton, all threshold treatments and the sprayed check yielded significantly more lint cotton per hectare than did nontreated plots. Mean larval numbers per 100 plants ranged from 0.75–5.95 in non-Bt cotton to 0.04–0.8 and 0.44–1.17 in Bollgard II and Widestrike 3 cottons, respectively. Non-Bt cotton required approximately one additional diamide application for heliothine control as compared to Bt cotton plots. Results indicated no economic benefit to supplemental spray of diamides for bollworms in Bt cotton at larval abundance observed during the study. Bt cotton alone seemed sufficient to control bollworms. This should provide confidence for producers to avoid overspray at near threshold densities of bollworms.

Sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, is an important summer grain crop in the United States. In 2014, the U.S. produced 432 million bushels of sorghum valued at $1.67 billion on more than 2.43 million ha. The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), was discovered in damaging numbers in grain sorghum in Texas and Louisiana in 2013. The sugarcane aphid can be very damaging to sorghum grown for grain and forage and is capable of explosive population growth. An objective sampling plan based on knowledge of spatial distribution of the aphid in sorghum would be useful for pest management decision making. We sampled 94 commercial grain sorghum fields in five southern states during 2 years to obtain data that were used to assess several aspects of sugarcane aphid distribution within and among sorghum plants in commercial grain sorghum fields. There were frequently significant differences in number of aphids among upper and lower leaves in fields in each state. However, there were no consistent patterns as to whether the upper or lower leaf had more sugarcane aphids. Autocorrelation coefficients were calculated for consecutive plants and for plants separated by one and two intervening plants. Numbers of sugarcane aphids on adjacent plants and plants separated by intervening plants were not autocorrelated, indicating that there was no, or only slight, correlation in numbers of sugarcane aphids among plants in close proximity to one another. Taylor's power law parameters for linear regression models relating the variance to the mean of numbers of sugarcane aphids on sorghum plants differed significantly for fields sampled in different states, but not for fields in vegetative versus reproductive growth stages, fields with markedly different planting dates (early or late), or fields sampled in different years.

The squash bug, Anasa tristis (De Geer), is a major pest of squash, pumpkin, and other cucurbits throughout North America. A. tristis is a piercingsucking feeder that causes extensive foliar wilting and fruit scarring and transmits plant pathogens. Current biological agents to control A. tristis are limited in efficacy, and newer control methods must be developed. Here we present studies of immune system transcripts as the initial step in identifying potentially vulnerable targets for control of gene expression. Following immune stimulation with bacteria, transcript levels of six components of the inducible innate system in adult female A. tristis were measured using quantitative PCR. An antibacterial peptide-encoding transcript, anacin; an enzyme central to melanization, prophenoloxidase; and three sentinel proteins, scavenger receptor, β-1,3-glucan-binding protein, and peptidoglycan-binding protein were upregulated by bacterial elicitation. Expression of a putative immunoregulatory cytokine, astakine, was identified and increased by septic puncture. We also found novel upregulation of an enzyme of central energy metabolism, arginine kinase, in response to septic puncture of A. tristis adults.

Tamarixia radiata Waterston (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a biological control agent of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), is being used as a tool to help reduce psyllids in urban environments in citrus-growing areas of Texas. The USDA APHIS PPQ S&T CPHST Mission Laboratory developed methods to produce large numbers of the beneficial insects for biological control of Asian citrus psyllids. Releases were made in citrus trees where plant tissue that tested positive for Huanglongbing or citrus greening disease was detected. Before release of T. radiata in 2010, 43 immature psyllids per flush were found in citrus in residential areas. After biological control releases, the abundance of pysllids gradually decreased. In 2016, only 3.8 immature psyllids were found per flush, a reduction of 91.2% of the psyllid population.

Area-wide management of Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, might use predators abundant in citrus orchards, making necessary the assessment of local predatory species such as Ceraeochrysa valida (Banks). The objective of the study was to determine the life cycle of C. valida under different rearing conditions; its fecundity, survival, and longevity; and its predatory capacity on different larval instars of D. citri, both in the laboratory and greenhouse. Predators and pests were reared from insects collected in citrus orchards in the central coastal area of Veracruz, Mexico. Developmental time for C. valida eggs; larvae 1, 2, and 3; and prepupae-pupae were 5.5 ± 0.7, 6.5 ± 0.7, 5.0 ± 1.0, 7.0 ± 1.0, and 14.5 ± 0.7 days, respectively. Male and female longevities were 74.0 ± 38.9 and 78.0 ± 28.9 days. Mean daily number of eggs per female was 10.0 ± 8.4. Predation in the laboratory and greenhouse was greater on older larvae (P < 0.0001) regardless of the nymphal stages consumed. In the laboratory, C. valida consumed as many as 368 prey in 48 hours. However, consumption in a greenhouse was not as much as in the laboratory during the first 6 hours.

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, a primary insect pest of onions, Allium cepa L., worldwide, reduces yield and transmits a devastating Tospovirus, Iris yellow spot virus. Costly and frequent insecticide application and increased resistance of onion thrips to insecticide prompted interest in alternative pest management options. Three trap crops, lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.), and carrot (Daucus carota L.) planted in commercial onion fields during two growing seasons were evaluated for attractiveness to onion thrips. Abundance of thrips adults, larvae, and eggs were monitored on trap crops and onion plants, and dispersing adults were counted on aerial traps 0, 0.8, 6.4, and 12.8 m from trap crop rows. All trap crops when flowering or with lush vegetation supported all life stages of onion thrips during at least 1 of 2 years; trends in preference by onion thrips varied. Incidence of Iris yellow spot virus was low ranging from 6.6 to 8.2% in year 2; however, in late September of the second year, incidence was greater near trap crops than at farther distances, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Trap crops were attractive to onion thrips adults in June and July which suggests promise for decreasing numbers of thrips on onion during critical periods of bulb sizing and spread of Iris yellow spot virus; however, the short distance of influence suggested need for larger plot sizes or better sampling methods. Potential for planting trap crops along field edges to attract migrating adult thrips early in the season is discussed.

Native varieties of avocado (Persea americana Mill) called “Criollo” grow in Mexico, but little is known of their association with the seed borer moth, Stenoma catenifer (Walsingham). S. catenifer is the best-known pest of ‘Hass’ avocado fruit. The S. catenifer sex pheromone was used to capture male S. catenifer in Criollo avocado orchards at different elevations at Chiapas, Mexico from September 2012 to August 2013. Polynomial regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between numbers of moths caught and weather factors (precipitation and temperature). We thought temperature and precipitation might affect the moths captured. Initial S. catenifer captures coincided with crop flowering and presence of avocado fruit, independently of the altitude at the site. S. catenifer was caught frequently at the low-altitude site from December to January, while captures increased from February to May at higher altitude. Moths captured and precipitation were positively correlated at the low-altitude site; moths captured were correlated with temperature but not with rainfall at the high-altitude site. As expected, S. catenifer pheromone also attracted Antaeotricha nictitans (Zeller) in the avocado crop. Interestingly, A. nictitans was captured in all seasons, even in larger numbers than S. catenifer. A new unidentified moth species in the Elachistidae family was present from late May to 10 July and was more abundant at Site 2.

The incidence of leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) on avocado, Persea americana Mill., is a phytosanitary problem of interest because of diverse damage to the leaves. Through direct sampling with aspirators and yellow sticky traps, diversity, damage, and abundance of leafhoppers were evaluated at six localities with different altitude gradients at Morelos, Mexico. Five leafhopper species belonging to the Typhlocybinae family were identified. Joruma krausi Ruppel & DeLong was the most abundant species and fed on and deformed vegetative buds. Idona minuenda (Ball) fed on and induced chlorotic spots on the face of mature leaves. Empoasca deskina DeLong & Guevara and Empoasca angustella DeLong caused chlorosis and curling with later necrosis and defoliation. Alconeura candida Ruppel & DeLong was collected from mature leaves and found only at one location, unlike the others that were found in the entire study area. We observed a tendency for a greater number of individuals at higher altitudes. With the exception of I. minuenda, the other leafhopper species are newly associated with avocadoes at Mexico.

Placodea (PLAS), auricilica (AUS), and basiconica (BAS) sensilla types were identified in both surfaces of lamellae of Macrodactylus mexicanus (Burmeister) and Macrodactylus nigripes (Bates), two species of chafer beetles with economic importance in Mexico. Fourteen subtypes of sensilla were identified on the inner and external surfaces of lamellae from both sexes of M. mexicanus and M. nigripes: four PLAS, three AUS, and seven BAS. Distribution of PLAS, BAS, and AUS in the inner surface of the lamellae of both sex of M. mexicanus and M. nigripes was similar in middle and proximal lamellae. PLAS are distributed in the peripheral edges, while BAS and AUS were distributed in the center of the lamellae. The purpose of this study was to compare the sensilla distribution in the antennae of the beetles as a first step to better understand the dynamics of sexual chemical communication in Macrodactylus species.

The white grub, Phyllophaga crinita (Burmeister) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), is an important soil insect pest in Texas, U.S.A., and Tamaulipas, Mexico. The objectives of this study were to estimate biometric parameters and develop a simulation model to determine the factors associated with interannual fluctuations of P. crinita adults captured with blacklight traps at Rio Bravo (irrigated area) from 1979 to 2008 and San Fernando (dryland area) during 1979–1980 and 1990–1993, in Northern Tamaulipas, Mexico. More males were captured at both Rio Bravo (89%) and San Fernando (76%). Flight activity occurred from March to September, although 97% of total captures were concentrated from April to June, with peak emergence during 1–15 May at Rio Bravo and 16–31 May at San Fernando. Protandry was observed only at Río Bravo, where males emerged 5 days before females at 50% cumulative emergence. Multiple regression analysis for testing the association between yearly captures of P. crinita (y) and independent variables (x_n) resulted in best-fit model: y = -6143.5 1.75 x₁² 3676.8 x₂ 0.087 x₂*x₃ (R²= 0.7026), where x₁ = precipitation (mm) in January, x₂ = number of rainfall events (>20 mm) number of irrigations from April to July, and x₃ = total captures of P. crinita the previous year.

Abundance of insect fauna associated with Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. in small-holder farm conditions, in terms of field complexity was studied. Agroecology theory suggests that natural fence rows reinforce good microclimatic conditions in a crop field, and provide food and cover for wildlife that could benefit the crop. However, organisms respond differently to the presence of an edge which could be positive or negative, and the response is driven by the form of the edge. In total, 1,621 specimens were collected in the insect orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, Orthoptera, the suborders Heteroptera, Homoptera, superfamily Mantodea, family Aleyrodidae, and class Arachnida. Results revealed that even when abundance of Heteroptera and Homoptera differ between sample areas of living fences, no fences, and natural vegetation, overall abundance was not related with field complexity. Response of arthropods to the presence of a natural living fence was neutral. However, tendencies in abundance suggested possible edge effects.

A new Nearctic species of the fungus gnat genus Azana Walker was discovered in western Michigan. Azana pilosa Taber n. sp. was distinguished from the closely related North American species Azana sinusa Coher by the presence of setae on the clypeus of both sexes. Ten males and one female flew to Malaise traps in late summer. Juveniles of A. pilosa remain unknown.

Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans by Aedes aegypti (L.), and Aedes albopictus (Skuse). The disease is characterized by sudden onset of fever usually accompanied by joint pain. The diagnostic is made by RT-qPCR of the virus genome or serological tests to confirm the presence of IgM and IgG anti-Chikungunya antibodies. A descriptive study was done with serum samples of patients with clinical symptoms of Chikungunya fever referred to the Laboratorio Estatal de Salud Publica de Nuevo Leon, northeastern Mexico. From 101 samples, 41 were positive for Chikungunya virus. The median age of the patients was 31 years old, of which 19 were females and 22 males. Thirty-one of the positive cases had traveled history to others states of Mexico: Guerrero (11), Chiapas (seven), Veracruz (seven), Oaxaca (four), Quintana Roo (one), and Yucatan (one). The most frequent signs in the patients were 92.7% (38) headache, 85.4% (35) myalgia, 73.2% (30) exanthema, 70.7% (29) arthralgia, 68.3% (28) retro-ocular pain. Five serum samples were registered with co-infection with dengue and Chikungunya virus. RNA was extracted from the positive samples, and cDNA was synthesized. The E2 segment of the virus genome was amplified by PCR, cloned, and genotyped. Chikungunya virus genotypes identified in patients from northeastern Mexico differed from those previously reported from other regions of Mexico.

Epidemiological studies are important for successful use of entomopathogens for pest management. Although microbial control of insects is applied epidemiology, there are few epidemiological-ecological studies, which partially explains why the use of entomopathogens has ended in failure. Isolated studies using preserved strains of entomopathogens in a laboratory might contribute to lack of efficacy under field conditions. An option is regional exploration of entomopathogens as the basis for epidemiological diagnoses, because this would enable identifying the most prevalent species and isolates that presumably have greater potential for use in pest management. Field epidemiological/ecological diagnoses allow identifying factors that induce the development of epidemics, including the range of hosts, plants, and cropping systems. Understanding their prevalence, dispersal, and pathogenicity is key to successfully detect pathogens in the field. Basic epidemiological characterization includes measuring n-variables associated with different categories or factors which as a whole explain the intensity of an epidemic (epidemiological system). Although epidemiology of entomopathogens has been studied in different regions of the world, variability (species and strains) and differing weather conditions make local epidemiological studies necessary. An agroecosystem for citrus production is a good model for epidemiological studies of entomopathogens. Fungi and phytosanitary diagnoses have been studied on citrus in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Future field studies, complemented with laboratory studies including characterization of pathogenic, physiological, and cultural aspect, with new methodological analytical approaches (i.e., Logistic and Weibull models), will aid rational use of entomopathogens in the field.

A Galleria mellonella (L.) baiting method was used to collect the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema ralatorei, from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) areas in the municipality of Paso del Macho, Veracruz, Mexico. Based on morphological, morphometric and molecular analyses, we found that three isolates of the nematode were similar and belonged to the bicornutum-ceratophorum-riobrave group. The nematode was characterized by an elongated, bottle-shaped anterior region in some first- and second-generation males and females, which occurs in a ratio of 1:3 (one individual with the characteristic to three normal individuals); this feature has not been reported for other Steinernema species. However, the body length of infective juveniles (591.7 ± 37.2 µm; range of 532.6–692.4 µm) and the formula of lateral fields (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 6, 5, 4, 2) were similar to S. riobrave, followed by S. papillatum. The body length of males was 1753.4 ± 143.3 µm (range of 1585.9–2078.6 µm). Males had long, golden yellow spicules, 68.6 ± 8.1 µm (56.9–76.9 µm) in length, with variability in the shape of the manubrium. Analysis of ITS-rDNA, targeting the 5.8S, 12S, and 28S rDNA regions, and morphometric analyses confirmed the nematode should be placed in group IV, close to S. riobrave, as a new species in the family Steinernematidae.

Several formulations based on a palatable carrier suspension: Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner HD-133 strain; beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV); and fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Hübner), multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV); alone or combined were developed and evaluated for activity against Spodoptera exigua and S. frugiperda larvae. Bioassays to determine the most active agents for each insect species were three treatments for spore-crystal complex, three for occlusion bodies for each of the two viruses, and four treatments combining all of them in different concentrations. Feeding preference was bioassayed with natural ingredients to obtain a palatable carrier for the active agents. Carrier suspensions were prepared with dehydrated soy leaves as a feeding stimulant for both pests for formulation preparation. Formulations containing the lower and medium concentrations of HD-133 strain and SeMNVP (SeB1V1 and SeB2V2) showed synergism against S. exigua, whereas formulations containing medium and high concentrations (SfB2V2 and SfB3V3, respectively) offered additive interaction against S. frugiperda.

The Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis Mulsant, is an important pest of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) crops in Mexico and eastern United States. The Beauveria bassiana isolates TM0307 and SyDBbh5001M require large amounts to be effective in the field. Liquid culture medium containing cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) flour was evaluated to improve their virulence against E. varivestes. Virulence of B. bassiana blastospores was evaluated using various culture media and Sabouraud dextrose broth as a control, testing potential of cotton flour versus peptone as a nitrogen source, and colloidal chitin and Lepidoptera exuvia as sources of chitin. Samples were collected every 24 hours, and production of cuticle-degrading proteases (Pr1 and Pr2) and chitinase (NAGase) was determined during 5 days. The lowest enzyme production was observed in Sabouraud dextrose broth and colloidal chitin cultures, whereas the highest production was observed in chitin with cotton flour (Pr1 = 23.2, 2.3, and 126.2 U/ml; Pr2 = 12.7, 2.3, and 48.7 U/ml; NAGase = 5.4, 0.6, and 9.1 U/ml in Sabouraud dextrose broth, colloidal chitin, and chitin with cotton flour cultures, respectively). The LC₅₀ in chitin with cotton flour versus Sabouraud dextrose broth media was evaluated by testing six doses against E. varivestis third-instar larvae; median survival time (ST50) was measured by testing 1 × 10⁸ blastospores per milliliter. Significant lower LC₅₀ and ST₅₀ values were observed by blastospores produced in chitin with cotton flour medium (2.1 ± 1.7 to 2.8 × 10⁶ blastospores per milliliter and 2 days), compared with those on Sabouraud dextrose broth (9.8 ± 6.3 to 15.9 × 10⁶ blastospores per milliliter and 4 days), respectively. Results indicated potential of cotton flour to increase virulence of B. bassiana blastospores against E. varivestis third-instar larvae by enhancing production of insect cuticle-degrading enzymes.

Monoctenus sanchezi is a sawfly of economic importance in forest management because of damage to the foliage of white cedar. Mortality by entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, and Trichothecium sp. on M. sanchezi larvae was 98, 60, and 36% on the sixth day. Metarhizium anisopliae may be an alternative for biological control of the sawfly in México.

Las plantas hospederas median las interacciones entre herbívoros y enemigos naturales y estudiar dichas interacciones desde una perspectiva tritrófica permite entenderlas mejor y optimizar el control biológico de plagas. En el modelo solanáceas-Bactericera cockerelli-Tamarixia triozae se evaluó la influencia de dos plantas hospederas sobre el desempeño del parasitoide a través de indicadores como el parasitismo y la alimentación, así como la sobrevivencia, proporción de hembras y longevidad de su F₁. Las hospederas chile (Capsicum annuum L. variedad “real”) y tomate (Solanum lycopersicum L. variedad “Río Grande”) fueron usadas de dos maneras: una primera vez, como hospederas de origen de las hembras de T. triozae y, en una segunda, como hospederas de trabajo. El parasitismo fue influenciado por la hospedera de origen, pero no por la de trabajo. Las hembras originadas en chile parasitaron 3% más que las originadas en tomate. La alimentación no fue influenciada por ninguna de las hospederas actuando como origen, pero sí cuando actuaron como hospedera de trabajo: T. triozae consumió 2.4% más psílidos en chile que en tomate. Como hospedera de origen, tomate indujo 4.3% más sobrevivencia y 9.8% más hembras que chile. Como hospedera de trabajo, el tomate incrementó la sobrevivencia en ≥6.6% y la proporción de hembras en la descendencia en casi 16%. El chile favoreció la longevidad como hospedera de origen (62.8%) y como hospedera de trabajo (3.8%). La experimentación con dos orígenes de T. triozae permitió constatar que el primer nivel trófico influyó sobre el desempeño del tercero, evidenciando que este enfoque del estudio de las interacciones tritróficas permite identificar la hospedera de origen más conveniente para la cría de enemigos naturales en sistemas donde varias plantas pueden ser usadas, así como para valorar el posible desempeño del enemigo natural en cada una de las distintas hospederas de trabajo.

El picudo del agave Schyphophorus acupunctatus Gyllenhal es una plaga importante que se distribuye en varias regiones del mundo. En México causa pérdidas económicas en especies de agaves y en la producción de nardo. Se ha reportado que el tejido de plantas durante la fermentación produce volátiles como el alcohol que sinergia la feromona para capturarlo. Además, el color de las trampas tiene un impacto sobre la efectividad de éstas. Colocamos trampas de color, ausente de color y atrayente alimenticio en combinación con la feromona de agregación en una plantación de Agave salmiana. Los picudos responden significativamente más a las trampas cebadas de color azul, verde, y amarilla con feromona respecto a la trampa color azul sin feromona. Sin embargo, cuando se coloca feromona en todas las trampas no se registran diferencias en la captura de picudo. Las trampas de color azul y verde atraen más picudos que la ausente de color. Los bulbos de Polianthes tuberosa L. fueron más atractivo que los trozos de A. salmiana Otto Salm-Dick y A. angustifolia Haw. Se identificaron tres volátiles que son liberados por el nardo.

La importancia de las chicharritas ha aumentado en las últimos años debido a su papel como vectores de virus y fitoplasmas en algunas regiones del norte centro de México. Durante la temporada invernal es posible que algunas poblaciones de chicharritas sean capaces de sobrevivir en manchones de maleza o en las parcelas de ajo o alfalfa, sin embargo hay poca información acerca de los géneros de chicharritas presentes durante la temporada fría en el norte centro de México. El propósito de este trabajo fue identificar los diferentes géneros de la familia Cicadellidae durante el invierno en localidades de los estados de Aguascalientes, Coahuila, y Zacatecas. Se colectaron chicharritas en 60 de los 72 sitios de colecta; se encontraron 10 géneros de la familia Cicadellidae. Especímenes de Aceratagallia spp., Agallia spp., Circulifer tenellus Baker, Dalbulus spp., Draeculacephala spp., Empoasca spp., Hordnia spp., Graminella spp., Scaphytopius spp., and Texananus spp., fueron capturados a través de la temporada invernal. Circulifer tenellus fue la especie colectada en la mayor cantidad de sitios, y la segunda en cuanto a número de insectos capturados; Graminella, Aceratagallia, y Draeculacephala fueron los géneros comúnmente identificados y/o capturados. Los 10 géneros de chicharritas fueron encontrados tanto en alfalfa y brócoli como en maleza, aunque siete de esos 10 géneros fueron más abundantes en alfalfa. La presencia de C. tenellus, un importante vector de virus y fitoplasmas, en la mayoría de los sitios muestreados resalta la necesidad de reducir sus poblaciones invernales antes de que infesten cultivos de verano como chile.

Atta mexicana (F. Smith) es considerado uno de los insectos plaga de mayor importancia económica, debido a que causa considerables pérdidas, producto de la defoliación parcial o total de los cultivos a los que ataca. Los hongos de los géneros Penicillium y Aspergillus pueden representar una alternativa para el control de A. mexicana debido a la actividad antagónica que presentan en relación con otros hongos, al reducir el alimento disponible producto de la competencia por el sustrato entre el hongo antagonista y el hongo simbionte (Leucocoprinus gongylophora). El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la actividad antagónica de las aplicaciones de Penicillium sp., y Aspergillus flavus, como métodos alternativos para el control de la hormiga arriera A. mexicana en el Valle de Tehuacán en el estado de Puebla. Los resultados muestran una disminución del 100% de la actividad forrajera de A. mexicana en los hormigueros tratados con el complejo de hongos obtenidos de la tortilla de maíz, la combinación del producto Spinosad complejo de hongos obtenidos de la tortilla de maíz y la combinación de A. flavus Penicillium sp., con aplicaciones a una concentración de 1,6 g/l. No se encontraron diferencias significativas para los tratamientos con base en aplicaciones de: A. flavus, Penicillium sp., Spinosad, así como para las combinaciones: Spinosad A. flavus, y Spinosad Penicillium sp., con relación al grupo control (agua). La eficacia para disminuir la población activa de A. mexicana fue menor en todos los casos en comparación a la registrada en los hormigueros tratados a base de aplicaciones del complejo de hongos de la tortilla de maíz.

Con la finalidad de estudiar la dinámica poblacional de adultos Anastrepha spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) en Quintana Roo, México, se usaron trampas Multilure® con proteína sólida de febrero 2014 a enero 2015. Para las especies de importancia agrícola se calculó el índice Moscas Trampa Día. Se colectaron 7,416 especímenes y 11 especies: Anastrepha alveata, A. ampliata, A. fraterculus, A. hamata, A. ludens, A. montei, A. obliqua, A. pallens, A. serpentina, y A. spatulata. Las especies más abundantes fueron A. ampliata (993 especímenes), A. fraterculus (1,386), A. ludens (1,969), y A. obliqua (1,867), que fueron colectadas durante el periodo de este trabajo. Las especies con importancia agrícola mostraron valores de incidencia alta (≥0.0100). Anastrepha alveata, A. montei, A. pallens, y A. spatulata, son reportadas por primera vez en Quintana Roo.

We report the first time a larva of Geometridae that fed on flowers of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) in the central mountainous region of the state of Veracruz, Mexico.

The mantids of Mexico are not well known. We found records of Stagmomantis limbata Hahn for the states of Guerrero, Morelos, and Puebla, in central Mexico, and discuss the geographical range and weather variables in the recorded information. Results suggested that, at least S. limbata was found in deciduous forest, grassland, and cloudy forest vegetation in places with semi-warm to temperate climates throughout Balsas and Tuxpan-Nautla hydological regions.

In China, the invasive American serpentive leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess), was first detected in Guangdong province in 2005. Within only a few years of its discovery, its range had expanded rapidly to another 11 provinces and caused economic damage to a wide range of agricultural crops. L. trifolii has displaced the previously established exotic species L. sativae Blanchard to become the dominant species on some major horticultural crops across Hainan Island. Differential insecticide susceptibilities and local specific cropping systems might be major factors driving the ongoing displacement of L. sativae by L. trifolii. Further research should focus on monitoring established species to collect detailed data to enhance overall understanding of biology and ecology of invasion by L. trifolii. Urgent action is needed to improve management programs for this widespread invasive insect pest.

Se reporta por primera vez la presencia del piojo harinoso, Phenacoccus solani Ferris, sobre la maleza coquillo amarillo, Cyperus esculentus L., en el Valle de México. En esta región, como en muchas partes de México, existen áreas agrícolas donde se encuentran altas poblaciones de C. esculentus, una de las malezas más importante a nivel mundial. Existen pocos organismos reportados en esta maleza, por lo que el descubrimiento de nuevos reportes es importante como medida de control biológico, como en este caso P. solani.

Una nueva especie de trips, Leptothrips Hood, 1909 fue encontrada en crisantemo, en Texcoco, Estado de México. Se hace la revisión del género Leptothrips y de las especies que integran al grupo Primarius; Leptothrips vulcaniensis y L. primarius, con base en esta revisión se describe la tercer especie de Leptothrips que se integra a este pequeño grupo. Se incluyen fotografías de cabeza, antena, pelta, y metanoto, de la nueva especie.