Western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae), is the major insect pest of sweet cherry, Prunus avium (L.) L., in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. To reduce fly populations in unharvested fruit following the completion of commercial harvest, it is important to control immature stages in cherry fruit. In this study, the goals were to (1) identify the susceptibility of the eggs and larvae to neonicotinoid and other insecticides and (2) determine the effects of these insecticides on larval emergence from sweet cherries with different egg and larval distributions (the relative percentages of different stages). Only 3.3% of eggs exposed for 15 sec to thiacloprid hatched, whereas 25.0 - 41.0% of eggs exposed to water only, spinosad, and imidacloprid hatched. Larval mortalities in cherries 48 - 52 h after being treated with imidacloprid, thiacloprid and acetamiprid were 50.0 - 66.7%, significantly higher than the 24.0% mortality in untreated cherries. Imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, thiacloprid, acetamiprid, and clothianidin were equally effective in reducing larval emergence when sprayed on cherries in which eggs were 94.2% of the immature stages, but imidacloprid and acetamiprid appeared to be the most effective when sprayed on cherries in which eggs were only 19.7% and 53.8% of the immature stages. Results indicate neonicotinoids are toxic to eggs and larvae of R. indifferens and that all are more effective in cherries against eggs than larvae. For fly control, the time interval between the last spray directed against adult flies and the first postharvest spray of neonicotinoids should be no more than 1 wk, to reduce chances eggs hatch and larvae develop.

Objectives of this research were to evaluate the effect of larval experience on feeding preference of larvae and the effect of larval and pupal experience on oviposition preference of females in Musca domestica L. and Chrysomya megacephala F. Dietary experience from hatch to test significantly influenced feeding preference of the second-instar larvae in M. domestica (P < 0.01), but did not in C. megacephala. The larval dietary and pupal experience did not change the oviposition preference of C. megacephala, and experienced gravid females laid all of their eggs on pork muscle. Larval feeding regimen had no effect on oviposition preference of subsequent females in M. domestica. However, the pupal experience in M. domestica significantly influenced the oviposition preference of subsequent females, and M. domestica females from pupae matured on wheat bran laid significantly more eggs on wheat bran than those that matured on pork muscle, or filter paper whether pupae were washed or not (P < 0.01). These results demonstrated that host-selection behavior in M. domestica was shaped by preimaginal experience according to the chemical legacy hypothesis.

Ants were surveyed at the Ohoopee Dunes Natural Area and the Ohoopee Dunes Preserve in Emanuel Co., Georgia. Seventy-seven species were collected from the dunes including a new state record, Paratrechina phantasma Trager, and a distinctive species of Forelius that appears to be undescribed. Native ants dominated the sites, with exotic species generally being relegated to disturbed areas along the margins of the sites.

The hop aphid, Phorodon humuli (Schrank), is one of the main hop, Humulus lupulus L. (Cannabaceae), pests in the world. The aim of this work was to determine (1) the yield loss function in hops based on the pest density of P. humuli, (2) and the economic injury level (EIL), economic threshold (ET), environmental economic injury level (EEIL) and environmental economic threshold (EET). Different densities of P. humili were applied to hop plants in the form of several aphid treatments over time. A negative correlation was found between yield and the number of aphids per square meter of canopy in accordance with the formula: y = [0.047 • x] / [1 + (0.047 • x) / 54.385], where: y = percentage of yield lost, and x = annual maximum number of aphids per square meter of canopy. Based on this formula, the economic injury level (EIL) was calculated as follows: [54.385 • C] / [2.556 • V• P₀• K – 4.7 • C], where: C = total insecticide cost per hectare, V = hop price per kilogram, P₀ = yield per hectare of a minimum pest level orchard, and K = reduction of injury due to treatment. The economic threshold (ET) obtained from the population dynamics of P. humuli was, on average, 0.7 EIL. The EEIL and the EET also were calculated: EEIL ≅ 1.66EIL and EET ≅ 1.66 ET ≅ 1.16 EIL. Other formulae relating the number of aphids per square meter with other simpler indices expressing these thresholds were calculated: aphids per leaf, percentage of infested leaves, infested leaves per frame, index of infestation, percentage of frames occupied, aphids per dm² of leaf, aphids per 20 cm high volume and aphids per hop bine.

The boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, produces pheromone on a variety of diets, but access to flower buds (squares) or small fruit (bolls) of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., is thought necessary for high levels of pheromone production. However, estimates of the pheromone emitted by weevils fed bolls are not available. We used headspace collections to determine (1) whether male weevils already emitting pheromone could sustain production on bolls, and (2) whether pheromone emission could be initiated on a boll diet. Male weevils switched to a diet of small (12 - 15 mm diam) or medium (20 - 23 mm diam) sized bolls after feeding on squares (5 - 7 mm diam) for 7 d maintained pheromone releases at levels ≥ that of weevils remaining on squares through the 13^th day of adulthood. Pheromone composition did not vary substantially among the diets. When the diets were provided beginning at adult eclosion, weevils initiated pheromone emission similarly on all diets, but weevils fed small bolls released the most pheromone by day 9 of adulthood. No difference in pheromone composition was observed among the diet treatments. In addition, weevils that entered diapause by the end of the experiments produced only small amounts of pheromone. The high levels of pheromone production by weevils fed bolls may be ecologically important in ensuring that potential overwintering females are mated before emigrating from maturing cotton. Our findings also suggest that diminished competition between naturally-produced pheromone and traps is not an adequate explanation for commonly observed increases in late-season captures by pheromone traps.

Three new species of the genus Gyrophaena Mannerheim are described from Korea: Gyrophaena ashei new species (type locality – Mt. Odaesan, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Prov., Korea), G. naejangsanensis new species (type locality – Mt. Naejangsan, Jeongeup-city, Jeonbuk Prov., Korea), and G. tubula new species (type locality – Mt. Gaebangsan, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Prov., Korea). The types and paratypes of the new species are designated. Similarities and differences among Korean Gyrophaena species are discussed. The habitus is illustrated, with line drawings of diagnostic characters.

Fourteen species and subspecies belonging to the genera Poecilus Bonelli, Pterostichus Bonelli, Tapinopterus Schaum, and Zabrus Clairville (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pterostichinae) were taxonomically reviewed in this study. The specimens studied were collected during 2004 and 2005 from localities between 550 and 1810 m in elevation above sea level from different habitats (steppe, macchie, and forest biomes), primarily in the province of Kahramanmaraş but also in the neighboring provinces of Adana, Adiyaman, Gaziantep, Kayseri, Malatya, and Sivas, situated in south-central Turkey, in the Taurus Mountains, and mostly within the Taurus refugium. Each taxon was characterized with descriptive keys, descriptions of structural features, and photographs of habitus (male and female) and male genitalia. Species collected and examined represent 23% (3 species) of the Poecilus species, 6% (4 species) of the Pterostichus species, 4% (1 species) of the Tapinopterus species, and 13% (6 species) of the Zabrus species reportedly occurring in Turkey. Collection localities, coordinates, and elevations, as well as the known distribution in Turkey and their chorotypes are reported. The preponderance of endemic species (8 of 14) in the study are expected to part of one of the Anatolian refugia.

Three cellulase activities (endoglucanase, exoglucanase and β-glucosidase) were assayed for each gut region of field-fed Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) workers, in comparison with population subsamples kept in the laboratory on 3 diets: red oak (Quercus spp.), pine (Pinus spp.) and filter paper. The 3 cellulase activities were generally higher in the field-fed termites compared with the 3 subpopulations that were fed on laboratory diets, especially the oak and pine diets. Endoglucanase activity was evenly distributed in the foregut and hindgut with ~36 - 50% of the activity associated with the hindgut. This finding provides good supporting evidence that endoglucanases are produced both endogenously and also by symbionts that enhance cellulose digestion in the hindgut. Exoglucanase activities were mainly located in the hindgut (>87 - 95% of total), suggesting that partially digested cellulose travels from the foregut and midgut to the hindgut where it is exposed to symbiont-derived exoglucanases. β-glucosidase activity was found distributed through all 3 gut regions with ~37 - 56% of the activity found in the hindgut. Cellulolytic activities in R. flavipes can thus change to accommodate dietary composition. One hypothesis is that this change is accomplished via changing hindgut protozoan community composition. However, another equally plausible hypothesis is that endogenous cellulase activities can be altered via differential gene expression in response to changing diet. This flexibility apparently allows R. flavipes to efficiently use a variety of wood and wood-derived materials that contain a variety of lignocellulose compositions.

Studies on the mating history of male Lepidoptera are generally lacking because of difficulties in determining male mating status. In previous studies, presence/absence of pigmented fluids inside the male primary simplex have been used successfully for determining mating status. However, males of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), have creamy white fluids in the primary simplex instead of pigmented fluids, so presence/absence of pigmented fluids inside the primary simplex cannot be used to assess mating status in this species. We developed a scoring system for the fluids inside the primary simplex that allowed us to classify O. nubilalis male mating status and the timing of copulation. The scoring system relies on differences in the fluids in the 1^st, 2^nd and 7^th segments of the primary simplex. Males known to be virgins, mated <1d previously and mated >1d previously could be distinguished with a 6.3% error rate. The method was verified on 41 males in a blind study, with 100% accurate classification of the males.

Larvae of Xyela gallicaulis Smith cause shoot stem galls in young pines. Loblolly pine, Pinus taeda L., is the most seriously damaged, but galls have been observed on slash pine, P. elliottii var. elliottii Engelm., and shortleaf pine, P. echinata Mill. Studies in Virginia and Georgia confirm a 2-year life cycle. Larval development takes 4 - 6 wks. After feeding, larvae bore out of the galls and drop to the ground where they form a papery cocoon in the soil to pupate, and where they remain for 22 - 25 months. Adults emerge from cells constructed in the soil from early-December to mid-January of the second year. Eggs are inserted into the vegetative buds during odd-numbered years. Insect associates found feeding in or on gall tissues are the Nantucket pine tip moth, Rhyacionia frustrana (Comstock) (Tortricidae), and the weevil Conotrachelus carolinensis Schoof (Curculionidae).