Observing the Effect of Soil-Applied Insecticides on Wireworm (Coleoptera: Elateridae) Behavior and Mortality Using Radiographic Imaging.

Radiographic imaging was used to study corn wireworm, Melanotus communis (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Elateridae), behavior in the soil relative to Irish potato, Solanum tuberosum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae), placed above a barrier of insecticide-treated soil. Behavioral response to three insecticides was evaluated by 1) calculating the percentage of wireworms that breached the zone of insecticide-treated soil, 2) comparing the variability in the mean distance between each wireworm and the center of the tuber in each arena compartment, 3) comparing the cumulative distance of wireworm travel, and 4) comparing incidence and severity of wireworm-inflicted tuber injury.

Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Soil-Applied Neonicotinoids in Citrus Tree Foliage.

Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is the insect vector of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the presumed cause of huanglongbing (HLB) in citrus (Rutaceae). Soil-applied neonicotinoids are used to manage vector populations and thus reduce the spread of HLB in Florida citrus. Studies were conducted in the greenhouse and field to quantify the spatial and temporal distribution of three neonicotinoid insecticides within individually sampled leaves and throughout the tree canopy.

Neonicotinoid-Induced Mortality of Diaphorina Citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is Affected by Route of Exposure.

The use of neonicotinoids in citrus (Rutaceae) has increased substantially to help manage the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), a vector of the devastating citrus disease, huanglongbing (HLB). In citrus pest management programs, neonicotinoids are most often applied to the soil as a drench and move through xylem channels from the roots into the foliage. We developed a novel assay to quantify the dose required to kill D.