The Invasive Liriomyza huidobrensis (Diptera: Agromyzidae): Understanding Its Pest Status and Management Globally.

Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) is native to South America but has expanded its range and invaded many regions of the world, primarily on flowers and to a lesser extent on horticultural product shipments. As a result of initial invasion into an area, damage caused is usually significant but not necessarily sustained. Currently, it is an economic pest in selected native and invaded regions of the world.

Prey and Pollen Food Choice Depends on Previous Diet in an Omnivorous Predatory Mite.

The time allocated by omnivorous predators to consuming prey versus plant-provided foods (e.g., pollen) directly influences their efficacy as biocontrol agents of agricultural pests.

Novel Rickettsiella bacterium in the leafhopper Orosius albicinctus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae).

Bacteria in the genus Rickettsiella (Coxiellaceae), which are mainly known as arthropod pathogens, are emerging as excellent models to study transitions between mutualism and pathogenicity. The current report characterizes a novel Rickettsiella found in the leafhopper Orosius albicinctus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), a major vector of phytoplasma diseases in Europe and Asia. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and pyrosequencing were used to survey the main symbionts of O.

Mites (Acari) as a factor in greenhouse management.

This review discusses the economically important pest mites (Acari) of greenhouses, aspects of their biology, and the acarine predators that attack them as well as various insect pests. Greenhouse factors affect pest mites as well as their natural enemy populations and their interactions. Conversely, pest mites affect greenhouse management in terms of the chemical and biological methods required to control their populations.

Incorporation of intraguild predation into a pest management decision-making tool: the case of thrips and two pollen-feeding predators in strawberry.

Action thresholds are traditionally based on the density of pests and the economic damage they cause to crops. Pest damage assessments are usually made in a "sterile" environment, devoid of extenuating factors such as predators, parasitoids, and alternative food sources. Recently, the effects of a predator or parasitoid species have been considered.

Comparison of UV-absorbing nets in pepper crops: spectral properties, effects on plants and pest control.

In horticultural crops, the use of screens to protect plants is the usual strategy in the Mediterranean area. Screen manufacturers offer a range of netting that vary in their UV-absorbing properties. We compared the photoeffects of seven different screens.

Physical control of leafhoppers.

In 2000, a severe outbreak of phytoplasma-caused disease in Limonium spp. flowers devastated the industry in Israel; insecticides were not able to knock down and kill leafhopper vectors before they could transmit the pathogen. Nonchoice laboratory studies were conducted to determine the effect of UV-absorbing plastics on the movement of leafhoppers toward light; UV-absorbing plastic significantly reduced leafhopper movement.

Factors affecting the distribution of a predatory mite on greenhouse sweet pepper.

The predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris is used for biological control of phytophagous mites and thrips on greenhouse cucumber and sweet pepper. In a previous study, N. cucumeris provided effective control of broad mite but was only rarely found on the sampled leaves, raising questions about the factors affecting N.

Mites for the control of pests in protected cultivation.

The production of crops under protected conditions is increasing worldwide. Owing to growing consumer demands for healthy and green produce, and intensifying pesticide resistance, non-chemical solutions--foremost among which is biological control--are being sought. The authors review recent advances related to the application of predatory mites for the control of greenhouse pests, and discuss interactions among acarine biocontrol agents (ABAs) and the effects of crop plants and new technologies on ABAs, such as artificial lighting, elevated carbon dioxide levels and genetically modified organisms.

Integrated control of pests in tropical and subtropical sweet pepper production.

Sweet pepper is now grown, in tropical and subtropical areas, under the integrated pest management (IPM) tactic of 'physical barrier', whereas it was once grown primarily in open fields. This management tactic, when properly employed, has the advantage of eliminating many of the larger open-field pests, and has resulted in greatly increased pepper yields. However, certain other pest populations are exacerbated by this IPM tactic.

Insect vectors of phytoplasmas.

Plant diseases caused by, or associated with, phytoplasmas occur in hundreds of commercial and native plants, causing minor to extensive damage. Insect vectors, primarily leafhoppers, planthoppers, and psyllids, have been identified for relatively few phytoplasma diseases, limiting the capacity of managers to make informed decisions to protect crops and endangered indigenous plants. In the past two decades our knowledge of insect vector-phytoplasma interactions has increased dramatically, allowing researchers to make more accurate predictions about the nature and epidemiology of phytoplasma diseases.

Vitex agnus-castus is a preferred host plant for Hyalesthes obsoletus.

Hyalesthes obsoletus Signoret (Homoptera: Cixiidae) is a polyphagous planthopper that transmits stolbur phytoplasma (a causative agent of "yellows" disease) to various weeds, members of the Solanaceae, and wine grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) in Europe and the Middle East. Planthoppers were collected by hand vacuuming eight native plant species.