In order to understand host responses to viral infection at the transcriptional level, differential display reverse-transcription PCR (DDRT-PCR) was used to identify molecular genetic changes in virus-infected Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) following infection with dengue 2 virus (DENV-2). Seven differentially expressed cDNA fragments were identified. Five were up-regulated in virus-infected mosquitoes and two were up-regulated in refractory individuals. Sequence comparisons at the nucleotide level in GenBank showed that clone AS09A had 100% homology to Ae. albopictus ribosomal S5 protein mRNA, 98% homology to Ae. aegypti clone AE-198A ribosomal protein S5 mRNA and the 5-prime end of clone KWOAAA2YJ20AAMI from strain Liverpool of Ae. aegypti, and 91% homology to Drosophila melanogaster ribosomal protein S5a mRNA sequence. The deduced amino acidic sequence of clone AS09A showed 100% identity or conservation to the above sequence. AS12C clone showed significant homology (95%) to Ae. aegypti strain Liverpool. Other clones did not show homology with previously reported gene sequences. The fragment of AS09A may be the ribosomal protein S5 gene of Ae. albopictus that becomes differentially expressed as a result of infection. These results may be helpful in understanding the mechanism of differential susceptibility of Ae. albopictus following dengue virus infection.

Several sap-sucking insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha) of neotropical origin have been accidentally introduced to Southeast Asia and West Africa in recent years, including the mealybugs Paracoccus marginatus Williams & Granara de Willink, Phenacoccus madeirensis Green, Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi Gimpel & Miller, and the whitefly Aleurodicus dugesii Cockerell (Aleyrodidae). This paper documents new distribution records of introduced mealybugs and some other sap-sucking hemipteran insects (Coccidae and Diaspididae) in these regions and discusses progress in the biological control of some of these pests.

To estimate the toxicity of novaluron to eggs from two populations of Oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), we dipped eggs on waxed paper into a range of concentrations. Treated eggs were held on wheat germ diet, and mortality was assessed after 10 days. We compared the concentration-mortality relationships for eggs from parents reared on ‘Gala’ apples with those of eggs from parents reared on lima bean diet. We also compared the responses of a long-term laboratory colony of G. molesta from Rutgers University and a colony established from Calhoun County in southwestern Illinois. LC₅₀'s of novaluron ranged from 0.10 to 0.83 ppm and did not differ significantly based on parental diet. LC₅₀'s differed significantly between colonies; LC₅₀'s for the Calhoun colony were approximately 2.5 and 8 times greater than those for the Rutgers colony in bioassays that used eggs from parents reared on diet and apples, respectively. LC₉₀'s ranged from approximately 38 to 1000 ppm. For the Calhoun colony, the LC₉₀ for novaluron applied to eggs from parents reared on apples was approximately 10 times greater than the LC₉₀ for novaluron applied to eggs from parents reared on lima bean diet. For eggs from parents reared on apples, the LC₉₀ for the Calhoun colony was approximately 9 times greater than the LC₉₀ for the Rutgers colony. Differences in the colonies' responses may represent natural variation among populations or may be the result of selection by novaluron or other insecticides used in Calhoun County orchards before we collected larvae for our colony.

The effectiveness and timing of foliar insecticides and insecticidal seed treatments were evaluated for pest management of the wheat stem maggot, Meromyza americana Fitch (Diptera: Chloropidae), and the wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae), in hard red spring wheat in North Dakota. Treatments included: 1) untreated check, 2) foliar application of lambda-cyhalothrin at the 4–6 leaf stage, 3) foliar application of lambda-cyhalothrin at the flag-leaf stage, 4) low rate of thiamethoxam seed treatment, 5) high rate of thiamethoxam seed treatment, and 6) low rate of thiamethoxam seed treatment plus a foliar application of lambda-cyhalothrin at the 4–6 leaf stage. A foliar application of lambda-cyhalothrin at either leaf stage significantly reduced the number of white heads caused by wheat stem maggot. The combination of a low rate of thiamethoxam seed treatment plus a foliar application of lambda-cyhalothrin at the 4–6 leaf stage also resulted in a significantly lower number of white heads. However, the low and high rates of thiamethoxam seed treatment alone were not effective at reducing the number of white heads. None of the treatments reduced the percentage of damaged stems from wheat stem sawfly. No yield differences were observed among treatments for either wheat stem maggot or wheat stem sawfly.

The black twig borer, Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is an exotic ambrosia beetle that can be a severe pest of ornamental trees and shrubs in the landscape of South Carolina. This paper reports on the beetle's distribution and host plants in South Carolina. Descriptive data on the severity of attacks in different locations and at specific heights of southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora L.) trees were also gathered. Xylosandrus compactus was trapped or observed in 18 counties in South Carolina, from the Atlantic Coast to the upper Piedmont regions. The recorded ornamental host plants of X. compactus in South Carolina include Buxus sempervirens L. (boxwood), Cercis canadensis L. (eastern redbud), Cornus florida L. (flowering dogwood), Ficus carica L. (common fig), Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis (gardenia), Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser. (hydrangea), Magnolia grandiflora, Morella ( =  Myrica) cerifera (L.) Small (wax myrtle), and Pinus sp. (pine). On average, 47% of southern magnolia trees in seven neighborhoods of North Myrtle Beach, SC suffered attacks by X. compactus. Southern magnolia terminals at a height of 0–1 m (from soil surface) suffered the highest percentage of attacks (11.1%), followed by those at 1–2 m (7.2%). The percentage of terminals attacked was reduced to less than 4% at 3–6 m. The tendency for X. compactus to infest terminals at heights less than two meters suggests that preventive insecticide applications should target the lower branches to reduce damage.