Pyrethroid Susceptibility in Field Populations of Picture-Winged Flies (Diptera: Ulidiidae) Infesting Fresh Market Sweet Corn in Florida.

Picture-winged flies (Diptera: Ulidiidae) are the most damaging insect pests of sweet corn (Zea mays L.) produced in Florida for the fresh market. Management of these pests, referred to as corn silk flies, relies on frequent pyrethroid applications targeting adults.

Lack of transmission of Sugarcane yellow leaf virus in Florida from Columbus grass and sugarcane to sugarcane with aphids or mites.

Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV), the causal agent of yellow leaf disease, naturally infects at least three plant species in Florida: sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), the weed Columbus grass (Sorghum almum) and cultivated sorghum (S. bicolor).

Developmental Studies of Maize-Infesting Picture-Winged Flies (Diptera: Ulidiidae).

Eleven species of picture-winged flies (Diptera: Ulidiidae) attack maize (Zea mays L.) in the Americas. Field and laboratory studies were used to determine developmental times on sweet corn ears for the three most common species attacking the crop in the United States, Chaetopsis massyla (Walker), Euxesta eluta Loew, and Euxesta stigmatias Loew.

Evaluation of Bioinsecticides for Management of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and the Effect on the Whitefly Predator Delphastus catalinae (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Organic Squash.

Organic zucchini squash is a high-value vegetable crop in Florida and potential exists to expand its production throughout the state. A lack of knowledge on the effectiveness of organic products and their integration with natural enemies is an important constraint to the regulation of pest populations in organic squash production in Florida. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of insecticides labeled for organic production that can be used for management of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B, on organically grown squash; and to determine the effects of the most efficient insecticides on a key natural enemy, Delphastus catalinae (Horn).

Geographic population structure of the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), in the southern United States.

The sugarcane borer moth, Diatraea saccharalis, is widespread throughout the Western Hemisphere, and is considered an introduced species in the southern United States. Although this moth has a wide distribution and is a pest of many crop plants including sugarcane, corn, sorghum and rice, it is considered one species. The objective was to investigate whether more than one introduction of D.

Examination of the pest status of corn-infesting Ulidiidae (Diptera).

Larvae of 11 species of picture-winged flies (Diptera: Ulididae) are known to feed on corn plants (Zea mays L.) in the western hemisphere. Larvae emerge from eggs deposited in leaf axils and corn silk to feed mostly within ears, but the primary versus secondary nature (i.

Life table studies of Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on sugarcane.

The lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is an important pest of sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp.) in southern Florida. Reproductive and life table parameters for E.

Effects of Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) damage on sugarcane yield.

Feeding by lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), larvae on sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp.) causes leaf damage, dead hearts, and dead plants that can result in stand and yield loss. A 2-yr greenhouse experiment was conducted to examine sugarcane variety and plant age-specific feeding responses to E.

Effects of harvest residue and tillage on lesser cornstalk borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) damage to sugarcane.

Lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is an important pest of sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp.) in southern Florida. Cultural controls for E.

Temperature-dependent development of Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on sugarcane under laboratory conditions.

Lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosellus Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is an important sugarcane pest in southern Florida. Development of immature stages (eggs, larvae, prepupae, and pupae) of lesser cornstalk borer was observed on sugarcane at constant temperatures (13, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, and 36 degrees C), 65-70% RH, and a photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) h. Total development (from egg deposition to adult emergence) ranged from 22.

Enzyme induction as a possible mechanism for latex-mediated insect resistance in romaine lettuce.

Plant latex is a known storehouse of various secondary metabolites with demonstrated negative impact on insect fitness. A romaine lettuce cultivar, "Valmaine", possesses a high level of latex-mediated resistance against the banded cucumber beetle, Diabrotica balteata LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), compared to a closely related cultivar "Tall Guzmaine". Latex from damaged Valmaine plants was much more deterrent to adult D.

Host plant resistance in romaine lettuce affects feeding behavior and biology of Trichoplusia ni and Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Lettuce quality and yield can be reduced by feeding of several lepidopterous pests, particularly cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner), and beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Host plant resistance to these insects is an environmentally sound adjunct to conventional chemical control. In this study we compared the survival, development, and feeding behavior of cabbage looper and beet armyworm on two romaine lettuce cultivars, resistant 'Valmaine' and susceptible 'Tall Guzmaine'.

New restriction fragment length polymorphisms in the cytochrome oxidase I gene facilitate host strain identification of fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) populations in the southeastern United States.

Several restriction sites in the cytochrome oxidase I gene of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), were identified by sequence analysis as potentially being specific to one of the two host strains.

Contact and leaf residue activity of insecticides against the sweet Corn pest Euxesta stigmatias (Diptera: Otitidae).

Damage by Euxesta stigmatias Loew larvae to sweet corn renders the ears unmarketable. This report evaluates the efficacy of insecticides labeled for armyworm control in Florida sweet corn against E. stigmatias adults.

Resistance to adult banded cucumber beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in romaine lettuce.

Four cultivars of lettuce, Lactuca sativa L., were evaluated for their resistance to the adult banded cucumber beetle, Diabrotica balteata LeConte, under laboratory conditions. When paired with each of the other three cultivars, leaf consumption in all possible combinations of short-term (48 h) two-choice tests among the cultivars was significantly reduced only for 'Valmaine'.