Four species of Diorhabda (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) have been approved for release as biological control agents of invasive saltcedars (Tamarix spp.) in the U.S. Two species, D. elongata (Brullé) and D. carinata (Faldermann), were evaluated for their ability to establish populations in northwest Texas (from 32.5^°N to 34.0^°N) and increase in numbers sufficient to defoliate saltcedar trees. Following releases of adults during 2 years, D. elongata overwintered, established, and increased sufficiently to defoliate saltcedar trees at all three release sites. In contrast, D. carinata overwintered in the field at only one of three sites and then only in very low numbers. D. carinata did not defoliate saltcedar trees outside of cages at any release site. After 2 years of release efforts, D. carinata could not be detected at any of the three release sites during the third year and was not considered to have established. Survival of overwintering adult D. carinata was significantly greater than survival of overwintering D. elongata adults. However, D. carinata adults terminated overwintering quiescence earlier and were observed on saltcedar trees earlier in February and March than were D. elongata adults. These results suggested that emergence of adults from overwintering quiescence in late February and early March exposed D. carinata to freezing weather and contributed to the failure of the species to establish in northwest Texas. In contrast, D. elongata terminated overwintering quiescence latter and therefore experiences less risk of exposure to spring frost. These results suggested that D. elongata will be more effective than D. carinata for biological control of saltcedar in northwest Texas (32.5 to 34.0°N).

The saltmarsh caterpillar moth, Estigmene acrea (Dairy), is a generalist that feeds on more than 60 plant species of different families. We investigated the influence of the host plant on oviposition by saltmarsh caterpillar, particularly on the number of eggs laid and survival of females, as well as the daily pattern of oviposition. The preoviposition time was delayed by the absence of plant material. Females enclosed with leaves of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., laid more eggs in comparison to females without plant material. In the presence of plant material, females oviposited more eggs during the third, fourth, and fifth nights, whereas without soybean leaves, no peak of oviposition was observed. Fifty percent of the total number of eggs by all females was laid between the third and fourth nights in the treatment with plants and between the fifth and sixth nights in the treatment without plants. Females in the absence of plant material lived longer in comparison to females with soybean leaves. Fifty percent of the females enclosed with plant material died by Night 7, while 50% of females without plants died by Night 9. In a separate experiment, we found no difference in the number of mature eggs in females exposed to plant material compared to those not exposed. However, the same females laid more eggs in the presence of host plants compared to females deprived of plant material. Females oviposited mostly during the night, and few eggs were laid during the day. Females laid 72% of the eggs during the first six hours of the night; maximum oviposition occurred between 2000–2200 hours.

Potential for widespread plantings of switchgrass, Panicum virgatum L., as a biomass feedstock prompted its evaluation as a host for economically important cereal aphids. Seedlings of four cultivars of switchgrass, ‘Kanlow’, ‘BlackweN’, ’Cave-In-Rock’, and ’Sunburst’, were evaluated as hosts for greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), biotypes E, I, and Florida; Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Kurdj.), biotype 2; bird-cherry oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.); corn leaf aphid, R. maidis (Fitch); English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.); and yellow sugarcane aphid, Sipha flava (Forbes). Greenbug biotype E and Russian wheat aphid biotype 2, both economically important cereal aphids in the United States, and English grain aphid were unable to establish on any of the switchgrass cultivars. However, greenbug biotypes I and Florida, bird-cherry oat aphid, corn leaf aphid, and yellow sugarcane aphid established on all cultivars tested. The aphids which successfully established on switchgrass also reduced plant growth (number of leaves added and leaf biomass), usually by 50% or more. Interactions between greenbug biotypes and cultivars, along with observations of other aphids on switchgrass cultivars, suggested potential for developing cultivars resistant to specific aphids and biotypes.

Tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), is the major insect pest of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., in the mid-South. This pest moves into cotton fields from non-cotton hosts during late spring and early summer. Stable carbon isotope (SCI) analysis was used to characterize plant hosts of tarnished plant bugs, as well as adult tarnished plant bugs that had developed as immatures on the plants. Plants of two host types (C₃ versus C₄) were identified using the SCI analysis, and tarnished plant bug adults reared as immatures on the plants retained a carbon isotopic signature similar to the host plant. Thus, carbon isotope ratios of tarnished plant bugs reared on C₃ plants differed from those reared on C₄ plants. Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were analyzed jointly using cluster and discriminant analyses to discriminate between adults that developed as immatures on two primary C₄ hosts (maize, Zea mays L., and pigweed, Amaranthus spp.). These analyses distinguished tarnished plant bugs that developed as nymphs on maize from those that developed on pigweed. To evaluate the impact on the carbon isotopic signature of immature tarnished plant bugs moving from one host type to another, nymphs were reared for the first three instars on broccoli, Brassica oleracea L. var. italica, (a C₃ plant) and transferred to maize (a C₄ plant) for the final two instars. The reverse was also done, and isotope ratios of these insects were compared to those that completed all instars on either broccoli or maize. The isotopic signature of the host plant was primarily obtained by tarnished plant bugs during the last two instars. Results from this study demonstrated the utility of carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio determination for evaluating the ecology of host plants of tarnished plant bugs in the mid-South. Knowledge of the primary hosts of tarnished plant bugs could allow for population management/reduction of these insects before moving into cotton.

Pan trapping proves to be an effective method for field surveying insects, especially Diptera. This manuscript examines the effectiveness of the method for the rapid bioinventory of freshwater shoreline insects. Pan traps at ground level, above ground, and elevated and of different colors were evaluated for their ability to attract and capture insects. Abundance (n), taxonomic richness (T), and hierarchical diversity indices (H′) allowed for the determination of efficacy among methods. Yellow pan (n = 141, T = 10, H′ = 1.15) and elevated yellow pan traps (n = 113, T = 5, H′ = 1.18) were most effective at capturing the highest diversity of insects. Blue (n = 12, H′ = 1.18) and green (n = 51, H′ = 0.74) traps had similar richness (T = 4); however differed in the total insects captured and diversity. The results provide entomologists in South Texas and other subtropical environments with information to assist them with planning surveys in the field and with further study potentially developing pollution tolerance values for different insect taxa.

We did a rapid assessment of ants on Green Island, a strategic nesting location for colonial waterbirds on the Texas coast. We found 10 ant species by using bait or collecting by hand. The tropical fire ant, Solenopsis geminata (F.), was the most common species, accounting for 42% of the ants collected. We found the area free of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, a potential threat for the native ant assemblage and conservation of colonial waterbirds. We recommend more surveys and adoption of surveillance protocols to prevent introduction of invasive species.

During 2003 an unusual outbreak of the Gambel oak borer, Agrilus quercicola (Fisher), caused extensive damage to several species of oak in Denver, Araphaoe, and Douglas counties in Colorado. This followed several seasons of environmental stress that predisposed Gambel oak to the insect, but adults apparently dispersed more than 30 km during this outbreak to kill oaks a considerable distance from native Gambel oak stands. In choice tests, adults fed on foliage of Gambel oak, but not other herbaceous shrubs common in stands of Gambel oak. Yellow and neon yellow-green, but not white, sticky traps caught considerable numbers of adults. Adult flight activity began in late May, peaked in early summer, and ended in late August. A chalcid parasitoid, Phasgonophora sulcata Westwood, was noted to be an important natural enemy. No injury by this insect has been observed outside of native Gambel oak in years subsequent to the 2003 outbreak.

Sympatry was noted with Hystrichopsylla dippiei Rothschild and H. occidentalis sylvaticus Campos & Stark and earlier in New Mexico with Peromyscopsylla selenis (Rothschild) and P. hamifer vigens (Jordan), 1970s. Most significant was the recent occurrence of H. dippiei larvae and H. o. sylvaticus adults in the same nest of a red squirrel, Tamiascirus hudsonicus (Erxleben) RN-131 in the San Francisco Mountains, Catron County, Mogollon Volcanic Plateau, 23 October 1995. Collections on 20 August 1993, 20 September and 23 October 1995, 1 October 1998, and 1 and 4 October 1999 recorded nine nests of red squirrels and two nests of Mexican woodrats, Neotoma mexicana Baird, the latter with visits by deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner) or P. gratus Merriam. Red squirrel nests had one to four species of adult fleas including one of a woodrat. Adult species totaled six: H. o. sylvaticus, Catallagia decipiens Rothschild, Anomiopsyllus nudatus (Baker), Megarthroglossus aff. bisetis Jordan & Rothschild, Orchopeas caedens (Jordan), Orchopeas neotomae Augustson. Mexican woodrat nests had six and seven species of adult fleas including mouse and red squirrel species. Adults totaled nine: H. o. sylvaticus, C. decipiens, A. nudatus, M. aff. bisetis, Aetheca wagneri (Baker), Malaraeus telchinus (Rothschild), O. caedens, O. neotomae, and Plusaetis sibynus (Jordan).

A second new species of Boletina Staeger fungus gnat was discovered in western Michigan following the discovery of Boletina michigana Taber in the same habitat at the same time of year. Males and females were collected in early spring in a Malaise trap in a paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall)-red maple (Acer rubrum L.)-black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrhart) woods adjacent to black ash (Fraxinus nigra Marshall) swamp and cattail (Typha latifolia L.) marsh. Boletina setacea Taber will key out to Boletina sciarina Staeger by using one of two old keys, but male terminalia and wing venation indicated a specific difference.

The objectives of this study in late 2008 to 2010 at San Antonio Cayal, Campeche, Mexico, were to determine the thrips species associated with inflorescences and leaves and the fluctuation of thrips in abundance on mango, Mangifera spp. Four species of thrips were found in inflorescences and two species in foliage. The phytophagous species of thrips Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis Bouché, Frankliniella Invasor Sakimura, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, and Frankliniella sp. (undescribed), and the predator mites Leptothrips macconeli (DL Crawford), and Leptothrips macro-cellatos Wakson were observed. Abundance of nymph and adult thrips per leaf ranged from 0.0 to 0.33 on several sampling dates, with 0.14 adults per leaf during the month of May. In 2010 zero adult and nymph thrips were recorded as in 2009 on several sampling dates, with most nymph and adult thrips per leaf (0.05 each) found in the month of April.

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinelidae), is a predator widely used to control pest populations of the pink hibiscus mealybug (PHM) Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green). This field study was conducted in majahua (Hibiscus pernambucensis) trees in the state of Nayarit, Mexico. The results showed that the predator performs three main behavioral events related to the activities of searching, handling, and copulation, with defined times for each event, with a total duration of 106 minutes and 83–100% of predation on existing populations of the pink hibiscus mealybug. These behavioral events depend on pest population density and developmental stage; for these reasons, a detailed analysis of this process might be useful to plan more efficient applications of this predator against the pink hibiscus mealybug.

Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a moth that has genetically diverged in two strains named “corn” and “rice.” This study was focused on carrying out a molecular characterization of the species with Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) using larvae collected in the departments of Córdoba (North), Meta (East), and Valle del Cauca (West) in corn, cotton, and rice fields, to improve the information of the species obtained in 2008. In this work, 134 DNA extractions were made from each larva head and 45 samples were amplified with three combinations of AFLP primers that produced 101 loci. The AFLP were useful to determine that populations of S. frugiperda of Colombia have a high genetic variability, but they do not differentiate the strains as other authors reported. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that populations of S. frugiperda from the three departments were not genetically differentiated. The UPGMA dendrogram obtained also showed that there is no a genetic differentiation of the genotyped individuals based on the geographical location or the crop sampled. Our results coincide with a previous report obtained with the same species of Colombia based on a sequence of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI).

The knowledge of the Bt toxin concentracion within a transgenic plant is basic for the estimation of the performance of the insect pest aimed to be managed with this technology. In a commercial lot at the National Cereal Federation (FENALCE) in the municipality of Granada (Meta), Colombia, samples from plants of transgenic maize YieldGard® were taken to determine the average concentracion of the Cry1Ab toxin. In the laboratory by means of the sandwich ELISA assay, the protein was quantified in vegetative and reproductive tissues with the kit “for Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac Qualiplate Envirologix.” For this purpose, leaves, stem, ear, ear styles, husk, cob, and corn kernels were lyophilized. The analyses indicated that expression fluctuates between tissues from the same plant and between plants in the same plot. The average concentracion of Cry1Ab was: 8.97 μg/g fresh weight in leaves (V7), 8.96 in stems, 2.30 in male inflorescence (VT), 9.57 in unfertilized styles, 7.27 in fertilized styles (R1), 8.39 in cob (R3), 12.19 in husks, and 1.85 μg/g fresh weight in grains (R3). concentracions in seeds and leaves were similar to those obtained in the U.S.A. and Europe. This marked difference in the toxin expression makes Bt corn a plant susceptible to some pests, because there is no uniformity in the Cry1Ab concentracion in the tissues consumed.

The aedeagus of Optatus palmaris, an Annonaceae fruits weevil, is described here. This pest is distributed in North and South America. Larvae and adults cause damages in anona fruits. Morphological description of its aedeagus with emphasis on morphological proportions of each part is noted and illustrated.

The agave red worm, Comadia redtenbacheri Hamm., is an edible insect in Mexico. Its larvel development is affected by the parasitoid Acantholespesia texana (Aldrich & Webber), which is reported for the first time in Mexico, with the agave red worm as a new host.