Peanut Aflatoxin: Impact of Postharvest Insect Infestation and Storage Systems.

Effective postharvest management is crucial for the U.S. peanut industry, given the humid-subtropical climate that promotes insect pests, mold, and aflatoxin contamination in peanut-producing states.

Susceptibility of Yellow Squash and Zucchini Cultivars to the Sweetpotato Whitefly, Gennadius (MEAM1), in the Southeastern United States.

The sweetpotato whitefly, (Gennadius) Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1), causes significant losses to vegetable crops directly by sap-feeding, inducing plant physiological disorders, and elevating the build-up of sooty mold, and indirectly by transmitting plant viruses. In this study, we evaluated the susceptibility of 20 yellow squash and zucchini () cultivars to MEAM1, across three growing seasons in the southeastern United States. Weekly sampling of the numbers of MEAM1 adults, nymphs, and eggs were conducted from the fourth week after seed sowing and across 6 weeks during the summer and fall of 2021 and five weeks during the fall of 2022.

Preharvest insect pests of peanuts and associated aflatoxin contaminants in Georgia, USA.

On-farm losses of peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L., Fabales: Fabaceae) pose a persistent threat to the sustainable production and value of peanuts in the United States. This study presents empirical data on the spatial distribution of subterranean insect pests and various quality aspects of peanuts.

Population Dynamics of Insect Pests and Beneficials on Different Snap Bean Cultivars.

Snap bean is an important crop in the United States. Insecticides are commonly used against pests on snap bean, but many pests have developed resistance to the insecticides and beneficials are threatened by the insecticides. Therefore, host plant resistance is a sustainable alternative.

A Review of Insect Pest Management in Vegetable Crop Production in Nigeria.

Insect pest infestations and damage can limit the production of vegetables in the farming systems in Nigeria. This review looks at integrated insect pest management as a possible panacea for resolving insect pest issues in vegetable crops. The main vegetable crops which include okra, tomatoes, chilli peppers, cucumbers, green amaranth, carrots and onions are highlighted.

Evaluation of chemical and microbial control options for Pangaeus bilineatus (Say) (Hemiptera: Cydnidae) infesting peanut crop.

Background: The peanut burrower bug, Pangaeus bilineatus is a major crop pest of peanuts in the southern United States. Peanuts infested by P. bilineatus exhibit weight and quality losses and could be discounted by ≤50% of the prevailing market price.

Laboratory virulence of entomopathogenic nematodes to the sweetpotato whitefly, .

The sweetpotato whitefly, Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1), is a major insect pest on vegetable crops worldwide. Enormous economic losses result from direct and indirect plant damage caused by MEAM1. Biological control using entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) may be an effective alternative strategy against MEAM1 because this pest has developed resistance to most insecticides.

Influence of Temperature and Photoperiod on the Fecundity of Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and on the Paralysis of Host Larvae, (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

Studies were carried out in the laboratory to understand the optimum environmental conditions at which the ectoparasitoid, Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), can paralyze and lay eggs when reared on the larvae of the stored product pest, Hübner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). At the four temperatures investigated (20, 25, 30, and 35 °C), optimum temperatures for oviposition were found to be 25 and 30 °C, while 35 °C was the least favorable temperature. No significant differences were found between the percentages of diapausing and non-diapausing larvae paralyzed by the wasp at the temperatures of 20, 25, 30, 35 °C within 5 days.

Recent Advances in Postharvest Pest Biology and Management.

A sizable proportion (about 8%) of the world population is facing food insecurity [...

on Vegetables in the Southern United States: Incidence, Impact, and Management.

Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is among the most economically important insect pests of various vegetable crops in the Southern United States. This insect is considered a complex of at least 40 morphologically indistinguishable cryptic species. Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) was initially introduced in the United States around 1985 and has since rapidly spread across the Southern United States to Texas, Arizona, and California, where extreme field outbreaks have occurred on vegetable and other crops.

Evaluation of the Insecticidal Activities of α-Pinene and 3-Carene on Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Pest management in most sub-Saharan subsistence agriculture involves mainly the use of botanicals that are either applied as powders, solvent extracts, ash or essential oils. Two hydrogenated monoterpenes (α-pinene and 3-carene) from were tested against in the laboratory to evaluate the contact and fumigation effects on the mortality of adult and immature weevils, progeny production, and grain damage. Contact toxicity of the terpenes was investigated at these concentrations: 0.

Preferential infectivity of entomopathogenic nematodes in an envenomed host.

Entomopathogenic nematodes and parasitoid wasps are used as biological control agents for management of insect pests such as the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella. The parasitoid wasp Habrobracon hebetor injects a paralytic venom into P. interpunctella larvae before laying eggs.

and as Tools in Post-Harvest Integrated Pest Management.

Consumers are increasingly demanding pesticide-free grain/legumes and processed foods. Additionally, there are more restrictions, or complete loss, of insecticides labelled for use in managing stored grain insects in post-harvest ecosystems. Suppression of post-harvest pests using parasitic wasps is a more sustainable alternative than chemical pesticides.

Impact of Peanut Depth and Container Size on the Parasitism of Diapausing and Nondiapausing Larvae of Indian Meal Moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) by Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).

Host mortality and progeny production by the ectoparasitoid, Habrobracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on diapausing and nondiapausing larvae of Plodia interpunctella Hübner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were investigated in response to peanut depths and free space at standard environmental conditions. The free space was created by having four different quantities of peanuts in glass containers of fixed volume or same quantity of peanut in containers of different sizes. Host mortality caused by the parasitoids was significantly higher for diapausing larvae compared with nondiapausing larvae at corresponding peanut depth.

The potential for controlling Pangaeus bilineatus (Heteroptera: Cydnidae) using a combination of entomopathogens and an insecticide.

The peanut burrower bug, Pangaeus bilineatus (Say), is an important pest of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in the southern United States. Current control methods for this pest, which are based on the use of chemical insecticides, have not been successful.

Comparative mortality of diapausing and nondiapausing larvae of Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) exposed to monoterpenoids and low pressure.

Monoterpenoids and low pressure have each been demonstrated to cause mortality of stored-product insect pests. The current report investigated the prospects of integrating the two methods in the management of diapausing and nondiapausing larvae of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner). In a separate experiment, the larvae were exposed to 35.

Mortality of life stages of cowpea weevil (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) exposed to low pressure at different temperatures.

Previous studies have shown that low pressure creates a low oxygen controlled atmosphere that can kill stored-product insects. The current study was conducted to determine the mortality of life stages of the cowpea weevil, Callosbruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), exposed to different low pressures and temperatures for various exposure periods.

Mortality of eggs of stored-product insects held under vacuum: effects of pressure, temperature, and exposure time.

Low pressure applied to a commodity creates a low-oxygen atmosphere that can be effective to control stored-product insects. Previous work determined that eggs of several species of stored-product insects were among the most tolerant life stages to low pressure. The current study was conducted to determine the mortality of eggs in response to various pressures, temperatures, and exposure times.