Integrated pest management strategies targeting the Florida kissing bug, : Preventing this vector of Chagas disease from invading your home.

Triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae), commonly called "kissing bugs", are blood-sucking pests and vectors of the protozoan parasite , the causative agent of Chagas disease (CD). Eleven species of kissing bugs occur throughout the southern half of the USA, four of which are well known to invade human dwellings. Certain kissing bugs in the USA are known to transmit to humans and other animals and their bites can also lead to serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.

Tunneling Performance Increases at Lower Temperatures for Solenopsis invicta (Buren) but not for Nylanderia fulva (Mayr).

Nylanderia fulva (Mayr), the tawny crazy ant, is an invasive pest established in Florida and several other Gulf Coast states. In their invasive ranges in the Southeastern USA, large N. fulva populations have reduced species abundance, even displacing another invasive ant, Solenopsis invicta (Buren).

Detection of Permethrin Resistance and Fipronil Tolerance in Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) in the United States.

Permethrin is a commonly used acaricide for tick control on domestic animals and in residential environments, while fipronil use is restricted to on-animal treatment. Following widespread reports of permethrin and fipronil application failures to control indoor infestations of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille), the brown dog tick, 31 tick populations were obtained from Florida and Texas for acaricide resistance screening. These field-collected ticks from kennels and residential facilities were challenged with technical grade permethrin and fipronil to create dose response curves that were compared with an acaricide-susceptible strain.

RNA interference in the termite Reticulitermes flavipes through ingestion of double-stranded RNA.

RNA interference (RNAi) represents a breakthrough technology for conducting functional genomics research in non-model organisms and for the highly targeted control of insect pests. This study investigated RNAi via voluntary feeding in the economically important pest termite, Reticulitermes flavipes. We used a high-dose double-stranded (ds) RNA feeding approach to silence two termite genes: one encoding an endogenous digestive cellulase enzyme and the other a caste-regulatory hexamerin storage protein.

Molecular and biochemical markers for monitoring dynamic shifts of cellulolytic protozoa in Reticulitermes flavipes.

Lower termites rely on cellulolytic protozoa to aid in the digestion of their wood-based diet. However, despite the major contribution of protozoa to the lower termite digestive system, few techniques have been developed to monitor shifts in protozoan populations. This study investigated whether quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and/or cellulase enzyme assays can be used to monitor changes of cellulolytic protozoan populations in the lower termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar).

Correlation of cellulase gene expression and cellulolytic activity throughout the gut of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes.

Termites have developed cellulose digestion capabilities that allow them to obtain energy and nutrition from nutritionally poor food sources, such as lignocellulosic plant material and residues derived from it (e.g., wood and humus).

Speed of efficacy and delayed toxicity characteristics of fast-acting fire ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) baits.

Efficacy and speed of action of fire ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) baits that claim fast control of colonies were compared with a standard bait. More than 85% of red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, laboratory colonies provided bait containing the active ingredient indoxacarb died within 3 d, and all colonies were dead in 6 d. Standard bait containing hydramethylnon resulted in death of 60% of the colonies in 9 d.

Social exploitation of hexamerin: RNAi reveals a major caste-regulatory factor in termites.

Lower termites express a unique form of eusocial polyphenism in that totipotent workers can differentiate into either soldier or reproductive caste phenotypes. In this initial effort using RNA interference in termites, we found that two hexamerin genes, Hex-1 and Hex-2, participate in the regulation of caste polyphenism. Our methodology involved a dual gene-silencing approach that used a single short-interfering RNA fragment to silence the two homologous hexamerin genes.

Influence of soil compaction on tunnel network construction by the eastern subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae).

Eastern subterranean termites, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), workers were introduced into arenas containing low, moderate, and high compaction builder's sand (1.05 g/cm3, 1.18 g/cm3 or 1.

Ability of canine termite detectors to locate live termites and discriminate them from non-termite material.

Dogs were trained to detect Eastern subterranean termites, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), using the United States Customs method of scent detection dog training modified with a food reward. Dogs were tested with various numbers of Eastern subterranean termites placed in vented PVC containers. Trained dogs were 95.