(Nematoda: Mermithidae) Infection in South Carolina Agricultural Pests.

Native and invasive stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and the closely related invasive (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) are agricultural pests in the southeastern United States. Natural enemies, from various phyla, parasitize these pests and contribute to population regulation. We specifically investigated Nematoda infections in pentatomid and plataspid pests in one soybean field in South Carolina in 2015.

An Ethylene-Protected Achilles' Heel of Etiolated Seedlings for Arthropod Deterrence.

A small family of Kunitz protease inhibitors exists in Arabidopsis thaliana, a member of which (encoded by At1g72290) accomplishes highly specific roles during plant development. Arabidopsis Kunitz-protease inhibitor 1 (Kunitz-PI;1), as we dubbed this protein here, is operative as cysteine PI. Activity measurements revealed that despite the presence of the conserved Kunitz-motif the bacterially expressed Kunitz-PI;1 was unable to inhibit serine proteases such as trypsin and chymotrypsin, but very efficiently inhibited the cysteine protease RESPONSIVE TO DESICCATION 21.

Assessment of a Cross-Vane Trap as a Tool for Sampling the Invasive Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) in Soybean with Associated Evaluations of Female Reproductive Status.

Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) is an established pest of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, in the southeastern United States.

Jasmonic acid protects etiolated seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana against herbivorous arthropods.

Seed predators can cause mass ingestion of larger seed populations. As well, herbivorous arthropods attempt to attack etiolated seedlings and chose the apical hook for ingestion, aimed at dropping the cotyledons for later consumption. Etiolated seedlings, as we show here, have established an efficient mechanism of protecting their Achilles' heel against these predators, however.

Stability of Spatial Distributions of Stink Bugs, Boll Injury, and NDVI in Cotton.

A 3-yr study was conducted to determine the degree of aggregation of stink bugs and boll injury in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., and their spatial association with a multispectral vegetation index (normalized difference vegetation index [NDVI]). Using the spatial analysis by distance indices analyses, stink bugs were less frequently aggregated (17% for adults and 4% for nymphs) than boll injury (36%).

Impact of Lepidoptera (Crambidae, Noctuidae, and Pyralidae) Pests on Corn Containing Pyramided Bt Traits and a Blended Refuge in the Southern United States.

Blended refuge for transgenic plants expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins has been approved in the northern United States as a resistance management strategy alternative to a structured refuge. A three-year study (2012-2014) was conducted with 54 trials across nine states in the southern United States to evaluate plant injury from lepidopteran pests of corn and yield in a corn hybrid expressing Cry1F × Cry1Ab × Vip3Aa20 (Pioneer Brand Optimum Leptra) planted as a pure stand and in refuge blends of 5, 10, and 20% in both early and late plantings. Injury by corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea Boddie (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.

Programmed chloroplast destruction during leaf senescence involves 13-lipoxygenase (13-LOX).

Leaf senescence is the terminal stage in the development of perennial plants. Massive physiological changes occur that lead to the shut down of photosynthesis and a cessation of growth. Leaf senescence involves the selective destruction of the chloroplast as the site of photosynthesis.

General Biology and Current Management Approaches of Soft Scale Pests (Hemiptera: Coccidae).

We summarize the economic importance, biology, and management of soft scales, focusing on pests of agricultural, horticultural, and silvicultural crops in outdoor production systems and urban landscapes. We also provide summaries on voltinism, crawler emergence timing, and predictive models for crawler emergence to assist in developing soft scale management programs. Phloem-feeding soft scale pests cause direct (e.

Frankliniella fusca resistance to neonicotinoid insecticides: an emerging challenge for cotton pest management in the eastern United States.

Background: Over the past two decades, neonicotinoid seed treatments have become the primary method to manage tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca Hinds, on seedling cotton. Because this insect is highly polyphagous and the window of insecticide exposure is short, neonicotinoid resistance was expected to pose a minimal risk. However, reports of higher than expected F.

Developing Sampling Plans for the Invasive Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) in Soybean.

Since its discovery in the southeastern United States, the invasive plataspid Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) has infested soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) fields in often very high numbers.

A Comparison of Trap Types for Assessing Diversity of Scarabaeoidea on South Carolina Golf Courses.

A 2-yr survey was conducted on golf courses in South Carolina to 1) document the species richness and seasonal activity of Scarabaeoidea; 2) assess any species compositional differences among three trap types (ultraviolet light, unbaited flight-intercept, and unbaited pitfall); and 3) identify any dominant taxa in each trap type. A total of 74,326 scarabaeoid beetles were captured, of which 77.4% were Aphodiinae (not identified to species).

Inhibition of Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Growth by Transgenic Corn Expressing Bt Toxins and Development of Resistance to Cry1Ab.

Transgenic corn, Zea mays L., that expresses the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin Cry1Ab is only moderately toxic to Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and has been planted commercially since 1996. Growth and development of H.

Non-Native Ambrosia Beetles as Opportunistic Exploiters of Living but Weakened Trees.

Exotic Xylosandrus spp. ambrosia beetles established in non-native habitats have been associated with sudden and extensive attacks on a diverse range of living trees, but factors driving their shift from dying/dead hosts to living and healthy ones are not well understood. We sought to characterize the role of host physiological condition on preference and colonization by two invaders, Xylosandrus germanus and Xylosandrus crassiusculus.

Spatial and temporal dynamics of stink bugs in southeastern farmscapes.

A 3-yr study (2009-2011) was conducted to examine the spatial and temporal dynamics of stink bugs in three commercial farmscapes. Study locations were replicated in South Carolina and Georgia, in an agriculturally diverse region known as the southeastern coastal plain. Crops included wheat, Triticum aestivum (L.

First report of a mermithid nematode infecting the invasive Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) in the United States.

Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) has become a pest of soybean, Glycine max (L.), in the United States. While several natural enemies of M.

Spatial distribution of stink bugs (hemiptera: pentatomidae) in wheat.

A two-year study was conducted in South Carolina wheat (Triticum aestivum L. (Poales: Poaceae)) fields to describe spatial and temporal dynamics of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), which were sampled weekly with sweep nets. In 2010, the main phytophagous stink bugs caught in a grid sampling plan across two fields were the brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), the rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax (F.

Residual efficacy of insecticides applied to exterior building material surfaces for control of nuisance infestations of Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae).

The plataspid Megacopta cribraria (F.), which was recently introduced to the United States, forms nuisance aggregations on the exteriors of homes when it seeks overwintering sites in the fall. Little to no published information is available on the efficacy of insecticides labeled for professional use and exterior applications on homes and other structures against this insect.

Spatial analysis of the cereal leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in wheat.

A 2-yr study was conducted in wheat, Triticum aestivum L., in South Carolina involving weekly sampling of cereal leaf beetle, Oulema melanopus (L.).

Spatial distribution of the cereal leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in wheat.

A 2-yr study was conducted in wheat fields in South Carolina involving weekly sampling of cereal leaf beetle, Oulema melanopus (L.). In each of the six fields of this study, temporal patterns showed two distinct peaks in March and in May of adult O.

Development of sampling plans for cotton bolls injured by stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., bolls were sampled in commercial fields for stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) injury during 2007 and 2008 in South Carolina and Georgia. Across both years of this study, boll-injury percentages averaged 14.

Effect of Barberry Eradication on Changes in Populations of Puccinia graminis in Minnesota.

Proportions of formae speciales of Puccinia graminis in collections of aeciospores from barberry were determined from cereal rust survey records from 1912 to 2002 in Minnesota. The frequency of P. graminis f.

Prevalence and Distribution of Common Barberry, the Alternate Host of Puccinia graminis, in Minnesota.

A federal and state program operated from 1918 until the 1980s to eradicate common barberry (Berberis vulgaris), the alternate host of Puccinia graminis, from the major areas of cereal production in the United States. Over 500 million bushes were destroyed nationally during the program, approximately 1 million in Minnesota. Some sites in Minnesota where barberry bushes were destroyed remained in the "active" class when eradication was phased out in the 1980s.

Nutrient Solution Temperature Affects Pythium Root Rot of Tobacco in Greenhouse Float Systems.

Float nutrient solution, soilless media, and ambient temperatures were monitored in two tobacco greenhouses with different heating regimes. Water temperatures at seeding were 11°C in an unheated greenhouse and 17°C in a heated greenhouse. Water temperature differences between greenhouses continued over the duration of seedling production.

First Report of Pythium myriotylum in a Tobacco Seedling Float System in South Carolina.

Float bay production of seedlings accounts for approximately 62% of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) transplant production in South Carolina. Float systems utilize styrofoam trays containing soilless media that float in plastic-lined bays filled with nutrient solution.