Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, were tested under laboratory conditions to determine preferences among different sand moisture levels in a choice test. Foraging behavior, rate of filter paper consumption and distribution patterns of the termites were studied among 3 soldier ratios: low (4% soldier), normal (16% soldier) and high (32% soldier) and 7 sand moisture gradients (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28% wt/wt) in a circular 3-dimensional arena. The results showed that sand moisture had a significant effect on termite distribution and filter paper consumption, whereas soldier proportions had no effect. Treatment means comparisons indicated that there were no significant differences in termite distribution or consumption among moisture levels ranging from 4 - 24%; however, significant differences were obtained when termite distribution or consumption on these moisture levels were compared with that of the saturated sand (28% moisture). Termites also were not present in the center release chamber (which had dry sand and no food) at any observation point. Within the range of 4 - 24%, we found a very uneven distribution pattern where 70 - 80% of the total released termites aggregated in 1 of the 6 moisture chambers. Filter paper consumption generally corresponded with the aggregation sites. Importantly, among the 27 replicates no particular moisture chamber was consistently chosen for aggregation indicating that Formosan subterranean termites probably can adapt to a range of substrate moisture levels in nature provided other conditions are suitable.

Insecticide products based on cedar oil are readily available, but evaluations against pine bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are lacking. In the southeastern U.S., the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimm, is the major bark beetle pest for which tree protectants are applied. However, Ips avulsus (Eichhoff) are more consistently available, are easily trapped and can attain pest status at times, making them an attractive option for the evaluation of certain tree protection products. In this study, we evaluated 2 commercial cedar oil products for their ability to prevent attack by I. avulsus on loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) bolts. The field method we deployed was an extension of a previously developed laboratory method in which small-bolts are treated with the product and provided a challenge by adult beetles. The new method used multiple-funnel traps baited with synthetic attractants to direct I. avulsus to test bolts. The method was successful in providing a challenge to treatments with I. avulsus, and resulted in neither product being consistently effective for preventing bolt utilization by this beetle. Although not considered effective in the majority of our trials, full-strength (neat) application of cedar oil product reduced bolt utilization by I. avulsus during winter trials (November and February), perhaps due to lower attack pressure from beetles. Evaluations at other times of the year (March through May), or that began > 0 days post-application, resulted in the products consistently failing to meet either of our efficacy criteria. Compared with competing insecticide products (e.g., those based on bifenthrin), the cedar oil products appear to be less effective, require more frequent reapplication and be more expensive.

The choice of an appropriate sample size is a neglected topic in termite sex ratio research because the literature contains a variety of sample sizes with most < 50 individuals. We compared the effect of sample size (from 25 - 800) on matching the ratio obtained from several Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) populations of 1600 individuals. This study showed that a sample size of < 50 is too small to estimate the actual sex ratio of a population. A sample size of at least 100 termites is required to provide ±10% error in a census of Reticulitermes sex ratios. The results should improve confidence in estimates of termite colony sex ratios, and we propose a standard sample size for such studies.

Ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) inhabiting a peach orchard were collected using pitfall traps placed adjacent to plastic barriers that were perpendicular to each other and crossed each other at their midpoints. Each array of traps contained 5 traps with 1 at the midpoint of each barrier and the other 4 at the ends of each plastic barrier. The trap located at the center of each array captured about 40% of the total beetles trapped by each array, thus suggesting that a single trap located at the center of the array could be a more efficient means of sampling. Using spatial autocorrelation techniques, the range of spatial dependence for the two herbivorous carabids collected in this study - Harpalus tschiliensis Schauberger and Harpalus griseus Panzer - ranged from 136.7 - 210.3 m, whereas that of the predatory carabid Calathus halensi Schailer ranged from 330.1 - 412.4 m. Based upon our results, we suggest that pitfall traps used for monitoring or sampling carabid beetles be set no further than 210 m apart for herbivorous species and 412 m apart for carnivorous species.

Thrips are the key arthropod pest of onions in Georgia. Historically, this pest complex has been reported to consist primarily of tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), western flower thrips, F. occidentalis (Pergande), and onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, with < 1% reported as onion thrips. Onion thrips, however, has become a greater concern in this region because this species is the primary vector of Iris Yellow Spot Virus (IYSV), which was detected in commercial fields in 2003, and both onion thrips and IYSV were detected in culled onions imported from Peru into the Vidalia region in 2003. Surveys were conducted from 2004 through 2010 in commercial onion fields in the 2 primary counties where Vidalia onions are produced to determine whether onion thrips were becoming more prominent within this region. From 2004 through 2006, F. fusca was the predominant pest species collected in this region. Onion thrips were detected and were widely distributed at levels within historical indications. In 2007, onion thrips were detected in commercial fields at levels well above historical levels, representing 49.4% of all pest thrips collected with samples exceeding 90% in some fields. This percentage has steadily declined since 2007, with onion thrips only 1.4% of the total pest thrips collected in 2010 and a maximum of 9.6% in any field. Several factors may have contributed to this shift in species composition including introduction of a more competitive biotype of onion thrips and insecticide resistance within the onion thrips.

Two new rove beetle species of the genus Baeocera Erichson were described from Korea by examining specimens of the subfamily Scaphidiinae. Baeocera choi sp. nov. is similar in appearance to B. caliginosa Löbl, 1984, but differs in coloration of the dorsum and in structure of the parameres. Baeocera koreana sp. nov. is similar in appearance to B. takizawai Löbl, 1984, but differs in body size and punctated elytra. Baeocera freyi Löbl, 1966, also was found in the collection specimens. A taxonomic key is proposed to separate these 3 species, and diagnostic characters accompanied by illustrations are included.

Fat bodies are a crucial source of energy for insect survival and reproduction. Differing states, or conditions, of fat body cells and amounts have been previously reported for southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula L., but clear supporting images are lacking. Further, in ongoing studies elucidating the ecology of southern green stink bug in the southern United States, additional fat body cell conditions in the abdomen were observed that had not been previously reported, and findings are presented here. Four fat body cell conditions were characterized based on appearance as: (1) cloudy, white, and oily, (2) spongy, white; (3) spongy, yellow, and, (4) honeycomb. Amounts of fat body cells in abdomens were categorized as: abundant, intermediate, and lean. This report improves the sole extant schematic of fat body cell conditions by presenting images relating to newly identified fat body cells conditions, and provides the first visuals depicting the amounts of fat body cells that can be encountered in adult southern green stink bugs. These findings are critical components in elucidating the biology and ecology of the southern green stink bug.

Examination of staphylinid specimens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) deposited in the Chungnam National University Insect Collection (Daejeon, Republic of Korea) yielded 6 species previously unreported from northeastern Russia. All 6 were collected from coastal environs and included Adota magnipennis (Bernhauer), Atheta ririkoae Sawada, A. tokiokai (Sawada), Cafius histrio (Sharp), Halorhadinus inaequalis Sawada, and Medon prolixus (Sharp). A taxonomic key to the 16 genera found in that area of Russia is offered along with a preliminary checklist of 21 species in these 16 genera.

A male specimen of Crypticus Latreille, 1817 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) was collected in Hatay, Turkey and described as a new species, Crypticus buyukalacai n. sp. It is separated from Crypticus quisquilius (Linné, 1761) and from other presumptive European subspecies and synonymies, previously confused with C. quisquilius (L.): C. pyrenaeus Baudi, 1876, stat. nov. from France and Italy; C. apreutianus Gridelli, 1949 stat. nov. from central and meridional Italy; C. opacus Brancisk, 1899 stat. nov. from Turkmenistan, and C. strauchi Roubal, 1911, stat. nov. from Bosnia. The identity and taxonomic status of C. quisquilius laticollis Baudi, 1876, from Iraq, Persia, cannot be established without a revision of the Crypticus inhabiting the Mesopotamian region.