Small arenas were constructed to test the distance at which the repellency of dead subterranean termite nestmates, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), could affect termite feeding on wooden blocks. The study used groups of 20 dead nestmates placed 1 cm distant from the wood blocks (5, placed in a series) in the treatment, and no dead nestmates in the controls. Data for each of 3 colonies were combined for analysis. The interaction of treatment x distance was a significant fixed effect. On average, in control arenas termite feeding decreased with distance, whereas in treatment arenas termite feeding increased with distance. These results indicate that whereas there is some feeding repellency associated with dead nestmates, this repellency has a short distance of influence.

Psammaplin A and pentoxifylline, two chitinolytic enzyme inhibitors, were evaluated for their palatability, feeding deterrence, consumption, and subsequent mortality against the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar). Psammaplin A and pentoxifylline were incorporated into filter paper diets at 0.0375, 0.075, 0.15, and 0.3%, and 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08, and 0.21% active ingredient (w/w), respectively. The treated filter papers served as food source or bait for termite workers used in this study. No-choice and two-choice feeding bioassays assessed bait consumption, palatability, repellency, and biological activity over a period of 1 - 5 wk (no-choice assay) and 3 - 5 wk (two-choice assay) of feeding. Neither psammaplin A nor pentoxifylline treatment repelled eastern subterranean termite diet consumption (in both nochoice and two-choice feeding arenas) as feeding commenced on both diet types within 48 h. In no-choice feeding tests, diet consumption was significantly decreased in termites fed 0.3% (2 - 5 wk) and 0.15% (4 - 5 wk) psammaplin A treated diet. Pentoxifylline treatment decreased diet consumption at 0.21% (3 wk). Consumption ratio trends suggest increased diet consumption rates by survivors feeding on chitinase inhibitor treated diet. In two-choice tests, termites consumed almost equal amount of diet treated with psammaplin A or pentoxifylline and untreated diet (with the exception of diet treated with 0.3% psammaplin A). Under no-choice bioassays, termite mortality from all concentrations of both chitinase inhibitor treated diets was significantly greater than that from untreated diet. Biological activity of psammaplin A and pentoxifylline treated diets in 2-choice feeding arenas was reduced by greater than 50% in comparison with no-choice feeding arenas. These results indicate the novel potential of chitinase inhibitors as effective active ingredients for a termite baiting program.

Twenty-five species of sucking lice (Phthiraptera: Anoplura) are recorded from Georgia, USA. One of these species is currently recognized as 2 distinct subspecies, the body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus L.) and head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer) of humans. Gray squirrels, southern flying squirrels, humans, and domestic cattle are parasitized by relatively rich faunas of sucking lice in Georgia with 3 characteristic species/subspecies recorded from each of these hosts within the state. Despite some previously published erroneous host-louse records, most species of sucking lice are host specific in Georgia. Sucking lice have been recorded from domestic hogs, cattle, equines, goats, and dogs in Georgia, and some of these lice can cause veterinary problems. The head louse is common in Georgia, especially in school children. The crab/pubic louse [Pthirus pubis (L.)] also appears to be widespread in the state. We report only one verified record of the body louse from Georgia, but we suspect this louse persists focally in the state. In nature, the body louse is a vector of at least 3 important pathogens: those that cause epidemic typhus, louse-borne relapsing fever, and trench fever. None of these diseases are currently known to be circulating in human populations in Georgia, but “urban” trench fever could be present in some homeless populations. Flying squirrels and their lice are known reservoirs and vectors, respectively, of an enzootic cycle of Rickettsia prowazekii da Rocha-Lima which can infect humans causing sporadic epidemic typhus. Taxonomically, we correct the description date for 2 anopluran species, Polyplax serrata (Burmesiter) and Polyplax spinulosa (Burmeister), from 1839 to 1838.

Buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum Moench, with its abundant nectaries and long bloom period is often planted on vegetable farms, vineyards, and orchards to supply nectar and pollen to attract and conserve natural enemies. However, scientific data demonstrating the actual biological control benefit of such companion plantings are scarce. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of flowering buckwheat on the abundance and parasitism of imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae (L.), in collards, Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC. In 2012 and 2013, buckwheat was planted in the center of 4 spatially-isolated 150 × 8 m collard fields. Lepidopteran pest abundance and larval parasitism were compared at distances of 1, 15, 30, 45, and 60 m from the buckwheat. Pieris rapae (L.) was the predominant lepidopteran pest species comprising over 90% of the total larvae observed on collards. No differences were detected in the abundance or parasitism of P. rapae larvae with increasing distance from buckwheat companion plantings, with parasitism averaging 68% (±1.82) across all plots and years. Although the buckwheat companion planting did not appear to have a significant effect on Pieris populations in collards, several predatory arthropod species, including anthocorids, syrphids, and cantharids were collected in high numbers from the flowering buckwheat. The population dynamics and movement of these beneficial species from the buckwheat into adjacent cash crops should be investigated in future studies.

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), is a pest of the Brassicaceae, including the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynhold. Ecotypes of Arabidopsis have previously been reported to vary in the amounts of leaf area consumed when fed on by diamondback moth larvae. In the present study, food consumption varied among plant lines previously identified as either susceptible or resistant, but larval growth did not differ. Digestive efficiency varied inversely with food consumption. Thus, larvae compensated for reduced digestive efficiency by increasing consumption such that they achieved similar growth rates on all the Arabidopsis lines tested. We conclude that leaf area consumed alone may not be an ideal parameter for determining insect resistance.

New York State is the leading grape producer in the eastern US and third leading grape producer in the US. The generalist feeding invasive species Halyomorpha halys (Stål) is currently present in NY, although at relatively low densities. Our aim in this study was to determine how H. halys will affect grape production in NY if it becomes well established. We measured the impact of density, sex, and life stage of H. halys on Concord and Chardonnay grapevines by enclosing insects on a single grape cluster using a fine mesh bag. The insects remained caged on the clusters for 2 wk during and after the period of fruit set, after which damaged and undamaged berries were enumerated nondestructively. At this point, we found a strong positive correlation between density and both number and percentage of berries damaged for both nymphs and adults. In late summer, at harvest time, clusters were removed from the vines, damaged and undamaged berries were once again counted, and berries were weighed. Cluster weight for both Chardonnay and Concord cultivars decreased with increased density of adults. Furthermore, adult females were found to have a greater effect than adult males. In contrast to adult feeding, nymphs were found to have little impact on cluster weight. There was relatively little incidence of disease as a result of H. halys feeding. These results show that H. halys is potentially an economic threat to the grape industry in cool-climate regions, but only at high densities currently not observed.

Raspberries (Rubus species) are widely grown in Virginia, and stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) have become significant pests of this crop in recent years. To understand which species are attacking the crop, we sampled a well-established primocane-bearing raspberry planting near Blacksburg, VA in 2008 - 2009 and in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Altogether, 16 species of stink bugs were found on the raspberries. The brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), was consistently a major species through 2012. The invasive species, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), was not found on the raspberries in 2008 or 2009, but was detected in 2011 and 2012, and became the most abundant stink bug species on these plantings in 2013. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index and Shannon's equitability in 2012/2013 were higher than in 2008/2009. The increase in diversity and equitability revealed that H. halys may be displacing E. servus populations in Virginia raspberry plantings. Similar trends have occurred on other crops in the MidAtlantic USA where H. halys has become well established. Stink bugs were found on plants from midJuly to September, which corresponds to the presence of fruit. Both nymphal and adult stink bugs were feeding on the fruiting structures of raspberry. Most of the stink bugs found were adults, and no egg masses were collected from raspberry plants. Thus, there is no evidence that stink bugs commonly use raspberry as a reproductive host for nymphal development.