Cold storage of Ganaspis kimorum (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) immature stages for optimized classical biological control of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae).

Programs to mass rear and release Ganaspis kimorum Buffington (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) are ongoing in many countries to manage its host Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae). To optimize parasitoid production and synchronize field releases with pest outbreaks, we investigated a cold storage protocol by exposing different immature G. kimorum stages to 2 storage temperatures (10 or 15°C) for 2, 4, 6, or 8 wk.

Improving the Efficiency and Safety of Sentinel Stink Bug Eggs Using X-rays.

Sentinel eggs used to monitor field parasitism of stink bug pests (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) can only be deployed for a few days to avoid releasing the pest in the monitored area. Using sterile eggs removes the risk of accidental pest introduction and extends deployment time. Freezing the eggs before deployment is one common method of sterilizing sentinel eggs.

Predicting the impact of climate change on the potential distribution of the invasive tomato pinworm Phthorimaea absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

Phthorimaea absoluta (Meyrick) (= Tuta absoluta) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is the most damaging insect pest threatening the production of tomato and other solanaceous vegetables in many countries. In this study, we predicted the risk of establishment and number of generations for P. absoluta in the current and future climatic conditions under two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2-4.

Parasitism by Gryon aetherium (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) on Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) eggs in northcentral California.

Bagrada bug, Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an invasive pest of cruciferous crops. The parasitoid Gryon aetherium Talamas (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is a promising biological control agent for B. hilaris because it can forage in the soil where B.

A comparison of candidate banker plants for management of pests in lettuce.

Agricultural systems are often lacking in resources for natural enemies. Providing alternative prey can help natural enemies persist through periods of low pest abundance, although this approach has been rarely commercially implemented in open field crops. In this study, we tested the potential of eight plant species to provide alternative prey to natural enemies in lettuce fields over a 2-yr period.

Factors Affecting Progeny Production and Sex Ratio of (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), a Candidate Biological Control Agent for (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

Manipulating the factors that influence progeny production and sex ratio in parasitoids can help maximize the production of quarantine bioassays and/or mass releases. In a series of experiments, we studied the effects of several factors on offspring production and sex ratio in the parasitoid (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), a candidate biological control agent for (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Progeny production was influenced by maternal age and dropped when females were 24 or 28 days old and decreased on the second day of exposure.

Discrimination Abilities and Parasitism Success of Pupal Parasitoids Towards Spotted-Wing Drosophila Pupae Previously Parasitized by the Larval Parasitoid Ganaspis brasiliensis (Hymenoptera: Figitidae).

Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and Trichopria drosophilae (Perkins) (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) are two cosmopolitan and generalist pupal parasitoids that are among a few of the resident parasitoids in North America capable of attacking Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), an invasive pest of small and soft fruit crops worldwide. Ganaspis brasiliensis (Ihering) is a specialist larval parasitoid of D. suzukii that was recently approved for biological control introduction against D.

A Coordinated Sampling and Identification Methodology for Larval Parasitoids of Spotted-Wing Drosophila.

We provide recommendations for sampling and identification of introduced larval parasitoids of spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae). These parasitoids are either under consideration for importation (aka classical) biological control introductions, or their adventive (presumed to have been accidentally introduced) populations have recently been discovered in North America and Europe. Within the context of the ecology of D.

Pheromone Deployment Strategies for Mating Disruption of a Vineyard Mealybug.

The mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret), is a primary vineyard pest in California and other grape-growing regions throughout the World. Mating disruption programs are commercially available to manage Pl. ficus, but widespread adoption has been limited, in part, by high costs compared with insecticide programs.

Host Patch Use and Potential Competitive Interactions Between Two Egg Parasitoids From the Family Scelionidae, Candidate Biological Control Agents of Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

Two egg parasitoids from Pakistan, Gryon sp. nr. gonikopalense Sharma (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) and Trissolcus hyalinipennis Rajmohana & Narendran (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), are currently being investigated as potential classical biocontrol agents for Bagrada hilaris Burmeister.

Development of a Mating Disruption Program for a Mealybug, , in Vineyards.

The vine mealybug (VMB), (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is a key insect pest of vineyards, and improvements in sustainable control of this pest are needed to meet increasing consumer demand for organically farmed products. One promising option is mating disruption. In a series of experiments conducted from 2004 to 2007, we tested the effects of mating disruption on trap captures of males in pheromone-baited traps, on numbers and age structure on vines, and on damage to grape clusters.

Current Distribution of the Olive Psyllid, , in California and Initial Evaluation of the Mediterranean Parasitoid as a Biological Control Candidate.

The olive psyllid, , is a newly invasive species to California with the potential to become an economical pest if it reaches the olive production regions of California's Central Valley. Here, we report on surveys undertaken in California to assess the psyllid's current distribution and the occurrence of parasitism. Additionally, we present results of foreign collections of its parasitoids and initial non-target studies of a possible biological control agent, the Mediterranean parasitoid .

Tritrophic Interactions Between an Invasive Weed (Lepidium latifolium), an Insect Herbivore (Bagrada hilaris), and a Plant Pathogenic Fungus (Albugo lepidii).

Perennial pepperweed, Lepidium latifolium L. (Brassicales: Brassicaceae), is an invasive weed that can form dense stands and displace native species. Bagrada hilaris Burmeister (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a serious economic pest of Brassicaceae vegetable crops.

Relative Performance and Impacts of the Psyllid Arytinnis hakani (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) on Nontarget Plants and the Target Weed Genista monspessulana (Fabales: Fabaceae).

No-choice tests can help select weed biological control agents with a high degree of host specificity but may exclude potentially effective agents that can develop on nontarget plants under laboratory conditions. The actual amount of damage to nontarget plants often goes unstudied, even though agents may exploit nontarget plants without inflicting significant harm. Furthermore, tests typically assess whether prospective agents can complete one generation on nontarget plants, and rarely examine whether agents are likely to persist on the nontarget plants over the long term.

Dynamics of Predation on Lygus hesperus (Hemiptera: Miridae) in Alfalfa Trap-Cropped Organic Strawberry.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) (Fabales: Fabaceae) can be strategically planted as a trap crop for Lygus spp. in California's organic strawberry fields.

Thermal Performance of Two Indigenous Pupal Parasitoids Attacking the Invasive Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae).

Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani) and Trichopria drosophilae (Perkins) are among a few indigenous parasitoids attacking the invasive Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in North America. Both parasitoid species occur in California, whereas only P. vindemiae has been reported from Oregon.

Foraging Distance of the Argentine Ant in California Vineyards.

Argentine ants, Linepithema humile (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), form mutualisms with hemipteran pests in crop systems. In vineyards, they feed on honeydew produced by mealybugs and soft scales, which they tend and protect from natural enemies. Few options for controlling Argentine ants are available; one of the more effective approaches is to use liquid baits containing a low dose of an insecticide.

Impacts of the Psyllid Arytinnis hakani (Homoptera: Psyllidae) on Invasive French Broom in Relation to Plant Size and Psyllid Density.

The impacts of weed biological control agents may vary with plant ontogeny. As plants grow, structural and chemical changes can alter plant resistance, which may reduce herbivory via chemical or structural defenses, and plant tolerance, which may enable plants to maintain fitness despite attack. Resistance and tolerance generally increase as plants grow.

Temporal Patterns in the Abundance and Species Composition of Spiders on Host Plants of the Invasive Moth Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

Generalist predators such as spiders may help mitigate the spread and impact of exotic herbivores. The lack of prey specificity and long generation times of spiders may allow them to persist when pests are scarce, and to limit the growth of pest populations before they reach damaging levels. We examined whether resident spiders are likely to play a role in maintaining populations of the invasive light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), below outbreak levels in California.

Impacts of the Adventive Psyllid Arytainilla spartiophila (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) on Growth of the Invasive Weed Cytisus scoparius Under Controlled and Field Conditions in California.

The postrelease impact of weed biological control agents on their target weeds is rarely assessed. This study focuses on the impacts of the univoltine broom psyllid Arytainilla spartiophila Forster on the growth of its target weed, the invasive shrub Scotch broom, Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link (Fabaceae), in California.

Ecosystem services in the face of invasion: the persistence of native and nonnative spiders in an agricultural landscape.

The presence of intact natural ecosystems in agricultural landscapes can mitigate losses in the diversity of natural enemies and enhance ecosystem services. However, native natural enemies may fail to persist in agroecosystems if invaders dominate species interactions. In this study, native and nonnative spiders were sampled along transects that extended from oak woodland and riparian zones into surrounding California vineyards, to assess the role of natural habitat as a source for spider biodiversity in the vineyard landscape, and to compare the dominance of exotic Cheiracanthium spiders between habitats.