Pheromone trap captures of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Heliothis virescens (F.) from 2002 - 2005 were used to examine the distribution of these species across a multiple crop environment in southeast Arkansas. The greatest number of H. virescens moths was collected during 2003, but densities were low compared with H. zea throughout the study. Overall, fewer H. virescens moths were captured next to Bt corn and Bt cotton than next to nonBt cotton and early-maturing soybean. A significant relationship was not detected between pheromone trap captures of H. virescens and the percentage of these moths that fed on cotton as larvae. More H. zea moths were captured in traps located next to Bt corn and nonBt corn during the month of June than in traps located next to cotton, sorghum, or soybean, whereas traps located adjacent to early- and late-maturing varieties of soybean, Bt cotton, nonBt cotton, and grain sorghum captured greater numbers of moths than those traps located next to corn during July. Therefore, the distribution of H. zea appeared to be influenced by corn acreage during the month of June. Later in the season, this species was widely distributed across the agricultural landscape. Compared with 2 other regions of AR, fewer H. zea moths were captured during the month of June and more H. virescens moths were captured during August in Mississippi Co., an area of intense cotton production.

Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), R. virginicus Banks, and Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki were stressed by holding them at 25°C or 28°C, respectively, in metal pans for 5 d prior to introduction into 1 side of 3-jar arenas (3 containers connected serially) containing freshly-collected nestmates. After 14 d, mass loss of wooden blocks was determined for blocks from the arena side to which stressed termites were added (treated) as well as those from the opposite side (control). Feeding effects of termite exposure to stress were inconsistent among species. For R. flavipes, there was no significant difference in feeding; whereas loss of block mass on the treated side in R. virginicus arenas was significantly greater (P = 0.0017) than that on the control side of the arenas. For C. formosanus, mass loss of wafers also was significantly greater (P = 0.0284) on the treated side of the arenas, similar to the response of R. virginicus.

Ground-surface arthropods were captured by barrier pitfall traps over a 15-month period in an old-field habitat adjacent to a cotton field. Members of the Coleoptera, Orthoptera, and Araneae constituted 89% of the 11,496 captures. The most abundant species group was Gryllus sp. (Orthoptera: Gryllidae).The most abundant predator species was Megacephala Carolina L. (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), present in atypically large numbers. The peak abundance of nymphal Gryllus sp. (July–October) overlapped the peak abundance period (August) of M. Carolina. Feeding experiments indicated M.Carolina adults were active predators on Gryllus sp. nymphs. As a potential biocontrol agent, methods to encourage M. Carolina adults to move each season from old-field habitats into adjacent crop fields should be considered.

Cotton defoliation is an important management practice associated with high-yielding, high-quality cotton. The impacts of two commonly-used defoliants (tribufos and thidiazuron) individually and in combination with two commonly-used insecticides (lambda-cyhalothrin and azinphosmethyl) on the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius biotype B (= silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring) and its parasitoids were determined in field studies in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. The two defoliants and their combinations with azinphosmethyl and lambda-cyhalothrin significantly affected the occurrence and survival of sweetpotato whiteflies and their parasitoids, Encarsia spp. and Eretmocerus spp., although the effects varied among the treatment combinations. Lambda-cyhalothrin alone had no significant effects on sweetpotato whitefly and its parasitoids. Combining defoliants and insecticides appears to be a potential management tool for whiteflies on cotton.

Understanding the seasonal phenology of an insect pest in a specific geographic region is essential for optimizing the timing of management actions or research activities. We examined the phenology of hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand, near the southern limit of the range of eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carriere, in the Appalachians of northern Georgia, where adelgid phenology has not been previously reported. Adelges tsugae- infested hemlock trees were visited at various sites from 2004 - 2007. Two hemlock twigs were collected from each of 3 hemlock trees per site, except during the final 3 months of sampling when 1 twig was collected from each of 3 trees per site. Progrediens adults initiated oviposition by midMay, 2 - 4 weeks earlier than has been reported for more northern parts of the adelgid range. Sistens eggs were present until late-June (2006) or early-July (2004 - 2005). After aestivation, sistens nymphs resumed development by early October. Sistens adults were first found in early January and were present until midMay. Progrediens eggs were noted as early as February (2005 - 2007), were abundant in March and April, and persisted until midMay. Progrediens crawlers were present by early March and occurred throughout the next 2 - 3 months. Progrediens adults were found between midMay and late June. This information may be used to help optimize release of biological control agents to insure proper synchronization with adelgid life stages and to aid in collection of food for predator rearing facilities.

Fly preference for resting on various cords was evaluated, and preferred cords were impregnated with insecticides for control of house flies, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae). Numbers of house flies attracted to and resting on natural (manila, cotton, cotton wick, wool, and leather) and synthetic (nylon, polypropylene, and parachute cord) cords were counted. Synthetic cords attracted significantly fewer flies than natural cords, and the plant-based cords were more attractive than the animal-based cords. Manila cord had significantly more flies resting on it than any other cord. The most attractive cords were treated with 0.1% fipronil or 0.6% indoxacarb for laboratory testing. Insecticide-treated wool cord had the lowest LT₅₀'s (fipronil: LT₅₀ = 12.9 h; indoxacarb LT₅₀ = 32.6 h), and the impregnated cotton cord had the highest LT₅₀'s. The LT₅₀'s for the synthetic cords were significantly lower than those for the cotton and manila cords. Field evaluations in cages were conducted with wool cords impregnated with 0.1% fipronil or 1.2% indoxacarb. Both treatments significantly reduced fly counts at both 24 h and 48 h after placement, both initially and at 2-wk after treatment. Fipronil and indoxacarb both appear to be effective insecticides for house fly control, especially when they are applied to wool cords. With new active ingredients, insecticide-impregnated cords could be valuable tools in present-day urban, agriculture, and military fly management programs.