The Rhodesgrass mealybug (Antonina graminis) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is resurging as an important pest of turfgrass across Texas and the Southeastern United States. This mealybug is known to feed on many warm-season turfgrasses and pasturegrasses. Twenty-seven cultivars from nine genera of turfgrass were evaluated for susceptibility and preference by the mealybug. Cultivars of kikuyugrass (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst) and bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) were significantly more susceptible than cultivars of seven other genera of turfgrass. Cultivars of St. Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze], buffalograss [Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm], and zoysiagrass (Zoysla spp.), each exhibited susceptibility of >2 mealybugs per 7.5 × 7.5-cm plant. Populations did not exceed ≤0.5 mealybug per plant on centipedegrass [Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.], seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaglnatum Swartz), bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge), or tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb).

Adult Mediterranean tamarisk beetles, Diorhabda elongate (Brullé), a defoliator of exotic saltcedar (Tamarix spp.), were released into four field cages containing small saltcedar trees or closely-related exotic athel trees (Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karsten) and onto uncaged beneficial mature athel trees at sites in south Texas. In field cages, egg, larval, and adult densities per meter of green foliage were equal on saltcedar and athel in the first 8 weeks after release, but numbers of eggs, larvae, and adults were at least two-fold more on saltcedar. During this time, the beetles reduced green foliage by 50% on athel and by 20% on saltcedar. However, athel green foliage recovered after 10 weeks, while saltcedar foliage continued to decline. At two roadside field sites containing mature athel and no saltcedar, D. elongata adults were released in bagged athel branches in July 2006 and May 2007 and produced larvae that defoliated the branches by the third week after infestation. A few larvae and adults were found on unbagged athel branches during the first 3 months after release, but beetles failed to become established on athel trees and removed no more than 3% of green foliage from athel branches, which remained >85% green for 2 years. The Mediterranean tamarisk beetle thus did not colonize or cause permanent disfiguring damage to athel trees.

One new record for the United States, six new Texas records, and 137 new Texas county records of Tabanidae, plus additional collection records for some counties, are provided. Three errors in the paper noted in the title are identified and corrected.

This study determined the impact of planting date and kernel color variety (yellow vs. white) on the incidence of the maize, Zea mays L., ear insects corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), in northern Tamaulipas, México, from 2006 to 2009. Eight hybrids from six to 11 planting dates from late December to early March were evaluated each year. Overall, corn earworm and fall armyworm comprised 89 and 11%, respectively, of all Lepidoptera larvae inspected at the maize milk stage. Damage at harvest by ear insects was greater during the earlier planting dates (December), diminished during the intermediate dates (January–early February), and increased again at later planting dates (late February–March). Damage to ears of yellow maize hybrids was 53% greater than damage to white hybrids, probably because of a differential grain hardness and husk wrap. However, H-443A, a yellow hybrid with good grain and husk characteristics for the region was less damaged by corn earworm and fall armyworm than were yellow hybrids imported from the U.S.

We studied the community of arthropods inhabiting the ecological preserve El Pedregal de San Angel, in Mexico City. We estimated morphospecies richness, abundance, and diversity patterns in two contrasting habitats, open and closed, during four seasons of the year. Because closed-habitat sites have greater net primary productivity than open habitats, we predicted arthropod diversity would be greater in closed than in open habitats. Morphospecies richness of Acari and Arachnida was similar in both types of habitats throughout the year, whereas richness of some orders of Insecta such as Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, and Hymenoptera was greatest in open habitats. Mites were the most abundant arthropods and were always more abundant in open than closed habitats. Diversity of arthropods was greater in closed habitats during fall and spring, suggesting that habitat characteristics related to primary productivity might affect this community. We suggest that studies of patterns of arthropod diversity and factors associated with the maintenance of such diversity should be considered in the preservation of these organisms and of their natural habitats.

Trichogrammatid parasitoids were collected from agricultural and adjacent natural areas from the states of Coahuila, Durango, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Nuevo León, Sonora, Jalisco, Guerrero, Hidalgo, and Zacatecas, in Mexico, during 2006-2008. Insect samples were obtained by sweeping the vegetation and by collecting eggs of nine crop pest species from several host plants for the states of Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Tamaulipas, during 2007 and 2008. All wasps were placed and preserved in 1.5-ml plastic vials containing 70% ethanol. Some specimens were mounted on slides for further identification. A total of 1,535 trichogrammatid specimens was collected, which were identified to 20 genera of Trichogrammatidae. The genus Trichogramma Westwood was the most abundant (24.6%), followed by Paracentrobia Howard (23.8%), Oligosita Walker (19.0%), and Ufens Girault (12.5%). The remaining 16 genera comprised 20.1% of the insect specimens collected. From four to 15 genera of trichogrammatids were found in each of the states sampled. Thirteen genera of trichogrammatids were collected in 25 agricultural crops, where the genera Trichogramma, Oligosita, Paracentrobia, and Ufens were present in a greater number of agricultural crops. Crops such as orange, Citrus spp.; pecans, Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch; grapes, Vitis vinifera L.; alfalfa, Medicago sativa L.; and maize, Zea mays L., had the greatest number of trichogrammatids. Furthermore, the genera Paracentrobia, Trichogramma, Ufens, and Haeckeliania Girault were obtained from eggs of nine insect pest hosts. The genus Trichogrammatella Girault is a new record for México. Another 15 genera are reported for the first time for some states, in particular for Guerrero and Hidalgo. Most of the genera found constitute new records.

The first confirmed record of Stegomyia albopicta (Skuse) [Aedes albopictus (Skuse)] for Belize was made at Benque Viejo del Carmen, District Del Cayo, from a mosquito landing on a human on 6 August 2009.