Pest status, molecular evolution, and epigenetic factors derived from the genome assembly of Frankliniella fusca, a thysanopteran phytovirus vector.

Background: The tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca Hinds; family Thripidae; order Thysanoptera) is an important pest that can transmit viruses such as the tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus to numerous economically important agricultural row crops and vegetables. The structural and functional genomics within the order Thysanoptera has only begun to be explored. Within the > 7000 known thysanopteran species, the melon thrips (Thrips palmi Karny) and the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergrande) are the only two thysanopteran species with assembled genomes.

Cassava begomovirus species diversity changes during plant vegetative cycles.

Cassava is a root crop important for global food security and the third biggest source of calories on the African continent. Cassava production is threatened by Cassava mosaic disease (CMD), which is caused by a complex of single-stranded DNA viruses (family: , genus: ) that are transmitted by the sweet potato whitefly (). Understanding the dynamics of different cassava mosaic begomovirus (CMB) species through time is important for contextualizing disease trends.

Patterns of genetic divergence among populations of Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) in the southeastern USA.

Background: The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti is a public health concern in the USA, especially in the wake of emergent diseases such as Zika and chikungunya. Aedes aegypti populations dwindled after the invasion of Aedes albopictus in the 1980s and many populations were extirpated. However, in some areas Ae.

Rapid evolution and the genomic consequences of selection against interspecific mating.

While few species introduced into a new environment become invasive, those that do provide critical information on ecological mechanisms that determine invasions success and the evolutionary responses that follow invasion. Aedes albopictus (the Asian tiger mosquito) was introduced into the naturalized range of Aedes aegypti (the yellow fever mosquito) in the United States in the mid-1980s, resulting in the displacement of A. aegypti in much of the south-eastern United States.

Efficacy of Chlorantraniliprole in Controlling Structural Infestations of the Eastern Subterranean Termite in the USA.

Subterranean termites are the most economically important structural pests in the USA, and the eastern subterranean termite, (Kollar) (Dictyoptera: Rhinotermitidae) is the most widely distributed species. Soil treatment with a liquid termiticide is a widely used method for controlling subterranean termites in structures. We assessed the efficacy of a nonrepellent termiticide, Altriset (active ingredient: chlorantraniliprole), in controlling structural infestations of in Texas, North Carolina, and Ohio and determined the post-treatment fate of termite colonies in and around the structures.

Unrelated secondary reproductives in the neotropical termite Silvestritermes euamignathus (Isoptera: Termitidae).

A termite colony is usually founded by a pair of alates, the primary reproductives, which produce all the nestmates. In some species, secondary reproductives appear to either replace the primaries or supplement colony reproduction. In termites, secondary reproductives are generally ergatoids derived from workers or nymphoids derived from nymphs.

Asexual queen succession in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes virginicus.

Termite colonies are founded by a pair of primary reproductives. In many species, including subterranean termites (family Rhinotermitidae), the primary king and queen can be succeeded by neotenic reproductives that are produced from workers or nymphs within the colony. It is generally believed that these neotenics inbreed within the colony, sometimes for many generations.

Queen succession through asexual reproduction in termites.

The evolution and maintenance of sexual reproduction may involve important tradeoffs because asexual reproduction can double an individual's contribution to the gene pool but reduces diversity. Moreover, in social insects the maintenance of genetic diversity among workers may be important for colony growth and survival. We identified a previously unknown termite breeding system in which both parthenogenesis and sexual reproduction are conditionally used.