A molecular genetics study involving DNA sequencing of a portion of the mitochondrial DNA 16S gene was undertaken to determine the extent of genetic variation within the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes tibalis, in the United States. A total of 106 samples were analyzed from 18 states. Thirty-two nucleotide sites were variable in the 428 bp 16S rDNA sequence, and 41 distinct haplotypes were observed. Twenty-three haplotypes (55%) occurred only once, while the most common haplotype, T2, occurred in 24% of the samples. Genetic diversity among haplotypes ranged from 0.2 to 2.3%. Bayesian phylogenetic and TCS spanning tree analysis revealed several distinct clades that appeared to be geographically isolated; however, regression and Mantel tests did not support any populational structure. The role of glaciation and sky islands on haplotype variation of R. tibialis is supported by a molecular clock and may have contributed to the large amount of genetic variation observed within this species.

A critical need exists for new biological pest management techniques for the pickleworm, Diaphania nitidalis (Stoll) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a major pest of Cucurbitaceae. One potential management strategy for this pest is the use of entomopathogenic viruses. In this study, several viruses were evaluated for efficacy against pickleworm cell lines and second-stage larvae. First, selected viruses were bioassayed in vitro against one suspended cell line (IPLB-DnEs1) and one attached cell line (IPLB-DnEa3) that we derived from pickleworm embryos. In these experiments, a multiply-embedded nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV) from velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, showed the greatest activity toward the pickleworm cell lines. Following these results, 14 entomopathogenic viruses in the families Baculoviridae, Reoviridae, and Iridoviridae were evaluated in vivo in bioassays of second instar D. nitdalis. Among these 14 viruses, only six baculoviruses showed significant activity against pickleworm larvae. AgMNPV and a multiply-embedded nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) from alfalfa looper, Autographa californica (Speyer), were the most efficacious against second instar D. nitidalis. Moreover, five of six stilbene fluorescent brighteners significantly increased efficacy of AgMNPV against pickleworm larvae.

The effect of bucket trap color on grape root borer (GRB), Vitacea polistiformis Harris, captures was evaluated in 2005 and 2006. Traps were deployed in a commercial vineyard consisting of muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia Michx) grapes in North-Central Florida. Experimental designs were randomized complete block with four tratments including green, yellow, white and blue traps in 2005. In 2006, five treatments (green, yellow, green top, yellow top, and multicolor) and four replicates were evaluated. All traps were baited with GRB female sex pheromone. Trap color had a significant effect on the number of GRB males captured. In 2005, green and yellow traps caught more GRB males than other trap colors. In addition, first GRB male captures were in yellow and green traps. In 2006, the multicolor trap caught more GRB males than any other trap and had the first GRB capture. Grape root borer males prefer green and yellow pheromone-baited traps, but do not appear to distinguish between these two colors, which have similar spectral reflectance. Trap color had a significant effect on the number of Apoidea captured, with highest captures in multicolor traps. Choice of trap color can improve the effectiveness of pheromone-baited bucket traps for GRB in both early detection and total number captured over the season. Negative impacts on beneficial insects appear minimal.

Loss of insecticide susceptibility was suspected in lesser mealworms, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), in broiler chicken facilities in Arkansas due to reports of control failures. Bioassay tests using selected insecticides were conducted on adult and larval beetles collected from broiler chicken production farms having different insecticide application history. The residual and topical application tests showed that previous insecticide use had caused significant differences in the relative susceptibility of lesser mealworms. Topical application bioassay tests indicated that adult beetles had greater susceptibility to the insecticides tested than 8^th instars collected from the same farm while in residual tests little difference was generally found in the susceptibility of adults and larvae exposed to the insecticides. Data suggested that the ability to de-toxify DDT and other organochlorine insecticides remained in some beetle populations due to spread of wood-shaving litter containing beetles over pastures among broiler production facilities, particularly involving facilities that have been in broiler production for over 40 y. A program utilizing integrated tactics that will reduce the dependency on insecticides is needed to manage litter beetles in poultry production facilities.

The influence of narrow and wide-row soybeans on infestations of bean leaf beetle (BLB), Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) adults, a vector of bean pod mottle virus (BPMV), and associated incidence of bean pod mottle (BPM) disease were investigated in maturity groups IV and V soybeans in Mississippi. Maturity group IV soybeans had greater cumulative BLB numbers and greater incidence of BPM than maturity group V soybeans in 2000, but not in 2001. Row width was not shown to affect beetle numbers in either study year, but a greater incidence of BPM occurred in narrow row soybeans in 2001 and Maturity Group IV soybeans in 2000. There was no significant correlation between numbers of BLB adults and soybean plants infected with BPM virus when data was analyzed within sample dates or by seasonal totals. Greater yields were obtained in maturity group V soybeans than in maturity group IV soybeans in 2000, but not 2001, whereas row width had no significant effect on yield in either 2000 or 2001. The results presented herein suggest that further investigations of soybean row spacing in relation to BLB and BPM disease should consider large experimental plots to minimize beetle dispersal and spread of BPM disease.

A comparison is made of the relative efficiency of three sampling methods for crape myrtle aphid: the number of aphids of 12.7 cm terminal sample, the number of aphids on five randomly selected leaves on 12.7 cm terminal sample, and aphids on three most infested leaves per terminal sample.