Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) male accessory glands do not appear to possess a sex peptide, a factor that induces oviposition or inhibits mating receptivity. Injection of accessory gland extracts from laboratory-colony males into virgin females stimulated daily deposition of only 4 eggs per female, comparable to injections of whole reproductive tract extract (5 eggs per female) and negative controls (4 to 5 eggs per female). Mated females laid significantly more (10 eggs per female per d). Studies of wild-caught males and females yielded the same information: injection of an accessory gland/testes extract or saline both elicited 8 eggs per female per d whereas normally mated females laid 16 eggs per female per d. Female receptivity to mating following injection of accessory gland or whole reproductive tract extracts was comparable to the negative control group, in which 67% to 83% of treated females remated and 63% to 89% of control females remated. In contrast, only 43% of once-mated (positive control) females remated when placed with males. Once-mated females also took significantly longer to remate after exposure to males (359 min) than females from both treatment (61 to 169 min) and negative control groups (76 to 122 min). The duration of mating was similar among all groups (24 to 37 min). These results suggest that oviposition and receptivity inhibition in A. suspensa are not mediated by male-derived humoral factors.

We surveyed the life history of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae), in southern Japan, including seasonal changes in the flight activity of adults and composition of R. ferrugineus in different developmental stages in a total of 17 infested Phoenix canariensis trees which were cut down in 2003–2005. The flight of adults began in Mar, showed some peaks in summer and autumn, and ceased in mid-Dec. Various stages of individuals inhabited infested P. canariensis trees throughout the year. The composition of individuals at different stages in late fall was dependent on the resource (white intact tissue) availability in P. canariensis trees. In P. canariensis trees where considerable resource remained, all stages of larvae, pupae, and adults were found, whereas in palm trees with no resource, few young- and medium-stage larvae were observed. The temperature in the infested part of a palm trunk was 30°C or higher even in winter. From these results, we view the life history of R. ferrugineus in southern Japan as follows: Adults emerge from host trees in spring and continue to attack host trees until late fall. Rhynchophorus ferrugineus grows even in winter if intact tissue remains at the peripheral part of trunks, and there may be 3 or 4 generations per year. A cold winter probably does not have any negative effects on successful colonization of R. ferrugineus in Japan.

Oak-hickory forests of the Arkansas Ozarks recently incurred extensive tree mortality due in part to a native wood-boring beetle, the red oak borer Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Historically, red oak borer has existed throughout southeastern U.S. forests at relatively low population levels, but Arkansas infestation estimates in 2001 and 2003 reported much higher populations. Red oak borer has a two-year generation with adult emergence occurring synchronously only in odd numbered years. We report here results of whole-tree estimates of pre-emergent red oak borer population numbers from 7 stands in 2005 and 3 stands in 2003 and 2007 in the Ozark National Forest. Trees were felled at each sampling site, cut into 0.5 m sections, split on site with hydraulic log splitters, and a count of live red oak borers was recorded for each tree. In 2001 and 2003, red oak borer population estimates indicated emerging populations much higher than any previously reported. An exponential decrease during a single cohort between 2003 and 2005, and even lower populations in 2007 suggest that red oak borer populations have returned to historic densities.

Los bosques de roble-nogal de las montañas Ozark del estado de Arkansas recientemente sufrió una mortalidad de árboles extensiva debido en parte a un escarabajo nativo barrenador de madera, el barrenador de roble rojo Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Históricamente, el barrenador de roble rojo ha existido por todos los bosques del sureste de los Estados Unidos con niveles de población relativamente bajos, pero los informes del nivel de infestación en Arkansas en el 2001 y 2003 indica una población mucho más alta. El barrenador de roble rojo cumple una generación en dos años con la emergencia de los adultos, ocurriendo sincrónicamente durante los años de número impar. Reportamos los resultados de los números aproximados de la población pre-emergente del barrenador de roble rojo de los árboles totales de 7 grupos de árboles en 2005 y 3 grupos de árboles en 2003 y 2007 del Bosque Nacional de Ozark. Los árboles en cada uno de los sitios de muestreo fueron tumbados, cortados en secciones del tamaño 0.5 m, partidos con un rajador hidráulico de troncos y se noto el numero de barrenadores de roble rojo vivos encontrados por cada árbol. En el 2001 y 2003, los aproximados de la población del barrenador de roble rojo indicaron la emergencia de poblaciones mucho mas altas que las reportadas anteriormente. Una disminución exponencial durante un solo cohorte entre el 2003 y 2005, y aun poblaciones mas bajas en el 2007 sugerieron que la población del barrenador de roble rojo ha vuelto a las densidades históricas.

The eastern Palearctic bruchine seed beetle Bruchidius terrenus (Sharp) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae), a specialist seed predator of mimosa or silk tree (Albizia julibrissin), is reported for the first time in North America based on collections from seven southeastern states. This is the third Asian insect species recently reported from A. julibrissin in the United States. A diagnosis, description, photographs of the adult, a summary of the known U.S. distribution, notes on seasonal history, and a revision to an existing key to North American Bruchidius are presented.

Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) is an endoparasitoid of fruit flies reared for augmentative biological control of several species of Anastrepha in Mexico. During the production of D. longicaudata different sizes of parasitoids are produced depending on the host size. Here, we investigated whether host size influences the biological and behavioral parameters of the wasp that emerged under laboratory conditions. Three different sizes of host (small, medium, and large) were used for the experiments. Host size significantly affected the number of parasitoids emerged as greater number of parasitoids emerged from medium size hosts compared to small and large hosts. The ratio of females to males did not differ among the groups. Host body size influenced life expectancy of parasitoid females and males deprived of food, and parasitoids that emerged from large hosts lived longer. In contrast, host body size did not significantly influence the life expectancy of parasitoid females and males provided with food ad libitum. Host body size also affected gross and net fecundity of emerged parasitoids; females that emerged from medium and large host larvae were more fecund. Host size did not affect most of the behavioral parameters evaluated, except the time of landing on source. Females that emerged from large host larvae spent less time before landing on a host source than females from the smaller hosts. Host body size did not affect the different trajectory indices evaluated, except the mean walking speed of D. longicaudata. Females developed in large hosts showed an increase walking speed compared to females from medium and small hosts.

From 2003 to 2008, 176,643 Gratiana boliviana, Spaeth (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) were released in Florida as part of a biological control program targeting tropical soda apple (TSA) Solarium viarum Dunal (Solanaceae). The spatial distribution of releases was clustered with more beetles released in south/central Florida than further north. A survey conducted in the fall of 2008 found G. bolviana present at >70% of randomly selected locations between 26° and 29° latitude, but no beetles were found at sites further north. The presence of beetles and beetle damage were associated with smaller TSA plants and fewer fruits per plant. The absence of beetles in northern Florida may be due to the fewer number released in that area, but also could be influenced by land cover and climate.

Multiple-choice and no-choice tests were conducted at the Department of Agriculture-Division of Plant industry Quarantine facility in Gainesville to determine the specificity of the Mexican/Central-American flower-bud weevil Anthonomus elutus Clark, a candidate for biological control of Solanum tampicense Dunal (wetland-nightshade) in Florida. Eighty-seven plant species in 17 families were included in the feeding-oviposition multiple-choice tests including the target weed and the 6 major cultivated Solanaceae Capsicum annuum L. Capsicum frutescens L., Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., Nicotiana tabacum L., Solanum melongena L., and Solarium tuberosum L. Plant bouquets with flower-buds of 8 to 10 plant species randomly selected, including always S. tampicense, were simultaneously exposed to 20–26 A. elutus adults during approximately 2 weeks. Observation of oviposition and feeding were made twice a week. No-choice host-specificity tests were conducted with A. elutus adults on potted plants in cages made of clear-plastic cylinders. Ten A. elutus adults were exposed to 30 plant species individually tested during 2 weeks. Plant species in each test were replicated 3–4 times. Results indicated that A. tenebrosus fed and laid eggs only on the target weed. No eggs were deposited on any of the other 86 plant species tested. The host-specificity tests indicated that a host range expansion of A. elutus to include any of the major cultivated Solanaceae species is highly unlikely. A petition for field release in Florida was submitted to the Technical Advisory Group for Biological Control Agents of Weeds (TAG) in Dec 2008.

Translation by the authors.

Pruebas de ovoposición y alimentación (con y sin elección), se realizaron para evaluar la especificidad del picudo del botón floral, de origen Mexicano-Centroamericano, Anthonomus elutus Clark, como agente potencial para el control biológico de Solanum tampicense Dunal en Florida, USA. Las pruebas se efectuaron en la cuarentena del Departamento de Agricultura de la Florida-División de Industria de Plantas en Gainesville. Ochenta y siete especies de plantas, en 17 familias, fueron incluidas en las pruebas de especificidad de elección multiple, incluyendo la maleza objetivo y las seis plantas cultivadas pertenecientes a la familia Solanaceae más importantes: Capsicum annuum L. Capsicum frutescens L., Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., Nicotiana tabacum L., Solanum melongena L., y Solarium tuberosum L. En cada prueba se utilizaron racimos florales de ocho a diez plantas escogidas al azar incluyendo siempre la planta objetivo las cuales fueron expuestas simultáneamente a 20–26 adultos de A. elutus durante aproximadamente dos semanas. Registros de alimentación y ovoposición fueron realizados dos veces por semana. Pruebas de imentación/ovoposición sin elección fueron también realizadas usando plantas creciendo en macetas y jaulas cilíndricas hechas de plástico claro transparente. Diez adultos de A. elutus fueron expuestos a 30 especies de plantas en forma individual durante dos semanas. Cada prueba tuvo 3–4 repeticiones. Los resultados indicaron que A. elutus se alimentó y colocó posturas únicamente en la maleza objetivo wetland-nightshade. Ninguna postura fué depositada en las otras 86 especies de plantas evaluadas. Las pruebas de especificidad indicaron que la posibilidad de A. elutus de llegar a ser una plaga de las Solanaceae cultivadas es muy remota. La solicitud a TAG para liberar el picudo en Florida fue hecha en Diciembre 2008.

A new genus, Qurana gen. nov. and a new species, Qurana ggoma sp. nov. of the subtribe Cicadina (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadini) are described from Cambodia. This new genus is allied to the genera Purana Distant, Calcagninus Distant, and Gudaba Distant but is distinguished by a long rostrum, a short male abdomen, a non-dentate pronotal collar, and a widely truncate uncus.

The larvae of many lycaenid butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) are tended by ants that protect them from natural enemies in return for sugar-rich secretions that the larvae produce to attract and retain their ant guards. We investigated the relationship between larvae of the endangered Miami blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri Comstock & Huntington) and potentially mutualistic ants. We observed 10 ant species interacting with Miami blue larvae in the field, and raised larvae successfully in captivity with 3 of these and 6 other ant species that are not known to tend larvae in the wild. In an experimental assessment of ant effects on larval performance, we found no differences in age at pupation, pupal mass, length of pupation, total time as an immature or ratio of time as a larva to time as a pupa among larvae raised with Camponotus floridanus Buckley, Linepithema humile Mayr, or in a no-ant control. Larvae raised with C. floridanus were significantly more likely to pupate in the ant harborage than larvae in the other treatments. We did not observe ants behaving antagonistically toward Miami blue larvae in field, laboratory, or experimental conditions; even ant species previously identified as potential predators tended larvae. Our results demonstrate that Miami blue larvae can elicit typical tending behaviors across diverse ant taxa and that ant tending does not substantially alter larval development, findings that may have implications for conservation and population restoration of the Miami blue butterfly.

Translation provided by the authors.

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Pentatomidae), is a newly invasive species in the eastern U. S. that is rapidly expanding its range from the original point of establishment in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Although an attractant pheromone has yet to be identified for H. halys, in its native Asian range the insect is cross-attracted to the pheromone of another pentatomid Plautia stali Scott whose males produce methyl (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoate. Previous tests of methyl 2,4,6-decatrienoate isomers in the U. S. verified that H. halys is highly attracted to methyl (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoate, and that the native green stink bug, Acrosternum hilare (Say), also is attracted to this compound. Using traps baited with methyl 2,4,6-decatrienoates and the reported pheromone of A. hilare (trans- and cis(Z)-α-bisabolene epoxides), we monitored populations of the brown marmorated and green stink bugs at the Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland, for the 2004–2008 growing seasons. Over this time period, the H. halys population rose from being undetectable in 2004 to becoming much more abundantly trapped than the native A. hilare. Furthermore, A. hilare was significantly more attracted to methyl (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoate than the blend of bisabolene epoxides reported as its pheromone. Supplemental material online at  http://www.fcla.edu/FlaEnt/fe923.htm#InfoLink1

Translation provided by Dr. Andrée Gonzalez Ritzel.

La chiche marrón mármol, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Pentatomidae), es una nueva especie invasora en el este de Estados Unidos, la cual está expandiendo su rango de distributión rápidamente desde su punto original de entrada en Allentown, Pennsylvania. Aunque su feromona aún no se ha identificada, este insecto es atraído en su hábitat nativo (Asia) por la feromona de otro pentatómido, Plautia stali Scott, cuyos machos producen (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoato de metilo. Experimentos previos con distintos isómeros de 2,4,6-decatrienoato de metilo en Estados Unidos demostraron que H. halys es fuertemente atraída por (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoato de metilo, y que la chiche verde nativa Acrosternum hilare (Say) es también atraída por este compuesto. Usando trampas cebadas con 2,4,6-decatrienoatos y con la feromona reportada para A. hilare (ep*óxidos de (E)- y (Z)-α-bisaboleno), realizamos un seguimiento poblacional de ambas especies en la Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland, durante las temporadas de crecimiento 2004–2008. En este període, las poblaciones de H. halys aumentaron desde niveles no detectables en 2004, a valores de capturas sustancialmente mayores que los correspondientes a la especie nativa. Asimismo, A. hilare fue significativamente més atraída al (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoato de metilo que a la mezcla de epóxidos de α-bisabolenos, reportados como la feromona de esta especie.

The use of pteromalid parasitoids for muscoid fly control is becoming increasingly common. Two species that are often recommended for releases are Spalangia cameroni Perkins and Muscidifurax raptor Girault and Sanders. This study was conducted to determine if the reduced suitability of freeze-killed pupae for Pteromalidae, particularly S. cameroni, is due to freezing, freezing duration, or the type of freezer used. Processing pupae through freezing had a considerably greater negative effect on rearing of S. cameroni than on M. raptor. Although freezing pupae did reduce M. raptor progeny production, there was no effect of length of storage or type of freezer used. Freezing pupae for 5 months resulted in significantly fewer S. cameroni progeny than freezing pupae for 2 weeks. Although not significant, pupae held in a frostfree freezer produced more progeny than those in a non-frostfree freezer. Measurements of weights of parasitized pupae over time indicated that freezing did not result in accelerated desiccation of hosts. These results document that the use of prolonged freezing and type of freezer minimally impacts M. raptor, but that commercial insectaries and researchers should be cautious in the use of frozen pupae when rearing or surveying for S. cameroni.