Experiments were conducted in a commercial tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanaceae) greenhouse to compare the relative foraging effort and efficiency of two bumble bee species: Bombus impatiens Cresson, a species from northeastern North America, commercially reared and used for pollination in Mexico; and B. ephippiatus Say, a native species of Mexico and central America. B. ephippiatus was as efficient in pollination of tomatoes as B. impatiens, as indicated by all variables of fruit quality: fruit weight, number of seed per fruit, and maximum fruit diameter. The two species had similar levels of hourly and daily foraging activity. They had the same response to temperature fluctuation. Pollination rates by both species were similar and close to 100% throughout the sample period. However, B. impatiens showed greater foraging activity during the first half of the 27-d sample period, whereas B. ephipiatus had greater relative activity during the last half. This study establish that B. ephippiatus is as efficient as B. impatiens as a pollinator of tomatoes in greenhouses and thus a candidate as a managed pollinator. However, standard reliable methods for mass rearing of B. ephippiatus are not yet available. Such methods are necessary to ensure healthy colonies and optimum pollination for producers and will reduce the pressure for the unregulated collection of queens in the field and the subsequent reduction of populations of this species.

Chalkbrood, caused by Ascosphaera apis (Maassen and Claussen) Olive and Spiltor, is a cosmopolitan fungal disease of honey bee larvae (Apis mellifera L.) for which there is no chemotherapeutic control. We evaluated the efficacy of lysozyme-HCl, an inexpensive food-grade antimicrobial extracted from hen egg white, for the treatment of chalkbrood disease in honey bee colonies. Our study compared three doses of lysozyme-HCl in sugar syrup (600, 3,000, and 6,000 mg) administered weekly for 3 wk among chalkbrood-inoculated colonies, colonies that were inoculated but remained untreated, and colonies neither inoculated or treated. Lysozyme-HCl at the highest dose evaluated was found to suppress development of chalkbrood disease in inoculated colonies to levels observed in uninoculated, untreated colonies, and did not adversely affect adult bee survival or brood production. Honey production was significantly negatively correlated with increased disease severity but there were no significant differences in winter survival among treatment groups. Based on our results, lysozyme-HCl appears to be a promising, safe therapeutic agent for the control of chalkbrood in honey bee colonies.

Flumethrin is one of many pesticides used for the control and treatment of varroatosis in honey bees and for the control of mosquitoes and ticks in the environment. For the control of varroatosis, flumethrin is applied to hives formulated as a plastic strip for several weeks. During this time, honey bees are treated topically with flumethrin, and hive products may accumulate the pesticide. Honey bees may indirectly ingest flumethrin through hygienic behaviors during the application period and receive low doses of flumethrin through comb wax remodeling after the application period. The goal of our study was to determine the acute oral toxicity of flumethrin and observe the acute effects on motor coordination in honey bees (Apis mellifera anatoliaca). Six doses (between 0.125 and 4.000 µg per bee) in a geometric series were studied. The acute oral LD₅₀ of flumethrin was determined to be 0.527 and 0.178 µg per bee (n = 210, 95% CI) for 24 and 48 h, respectively. Orally administered flumethrin is highly toxic to honey bees. Oral flumethrin disrupted the motor coordination of honey bees. Honey bees that ingested flumethrin exhibited convulsions in the antennae, legs, and wings at low doses. At higher doses, partial and total paralysis in the antennae, legs, wings, proboscises, bodies, and twitches in the antennae and legs were observed.

Acaricides are used to treat honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies to control the varroa mite (Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman), a worldwide threat to honey bee health. Although acaricides control a serious honey bee parasite and mitigate bee loss, they may cause harm to bees as well. We topically applied five acaricides, each with a different mode of action, to young adult queen and worker bees to generate dose-response curves and LD₅₀. Twenty-four hours after treatment, queens were found to be three-times more tolerant of tau-fluvalinate and six-times more tolerant of thymol than workers when adjusted for body weight differences between workers (108 mg) and queens (180 mg). Queens survived the highest administered doses of fenpyroximate (1620 µg/g) and coumaphos (2700 µg/g) indicating that queens are at least 11-fold more tolerant of coumaphos and at least 54-fold more tolerant of fenpyroximate than workers. However, queens treated with as little as 54 µg/g of fenpyroximate exhibited reduced survival over 6 wk after treatment. Amitraz was the only acaricide tested for which queens were not more tolerant than workers. The striking difference in acaricide tolerance of queen and worker honey bees suggests physiological differences in how the two castes are affected by xenobiotics.

Potato virus Y (PVY) is transmitted by aphids in a nonpersistent manner and aphid species differ in their ability to transmit PVY. During host selection, aphids will land and probe on nonhost plant species and this behavior is an important component of the epidemiology of many aphid-transmitted viruses. In this study, we hypothesized that host selection behavior varies between aphid species and the host or nonhost status of the plant and this behavior will modulate their ability to acquire PVY. Three potato colonizers, Myzus persicae (Sulzer),Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), and Aphis nasturtii (Kaltenbach) and three casual visitors to potato fields, Myzus cerasi (F.), Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), and Sitobion avenae (F.) were evaluated using two acquisition assays. In one assay, the normal host selection and feeding behavior of aphid species were eliminated using an artificial diet while the other considered the normal host selection and feeding behavior of aphid species on potato plants. PVY acquisition rates of aphid species widely differed between the two assays indicating the impact of host selection and feeding behavior on PVY acquisition. This behavior varied greatly between potato colonizers and noncolonizers. We recommend that laboratory evaluations of PVY vector efficiency consider the normal host selection and feeding behavior of aphid species on potatoes.

Potato virus Y (PVY) is one of the most economically important viruses affecting potato crops worldwide. PVY can be transmitted from potato to potato by several aphid species, most of which do not colonize the potato crop. New methods including preservation of viral RNA on stylets of aphids collected from yellow pan trap samples, polymerase chain reaction detection of PVY from the stylets of one aphid, and aphid identification using DNA barcoding were used to identify possible PVY vectors from field samples. In total, 65 aphid taxa were identified from the samples that tested positive for PVY. Among those, 45 taxa had never been evaluated for their ability to transmit PVY, and 7 were previously labeled as nonvectors. These results demonstrated that the list of PVY vectors is likely longer than previously reported and that most (if not all) species of aphids could be considered as potential vectors. This premise has important implications in the management of PVY in seed potato production.

The relatively low direct mortality caused by Paranosema locustae (Canning) has limited its application for controlling grasshopper when densities are high, and this study sought to determine if the simultaneous use of this pathogen and the IGR, Flufenoxuron (Cascade) could provide effective control. Nine treatments were tested: 45% Malathion EC at 1500 ml/ha, 5% Cascade at 150 ml/ha, 5% Cascade at 75 ml/ha, 5% Cascade at 37.5 ml/ha, P. locustae at 7.5 × 10⁹ spores/ha, combinations of 5% Cascade at 75 ml/ha and P. locustae at 7.5 × 10⁹ spores/ha, applied in different rations (1:1,1:2,1:3) in the same plot, the untreated control. P. locustae was applied on nonoverlapping plots with the IGR. The different in-plot combinations of P. locustae and Cascade in different ratios provided significantly better overall control of grasshoppers (all species) than the treatment of 5% Cascade of 150 ml/ha after 5d, but combinations were not significantly different from the other concentrations of Cascade after 12 and 31 d. When results were examined separately for specific species of grasshoppers, reduction of Dasyhippus harbipes (Fischer-Waldheim), was higher than that of Myrmeleotettix palpalis (Zubovsky). While combinations showed significant differences in the infection of different grasshopper species at 5 and 12 d posttreatment, no significant differences in rate of infection among the primary species (M. palpalis, D. harbipes, and Oedaleus asiaticus Bei-Bienko) were detected 31 d posttreatment. Our study found that P. locustae by itself could control grasshopper populations at medium densities but the combined application of P. locustae and Cascade at a ratio of 1:2 was more effective against high-density grasshopper populations.

The plant bug Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) is a major pest on Bt cotton and multiple crops in northern China. A modified NI artificial diet called T7 was developed to rear this pest for 10 successive generations both individually and in groups. This T7 diet was similar in components and preparation process to the NI diet used for Lygus hesperus in North America, but was comprised of more whole chicken eggs, soybean lecithin, and Vanderzant vitamin mixture, and less brewer's yeast, wheat germ, lima bean meal, soy flour, and sugars than NI diet. While being reared individually on T7 diet, A. lucorum nymphs had a developmental duration of ≈12 d and survival rate of ≈80%, which was not significantly different from that on green beans. While being reared in groups, nymphal survival rate was above 81% (indeed above 90% for the first four generations), the weight of adults was heavier than on green beans and the average fecundity had a logistic increase through generations. The replacement rate of A. lucorum populations was expected to be ≈29 times per generation while being reared at a density of 100 nymphs per box (20 × 12 × 7 cm). This is the first successful artificial diet reported for rearing A. lucorum and is superior to green beans. The diet offers an economic means for producing natural enemies for biological control of this pest on Bt cotton. The possibility of further improvement of the present artificial diet is also discussed.

Emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is an invasive species from Asia that was discovered in North America Canada, in 2002. Herein, we describe studies to develop an autocontamination trapping system to disseminate Beauveria bassiana to control beetle populations. The standard trap for emerald ash borer in Canada is a light green prism trap covered in an insect adhesive and baited with (Z)-3-hexenol. We compared of green multifunnel traps, green intercept panel traps (both with and without fluon coating) and green prism traps for capturing emerald ash borer in a green ash plantation. The coated green multifunnel traps captured significantly more males and more females than any other trap design. We examined the efficacy of two native B. bassiana isolates, INRS-CFL and L49–1AA. In a field experiment the INRS-CFL isolate attached to multifunnel traps in autocontamination chambers retained its pathogenicity to emerald ash borer adults for up to 43 d of outdoor exposure. Conidia germination of the INRS-CFL isolate was >69% after outdoor exposure in the traps for up to 57 d. The L49–1AA isolate was not pathogenic in simulated trap exposures and the germination rate was extremely low (<5.3%).Mean (±SEM) conidia loads on ash borer adults after being autocontaminated in the laboratory using pouches that had been exposed in traps out of doors for 29 d were 579,200 (±86,181) and 2,400 (±681) for the INRS-CFL and the L49–1AA isolates, respectively. We also examined the fungal dissemination process under field conditions using the L49–1AA isolate in a green ash plantation. Beetles were lured to baited green multifunnel traps with attached autocontamination chambers. Beetles acquired fungal conidia from cultures growing on pouches in the chambers and were recaptured on Pestick-coated traps. In total, 2,532 beetles were captured of which 165 (6.5%) had fungal growth that resembled B. bassiana. Of these 25 beetles were positive for the L49–1AA isolate.

We determined the thermal death rate constants and mortality curves for the eggs and different instars of Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly) (Wiedemann) submerged in isolation in water at 44, 46, and 48°C and submerged within fruits of Mangifera indica (mango) (L.) in water at 43.1, 44.1, 45.1, and 46.1°C. The first instar was the most tolerant to this treatment, with estimated times for achieving 99.9968% mortality of 103.28,92.73, and 92.49 min at temperatures of 43.1, 44.1, and 45.1°C, respectively. The results of the study indicate that ‘Ataulfo’ mangoes weighing <329 ±2.11 g and at risk immature Mediterranean fruit fly infestation should be immersed for 95 min at 46.1-47°C to ensure that the fruit pulp remains at this temperature for 10 min. An efficacy test was conducted that involved treating 730 mangoes, with an average weight of 326 ±2.11 g (mean ±SE) and infested with 84 ±1.15 first instars. In this test, none of the 61,720 larvae treated survived. The confirmatory test was performed using commercial equipment in which 1,112 infested mango fruit weighing an average of 329 ±2.11 g were treated. Each fruit was previously infested with an average of 59 ±0.61 first instars (=65,825 total larvae) of which none survived. The data collected on mango quality indicate that hot water immersion for 95 min at 46.1–47°C can produce a more uniform fruit-color and positively modify the pH (producing more palatable fruits), but can also produce a loss of firmness and weight (5%). Taking all factors into consideration, we conclude that this treatment is sufficient to meet quarantine restrictions against C. capitata while maintaining market quality at least for 15 d.

The objective of this study was to determine the host status of commercially cultivated mango fruit, Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae) to Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in South Africa. T. leucotreta was monitored with parapheromone traps in mango orchards in Limpopo and Mpumalanga from 2007 to 2010. Fruit were inspected for the presence of T. leucotrela eggs in mango orchards. Mango fruit of the cultivars ‘Tommy Atkins’, ‘Kent’, ‘Keitt’, and ‘Sensation’ were artificially infested with T. leucotreta eggs on the tree to determine if the larvae were able to develop in fruit. Mature fruit of these cultivars were harvested and were then exposed to T. leucotreta eggs and the larval development monitored. Before harvest, fruit were inspected for natural infestations and a packhouse survey was conducted during the 2009–2010 season to determine if any infested fruit were present. T. leucotreta was present in all mango orchards where monitoring was done with traps but no eggs were found on the fruit, which suggests the presence of antixenosis. Development occurred in mature harvested fruit of all cultivars that had been exposed to T. leucotreta eggs. Depending on the cultivar, between 0 and 5.05% of immature fruit on the tree supported development and demonstrate antibiosis. No naturally infested fruit were found in the orchards or during the packhouse survey. Mango in South Africa is not a natural host for T. leucotreta. Mature mango fruit is an acceptable host for T. leucotreta larval development under artificial conditions. The latex plays an important role in the resistance mechanism of mango fruit to T. leucotreta.

Bactrocera invadens (Diptera: Tephritidae) has spread rapidly across Africa and currently poses a phytosanitary threat to the fruit industry of South Africa. In reaction a cold mitigating treatment to provide phytosanitary security to importing countries was developed in Nairobi, Kenya. Using laboratory reared fruit flies, the rate of development in ‘Hass’ avocado (Persea americana Miller) was determined at 28°C. Fruit ripeness or softness was found to be a factor improving larval fruit fly survival. Using this information the egg and larval developmental stages were subjected to 2°C cold treatment and it was found that the third instars were the most cold tolerant life stage and that it was expected that between 16 and 17 d treatment would provide phytosanitary security. There were no survivors in the treatment of an estimated 153,001 individuals in four replicates at an average fruit pulp temperature of 2°C satisfying the Probit 9 level of efficiency at a confidence of >95%. These data provide evidence that a continuous cold treatment of 1.5°C or lower for 18 d would provide phytosanitary security in that any consignment entering an importing country poses no risk of accidental importation of B. invadens.

The effects of irradiation on egg, larval, and pupal development, and adult reproduction in light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), were examined Eggs, neonates, third instars, fifth instars, and early stage pupae were irradiated at target doses of 60 90, 120, or 150 Gy or left untreated as controls in replicated factorial experiments and survival to the adult stage was recorded. Tolerance to radiation generally increased with increasing age and developmental stage. A radiation dose of 120 Gy applied to eggs and neonates prevented adult emergence A dose of 150 Gy prevented adult emergence in larvae at all stages. In large-scale validation tests, a radiation dose of 150 Gy applied to fifth instars in diet, apples or peppers resulted in no survival to the adult stage in 37,947 treated individuals. Pupae were more radio tolerant than larvae, and late stage pupae were more tolerant than early stage pupae. Radiation treatment of late pupae at 350 and 400 Gy resulted in three and one fertile eggs in 4,962 and 4,205 total eggs laid by 148 and 289 mating pairs, respectively. For most commodities, the fifth instar is the most radio tolerant life stage likely to occur with the commodity; a minimum radiation dose of 150 Gy will prevent adult emergence from this stage and meets the zero tolerance requirement for market access. For traded commodities such as table grapes that may contain E. postvittana pupae, a radiation dose >400 Gy may be necessary to completely sterilize emerging adults. After review of the literature, a generic radiation treatment of 250 Gy is proposed for tortricid eggs and larvae in regulated commodities.

Hymenopteran parasitoids have been shown to be of potential value in tick biocontrol. Tick parasitoids has been reported only once in Brazil, over 95 yr ago when Ixodiphagus hookeri (Howard) was reported parasitizing Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) nymphs in Rio de Janeiro. Herein, we report the occurrence of Ixodiphagus spp. in ticks from three different regions of Brazil. In the state of Maranhão, in northeastern Brazil, parasitoids were detected in R. sanguineus nymphs on three occasions, during August 2009 and September 2010 (dry season), and January 2011 (rainy season). All parasitoids found in northeastern Brazil were identified as I. hookeri. In the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (west—central Brazil), one Amblyomma sp. engorged nymph was shown to be parasitized by I. hookeri. In the state of Rondônia (northern Brazil), one Amblyomma sp. engorged nymph was parasitized by Ixodiphagus texanus (Howard). Because Ixodiphagus spp. are present in ecologically distinct and geographically distant areas of Brazil, they are of potential use for biocontrol in the country.

The susceptibility assessment of natural enemies to pesticides is relevant before the use of selective pesticides and biological control agents within the framework of integrated pest management programs. Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is a predator considered a potential biocontrol agent of agricultural pests in the Neothropical Region. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short and long-term effects of two broad spectrum insecticides (Cypermethrin and endosulfan) and two biorational (spinosad and methoxyfenozide) registered in Argentina on young C. externa adults under laboratory conditions by ingestion through drinking water. The assessed end-points were: survivorship during preoviposition period, preoviposition time, fecundity and fertility of females, and survivorship of the progeny. Total survivorship of adults was adversely affected only by Cypermethrin that reduced the survivorship of adults irrespective of sex. Although endosulfan did not induce significant total mortality, it reduced the survivorship of females. All tested insecticides delayed the reproductive maturity of adults. Cypermethrin, endosulfan, and spinosad reduced the fecundity of females. Fertility was affected only by spinosad. Methoxyfenozide was the insecticide inducing the lowest effects on reproductive parameters. No effects were observed on the survival of progeny with any of the tested compounds. In accordance with the International Organization for Biological Control and Noxious Animals and Plants guidelines the insecticides were classified according to its lethal effects in the following toxicity classes: methoxyfenozide, spinosad, and endosulfan, class 1 (innocuous); Cypermethrin, class 2 (moderately toxic). However, if sublethal effects are taken into account, spinosad and endosulfan should not be considered innocuous.

Before embarking on the 5–10 yr effort it can take to transfer plant resistance (R) genes to adapted crop cultivars, a question must be asked: is the pest a sufficient threat to warrant this effort? We used the recently discovered female-produced sex pheromone of the Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), to explore this question for populations in the Upper Great Plains. Methods for pheromone trapping were established and trapping data were used to explore geographic distribution, phenology, and density. The pheromone lure remained attractive for up to 10 d and only attracted male Hessian flies. Traps placed within the crop canopy caught flies but traps placed above the crop canopy did not. Hessian flies were trapped throughout North Dakota starting in the spring and continuing through the summer and autumn. Densities were low in the spring but increased greatly during the early part of the summer, with peak adult emergence taking place at a time (July/August) when spring wheat was being harvested and winter wheat had not yet been planted. In the autumn, adults were found at a time when winter wheat seedlings are growing. The discovery of flies on Conservation Reserve Program land supports the idea that pasture grasses serve as alternate hosts. We conclude that the Hessian fly is a risk to wheat in the Upper Great Plains and predict that global warming and the increasing cultivation of winter wheat will add to this risk.

A three-treatment aerial application insecticide experiment was conducted in five commercial sugarcane, Saccharum spp., fields in south Texas to evaluate the use of pheromone traps for improving chemical control of the Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), in 2009 and 2010. A threshold of 20 moths/trap/wk was used to initiate monitoring for larval infestations. The percentage of stalks with larvae on plant surfaces was directly related to the number of moths trapped. Reductions in borer injury and adult emergence were detected when a threshold of >5% of stalks with larvae present on plant surfaces was used to trigger insecticide applications. Novaluron provided superior control compared with β-cyfluthrin; novaluron treated plots were associated with a 14% increase in sugar production. A greenhouse experiment investigating establishment and behavior of E. loftini larvae on two phenological stages of stalkborer resistant, HoCP 85–845, and susceptible, HoCP 00–950, sugarcane cultivais determined that more than half of larvae on HoCP 00–950 and >25% on HoCP 85–845 tunneled inside leaf mid-ribs within 1 d of eclosion, protected therein from biological and chemical control tactics. Exposure time of larvae averaged <1 wk for all treatments and was shortest on immature HoCP 00–950 and longest on mature HoCP 85–845. This study shows a short window of vulnerability of E. loftini larvae to insecticide applications, and demonstrates the potential utility of pheromone traps for improving insecticide intervention timing such that a single properly timed application may be all that is required.

The tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), is an important pest of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., in the mid-southern United States. It is exclusively controlled with foliar insecticide applications, and sampling methods and thresholds need to be revisited. The current experiment was designed to establish a plant-based threshold during the flowering period of cotton development. Experiments were conducted in Mississippi in 2005 and 2006, Arkansas in 2005, and Louisiana in 2005 through 2008. Treatments consisted of various combinations of thresholds based on the percentage of dirty squares that were compared with the current threshold with a drop cloth or automatic weekly applications. Dirty squares were characterized as those with yellow staining on the developing bud resulting from tarnished plant bug excrement. Treatments consisted of 5, 10, 20, and 30% dirty squares. Each plot was sampled weekly, and insecticides were applied when the mean of all replications of a particular treatment reached the designated threshold. At the end of the season, plots were harvested and lint yields were recorded. Differences were observed in the number of applications and yields among the different treatments. The 10% dirty squares threshold resulted in a similar economic return compared with the drop cloth. A threshold of 10% dirty squares resulted in a similar number of insecticide applications, yields, and economic returns compared with that observed with the drop cloth. These results suggest that a threshold of 10% dirty squares could be used to trigger insecticide applications targeting tarnished plant bugs in flowering cotton.

Feeding experiments with Asian longhorned beetles (Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky)) in a quarantine laboratory were used to assess the effectiveness of imidacloprid in reducing adult fecundity and survival. The beetles were fed twigs and leaves cut between June—September 2010 from Norway maples (Acer platanoides L.) in the beetle-infested area of Worcester, MA. Treated trees had been trunk-injected once with imidacloprid in spring 2010 under the U.S. Department of Agriculture—Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service operational eradication program. The 21 d LC₅₀ value for adult beetles feeding on twig bark from imidacloprid-injected trees was 1.3 ppm. Adult reproductive output and survival were significantly reduced when beetles fed on twig bark or leaves from treated trees. However, results varied widely, with many twig samples having no detectable imidacloprid and little effect on the beetles. When twigs with >1 ppm imidacloprid in the bark were fed to mated beetles, the number of larvae produced was reduced by 94% and median adult survival was reduced to 14 d. For twigs with <1 ppm imidacloprid, 68% of reproductively mature mated beetles survived 21 d and 56% of unmated recently eclosed beetles survived 42 d. For twigs with <1 ppm, beetles ingested an average of 30 nanograms of imidacloprid per day. Bark consumption was reduced at higher imidacloprid levels (>1 ppm). When given a choice of control twigs and twigs from injected trees, beetles did not show a strong preference.

We report identification and field testing of 2-(undecyloxy)-ethanol (monochamol) as a sex-specific, aggregation pheromone component produced by males of Monochamus scutellatus scutellatus (Say) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), a longhorned beetle native to North America. A congener, Monochamus notatus (Drury), which uses the same hosts as M. s. scutellatus, also was attracted to this compound in field trials, suggesting it may be a pheromone component for this species as well. Panel traps were deployed along transects at each of five field sites in May 2010 to test attraction of native beetle species to a suite of cerambycid pheromone components, including monochamol, 3-hydroxyhexan-2-one, (2R*,3R*)- and (2R*, 3S*)-2,3-hexanediol, racemic (E/Z)-fuscumol, and (E/Z)-fuscumol acetate. In total, 209 adult M. s. scutellatus (136 females, 73 males) and 20 M. notatus (16 females, four males) were captured, of which 86 and 70%, respectively, were captured in traps baited with monochamol (means significantly different). Analysis of headspace volatiles from adult M. s. scutellatus by coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection confirmed that monochamol was produced only by males. Monochamol was not found in headspace extracts from adult M. notatus. This study provides further evidence that monochamol is a pheromone component common to several species in the genus Monochamus. The pheromone component should prove useful for monitoring native species for management purposes or conservation efforts, and for quarantine monitoring for exotic species.

Acutaspis albopicta (Cockerell) is one of seven exotic scale species detected on shipments of ‘Hass’ avocados entering California from Mexico. Here, we present the results of experiments to elucidate basic life history parameters of this species. The scale only reproduces sexually with unmated females producing no offspring. Unmated females survived up to 14 wk after settling on host fruits, whereas males survived for up to 62 h, with the majority dying within 46 h after emergence. Females laid a mean of 52.0 ± 2.8 eggs (range, 5–171 eggs). Lower humidity (50%) was detrimental to the survival of male scales compared with high humidity (75%), especially during the pupal stage. The optimal temperature for development of both sexes was 25°C. At this temperature, females developed from first instars to adults in ≈28 d, whereas males emerged from their pupal cases after ≈37 d. The adjusted lower developmental thresholds for females and males were 13.2 and 13.4°C, respectively. The upper developmental threshold for both females and males was ≈32°C. Total development from first instar to adult female was 329 degree days and to emerged male, 433 degree days.

In the southeastern United States, hunting billbug, Sphenophorus venatus vestitus Chittenden, adults are often observed in turfgrass, but our knowledge of their biology and ecology is limited. Field surveys and experiments were conducted to determine the species composition, life cycle, damaging life stage, and distribution of billbugs within the soil profile in turfgrass in North Carolina. Linear pitfall trapping revealed six species of billbug, with the hunting billbug making up 99.7% of all beetles collected. Data collected from turf plus soil sampling suggest that hunting billbugs have two overlapping generations per year in North Carolina and that they overwinter as both adults and larvae. Field experiments provided evidence that adult hunting billbugs are capable of damaging warm season turfgrasses.

A pheromone-based system to locate and monitor Planococcus minor (Maskell), a pest of over 250 plants including citrus, grape, and cacao, was tested. The difficulty in distinguishing P. minor from the citrus mealybug, P. citri, makes finding and evaluating the impact of the pest challenging. Studies conducted in Puerto Rico determined that synthetic P. minor pheromone lures preaged 120 d in the field caught similar number of males as lures not aged (fresh). Molecular analysis of trapped mealybug males using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase-1, the internal transcriber space two locus, and 28S-D2 gene showed the pheromone traps to be species specific. Traps baited with P. minor pheromone were used to monitor the pest in south Florida and to locate potential infestations. P. minor males were found at all locations studied in South Florida and were present in low numbers (1.03 ± 0.69 mean ± SE/trap/14 d). Over 14,000 terminals, fruit, and flowers were visually inspected over a 6 mo period of peak trap catches before the first adult P. minor female was found. The synthetic pheromone lures proved to be an effective tool to locate and monitor this pest new to the continental United States.

Oryctes agamemnon arabicus (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is a date palm insect pest that causes damage to trunk and roots and can damage grass lawns in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other countries such as Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia. The goal of this study was to monitor population dynamics and to evaluate six light colors (white, green, red, yellow, blue, and infrared) and two lamp types (mercury and energy-saving) in light traps. Experiments were performed on a date palm farm during a 2 yr period (2010 and 2011). It was found that this insect is a univoltine pest with a single population peak. Adults appeared in the field around middle of April and early May and the population continued to build until maximum numbers were reached in mid June. No adults were found after the end of September. Photoperiod showed a significant correlation with the changes in adult population size. White light emitted from mercury lamps attracted significantly more O. agamemnon arabicus adults compared with the other tested light colors. Increasing the wattage of mercury lamps from 160 to 250 watt did not significantly increase the number of collected insects. The results demonstrated that light traps equipped with 160-watt mercury lamps emitting white light collected significantly the highest number of this insect among the other tested lamps.

We investigated conspecific and heterospecific oviposition host discrimination among four economically important fruit fly pests of mango in Africa (Ceratitis capitata, Wiedemann; C. fasciventris, Bezzi; C. rosa, Karsch, and C. cosyra, Walker) with regard to host-marking behavior and fecal matter aqueous solutions. The objective of the study was to get insight into the potential of managing these pests using the host-marking technique. Observations were done on mango slices marked by the flies and treated with aqueous solutions of fecal matter of the flies, respectively. In both host-marking and fecal matter experiments, C. cosyra, which is the most destructive species of the four on mango, was exceptional. It only discriminated against hosts treated with its fecal matter but with lower sensitivity while C. capitata and C. fasciventris discriminated against hosts marked by it or treated with its fecal matter and with higher sensitivity. Our results provide evidence for potential of managing some of the major fruit fly species infesting mango in Africa using the host-marking pheromone of the mango fruit fly, C. cosyra.

Green June beetle, Cotinis nitida (L.), is an important pest of grapes, peaches, blackberries, blueberries, apples, and pears. Currently, there is no inexpensive, commercially available lure or trap that could serve monitoring green June beetle adults. The objective of this study was to develop and optimize an inexpensive bottle trap baited with isopropanol to attract and capture green June beetle adults. Bottle traps baited with 8 mm diameter cotton wicked dispensers emitted from 9 to 43 ml isopropanol in 48 h and maintained that alcohol at a fairly constant concentration compared with the prototypical bottle trap with large surface evaporation of isopropanol poured into the bottom of the trap. Over 5 d, the isopropanol in the wicked dispensers remained at the same stable concentration of 45–44.5%, whereas isopropanol concentration in the bottom of prototypical traps dropped from 45% to ≈11% after 24 h and to 0.2% by 48 h. Bottle traps with isopropanol dispensers and cotton wicks of 4, 6, or 8 mm in diameter caught significantly more green June beetles than did prototypical bottle traps with no dispensers. Isopropanol concentrations of 45.5, 66, and 91% attracted more green June beetle adults than the lower concentrations. Significantly more green June beetle adults were attracted to traps with dispensers set at 1.3 m height than those at lower heights, and traps topped with a blue, orange, or white band captured more green June beetle adults than those with bands of other colors. The optimized bottle trap is made from recycled transparent polyethylene terephthalate beverage bottle (710-ml; 24 oz.) with a blue, orange, or white band, baited with an 8 mm cotton wick dispenser of 45.5% isopropanol and hung at a height of 1.3 m. Cost and uses for this trap are discussed.

The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) has been introduced into new geographic areas, including the Mediterranean region, where it has become a serious threat to tomato production. Three greenhouse trials conducted in tomato crops during 2009 and 2010 explored control strategies using the egg-parasitoid Trichogramma achaeae Nagaraja and Nagarkatti compared with chemical control. The effectiveness of the predator Nesidiocoiis tenuis (Reuter) was also tested. In greenhouses with early pest infestations (discrete generations), periodic inundative releases (eight releases at a rate of 50 adults/m², twice a week) were necessary to achieve an adequate parasitism level (85.63 ± 5.70%) early in the growing season. However, only one inoculative release (100 adults/m²) was sufficient to achieve a comparatively high parasitism level (91.03 ± 12.58%) under conditions of high pest incidence and overlapping generations. Some intraguild competition was observed between T. achaeae and the predator, N. tenuis. This mirid species is commonly used in Mediterranean greenhouse tomato crops for the control of the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). Tomato cultivars were also observed to influence the activity of natural enemies, mainly N. tenuis (whose average numbers ranged between 0.17 ± 0.03 and 0.41 ± 0.05 nymphs per leaf depending on the cultivar). This may be because of differences in plant nutrients in different cultivars, which may affect the feeding of omnivorous insects. In contrast, cultivar effects on T. achaeae were less apparent or possibly nonexistent. Nevertheless, there was an indirect effect in as much as T. achaeae was favored in cultivars not liked by N. tenuis.

In many regions, pest management of greenhouse crops relies on the use of biological control agents; however, pesticides are also widely used, especially when dealing with multiple arthropod pests and attempting to maintain high esthetic standards. As such, there is interest in using biological control agents in conjunction with chemical control. However, the prospects of combining natural enemies and pesticides are not well known in many systems. The rove beetle, Atheta coriaria (Kraatz), is a biological control agent mainly used against fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.). This study evaluated the effects of reduced-risk pesticides and plant growth regulators on A. coriaria adult survival, development, and prey consumption under laboratory conditions. Rove beetle survival was consistently higher when adults were released 24 h after rather than before applying pesticides. The pesticides acetamiprid, lambda-cyhalothrin, and cyfluthrin were harmful to rove beetle adults, whereas Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, azadirachtin, and organic oils (cinnamon oils, rosemary oil, thyme oil, and clove oil) were nontoxic to A. coriaria adults. Similarly, the plant growth regulators acymidol, paclobutrazol, and uniconazole were not harmful to rove beetle adults. In addition, B. bassiana, azadirachtin, kinoprene, organic oils, and the plant growth regulators did not negatively affect A. coriaria development. However, B. bassiana did negatively affect adult prey consumption. This study demonstrated that A. coriaria may not be used when applying the pesticides, acetamiprid, lambda-cyhalothrin, and cyfluthrin, whereas organic oils, B. bassiana, azadirachtin, and the plant growth regulators evaluated may be used in conjunction with A. coriaria adults. As such, these compounds may be used in combination with A. coriaria in greenhouse production systems.

Little is known about the potential for acoustic communication in bed bugs, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), or the use of sound as cues in host location, although many hemipterans are known to communicate with sound. Most behavioral research has focused on bed bug pheromones that are used in aggregation and as alarm signals. We investigated the influence of sound as a deterrent and as an attractant, either of which could ultimately be used to monitor and control bed bugs. Female bed bugs were tested in two-choice tests with four different commercially available ultrasonic repellent devices. We found that female bed bugs were equally likely to occur in arenas with or without sound produced by ultrasonic devices. These devices did not repel or attract bed bugs during choice trials. However, more bed bugs preferred the middle corridor between the test (sound) and control (no sound) arenas when the sound devices were played. Bed bugs were also more likely to exit the middle corridor during control trials compared with treatment trials with ultrasonic devices. Our results confirm that commercial devices producing ultrasound are not a promising tool for repelling bed bugs.

This study investigated biological activity of chloroform extract of dry Lantana camara ‘Mozelle’ leaves against the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), an important structural pest. Repellent activity was assessed using a paper-disc choice test and a sand arena choice test. Antifeedant and toxic properties were assessed using a no-choice paper test and a topical application method. In the choice tests, significantly fewer termites made contact with treated paper-discs at test concentrations ≥0.016 mg/cm² (equivalent to 0.0023 wt:wt) or tunneled into treated sand at test concentrations ≥0.125 mg/g, compared with control. In the no-choice tests, termite feeding activity was significantly reduced and termite mortality was greatly increased in treatments than control. Exposure to filter paper treated at 0.212 and 0.106 mg/cm² (equivalent to 0.03 and 0.015 wt:wt) resulted in >90% mortality and 78% reduction in feeding, and ≈52% mortality and 40% reduction in feeding, respectively. Top-dorsal application led to >60% mortality at 4 µg/termite. This study showed that the chloroform leaf extract of L. camara had excellent repellent and moderate toxic and antifeedant activities.

Effectiveness of four Cry toxins (Cry1Ac, Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, and Cry1C) on Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), collected from paddy fields in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China, was evaluated in the laboratory. Bioassays showed that C. medinalis had different susceptibilities against four Cry toxins. The LC₅₀ values of Cry1Ac, Cry1Ab, Cry1Aa, and Cry1C against C. medinalis were 0.405, 1.111, 1.939, and 1.246 µg/ml, respectively. Furthermore, the mortality of C. medinalis against different Cry toxins showed different results over time and LT₅₀ values of Cry1Ac, Cry1Ab, Cry1Aa, and Cry1C against C. medinalis were 1.5, 2.3, 1.6, and 2.2 d, respectively. Preference of the larvae to Cry toxins revealed that C. medinalis larvae had no significant feeding preference on leaves without Bacillus thuringiensis (Bacillales: Bacillaceae; [Bt]) toxin compared with those containing Bt toxin. However, different Cry toxins had different attractive abilities to C. medinalis larvae. During 8 h after infestation, C. medinalis larvae preferred the leaves with Cry1Ab (22.4–27.6%) over those with Cry1Ac or Cry1C.

Laodelphax striatellus (Fallén) is a major pest of cultivated rice. Pymetrozine, a pyridine azomethine compound, represents a novel insecticide with a selective activity against sucking pests. The resistance of L. striatellus to thiamethoxam, nitenpyram, chlorpyrifos, and pymetrozine in five field populations, collected from Jiangsu, Anhui, and Zhejiang in China, was monitored from 2009 to 2011 in laboratory. All the populations kept susceptible to minor resistance to thiamethoxam and nitenpyram in the 3 yr (0.6- to 2.2-fold and 0.8- to 3.8-fold, respectively), while the insects developed low to high level resistance to chlorpyrifos (9.7- to 76.1-fold). Three populations were all susceptible to pymetrozine (1.1- to 2.1-fold) in 2009, but the Wuxi and Yancheng populations developed low level resistance to pymetrozine (5.5-fold and 5.3-fold, respectively) in 2011. Meanwhile, the resistance level of the selected strain reared in laboratory increased by 1.0-fold after 12-generation selection with pymetrozine. The realized heritability (h²) of resistance at different selection stages was estimated as 0.0470 (F₁ to F₁₃) and 0.2070 (F₅ to F₁₃) by using threshold trait analysis. It suggested that L. striatellus had the definite risk of resistance to pymetrozine.

Population genetic studies are essential to the better application of pest management strategies, including the monitoring of the evolution of resistance to insecticides and genetically modified plants. Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) crops have been instrumental in controlling tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a pest that has developed resistance to many common insecticides once used for its management. In our study, microsatellite markers were applied to investigate the genetic structure and patterns of gene flow among Brazilian populations of H. virescens from cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., and soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., fields, aiming to propose means to improve its management in the field. In total, 127 alleles were found across nine microsatellites loci for 205 individuals from 12 localities. Low levels of gene flow and moderate to great genetic structure were found for these populations. Host plant association, crop growing season, and geographic origin were not responsible for the genetic structuring among Brazilian populations of H. virescens. Other factors, such as demographic history and seasonal variability of intrapopulation genetic variation, were suggested to be molding the current pattern of genetic variability distribution.

Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae), the West Indian fruit fly, is a frugivorous pest that occasionally finds its way to commercial growing areas outside its native distribution. It inhabits areas in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean with occasional infestations having occurred in the southern tier states (California, Florida, and Texas) of the United States. This fly is associated with many plant species and is a major pest of mango and plum. We examine the genetic diversity of the West Indian fruit fly based on mitochondrial COI and ND6 DNA sequences. Our analysis of 349 individuals from 54 geographic collections from Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America detected 61 haplotypes that are structured into three phylogenetic clades. The distribution of these clades among populations is associated with geography. Six populations are identified in this analysis: Mesoamerica, Central America, Caribbean, western Mexico, Andean South America, and eastern Brazil. In addition, substantial differences exist among these genetic types that warrants further taxonomic review.

‘Candidatus Cardinium’ is a maternally inherited intracellular bacterium that infects a wide range of arthropods and causes diverse reproductive alterations of its arthropod hosts, including cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), parthenogenesis and feminization. CI is the most common effect and is expressed as a reduction in the number of offspring in crosses between infected males and uninfected females (or females infected with a different bacterial strain). The white-backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) is a major rice pest in Asia and is a vector of the Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV). In this study, we found severe CI expression induced by Cardinium in Yunnan and Guangxi populations of S. furcifera by performing four crosses of Cardinium-infected (C) and uninfected (U) planthoppers: ♀U × ♂U, ♀U × ♂C, ♀C × ♂U, ♀C × ♂C. Investigations of the fitness costs and benefits of Cardinium infection in these populations showed that it had no effect on the fecundity of females, but could shorten the developmental time of nymphs.

The soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) is one of the most serious pests of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merrill) worldwide. Aphid resistance genes have been identified. However, little is known about genes for resistance to Chinese soybean aphid strains. The objective of this study was to identify the type of aphid resistance in the soybean cultivar P746 and to determine the inheritance of the resistance. In choice and no-choice tests, significant differences in the average number of aphids and the damage index were observed between P746 and the susceptible cultivar Dongnong 47 11 d and 21 d after aphid infestation. F₂ plants and their F_2:3 families were tested to identify the mode of inheritance of resistance. The 240 F₂ plants segregated into 178 resistant and 62 susceptible plants, which matched an expected 3:1 ratio for inheritance of a single dominant trait. Segregation among F_2:3 families also matched a 1:2:1 ratio. These results indicated that a single, dominant gene mediated aphid resistance in P746. This information will be useful to soybean breeders developing antibiosis-resistant soybean cultivars.

The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is one of the most important pests on a wide range of crops worldwide. The antibiotic resistance of 10 canola cultivars ‘'Sarigol’, ‘Hayula₄₂₀′, ‘Opera’, ‘Okapi’, ‘Modena’, ‘RGS₀₀₃′, ‘Zarfam’, ‘Licord’, ‘Talaye’, and ‘SLM₀₄₆’) to H. arimgera was evaluated using demographic parameters including life table, reproduction, development, and adult longevity. Larval period ranged from 18.8 to 16.1 d on Hayula₄₂₀ and RGS₀₀₃, respectively. The longest development time of immature stages was on Sarigol and Hayula₄₂₀ (36.8 d) and the shortest one was on Zarfam (34.8 d). The highest daily and total fecundity (1,082.4 and 254.8 eggs, respectively) was on RGS₀₀₃ and the lowest was on Talaye (517.0 and 41.4 eggs, respectively). The r_m values varied from 0.153 on Sarigol to 0.179 on Opera. The net reproductive rate (R_o) was calculated to be lowest on Talaye (157.4) and highest on RGS₀₀₃ (331.5). The comparison of demographic parameters of H. armigera on different cultivars of canola and the cluster analysis revealed that Hayula₄₂₀, Talaye, Sarigol, and SLM₀₄₆ were the most resistant cultivars to this insect. Such results could be useful to develop an integrated pest management strategy of H. armigera on canola cultivars.

The wheat curl mite, Aceria tosichella Keifer, is an important pest in the western plains of the United States as well as in most major wheat-growing regions of the world. This mite is a vector of the economically important diseases wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV), and High Plains virus (HPV). This study looked at seven accessions of Aegilops tauschii (Coss) Schmal to determine if they exhibit antibiosis, tolerance, and/or antixenosis to the wheat curl mite using ‘Jagger’, a known wheat curl mite-susceptible variety, and OK05312, a known wheat curl mite-resistant variety, as controls. Four of the seven tested accessions showed antibiotic effects on the population growth of wheat curl mite, as demonstrated by low number of wheat curl mite adults and nymphs at the end of the experiment. Three accessions and the commercial wheat variety Jagger showed some level of tolerance to wheat curl mite infestations, as demonstrated by a significantly reduced percentage proportional tissue dry weight and by tolerance index values. Four accessions demonstrated a strong antixenotic effect on the wheat curl mite, as demonstrated by significantly reduced numbers of mite adults at the end of the experiment. This study also established an effective method for determining antixenosis to the wheat curl mite in wheat that can be used for future experiments. All accessions demonstrated at least one type of plant resistance that could provide a genetic source for control of the wheat curl mite that may have the potential to be transferred into commercial wheat varieties.

Ozone is a recognized alternative to the fumigants methyl bromide and phosphine for the control of stored product insects. However, as with fumigants in general, the potential sublethal effects of ozone on targeted insect species may compromise its efficacy and has yet to be investigated. Here, we determined ozone toxicity of 30 field-collected populations of the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and assessed the walking response of adult insects from these populations to sublethal ozone exposure. Time-mortality toxicity to ozone at 50 ppm concentration in a continuous 2 liter/min flow indicated uniform susceptibility among the populations studied without any indication of ozone resistance (toxicity ratios [at LT₅₀] > two-fold). In contrast, there was significant variation in walking activity among the maize weevil populations, which was not correlated with ozone susceptibility. This was not surprising because of the relatively uniform susceptibility to ozone among the maize weevil populations. Respiration rate affected ozone toxicity but not walking activity, whereas body mass was negatively correlated with walking activity but was not correlated with ozone toxicity. Based on our data, lower respiration rates may potentially lead to reduced ozone uptake whereas larger body mass limits walking activity. Ozone seems a promising alternative fumigant with low short-term risk of resistance development because of the high susceptibility and low variability of response to this compound. Furthermore, ozone reduces walking activity of S. zeamais that implies it likely reduces the chances of insects escaping exposure at the early stages of fumigation.

The chemical cues by which lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) beetles find each other are still unknown. Laboratory two-choice pitfall bioassays were conducted to evaluate the attractiveness of synthetic aggregation pheromone lure to lesser mealworm adults and larvae. All components of this synthetic aggregation pheromone lure, including: (R)-( )-limonene, (E)-β-ocimene, (S)-( )-linalool, (R)-( )-daucene, and 2-nonanone were also tested singly. Chicken dropping volatile compounds and fresh chicken droppings (CD) were evaluated singly or in combination with the pheromone lure. In Arkansas, trapping experiments were conducted in different poultry houses with low, moderate, and high lesser mealworm populations to evaluate the attraction of pheromone lure. Laboratory two-choice pitfall bioassay was found to be a useful and convenient tool for evaluating the attractants before testing them in the poultry house. Greater attraction of adults and larvae to a dose of 20–30 µg pheromone lure was identified in laboratory two-choice pitfall bioassays. Adults and larvae were highly attractive to a combination of fresh CD and pheromone lure, whereas, a combination of chicken dropping volatile and pheromone lure was not significantly attractive. The low attraction of limonene and linalool in the laboratory two-choice pitfall bioassays suggest that either they are nonattractive or attractive only at a narrow range of concentrations. Higher numbers of lesser mealworm adults and larvae were found in traps treated with pheromone lure as compared with untreated controls in field experiments. Results indicate a potential for combining the pheromone lure with the attractive CD compounds to enhance trap efficacy.

Over a 7 yr period, we monitored the effect of a commercially available, amitraz impregnated anti-tick collar in controlling free-living populations of lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (L.) when manually fitted around necks of white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann). Study animals in treatment and control groups were confined in 38.8 ha game-fenced and densely vegetated treatment plots in South Texas. Tick densities during years 1 and 7 served as untreated pre- and posttreatment comparisons and treatments occurred during years 2 through 5. Reductions in tick densities in the treatment plot were compared against tick densities in a control plot having similar vegetation and numbers of untreated deer. During years of treatment, indices of control pressure ranged from 18.2 to 82.6 for nymphs and 16.9–78.7 for adults, and efficacy, expressed as percentage control during the final year of treatment, was 77.2 and 85.0%, respectively, for nymphal and adult ticks. These data show that acaricidal collar treatments provide efficacies very similar to those achieved with the existing ivermectin-medicated bait and ‘4-Poster’ topical treatment technologies to control ticks feeding on wild white-tailed deer.

The termite Cryptotermes brevis (Walker) (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) is an urban pest that causes much damage to wood structures. Little has been done concerning the use of control methods for alates. C. brevis is known to have phototropic behavior during the dispersal flights, and this knowledge has been applied for preventative control in the Azores where this species is a serious urban pest. We were interested in determining whether there was a light wavelength preference by the alates of C. brevis to optimize light traps against this species. Six light wavelengths were tested: 395 nm (UV), 460–555 nm (white), 470 nm (blue), 525 nm (green), 590 nm (yellow), and 625 nm (red) in choice chambers, with dark chambers as controls. Two populations were tested, one population in Florida and one population in the Azores (Terceira Island). We found consistent results for both populations, with a preference for the light wavelengths in the white, blue, and green spectrum (460–550 nm). This information can be used to build more effective light traps that can be used by home owners in the Azores to help control this pest.