The spotted lanternfly, (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), was first detected in the United States in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014. Native to China, this phloem-feeding planthopper threatens agricultural, ornamental, nursery, and timber industries in its invaded range through quarantine restrictions on shipments, as well as impacts on plants themselves. The long-term impacts of feeding on tree species have not been well studied in North America.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are economically significant pests of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), damaging the marketable portion of the crop by feeding and tunneling into tubers. While conventional potato growers use the few registered synthetic insecticides to control wireworms, certified organic growers are left with less options due to the limited effectiveness of the available insecticides. Biologically derived pesticides provide an additional alternative for both systems.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe squash bug, Anasa tristis (De Geer), is a serious pest of cucurbit crops across the United States, especially within summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) systems. Using their piercing sucking mouthparts, squash bugs feed on both leaf tissue and fruits, often leading to leaf necrosis, marketable fruit loss, and even plant death.
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