Transcriptome Analysis Unveils Molecular Mechanisms of Acaricide Resistance in Two-Spotted Spider Mite Populations on Hops.

Broad-spectrum crop protection technologies, such as abamectin and bifenthrin, are globally relied upon to curb the existential threats from economic crop pests such as the generalist herbivore Koch (TSSM). However, the rising cost of discovering and registering new acaricides, particularly for specialty crops, along with the increasing risk of pesticide resistance development, underscores the urgent need to preserve the efficacy of currently registered acaricides. This study examined the overall genetic mechanism underlying adaptation to abamectin and bifenthrin in populations from commercial hop fields in the Pacific Northwestern region of the USA.

RNA interference of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase increases susceptibilities to multiple acaricides in Tetranychus urticae.

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is a polyphagous pest feeding on over 1100 plant species, including numerous highly valued economic crops. The control of T. urticae largely depends on the use of acaricides, which leads to pervasive development of acaricide resistance.

Mating Disruption for Managing Prionus californicus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Hop and Sweet Cherry.

Larvae of Prionus californicus Motschulsky feed on the roots of many woody perennial plants and are economically important pests of hop Humulus lupulus L. (Urticales: Cannabaceae) and sweet cherry Prunus avium (L.) (Magnoliopsida: Rosaceae) in the United States Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West.

Phenotypic and Genotypic Plasticity of Acaricide Resistance in Populations of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Peppermint and Silage Corn in the Pacific Northwest.

Tetranychus urticae Koch is a generalist pest of economic crops and is notorious for its rapid development of acaricide resistance. This poses a significant threat to the sustainability of integrated pest management (IPM) in cropping systems plagued by T. urticae.

Pumpkin as an Alternate Host Plant for Laboratory Colonies of Grape Mealybug.

The grape mealybug, Pseudococcus maritimus (Ehrhorn; Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is the primary vector of Grapevine Leafroll associated Viruses (GLRaVs) in Washington State vineyards. Rearing laboratory colonies of grape mealybug has proven difficult. Several host plants were tested to determine their suitability for use as an alternate host plants for laboratory colonies of grape mealybug.

Migratory Bee Hive Transportation Contributes Insignificantly to Transgenic Pollen Movement Between Spatially Isolated Alfalfa Seed Fields.

Contracted commercial beekeeping operations provide an essential pollination service to many agricultural systems worldwide. Increased use of genetically engineered crops in agriculture has raised concerns over pollinator-mediated gene flow between transgenic and conventional agricultural varieties. This study evaluated whether contracted migratory beekeeping practices influence transgenic pollen flow among spatially isolated alfalfa fields.

Selection of Reference Genes for Expression Studies of Xenobiotic Adaptation in Tetranychus urticae.

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) is an extensively used, high-throughput method to analyze transcriptional expression of genes of interest. An appropriate normalization strategy with reliable reference genes is required for calculating gene expression across diverse experimental conditions. In this study, we aim to identify the most stable reference genes for expression studies of xenobiotic adaptation in Tetranychus urticae, an extremely polyphagous herbivore causing significant yield reduction of agriculture.

Molecular mechanisms of Tetranychus urticae chemical adaptation in hop fields.

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch is a major pest that feeds on >1,100 plant species. Many perennial crops including hop (Humulus lupulus) are routinely plagued by T. urticae infestations.

Microsatellite Variation of two Pacific Coast Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Populations.

The vinegar fly, Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is a recent invader in North America that has become a serious threat to small fruit production. It was first detected in California in 2008 and in Washington state in 2009. In this study, D.

Use of a highly sensitive immunomarking system to characterize face fly (Diptera: Muscidae) dispersal from cow pats.

We tested an immunomarking system that used egg white as marker and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as a detection assay to characterize face fly (Musca autumnalis DeGeer) dispersal from cow pats in a pastured beef cattle operation. In microcage assays, adult flies acquired marker after contact with cow pats that were treated with marker and field aged up to 11 d. In arena assays on sprayed full-size cow pats, 77% of eclosed face flies acquired the marker.

Identification of an alternative knockdown resistance (kdr)-like mutation, M918L, and a novel mutation, V1010A, in the Thrips tabaci voltage-gated sodium channel gene.

Background: Knockdown resistance (kdr) has been identified as a main mechanism against pyrethroid insecticides in many arthropod pests including in the onion thrips, Thrips tabaci. To characterize and identify pyrethroid-resistance in onion thrips in Washington state, we conducted insecticide bioassays and sequenced a region of the voltage gated sodium channel gene from several different T. tabaci populations.

Evaluation of sunlight-exposed pyrethroid-treated netting for the control of face fly and housefly (Diptera: Muscidae).

Background: Face flies, Musca autumnalis De Geer (Diptera: Muscidae), and houseflies, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), have a significant impact on livestock and dairy production throughout North America. Pyrethroid insecticide efficacy can be affected by exposure to direct sunlight, and the rate of photodegradation is substrate and formulation dependent.

Effect of heat treatment on viability of Taenia hydatigena eggs.

Effects of heat treatments on activation and infectivity of Taenia hydatigena eggs were assessed. Eggs containing oncospheres were used for in vitro and in vivo studies to determine the response to 5min of heat treatment, ranging from room temperature (22°C) to 60°C. The study demonstrated 99.

Effect of ensilation of potato on viability of Taenia hydatigena eggs.

A Taenia hydatigena model was used to assess the effect 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of ensilation of minced potato on viability of tapeworm eggs. For infection of lambs, 2,000 T. hydatigena eggs were ensiled for 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days in minced potato at 22°C and fed to recently weaned lambs (29.

Identification of Lygus hesperus by DNA barcoding reveals insignificant levels of genetic structure among distant and habitat diverse populations.

Background: The western tarnished plant bug Lygus hesperus is an economically important pest that belongs to a complex of morphologically similar species that makes identification problematic. The present study provides evidence for the use of DNA barcodes from populations of L. hesperus from the western United States of America for accurate identification.

Development of a multiplex PCR for identification of vineyard mealybugs.

A simple molecular tool was developed and tested to identify seven mealybug species found in North American vineyards: Pseudococcus maritimus Ehrhorn, Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret), Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni-Tozzeti), Pseudococcus calceolariae (Maskell), Planococcus ficus (Signoret), Planococcus citri (Risso), and Ferrisia gilli Gullan. The developed multiplex PCR is based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit one gene. In tests, this single-step multiplex PCR correctly identified 95 of 95 mealybug samples, representing all seven species and collected from diverse geographic regions.

Laboratory survival of Drosophila suzukii under simulated winter conditions of the Pacific Northwest and seasonal field trapping in five primary regions of small and stone fruit production in the United States.

Background: Drosophila suzukii was first found in Oregon in August 2009. The threat of this pest to regional small and stone fruit production industries led to investigations on its overwintering capabilities in fruit-growing regions in the Pacific Northwest. Knowledge of its cold tolerance will help in the development of computer models to forecast seasonal population growth and decline.

An endemic population of western poplar clearwing moths (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) invades a monoculture of hybrid poplar.

Western poplar clearwing, Paranthrene robiniae (Hy. Edwards) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), is endemic in Pacific Northwest riparian habitats at low population densities. These moths have colonized commercial hybrid poplar (Populus spp.