Entomopathogenic nematodes are a promising alternative for tick control, especially to protect wildlife. Two entomopathogenic nematode species Steinernema riobrave Cabanillas, Poinar, and Raulston and Heterorhabditis floridensis Nguyen, Gozel, Koppenhöfer, and Adams were tested for in-vivo efficacy against southern cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus (=Boophilus) microplus Canestrini. Twelve heifer calves were experimentally infested three times at 1-week intervals with 125 mg of larvae of southern cattle fever ticks on days 0, 7, and 14. On Day 21, the animals were randomly divided into three treatment groups and sprayed with water only (check) or 5,000 infective juvenile S. riobrave or H. floridensis nematodes per milliliter. Number of ticks dropped, reproductive index, percentage of inhibition of oviposition, and hatching rate were calculated. S. riobrave and H. floridensis affected all life stages of the tick, and caused 14.5 and 25.4% reduction in production of adult engorged female ticks during the first 21 days post treatment. The nematodes significantly affected the reproductive parameters of treated ticks, but not egg hatchability. To our knowledge this is the first study to show a negative impact on ticks by entomopathogenic nematodes applied directly to the mammalian host of the tick. But, additional research is needed to enhance tick control using entomopathogenic nematodes. Novel formulations that enhance penetration or survival by nematodes should be investigated.

State parks, used by many for various kinds of recreation, are also places where people and their companion animals are exposed to ticks and tickborne pathogens. While most studies in state parks in the United States have evaluated risk of encounter of Lyme-infected ticks, limited studies have focused on state parks in the Great Plains region where tick-borne rickettsial pathogens are more common. Six state parks in four ecoregions of Oklahoma were surveyed for exposure to questing ticks by flag sampling along hiking trails between April and August 2015, and pooled prevalence of tick-borne pathogens was assessed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Exposure to ticks varied among parks by location and month, with an encounter rate of 10.8 ticks per minute at Sequoyah State Park in eastern Oklahoma, to less than one tick per minute at Roman Nose State Park in western Oklahoma. Questing ticks were tested for Rickettsia sp., Ehrlichia chaffeensis Anderson et al. 1992 emend. Dumler et al. 2001, and Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson et al. 1984 emend. Baranton et al. 1992 with pooled prevalence rates between 56 and 0% differing among parks. The greatest risk of encountering ticks was at Sequoyah State Park in May 2015, with pooled prevalence rates of 93.3% (Rickettsia sp.) and 13.3% (E. chaffeensis). Results indicated that risk of exposure to ticks and tick-borne pathogens depended on the state park during summer months. These data could be used by the park system to alert visitors to risk of encountering pathogen-infected ticks in a given state park.

The cotton fleahopper, Pseudatomocelis seriatus (Reuter), is a major pest of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., in Texas and Oklahoma. Although commonly studied as a cotton pest, little is known of the insect parasitoids attacking cotton fleahopper nymphs and adults. We surveyed parasitoids of cotton fleahopper collected during 2 years from wild plant hosts in 17 Texas counties from the Rio Grande Valley to northcentral Texas. The only parasitoid found was Leiophron uniformis (Gahan) (Braconidae). Parasitoids were recovered from 2–4% of nymphs and 0–1% of adults as determined by dissection or by holding cotton fleahoppers for parasitoid emergence. The parasitoid was reared from cotton fleahopper collected from Monarda spp., Solanum elaeagnifolium A. Cavanilles, and Croton glandulosus L., but was not recovered from cotton fleahopper collected on Croton capitatus A. Michaux or Tidestromia lanuginosa (Nutt.) Standl. The low parasitism rate suggested that importation and establishment of parasitoids might be beneficial if increased parasitism resulted in fewer cotton fleahopper adults dispersing from wild hosts into cotton.

Few studies have examined impacts of fire on invertebrates in southern California ecosystems despite the fact they harbor diverse invertebrate assemblages with many narrowly endemic species. California sage scrub, an endangered ecosystem type of low-elevation areas in southern California, is increasingly threatened by altered fire regimes and type conversion to non-native grasslands often resulting from fire disturbances. The effect of fire on ant assemblages in a patch of recovering sage scrub was examined by using adjacent intact sage scrub and non-native grassland habitats as checks. While short-term effects in ant activity potentially associated with temporary changes in habitat structure and abiotic conditions were observed, ant assemblages in the burned area did not differ between summer 2013 (pre-fire) and fall 2013 (post-fire), or between spring 2013 (pre-fire) and spring 2014 (post-fire). Results indicated that either the ant assemblages recover quickly, or more likely, pre-existing ant assemblage remained and were not directly impacted by fire. Our results, combined with the few other studies that examined impacts of fire on sage scrub invertebrates, are consistent with an emerging hypothesis that ground-dwelling ant/invertebrate assemblages are little affected by direct impacts of fire in semi-arid systems and areas where fires are common.

Survival and mobility of American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana L, that originated from a wild population were compared in semi-natural and laboratory cool-temperature conditions. In a non-heated building all American cockroaches died when air temperatures were ≤0°C despite having access to wood mulch substrate that remained above freezing. Under constant temperatures of 8, 9, and 10°C, approximately 40% of cockroaches died within 72 hours. Mobility was defined as the ability of a cockroach to right itself when flipped over. At all tested temperatures the percentage of individuals that became immobile increased with time. Survival and mobility increased with temperature. Data showed that adult American cockroaches were not able to survive several days at ≤10°C, suggesting a potential cultural control method for tropical cockroaches.

Males of some eusocial hymenopterans live in sheltered hives where they are raised by sister workers until they are ready to mate. Large amounts of colony resources are invested in the care and nurturing of males, as they provide no contributions to colony maintenance apart from reproduction. Colonies of the honey bee, Apis mellifera L., have one queen, thousands of female workers, and a few thousand seasonal males (drones) that are reared only during the reproductive season when colony resources are plentiful. We examined the viability of spermatozoa in sexually mature drones from eight apiaries in three counties in Central Texas during the summers of 2013 and 2014. We sampled 1,622 drones from two counties in 2013, and 556 drones from three counties in 2014. Using dual fluorescent flow cytometry, viability of drone spermatozoa was measured as the proportion of total spermatozoa that was viable. The average spermatozoa viability was 46.2% in 2013 and 67.0% in 2014. We found significant variation in spermatozoa viability across apiaries, with viability in Apiary 5 significantly lower and viability in Apiary 11 significantly greater than viability in the other apiaries sampled in 2013. Likewise, males in apiaries 6 and 7 had significantly lower average viability of spermatozoa compared with other apiaries analyzed in 2014. However, the changes were not consistent across apiaries during the 2 years sampled. Our results suggested that other factors such as exposure to insecticides or seasonal availability of forage might be more important than inter-colonial genetic differences in fertility of honey bee drones during the reproductive season.

Seasonality and land-use change affect the composition of species. For this reason, the Culicidae family was studied in the central zone of Puebla where there are no records of study of this group of insects. Adult mosquitoes were sampled in an urban environment and in a conservation zone during three seasons: cold, dry, and rainy. In total, 11 species were identified in the genera Aedes (five), Culex (five), and Culiseta (one). Significant differences were found in Shannon diversity index when comparing the two environments during the rainy and cold seasons. Seasonality had an effect only in the conservation environment when comparing the rainy-cold and dry-cold seasons. In the Beta diversity index, the cold and dry communities in the urban environment had 100% similarity according to the Jaccard index. Culex salinarius Coquillett, 1904 and Culex stigmatosoma Dyar, 1907 had the widest range of humidity and temperature registered. Aedes guerrero (Berlin, 1969), Aedes quadrivittatus (Coquillett, 1902), Culex salinarius, Culex tarsalis Coquillett, 1896, and Culiseta particeps (Adams, 1903) were species not registered before in the state.

Insects are sources of diverse natural metabolites or entomochemicals with different properties. Extraction of entomochemicals depends on the polarity of solvent and affinity of metabolites, important for yield of bioactive entomochemicals. Antioxidants and entomochemicals of Pterophylla beltrani Bolivar and Bolivar (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) have been studied. In this work, several solvents were used and compared in relation to their capacity to extract entomochemicals from P. beltrani flour. Differences in yield of phenolics and antioxidant capacity between solvents were observed using methods based on Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, DPPH, and ABTS, respectively. Water was the best solvent to extract phenolics and antioxidant compounds from P. beltrani; while propanol was in general the solvent that resulted in least entomochemicals. Water extraction yielded 187 GAE mg/g flour for total phenolic compounds, 121.75 mM TE/g flour with the DPPH assay, and 362.6 mM TE/g flour with the ABTS assay, while propanol extraction yielded 0.74 GAE mg, 47.25 mM TE, and 55.45 mM TE per gram of flour for total phenolic compounds and antioxidants with DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. Methanol and ethanol extractions yielded intermediate values. Alkaloids and sterols were detected using colorimetric assays of some extracts. Twenty compounds of alkaloids, phenolic compounds, amino acid derivatives, tryptamine derivatives, pyrazine derivatives, organic acids, fatty amides, and terpenes were identified using mass spectrometry; 20 unknown compounds also were detected. This makes P. beltrani a potential source of diverse entomochemicals. Further chemical characterization is needed to understand the entomochemicals and their roles in physiology and ecological interactions of P. beltrani.

Sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), is an important pest of many crops, with an extremely wide host range. Management strategies using natural products, e.g., plant extracts, might be alternatives for control of this pest. Ethanolic extracts of Chenopodium ambrosioides L., Piper nigrum L., Thymus vulgaris L., and Origanum vulgare L., were evaluated. C. ambrosioides ethanolic extract at 6% concentration killed 93%; P. nigrum at 4 and 5% concentrations killed 96 and 98%, respectively; T. vulgaris at 11% concentration killed 94%; and O. vulgare at 12 and 15% concentrations killed 98 and 100% of whiteflies. P. nigrum was most toxic with a lethal concentration 50 (LC₅₀) of 1.6%. All extracts were positive for tannins and flavonoids. P. nigrum was very positive for alkaloids, tannins, and saponins. These spices are inexpensive and easy to cultivate in Mexico and are available as raw material for production of extracts with insecticidal activity. They are harmless to humans and are much used in the culinary arts.

The fungus gnat genus Hadroneura Lundström was previously known from seven species. Five occur in the far western United States and Canada including Alaska, British Columbia, and coastal California. This is the first Hadroneura species recorded in the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains. One adult male Hadroneura huron Taber n. sp. was collected in a Malaise trap in white pine (Pinus stroba L.) forest on the northern lower peninsula of Michigan. Females and juvenile stages are unknown.

Much amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) is produced in the State of Puebla, Mexico. Considering the increase in agricultural production, there has been an increase in area devoted to the crop, favoring conditions and increasing pests including the white grub complex that damages it. The objective of this work was to determine the species of the white grub complex associated with cultivation of amaranth in the State of Puebla, Mexico, as well as to develop a dichotomous key for identification of larvae to species found in the amaranth crop. In total, 2,330 larvae in two families, two subfamilies, eight genera, and 23 species were collected. The genus Phyllophaga was most common at the study area. However, the amaranth-producing zone in the State of Puebla also included genera such as Euphoria and Strigoderma that are saprophagous. A dichotomous key was created for larvae of 23 species (Coleoptera: Lamellicornia) associated with cultivation of amaranth in the State of Puebla, Mexico.

Se evaluó bajo condiciones de laboratorio la capacidad de consumo y desarrollo de larvas de Chrysoperla carnea alimentadas con Melanaphis sacchari y con huevos de Sitotroga cerealella. El promedio de ninfas de M. sacchari consumidas por los diferentes estadios larvales de C. carnea fue diferente; el primer estado larval (L₁) consumió 13.9 ninfas, el segundo 32.2, y el tercero 93.5. La duración de los estadios larvales no fue diferente en ambos tratamientos. El período larva-adulto, pupa y la longevidad de los adultos fueron menores, cuando las larvas se alimentaron con ninfas de M. sacchari. La supervivencia de los adultos de C. carnea fue mayor en el tratamiento de alimentación con huevos de S. cerealella (65.5%). La fecundidad en el tratamiento de alimentación de larvas con huevos de S. cerealella fue mayor (23 huevos/hembra/día), en comparación con el tratamiento de alimentación con ninfas de M. sacchari (18 huevos/hembra/día); la fertilidad no fue diferente en ambos tratamientos. Estos resultados, sugieren que Chrysoperla carnea puede desarrollarse, completar su ciclo biológico, y reproducirse de manera normal, al alimentarse en estado de larva con ninfas de M. sacchari. Chrysoperla carnea puede considerarse como una especie potencial para el control biológico de M. sacchari, sobre todo en liberaciones de larvas de segundo y tercer estadío, por tener mayor consumo, aunque es necesario realizar evaluaciones adicionales en campo que complementen esta información.

El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar el parasitismo e hiperparasitismo en M. sacchari en el cultivo de sorgo. Se recolectaron piezas de hojas de sorgo infestadas con pulgones parasitados y se colocaron en cajas de Petri bajo condiciones de laboratorio, se contabilizó el total de adultos emergidos cada ocho días y se realizó la identificación de los insectos. Se detectó a Lysiphlebus testaceipes parasitando a M. sacchari y a su hiperparasitoide Pachyneuron aphidis, el cual mostró una mayor abundancia que la del parasitoide primario. Las altas poblaciones del hiperparasitoide pueden estar afectando la actividad del parasitoide primario, provocando bajos niveles de parasitismo sobre M. sacchari.

El pulgón Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe (Hemiptera: Aphididae) es una plaga importante de la papaya, Carica papaya L. en México debido a su papel como vector del Virus de la Mancha Anular del Papayo (PRSV-p). El monitoreo de poblaciones de pulgones se realiza en campo con trampas pegajosas amarillas, sin embargo se desconoce el color de preferencia de A. nerii. Por lo que se evaluó bajo condiciones de laboratorio, el tiempo de arribo y la permanencia de adultos alados a la combinación de dos colores (amarillo, rojo, blanco, o verde) dispuestos de manera contínua o alterna. Aphis nerii arribó en menor tiempo a colores claros cuando éstos fueron mostrados de forma continua, excepto en la combinación rojoverde, donde arribó más rápido al rojo. El arribo a colores claros también se mantuvo cuando fueron mostrados de manera alterna, aunque sin diferencias significativas. No se observaron diferencias en cuanto tiempo de permanencia en algún color en particular, aparentemente la preferencia es por colores claros. Cuando se contrastan amarillo-blanco y rojo-blanco, A. nerii reposa por mayor tiempo en blanco. En el campo se sugiere emplear trampas de color claro para el monitoreo de A. nerii.

La broca del café Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) es una plaga primaria del café en todo el mundo. En Cuba a partir de su aparición en 1995, los productores se han enfrentado a pérdidas equivalentes a 48.2 millones de dólares y los prejuicios por incremento de gastos anuales son de 21.4 millones de dólares. Se determinó el daño causado por esta plaga en los frutos de café de plantaciones de Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner. La estimación de daños se realizó de enero a febrero del 2010 en seis fincas productivas de una hectárea en la provincia de Santiago de Cuba. En los frutos se encontraron todos las etapas de desarrollo, prevaleciendo los adultos (35%) y larvas (33%), y un índice de infestación de 1.32 a 1.81 insectos/planta. Hubo diferencias entre los sitios con diferente nivel de infestación de broca con una correlación de r = 0.87, lo que indicó que existe relación entre las variables analizadas. Se demostró en este estudio que los frutos que permanecen en la planta después de la cosecha y los que quedan en el suelo constituyen un riesgo de infestación de broca. Se realizó una colección total de 19,326 a 104,958 frutos en los seis sitios monitoreados después de la cosecha y la población de broca observada fue de 35,986 a 134,446 insectos/ha.

Algunas drogas y sus metabolitos pueden afectar el desarrollo larval de insectos necrófagos e interferir en la estimación del intervalo de tiempo postmortem. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la amitriptilina en la longitud y peso de larvas de Lucilia sericata. Trampas de botella con hígado de res fueron usadas para colectar masas de huevos, las cuales fueron separadas en dos partes y colocadas en 1) pasta de hígado con y 2) sin amitriptilina. Cada ocho horas se extrajeron 10 larvas para registrar su peso y longitud. Las larvas de L. sericata sin consumo de amitriptilina fueron mayores en longitud y peso comparadas con las larvas que se alimentaron del hígado tratado; estas últimas alcanzaron el tercer estadio y el tamaño máximo más rápido que aquellas del control. Dado el efecto de la amitriptilina en la longitud y peso de las larvas de L. sericata, la presencia de esta sustancia en los cadáveres debe considerarse en la estimación del intervalo postmortem, en la causa de muerte, y en la reconstrucción de los eventos que rodean el suceso.

Meccus pallidipennis Stål (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) es uno de los vectores responsables de la transmisión del parásito Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), causante de la enfermedad conocida como tripanosomiasis o mal de Chagas. En los últimos años se ha observado que M. pallidipennis ha expandido su distribución geográfica y muestra resistencia a los insecticidas piretroides, debido a esto, son necesarias alternativas que sean efectivas en el manejo de este vector. Mediante bioensayos de laboratorio se evaluó el efecto de los extractos etanólico y hexánico de la semilla del neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss, Sapindales: Meliaceae) sobre M. pallidipennis. Específicamente, se determinó la mortalidad causada por ambos extractos al aplicarlos directamente a ninfas de tercer instar, efecto en la eclosión de huevos fértiles y la repelencia sobre adultos mediante pruebas de confinamiento. Los resultados mostraron que ambos extractos afectan significativamente a M. pallidipennis en al menos una de las concentraciones aplicadas. El extracto hexánico provocó 47.9, 37.5, y 27.1% de ninfas muertas, a las concentraciones de 80, 60, y 30% respectivamente, entre la tercera y cuarta semana posteriores a la aplicación. El extracto hexánico evitó la eclosión del 62.5 y 35% de huevos a las concentraciones del 80 y 60%, respectivamente. El extracto etanólico registró repelencias del 70 y 52% a adultos a concentraciones de 10 y 1%, respectivamente, este último fué el resultado más significativo. Los extractos derivados de la semilla del neem, A. indica, pueden ser una alternativa al manejo de M. pallidipennis, sin embargo, las concentraciones utilizadas deben ser consideradas.

El consumo de insectos es una práctica común alrededor del mundo, aunque restringida por cuestiones de cultura o apariencia. No obstante que los insectos tienen un contenido nutrimental importante, sus compuestos nutracéuticos son un importante componente de éstos, lo cual puede considerarse en la fabricación de productos alimenticios. La grilleta Pterophylla beltrani Bolivar y Bolivar (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) molida como suplemento para aportar antioxidantes a tortillas de maíz, usando diferentes mezclas de harina de maíz y harina de insecto. Tortillas hechas de estas mezclas se sometieron a extracciones en dos tipos de solventes y se cuantificó la presencia de compuestos fenólicos totales, antioxidantes contra el radical DPPH y el radical ABTS. La mayor parte de los compuestos fenólicos y antioxidantes fueron más solubles en agua que en etanol. Esto es un indicativo de su polaridad y la disponibilidad durante el proceso digestivo. Los compuestos antioxidantes no tuvieron efecto sobre la germinación y crecimiento de dos especies de hongos inoculados en tortillas suplementadas. Los compuestos detectados fueron resistentes al proceso de cocción, lo cual asegura que el uso de este insecto aporta un contenido importante a la tortilla de maíz.

Se describe y compara la macro y la microrretícula exocoriónica en tres especies del género Colias: C. croceus, C. alfacariensis, y C. lesbia mineira; bajo técnicas de tinción con azul de metileno y con el empleo del microscopio electrónico de barrido (MEB). El tamaño, la forma, así como diversos aspectos de la trama en sus diferentes regiones o zonas, se exhibe distinta para cada especie. Las diferencias ocurren en el micrópilo, el área perimicropilar, el grosor relativo entre ejes y costillas, el arreglo y número de los polígonos que componen la microrretícula, entre otros caracteres que se detallan. Todos estos caracteres se ilustran en dibujos y fotografías en el MEB. Los resultados se comparan entre cada especie y con las de trabajos previos.

Tres parasitoides: Lespesia archippivora Riley, Lespesia postica Walker, y Archytas marmoratus Townsend (Diptera: Tachinidae), son registrados por primera vez en Durango, México atacando al gusano cogollero, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith).

Se documenta por primera vez la presencia de larvas de Toxomerus politus depredando huevos de Spodoptera frugiperda colocados en hojas de maíz en Oaxaca, México.

En este estudio se describen a Aleuropleurocelus annonae Carapia-Ruiz y Sánchez-Flores sp. nov., encontrada en los estados de Morelos en hojas de Annona reticulata L., y a Aleuropleurocelus guazumae Carapia-Ruiz y Sánchez-Flores sp. nov., encontrada en el estado de Guerrero, en el envés de hojas de Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. Se proporcionan fotomicrografías de estructuras morfológicas de puparios, y se discute la separación con otras especies elípticoovales de Aleuropleurocelus.

Because of detrimental effects of salt cedar on riparian communities in the southwestern United States, there is active research to control and minimize its impact. One such control program being monitored is use of the salt cedar leaf beetle, Diorhabda sublineata (Brulle'), to reduce the biomass of this invasive plant species. Beetle activity has been monitored in different regions of Texas, various southwestern states of the U.S, and Mexico since 2001. Recently, other biological control agents, Coniatus splendidulus (Fabricius) and Chionaspis scale, were reported from new areas of Texas and New Mexico. While these biological control agents were not intentional introductions, their activity resulted in notable defoliation (40–80%) and biomass reduction and is worthy of monitoring.

Automeris zozine (Druce) is a silk moth in the family Saturniidae whose larvae typically defoliate plants in the Fagaceae, Fabaceae, and Anacardiaceae families, but little is known about other host plants. We documented the species defoliating Macadamia integrifolia Maiden and Betche (Proteaceae) associated with a plantation of coffee (Coffea spp., Rubiaceae) in a mountainous mesophyll forest at Veracruz, Mexico.

The species, habitats where it was collected, and comments on the morphology of the species compared with one from Costa Rica that conforms to a particular group of Neohydatothrips are discussed. The species is near gracilipes by the position of the interocellar setae, but is clearly segregated by the absence of sternal rows of discal microtrichia in abdominal segments III-VI, and body color darker than gracilipes. Another difference between the species is the sculpture of the metanotum.

Se reportan insectos xilófagos del guanábano (Annona muricata L.) en México. La asociación del guanábano como huésped de las especies Acanthoderes quadrigibba (Say), Oreodera fasciculosa Thomson (Cerambycidae), and Chrysobothris totonaca Domínguez y Márquez (Buprestidae) representan un nuevo reporte. Las ramas afectadas por el patógeno Lasiodiplodia theobramae Pat. pueden ser una fuente potencial de mayor daño por estos insectos.

Se documenta por primera vez la presencia de Gymnetis stellata en Oaxaca, México. El nuevo registro se hizo con base en la colecta manual de una hembra cerca de un árbol de nanche rojo (Malpighia mexicana) en Villa Sola de Vega y una hembra y un macho colectados en vegetación silvestre en Miahuatlán de Porfirio Díaz. Ambos sitios se localizan en la región de la Sierra Sur de Oaxaca a 1500 msnm aproximadamente.

Durante abril y mayo de 2016, se observaron daños en especímenes de insectos en una colección biológica en México. Basado en características morfológicas y análisis de secuencias de mADN-COII y CytB, la plaga fue identificada como Tineola bisselliella Hummel. Este es el primer reporte de T. bisselliella causando daños en una colección biológica en México.