Predation and parasitism of naturally occurring and sentinel stink bug egg masses of Halyomorpha halys (Stål) and Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in various southeastern habitats.

Stink bugs, including Halyomorpha halys (Stål) and Nezara viridula (L.), are agricultural pests that feed on fruit in a variety of crops. Monitoring predation and parasitism of stink bug egg masses furthers our understanding of potential biological control tactics. However, best practices for laboratory and field assessments of parasitism and predation of egg masses require further attention. We carried out a series of laboratory and field experiments to test whether parasitism and predation for three types of sentinel H. halys egg masses, fresh, frozen, and refrigerated, varied in agricultural commodities. In addition, we asked if predation and parasitism differed between sentinel and naturally occurring H. halys and N. viridula egg masses in soybean. In the laboratory, more H. halys eggs were parasitized by Trissolcus euschisti (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) if they were frozen or refrigerated compared to fresh eggs. Similarly, in the field, parasitism was higher for frozen egg masses than fresh. In 2018 and 2019, H. halys natural egg masses had higher parasitism and lower predation compared to sentinel egg masses in soybean. In a paired field test during 2020 and 2021, there was no difference in parasitism between H. halys natural and sentinel eggs, but much higher incidence of parasitism was detected in natural N. viridula egg masses than sentinel eggs. Collecting natural egg masses is the best methodology for field assessment of parasitism of stink bug egg masses; however, if natural egg masses are not easily available, deploying refrigerated sentinel egg masses is a good alternative.

Toxicity of Photorhabdus luminescens and Xenorhabdus bovienii bacterial metabolites to pecan aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and the lady beetle Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).

Toxicity of the metabolites of two bacteria, Photorhabdus luminescens and Xenorhabdus bovienii, symbionts of entomopathogenic nematodes, were tested in the laboratory against the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis, the black pecan aphid, Melanocallis caryaefoliae, and the blackmargined aphid, Monellia caryella. Bacterial broth prepared from both P. luminescens and X. bovienii demonstrated high levels of toxicity equivalent to the pyrethroid insecticide bifenthrin and caused higher insect mortality than tryptic soy broth plus yeast extract (TSY) (blank control) against M. caryella; broth culture of P. luminescens was more effective than TSY against M. caryaefoliae. At the levels tested, the metabolites were not toxic to H. axyridis.

Spatiotemporal Distribution of Two Euschistus spp. Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Southeastern Farmscapes.

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are ubiquitous, cryptic, phytophagous pests that are found in many crops. In agroecosystems, individuals disperse from adjacent noncrop hosts and tend to aggregate or cluster within fields. In this study, we characterized the distribution of Euschistus servus (Say) and Euschistus tristigmus (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) over 2 yr at three southeastern United States farmscapes. Stink bugs were captured in pheromone-baited traps, and Spatial Analysis by Distance Indices (SADIE) used to identify the location of significant aggregations by habitat type and season. Euschistus servus adults were more likely to be captured in pecan orchards, cotton, other crops, or unmanaged habitats than in woodland habitats. Significant aggregations of E. servus were detected in a variety of habitats including pecan, corn, cotton, peanut, and tobacco, as well as fallow and hay fields, pastures, and hedgerows. Fewer adult E. tristigmus were captured than E. servus adults, and E. tristigmus adults were typically trapped and aggregated in woodland habitats. The resulting data provide an important understanding regarding the seasonal movement and relative abundance levels of stink bug populations, which are critical to the development of integrated pest management strategies.

Influence of Pheromone-Baited Traps on Stink Bugs in Cotton.

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are economic pests in fruit, vegetable, grain, and row crops worldwide. Pyramid traps baited with lures of stink bug aggregation pheromones capture these pests in the field, but stink bugs can congregate on plants near traps. Our specific objective was to examine the area of arrestment of stink bugs based on their density on cotton at different distances from pheromone-baited traps. We used lures of the aggregation pheromone of Euschistus spp., methyl (2E,4Z)-2,4-decadienoate (MDD), and Plautia stali Scott, methyl [2E,4E,6Z]-2,4,6-decatrienoate (MDT). Overall, Euschistus servus (Say), Euschistus tristigmus (Say), Chinavia hilaris (Say), and Nezara viridula (L.) were the main stink bug species on cotton. Over the 3-yr study, adult stink bug density was significantly higher on the row of cotton immediately adjacent to a pheromone-baited trap than on the second and third row from the trap. Stink bug density was significantly lower on the seventh cotton row beyond the trap in 2015, on the fourth, eighth, and 16th rows in 2017, and on the fourth and eighth rows in 2018 compared to the two or three rows nearest the trap. These results indicate that adult stink bugs congregated mainly on the three cotton rows (2.73 m in width) nearest a trap. Management strategies utilizing pheromone-baited traps for stink bug control, such as trap cropping in combination with traps, should take into consideration this area of arrestment.

Density and Egg Parasitism of Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Elderberry and Dispersal Into Crops.

Chinavia hilaris (Say), Euschistus servus (Say), Euschistus tristigmus (Say), and Thyanta custator custator (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are serious pests of crops in the southeastern United States but little is known concerning their dispersal from noncrop hosts in woodlands into crops. This 2-yr study was conducted to investigate whether elderberry [Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis (L.) R. Bolli] in woodlands serves as a source of stink bugs dispersing into adjacent crops and to examine parasitism of C. hilaris and E. servus eggs on this plant. Elderberry was a reproductive host for each of the four stink bug species; females oviposited on plants with subsequent nymphs feeding on elderberry and developing into adults. Anastatus mirabilis (Walsh & Riley) (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), Anastatus reduvii (Howard), and Trissolcus edessae Fouts (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) were prevalent egg parasitoids of C. hilaris but A. reduvii was the prevalent parasitoid of E. servus Newly developed stink bug adults were first detected on elderberry around mid-July. Then in late July and early August, as elderberry fruit senesced and cotton bolls became available, stink bugs began dispersing from elderberry into cotton based on recapture of stink bugs on cotton that had previously been marked on elderberry. In addition, in 2015, density of C. hilaris, E. servus, and E. tristigmus was higher in cotton with elderberry than in cotton without it. Over the study, economic threshold was reached for four of seven cotton fields. Elimination of elderberry in woodlands adjacent to cotton may be a viable management tactic for control of stink bugs in cotton.

Curative Control of the Peachtree Borer Using Entomopathogenic Nematodes.

The peachtree borer, Synanthedon exitiosa (Say 1823), is a major pest of stone fruit trees in North America. Current management relies upon preventative control using broad-spectrum chemical insecticides, primarily chlorpyrifos, applied in the late summer or early fall. However, due to missed applications, poor application timing, or other factors, high levels of S. exitiosa infestation may still occur and persist through the following spring. Curative treatments applied in the spring to established infestations would limit damage to the tree and prevent the next generation of S. exitiosa from emerging within the orchard. However, such curative measures for control of S. exitiosa do not exist. Our objective was to measure the efficacy of the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae, as a curative control for existing infestations of S. exitiosa. In peach orchards, spring applications of S. carpocapsae (obtained from a commercial source) were made to infested trees and compared with chlorpyrifos and a water-only control in 2014 and 2015. Additionally, types of spray equipment were compared: nematodes were applied via boom sprayer, handgun, or trunk sprayer. To control for effects of application method or nematode source, in vivo laboratory-grown S. carpocapsae, applied using a watering can, was also included. Treatment effects were assessed 39 d (2014) or 19 d (2015) later by measuring percentage of trees still infested, and also number of surviving S. exitiosa larvae per tree. Results indicated that S. carpocapsae provided significant curative control (e.g., >80% corrected control for the handgun application). In contrast, chlorpyrifos failed to reduce S. exitiosa infestations or number of surviving larvae. In most comparisons, no effect of nematode application method was detected; in one assessment, only the handgun and watering can methods reduced infestation. In conclusion, our study indicates that S. carpocapsae may be used as an effective curative measure for S. exitiosa infestations.

The Effect of Sample Height on Spray Coverage in Mature Pecan Trees.

Pecan scab (caused by Fusicladium effusum) is the most damaging disease of pecan in the southeastern United States. Large air-blast sprayers for orchards are used to apply fungicide to control the disease but little quantitative information exists on the spray coverage achieved in the canopy of these trees. A series of experiments using water-sensitive spray cards to record spray coverage (percent area) at different heights and locations up to 15 m in the canopy of pecan trees showed a significantly greater percentage of card area covered at the lowest sample height when compared with the highest sample height. At the lowest height (5 m), spray coverage on individual cards ranged from 4.7 to 73.5% and, at the highest sample height (15 m), spray coverage ranged from 0.02 to 9.5%. In general, there was little significant difference in spray card coverage up to at least 10 m but, at 12.5 and 15 m, there was significantly less spray coverage compared with the coverage at 5 m. Regression analysis indicated a consistent linear relationship between sample height in the tree and the percent area covered. When spray cards were positioned at different heights without possible interference from pecan limbs and foliage, similar effects of sample height on spray coverage were noted. Wind speed measurements showed that air movement declined rapidly with distance from the sprayer fan. Whereas, at 2 m from the fan, wind speeds were approximately 26 m s-1, by 10 m, speeds had declined to 2 to 4 m s-1. At distances >12 m, wind speed was approaching ambient air movement of about 1 to 3 m s-1. Although aerial application resulted in numerically greater spray coverage at sample heights >10 m, it was not significant even though a weak linear relationship (R2 = 0.21 to 0.25) suggested an effect of height. Characterizing and understanding pesticide spray coverage in pecan will allow us to discern limits imposed by existing technology, and provide the basis for improving spray application methods (or tree management) for more efficacious disease control.

Spatiotemporal Distribution of Chinavia hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Peanut-Cotton Farmscapes.

The green stink bug, Chinavia hilaris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a pest of cotton in the southeastern United States, but little is known concerning its spatiotemporal distribution in agricultural farmscapes. Therefore, spatiotemporal distribution of C. hilaris in farmscapes where cotton fields adjoined peanut was examined weekly. Spatial patterns of C. hilaris counts were analyzed using SADIE (Spatial Analysis by Distance Indices) methodology. Interpolated maps of C. hilaris density were used to visualize abundance and distribution of C. hilaris in crops. For the six peanut-cotton farmscapes studied, the frequency of C. hilaris in cotton (94.8%) was significantly higher than in peanut (5.2%), and nymphs were rarely detected in peanut, indicating that peanut was not a source of C. hilaris into cotton. Significantly, aggregated spatial distributions were detected in cotton. Maps of local clustering indices depicted patches of C. hilaris in cotton, mainly at field edges including the peanut-to-cotton interface. Black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) and elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis [L.] R. Bolli) grew in habitats adjacent to crops, C. hilaris were captured in pheromone-baited stink bug traps in these habitats, and in most instances, C. hilaris were observed feeding on black cherry and elderberry in these habitats before colonization of cotton. Spatial distribution of C. hilaris in these farmscapes revealed that C. hilaris colonized cotton field edges near these two noncrop hosts. Altogether, these findings suggest that black cherry and elderberry were sources of C. hilaris into cotton. Factors affecting the spatiotemporal dynamics of C. hilaris in peanut-cotton farmscapes are discussed.

Spatiotemporal distribution of Chinavia hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in corn farmscapes.

The green stink bug, Chinavia hilaris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a pest of cotton in the southeastern United States but little is known concerning its spatiotemporal distribution in corn cropping systems. Therefore, the spatiotemporal distribution of C. hilaris in farmscapes, when corn was adjacent to cotton, peanut, or both, was examined weekly. The spatial patterns of C. hilaris counts were analyzed using Spatial Analysis by Distance Indices methodology. Interpolated maps of C. hilaris density were used to visualize abundance and distribution of C. hilaris in crops in corn-peanut-cotton farmscapes. This stink bug was detected in six of seven corn-cotton farmscapes, four of six corn-peanut farmscapes, and in both corn-peanut-cotton farmscapes. The frequency of C. hilaris in cotton (89.47%) was significantly higher than in peanut (7.02%) or corn (3.51%). This stink bug fed on noncrop hosts that grew in field borders adjacent to crops. The spatial distribution of C. hilaris in crops and the capture of C. hilaris adults and nymphs in pheromone-baited traps near noncrop hosts indicated that these hosts were sources of this stink bug dispersing into crops, primarily cotton. Significant aggregated spatial distributions were detected in cotton on some dates within corn-peanut-cotton farmscapes. Maps of local clustering indices depicted small patches of C. hilaris in cotton or cotton-sorghum at the peanut-cotton interface. Factors affecting the spatiotemporal dynamics of C. hilaris in corn farmscapes are discussed.

Leaffooted Bugs: Insect Pest Species of Growing Concern for Agriculture.

Leptoglossus (Hemiptera: Coreidae) are a diverse genus of phytophagous insects. Literature regarding Leptoglossus has increased as species are identified as emerging agricultural pests or reported outside of their native range. Within Leptoglossus, five species dominate the literature and are known pests and vectors of plant pathogenic microbes in several major crops. Despite the increasing profile of Leptoglossus, current monitoring and management methods rely primarily on visual inspection, and semiochemical tools have yet to be developed. This Perspective identifies and discusses gaps in the Leptoglossus literature as well as areas of research needed for the development of effective tools for monitoring insect populations and enabling informed pest-management practices.

Seasonal activity of plum curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in small Southeastern peach orchards.

Plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a key pest in Southeastern peach production by infesting fruit and decreasing yield. In Northeastern apples, plum curculio was found to have an "edge effect," where more plum curculio are present next to a forested border than in the center of an orchard, and their propensity to fly or walk depended on air temperature. We conducted field studies over 3 seasons (2019-2021) to investigate whether plum curculio in small Southeastern peach plots exhibits the edge effect and to determine its primary mode of movement (flying or walking). Our results revealed that plum curculio did not exhibit the edge effect in Southeastern peaches. Thus, unlike Northeastern apples where plum curculio exhibits the edge effect, the reduced-input application program where insecticide sprays mainly target a few perimeter-row trees instead of the whole orchard for plum curculio management is not recommended for Southeastern peaches. Additionally, we observed that plum curculio in Southeastern peaches did not exhibit a primary mode of movement, and in most of the sampling weeks, the numbers of flying and walking plum curculio were not significantly correlated in the field. These results emphasize that using plum curculio sampling tools that only capture flying or walking plum curculio is not ideal for monitoring plum curculio activity in the Southeast. Overall, our findings indicate that plum curculio in Southeastern small peach plots and Northeastern apples does not exhibit the same behavior (i.e., edge effect and propensity to fly or walk).

Vertical Distribution of Scab in Large Pecan Trees.

Pecan scab (Fusicladium effusum) is a destructive disease of pecan in the southeastern United States. This study was conducted to investigate the vertical distribution of scab in tall pecan trees (14 to 16 m tall) in three experiments in 2010 and 2011. Although 2010 had average rainfall, a factor that drives scab epidemics, 2011 was a very dry year with a consequently low scab severity. A total of eight trees were included in each experiment, four were nontreated controls, and four were sprayed using a ground-based air-blast sprayer. Trees were assessed for foliar and fruit scab at 0-5.0, 5.0+-7.5, 7.5+-10.0, 10.0+-12.5, and 12.5+-15.0 m. Mixed model analysis showed main effects of height, fungicide treatment, and height*treatment interactions in all three experiments, although on foliage the effects were less consistent (P value = 0.003-0.8), perhaps due to delayed fungicide applications early in the season. However, fruit of nontreated trees had more severe scab low in the canopy compared to fungicide-treated trees, with a consistent height*treatment interaction (P value = <0.0001-0.04). Most often the severity of scab in the upper canopy was similar in trees on fungicide-treated and nontreated trees, suggesting that fungicide had less impact at heights ≥10.0 m compared to <10.0 m in the canopy. There was a consistent reduction in scab severity on foliage and on immature fruit in August due to fungicide treatment at heights ≤10.0 m. Above 10.0 m, the effect was inconsistent, but late in the season (October), the fungicide-treated trees showed lower scab severity throughout the canopy. A metallic tracer study using cerium (Ce) showed an exponential relationship between quantities of Ce recovered and sample height in the canopy, with the quantity of Ce at ≥10 m being statistically equal to background levels. The relationship between scab severity on fruit and sample height in the canopy of nontreated trees was most often described by a negative linear function, but there was no discernible relationship on fungicide-treated trees, as the severity of scab in the lower canopy was most often similar to that in the upper canopy. Gradients in fungicide coverage and scab severity have ramifications for scab management options and potentially for the development of fungicide resistance in F. effusum.

Control of key pecan insect pests using biorational pesticides.

Key pecan insect pests include the black pecan aphid, Melanocallis caryaefoliae (Davis), pecan weevil, Curculio caryae (Horn), and stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Alternative control tactics are needed for management of these pests in organic and conventional systems. Our objective was to evaluate the potential utility of several alternative insecticides including three plant extract formulations, eucalyptus extract, citrus extract-8.92%, and citrus extract-19.4%, and two microbial insecticides, Chromobacterium subtsugae (Martin et al.) and Isaria fumosorosea (Wize). In the laboratory, eucalyptus extract, citrus extract-8.92%, citrus extract-19.4%, and C. subtsugae caused M. caryaefoliae mortality (mortality was reached approximately 78, 83, and 96%, respectively). In field tests, combined applications of I. fumosorosea with eucalyptus extract were synergistic and caused up to 82% mortality in M. caryaefoliae. In laboratory assays focusing on C. caryae suppression, C. subtsugae reduced feeding and oviposition damage, eucalyptus extract and citrus extract-19.4% were ineffective, and antagonism was observed when citrus extract-19.4% was combined with the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser). In field tests, C. subtsugae reduced C. caryae damage by 55% within the first 3d, and caused 74.5% corrected mortality within 7 d posttreatment. In the laboratory, C. subtsugae and eucalyptus extract did not cause mortality in the brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say). Applications of C. subtsugae for suppression of C. caryae, and eucalyptus extract plus I. fumosorosea for control of M. caryaefoliae show promise as alternative insecticides and should be evaluated further.

Low Incidence of Avian Predation on the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), in Southeastern Orchard Systems.

In many agroecosystems, brown marmorated stink bugs (Halyomorpha halys) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are polyphagous pests that cause significant economic losses to numerous crops every year. Insectivorous birds may provide a means of sustainable predation of invasive pests, such as H. halys. In forest margins surrounding peach, pecan, and interplanted peach-pecan orchards, we monitored H. halys populations with pheromone-baited traps, mist-netted birds, and collected avian fecal samples for molecular gut content analysis. We screened 257 fecal samples from 19 bird species for the presence of H. halys DNA to determine whether birds provide the biological control of this pest. Overall, we found evidence that four birds from three species consumed H. halys, including Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalisis), Tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor), and Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus). Halyomorpha halys captured in traps increased over time but did not vary by orchard type. Although incidence of predation was low, this may be an underestimate as a result of our current avian fecal sampling methodology. Because birds are members of the broader food web, future studies are needed to understand avian ecosystem services, especially in terms of pest control, including H. halys and other pest species.

Habitat and vertical stratification affect capture of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and biological control of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug.

Spatiotemporal distribution of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and their natural enemies across farmscapes has been studied in more detail recently. However, the impact of plant height on vertical stratification of stink bugs and their natural enemies is rarely addressed across these diverse habitats. In this study, we examined capture of native stink bugs, the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål)(Hemiptera:Pentatomidae), and a predaceous wasp, Astata occidentalis Cresson (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) in pheromone-baited traps, in 2 habitats, woodlands of mostly deciduous trees mixed with some conifers and pecan orchards, in addition to their vertical stratification (0-13.7 m) at increasing heights. Furthermore, the effects of canopy height and habitat on H. halys egg mass predation and parasitism were evaluated. Adult H. halys were abundant in both habitats, but more nymphs were captured in pecan orchards. The same pattern was found for adult Euschistus servus (Say) (Hemiptera:Pentatomidae), Thyanta custator McAtee (Hemiptera:Pentatomidae), and A. occidentalis. In contrast, adult E. tristigmus (Say) (Hemiptera:Pentatomidae) and Chinavia hilaris (Say) (Hemiptera:Pentatomidae) were more abundant in woodlands. More nymphal H. halys and adults of E. servus, T. custator, and A. occidentalis were captured in ground traps than canopy traps in pecan. More adult and nymphal H. halys were captured at varying heights in the woodland canopy compared to near the ground as were adult E. tristigmus and C. hilaris. Both parasitism and predation occurred in woodland and pecan canopies. However, in one test we found that parasitism of H. halys egg masses occurred more often in the upper tree canopy, and more parasitism was detected in woodland than orchard habitat. In 2 tests, predation was higher in woodlands than pecan orchards. These results will aid in optimizing conservation biological control tactics in these habitats.

Black Pecan Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Management on Pecan When Gibberellic Acid Is Applied Concurrently With Broad-Spectrum Insecticides.

Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are serious pests of pecan foliage (Carya illinoinensis [Wangenh.] K. Koch). The black pecan aphid, Melanocallis caryaefoliae (Davis) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), feeds on pecan foliage and elicits leaf chlorosis that can cause defoliation. In contrast, the blackmargined aphid, Monellia caryella (Fitch) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), and yellow pecan aphid, Monelliopsis pecanis Bissell (Hemiptera: Aphididae), feed on pecan foliage but do not elicit chlorotic feeding injury. Application of gibberellic acid (GA3) to pecan foliage reduces chlorotic foliar injury and nymphal populations of the black pecan aphid. GA3 has potential to manage black pecan aphid later in the season when broad-spectrum insecticides are used to control direct pests of pecan nuts but also inadvertently induce aphid outbreaks. Here, broad-spectrum insecticides were used with GA3 or aphicides in orchard trials for 2 yr. Populations of aphids and natural enemies along with chlorotic feeding injury on foliage were assessed. When used concurrently with GA3 or aphicides, broad-spectrum insecticides did not flare black pecan aphid populations. However, combined populations blackmargined aphids and yellow pecan aphids were higher in treatments with GA3 than with an aphicide or in the control treatment during one of two years. Application of GA3 or the aphicide often led to significantly less chlorotic injury than observed in the control. Surprisingly, natural enemies were not significantly affected by broad-spectrum insecticides when applied concurrently with GA3. These results show that GA3 can be used as part of a late-season IPM strategy to protect foliage from localized chlorotic leaf injury elicited by the black pecan aphid.

Spatiotemporal Distribution of Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Across a Fruit and Tree Nut Agricultural Ecosystem.

The invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a mobile, polyphagous agricultural pest that feeds on a variety of plants. In orchard systems, seasonal monitoring of adults and nymphs in fruit and nut trees and noncrop host plants in surrounding habitat can be used to identify, in time and space, areas of high-density aggregations to develop targeted pest management strategies. We explored the spatiotemporal distribution of H. halys adults and nymphs and assessed whether seasonal distribution patterns varied according to habitat. From 2018 to 2021, pheromone-baited traps were placed in orchard and noncrop plants to first document the establishment of H. halys at this site and to describe seasonal development. In addition, stink bugs were monitored weekly during 2019-2020 across a grid of baited traps placed within the orchard ecosystem. Based on grid data, we used Spatial Analysis by Distance Indices (SADIE) to identify significant clusters of H. halys and visualized aggregations with interpolated maps. Overall, the distribution of H. halys adults and nymphs were similar; both aggregated primarily in peach and adjacent woodlands followed by pecan. Timing of aggregations was consistent across years and reached the highest levels in July and August. Moreover, we document that H. halys is an established pest within this orchard ecosystem, and that noncrop host plants likely play an important role in maintaining populations of H. halys. To manage H. halys in southeastern orchard systems, growers may need to account for host plants in habitats that surround fruiting trees.

Effects of combining microbial and chemical insecticides on mortality of the Pecan Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The pecan weevil, Curculio caryae (Horn), is a key pest of pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch]. Current control recommendations are based on chemical insecticide applications. Microbial control agents such as the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) and the fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin occur naturally in southeastern U.S. pecan orchards and have shown promise as alternative control agents for C. caryjae. Conceivably, the chemical and microbial agents occur simultaneously within pecan orchards or might be applied concurrently. The objective of this study was to determine the interactions between two chemical insecticides that are used in commercial C. caryae control (i.e., carbaryl and cypermethrin applied below field rates) and the microbial agents B. bassiana and S. carpocapsae. In laboratory experiments, pecan weevil larval or adult mortality was assessed after application of microbial or chemical treatments applied singly or in combination (microbial + chemical agent). The nature of interactions (antagonism, additivity, or synergy) in terms of weevil mortality was evaluated over 9 d (larvae) or 5 d (adults). Results for B. bassiana indicated synergistic activity with carbaryl and antagonism with cypermethrin in C. caryae larvae and adults. For S. carpocapsae, synergy was detected with both chemicals in C. caryae larvae, but only additive effects were detected in adult weevils. Our results indicate that the chemical-microbial combinations tested are compatible with the exception of B. bassiana and cypermethrin. In addition, combinations that exhibited synergistic interactions may provide enhanced C. caryae control in commercial field applications; thus, their potential merits further exploration.

Characterizing the Spatiotemporal Distribution of Three Native Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) across an Agricultural Landscape.

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are polyphagous pests that cause significant economic losses to a variety of crops. Although many species have been documented to aggregate within agricultural fields, much less is known regarding the timing and distribution of adults and nymphs within and between surrounding non-crop habitat. Therefore, we explored the spatiotemporal distribution of Euschistus servus (Say), Euschistus tristigmus (Say), and Chinavia hilaris (Say), three species of North American origin, and examined whether distribution patterns varied between species according to habitat. Stink bugs were monitored weekly for three years within an 18 km2 grid of pheromone-baited traps. We tested whether habitat affected distribution patterns, used spatial analysis by distance indices (SADIE) to identify aggregations, and visualized distributions with interpolated maps. Overall, E. servus adults were captured in crops, whereas E. tristigmus adults and nymphs were mainly captured in forests. Accordingly, distribution patterns of E. tristigmus were relatively stable over time, whereas aggregations of adult E. servus varied over space, and the timing of aggregations reflected the phenology of major crops. Chinavia hilaris was most often captured in forest, followed by crop habitat. Pest management strategies for stink bugs may require an area-based management approach that accounts for movement in agricultural fields and surrounding habitat.

Gibberellic acid decreases Melanocallis caryaefoliae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) population density and chlorotic feeding injury to foliage in pecan orchards.

BACKGROUND: Melanocallis caryaefoliae (Davis), Monellia caryella (Fitch), and Monelliopsis pecanis Bissell (Hemiptera: Aphididae) attack pecan foliage (Carya illinoinensis [Wangenh.] K. Koch). Unlike M. caryella and M. pecanis, feeding by M. caryaefoliae triggers a physiological change within foliage mimicking natural leaf senescence; it can lead to defoliation. Pretreatment of pecan foliage with gibberellic acid (GA3 ) mitigates M. caryaefoliae-elicited physiological disturbances. GA3 application to pecan was evaluated for efficacy regarding effects on M. caryaefoliae populations and possible negative side-effects on two natural enemy species and on return bloom of pecan. RESULTS: All GA3 treatment rate schedules significantly reduced M. caryaefoliae nymphs but not adults or adults and nymphs of M. caryella or M. pecanis. Percentage leaf chlorosis elicited by M. caryaefoliae was significantly reduced by GA3 (i.e., 39.5 to 197.7 g a.i./ha). No negative side-effects of GA3 treatment were detected regarding certain key natural enemy species or on return bloom of pecan. CONCULUSION: Application of GA3 to the orchard canopy protects foliage from senescence-like physiological responses triggered by M. caryaefoliae. This reduces detrimental leaflet chlorosis, both senescence and abscission processes and horticulturally significant feeding injury. Additionally, the absence of apparent negative side-effects on key natural enemies and return bloom is suggestive of a practical means for efficacious non-insecticidal control of M. caryaefoliae populations in orchards. This novel protective effect of GA3 against aphid-elicited, senescence-like physiological responses may merit investigation as an IPM tool to manage aphid species eliciting similar senescence-like damage to other crop species. Published 2020. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.