Seasonal polyphenism of spotted-wing is affected by variation in local abiotic conditions within its invaded range, likely influencing survival and regional population dynamics.

Overwintering often display adaptive phenotypic differences beneficial for survival at low temperatures. However, it is unclear which morphological traits are the best estimators of abiotic conditions, how those traits are correlated with functional outcomes in cold tolerance, and whether there are regional differences in trait expression.We used a combination of controlled laboratory assays, and collaborative field collections of invasive in different areas of the United States, to study the factors affecting phenotype variability of this temperate fruit pest now found globally.

Managing Allium Leafminer (Diptera: Agromyzidae): An Emerging Pest of Allium Crops in North America.

Allium leafminer, Phytomyza gymnostoma Loew, is the newest invasive pest of allium crops in North America. Larvae initially feed in the upper canopy before mining toward the base of the plant to pupate. Crop loss occurs when larvae destroy vascular tissue, facilitating infection by bacterial and fungal pathogens that cause rot.

Trapping system comparisons for and factors affecting populations of Drosophila suzukii and Zaprionus indianus in winter-grown strawberry.

Background: Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is a major fruit pest in temperate regions worldwide, but in subtropical Florida, winter-grown strawberries have not been severely affected. Zaprionus indianus Gupta is another invasive drosophilid species and a pest of some tropical fruits. To improve monitoring, trapping systems for D.

Effect of trap design, bait type, and age on captures of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in berry crops.

Field experiments were conducted in commercial southern highbush blueberries and wild blackberries to evaluate the attractiveness of different trap designs, bait types, and bait age on captures of the spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae). During the 2012 trap design study, the five treatments evaluated were four 1-liter clear plastic cup traps (with and without a yellow visual stimulus or odorless dish detergent) and the fifth treatment was a Pherocon AM yellow sticky card trap. Cup traps were baited with 150 ml of apple cider vinegar (ACV) and the Pherocon AM trap had a 7.