BACKGROUND: Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae) is an invasive spider mite native to the Americas. In 2013 it invaded the main citrus-growing area in Spain producing significant damage and requiring chemical treatments. This work examines its population structure, spatial distribution and presents a sampling plan, which will assist in developing an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy.
RESULTS: There were differences in the population structure on fruits and leaves, as well as between leaves from different flushes with fluctuations over time correlated with variations in sex ratio. No differences in aggregation at the different plant strata were found; however, immature stages showed a higher aggregation than adults, with females being the sex with the lowest aggregation. There was a high correlation between E. banksi motile forms and adult females with the total population, thus both were used as reference stages to develop sampling plans. We recommend binomial sampling of 100 leaves for female monitoring, sampling two leaves per tree on 25 trees per transect regularly spaced along two diagonal transects, the first oriented northeast to southwest and the second northwest to southeast. To be more accurate, it is possible to survey the presence/absence of motile forms. In this case, four leaves per tree in 50 trees per transect should be monitored.
CONCLUSIONS: This study has resulted in the first sampling plan for E. banksi, one of the most damaging citrus mite species described so far. The binomial sampling plan involves monitoring reference developmental stages, as well as a reasonable sample size that makes it applicable in field sampling for decisions making based on a future intervention threshold. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Beekeepers need new treatment options for controlling small hive beetles (Aethina tumida), a devastating honey bee (Apis mellifera) pest. For many years, commercial beekeepers in the U.S. have used gel roach baits off-label as a method for treating SHBs. Herein, we evaluated the acute toxicity of active ingredients commonly found in gel roach baits, including abamectin, clothianidin, hydramethylnon, fipronil, and indoxacarb through topical and oral routes of exposure against SHBs and honey bees. Additionally, coumaphos, the active ingredient of the only registered in-hive control treatment for SHBs, was evaluated to provide a comparison to the gel roach bait active ingredients. Fipronil was the most toxic compound to SHBs topically (LD50 = 0.23 ng/SHB) and through pollen (LC50 = 0.06 µg/g pollen). Fipronil (LD50 = 0.31 ng/honey bee) had a selectivity ratio of 1.3, suggesting that it is more toxic to SHBs than it is to honey bees, but only to a small degree. Abamectin, clothianidin, hydramethylnon, and indoxacarb had a higher toxicity to honey bees than to SHBs through topical exposure. Our results suggest that gel roach baits and their active ingredients are toxic to honey bees and pose a serious risk to colony safety if used as in-hive treatments.

Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) released two beautiful Lilium varieties in 2020. In the same year the farmers in Gazipur district reported a set of disease symptoms on these flowers and alerted the Plant Pathology Division of BARI. Subsequent investigation confirmed the symptoms as Botrytis gray mold (BGM), caused by Botrytis cinerea. The pathogen identity was confirmed through ITS gene sequencing. A series of in vitro and in planta experiments conducted to understand the symptoms, the optimal growth condition for the pathogen, potential resistant Lilium genotypes, effective chemical treatments and potential of biological control agents to combat the disease. B. cinerea exhibited the highest growth in V8 media (88.55 mm) at pH6 (85.32 mm) and temperature between 20 and 25 °C (89.56 mm), and pH6 (85.32 mm). Screening revealed that five oriental-originated genotypes provided lower disease incidence (31.66-41.66 %), and were categorized as moderately resistant to resistant in disease reaction. Six fungicides successfully reduced mycelial growth in vitro. Moreover, Ipridione provided the lowest % disease incidence (27.11) and % disease severity (5.33) in the in planta nethouse experiment. Therefore, this fungicide was recommended to the farmers initially. Additionally, two fungal biocontrol agents Epicoccum nigrum EJS002 and Trichoderma ThC003, demonstrated effectiveness in reducing leaf lesion size over control in a detach leaf assessment technique. In conclusion, this study presents BGM of Lilium as a farmers issue for the first time in Bangladesh. It also provides valuable insights into its management, recommending specific chemical fungicides for farmers to use, and two fungal antagonists (E. nigrum EJS002 and Trichoderma ThC003) as potential disease control agent.

Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner;Hemiptera: Aphididae), sugarcane aphid (SCA), is an invasive phloem-feeder found worldwide with a wide host range of economically important plants including sorghum and sugarcane. Given its high reproductive capacity and ability to rapidly spread over long distances, SCA presents challenges for effective control, leading to substantial economic losses. Recent studies have identified two multiloci SCA genotypes specialized in feeding on sugarcane (MLL-D) and sorghum (MLL-F) in the USA, which raises concerns as the USA is the second largest sorghum-producing country. This has encouraged research towards identifying these two biotypes where some research has stated them as two species; MLL-D clade to be M. sacchari and MLL-F clade to be M. sorghi Theobald (Hemiptera: Aphididae), sorghum aphid (SA). This review aims at compiling research progress that has been made on understanding the SCA/SA species complex. Furthermore, this review also highlights a wide range of management strategies against SCA/SA that includes both biological and chemical methods. In addition, the review emphasizes studies examining host plant resistance to understand and evaluate the role of R-genes and phytohormones such as jasmonic acid, salicylic acid and ethylene against SCA. Beside this, plant volatiles and other secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, terpenes and phytanes are also explored as potential control agents. Being an invasive pest, a single management tactic is inadequate to control SCA population and hence, integrated pest management practices incorporating physical, cultural and biological control methods should be implemented with exclusive chemical control as a last resort, which this review examines in detail. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

The clover seed weevil, Tychius picirostris Fabricius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a major pest in Oregon white clover seed crops. Reliance on synthetic pyrethroid insecticides and limited availability of diverse modes of action (MoAs) has increased insecticide resistance selection in regional T. picirostris populations, emphasizing the need to evaluate novel chemistries and rotational strategies for effective insecticide resistance management (IRM). The efficacy of 8 foliar insecticide formulations for managing T. picirostris adult and larval life stages was determined in small and large-plot field trials across 2 crop years. In both years, bifenthrin (Brigade 2EC), the grower\'s standard, showed negligible adult and larval suppression. Insecticide formulations with isocycloseram and cyantraniliprole active ingredients reduced adult and larval populations when applied at BBCH 59-60 (prebloom) and BBCH 65-66 (full bloom) growth stages, respectively. While differences in T. picirostris abundance were observed among insecticide treatments, seed yield differences were not detected in large-plot trials. Larval abundance was correlated with reduced seed yield, and an economic threshold of ≥3 larvae per 30 inflorescences was determined as a conservative larval threshold to justify foliar applications of diamide insecticides. Additional commercial white clover seed fields were surveyed to compare larval scouting techniques, including a standard Berlese funnel and a grower\'s do-it-yourself funnel. Both larval extraction techniques were correlated and provided similar estimates of larval abundance. These findings demonstrate new MoAs, optimal insecticide application timing, and larval monitoring methods that can be incorporated into an effective T. picirostris IRM program in white clover seed crops.

This study characterized 52 isolates of Monilinia fructicola from peach and nectarine orchards for their multi-resistance patterns to thiophanate-methyl (TF), tebuconazole (TEB), and azoxystrobin (AZO) using in vitro sensitivity assays and molecular analysis. The radial growth of M. fructicola isolates was measured on media amended with a single discriminatory dose of 1 µg/ml for TF and AZO and 0.3 µg/ml for TEB. Cyt b, CYP51, and ß-tubulin were tested for point mutations that confer resistance to quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs), demethylation inhibitors (DMIs), and methyl benzimidazole carbamates (MBCs), respectively. Eight phenotypes were identified including isolates with single, double, and triple in vitro resistance to QoI, MBC, and DMI fungicides. All resistant phenotypes to TF and TEB presented the H6Y mutation in ß-tubulin and the G641S mutation in CYP51. None of the point mutations typically linked to QoI resistance were present in the Monilinia isolates examined. Moreover, fitness of the M. fructicola phenotypes was examined in vitro and detached fruit assays. Phenotypes with single-resistance displayed equal fitness in in vitro and fruit assays compared to the wild-type. In contrast, the dual and triple-resistance phenotypes suffered fitness penalties based on osmotic sensitivity and aggressiveness on peach fruit. In this study, multiple resistance to MBC, DMI, and QoI fungicide groups was confirmed in M. fructicola. Results suggest that Monilinia populations with multiple resistance phenotypes are likely to be less competitive in the field than those with single resistance, thereby impeding their establishment over time and facilitating disease management.

In this study, in planta assays were conducted to assess the effects of fungicide spray tactics, such as the reduction of the labeled fungicide dose and mixture with a multi-site fungicide, on fungicide resistance selection and disease control using Vitis vinifera \'Cabernet Sauvignon\' grown in a greenhouse for two years. The entire clusters were inoculated with B. cinerea isolates at varying frequencies of fenhexamid resistance, followed by fungicide sprays, disease and fenhexamid resistance investigations at critical phenological stages. Our findings indicate that the lower dose of the at-risk fungicide, fenhexamid, effectively managed fenhexamid resistance and disease as well as the higher, labeled dose. In addition, mixture with the multi-site fungicide captan generally resulted a net-positive effect on both resistance management and disease control.

Potato farming is a vital component of food security and the economic stability especially in the under developing countries but it faces many challenges in production, blackleg disease caused by Pectobacterium atrosepticum (Pa) is one of the main reason for damaging crop yield of the potato. Effective management strategies are essential to control these losses and to get sustainable potato crop yield. This study was focused on characterizing the Pa and the investigating new chemical options for its management. The research was involved a systematic survey across the three district of Punjab, Pakistan (Khanewal, Okara, and Multan) to collect samples exhibiting the black leg symptoms. These samples were analyzed in the laboratory where gram-negative bacteria were isolated and identified through biochemical and pathogenicity tests for Pa. DNA sequencing further confirmed these isolates of Pa strains. Six different chemicals were tested to control blackleg problem in both vitro and vivo at different concentrations. In vitro experiment, Cordate demonstrated the highest efficacy with a maximum inhibition zones of 17.139 mm, followed by Air One (13.778 mm), Profiler (10.167 mm), Blue Copper (7.7778 mm), Spot Fix (7.6689 mm), and Strider (7.0667 mm). In vivo, Cordate maintained its effectiveness with the lowest disease incidence of 14.76%, followed by Blue Copper (17.49%), Air One (16.98%), Spot Fix (20.67%), Profiler (21.45%), Strider (24.99%), and the control group (43.00%). The results highlight Cordate\'s potential as a most effective chemical against Pa, offering promising role for managing blackleg disease in potato and to improve overall productivity.

Most field corn in the United States receives a neonicotinoid seed treatment for the management of early-season, soil-dwelling insect pests. Grubs of Maladera formosae (Brenske) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) have been reported feeding on young field corn with both low and high rates of clothianidin seed treatments in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Anecdotally, these infestations are restricted to sandy soils in the region. The purpose of this study was to (1) evaluate whether grub populations in corn are restricted to sandy soils, (2) assess whether soil type influences M. formosae survival, and (3) determine whether soil type affects clothianidin uptake by the plant, possibly explaining the observed differences in M. formosae abundance by soil type. We observed nearly 10-times more grubs in sand (>80% sand content) than loam (<80% sand content) soil within a single corn field. Grub survival to adult was not influenced by soil type. We then compared the concentrations of clothianidin seed treatment in the roots and shoots of corn seedlings grown in either sand or loam soil over time. Similar amounts of the active ingredient were found in the roots and shoots of corn grown in both soil types. Within 2 week, the clothianidin concentrations in both soil types had significantly declined in roots and shoots and were no different from the no-insecticide control. These findings suggest that factors other than insecticide exposure contribute to the higher abundance of M. formosae larvae in sand relative to loam soils, even within the same field.

Myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds) are eukaryotic protist predators that are associated with wood, leaf litter, and soil in forests, where they feed on bacteria, protozoans, and (to a more limited extent) fungi. The health of crop plants is essential because they represent a primary food source for humans. However, when myxomycetes produce numerous fruiting bodies on the stems and leaves of crop plants, which is herein referred to as a myxomycete colonization, this has the potential of interfering with plant photosynthesis, transpiration and respiration by blocking out light and covering stomata. Myxomycetes are not pathogens, but their occurrence on plants can be mistakenly interpreted as some type of infection. However, this phenomenon has been largely ignored. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the taxonomic and economic diversity of the organisms involved in myxomycete colonization. In addition, the various types of myxomycete colonization reported in the literature are described and discussed, a number of images provided, and cultural and chemical prevention and control measures are summarized. The latter should be of significant relevance for local production of crops and plant protective stations. While myxomycetes are not pathogens of crop plants, some species can seriously impact commercially grown mushrooms. Reports of myxomycetes affecting mushrooms are also described in this paper.