The invasive brown marmorated stink bug,Halyomorpha halys(Stål) (Heteroptera: Penatomidae), is a major pest of agricultural crops in the Mid-Atlantic States. Here we report the seasonal abundance, host preference, and injury potential ofH. halyson tomato, bell pepper, green bean, sweet corn, eggplant, and okra in a small-scale, diversified vegetable farm setting. Life-stage densities, feeding injury, and crop phenology were monitored throughout the growing season in each crop. Populations consisted of both overwintered adults and F1 progeny and encompassed almost two generations over the growing season.H. halyspreferred host plants with reproductive structures for feeding and was more abundant and capable to reproduce on vegetable crops that had extended periods of fruiting. Sweet corn, okra, and bell pepper had significant higher abundances of adults and nymphs compared with green bean, eggplant, and tomato. Results showed significant differences in the reproductive suitability of the host plants, as evident by the relative proportion of nymphal stages to adults. Eggplant, okra, and bell pepper were the most suitable host plants for reproduction and development, as evident by higher proportions of nymphs, with abundance trends indicating progressive development to adult eclosion. Crop loss potential due toH. halysfeeding injury varied significantly among vegetable host plants. Sweet corn, okra, bell pepper, and tomato were very susceptible and experienced the highest injury rate per stink bug. The implications of these findings with respect to sampling and management ofH. halysin vegetable production are discussed.
Pest insects damage crops, transmit diseases, and are household nuisances. Historically, they have been controlled with insecticides, but overuse often leads to resistance to one or more of these chemicals. Insects gain resistance to insecticides through behavioral, metabolic, genetic, and physical mechanisms. One frequently overlooked strategy is through the use of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. ABC transporters, present in all domains of life, perform natural excretory functions, thus the exploitation of these transporters to excrete insecticides and contribute to resistance is highly plausible. Previous work has implicated ABC transporters in some cases of insecticide resistance. Proposed herein is a framework meant as a formal guide for more easily incorporating the analysis of ABC transporters into existing resistance monitoring using suggested simple research methods. This framework functions as a simple decision tree and its utility is demonstrated using case examples. Determining a role for ABC transporters in insecticide resistance would help to shape future resistance management plans and guide the design of new insecticides.
Eggplant Solanum melongena L., is often colonized by two early season insect defoliators. The Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), and flea beetles Epitrix spp., emerge from their overwintering sites in early spring and seek out emerging host plants such as eggplant. During the 2009 and 2010 growing season, field studies were conducted to investigate the impact of inter‐planting eggplant into a crimson clover (CC), Trifolium incarnatum L., winter cover crop on populations of flea beetles, CPB and their associated arthropod predators. The experiment consisted also of two levels of insecticide usage such as an application of azadirachtins plus pyrethrins followed by several applications of spinosad or no insecticide sprays as subplot treatments. During both study years, significantly fewer (adults, larvae and egg masses) were found on eggplant inter‐planted into CC than in bare‐ground (BG) eggplant plots. Although flea beetle abundance was greater in BG eggplant during 2010, they appeared to be less influenced by the presence of CC than were CPB. Additionally, there was no apparent impact of insecticide treatment on CPB populations on eggplant inter‐planted into CC. However, there was a decline in CPB following treatments with insecticides in BG eggplant plots. This suggests that a winter cover crop such as CC can be used to help manage CPB in eggplant, however, using this tactic in tandem with insecticide sprays may not result in greater CPB management.
The effect of using crimson clover (CC) (Trifolium incarnatum L.) as a companion plant on crop growth, marketable yield and insect feeding injury was examined using Eggplant, Solanum melongena L. as the neighbouring cash crop. There were two subplot treatments, which included applications of organic insecticides and no insecticides. Planting eggplant directly into CC did not improve most eggplant growth variables and resulted in a yield reduction during year 1. During year 2, when the CC was strip-tilled prior to transplanting the eggplant, several eggplant growth variables were more strongly enhanced in CC than bare-ground (BG) habitats. Eggplant in CC plots suffered less damage by insect folivores but yields were similar among treatments. There were no benefits of using organic insecticides with respect to increased marketable yields in CC treatment plots, but there was an increase in marketable yield in sprayed compared with unsprayed BG subplots. If properly managed, CC may help protect eggplant from insect feeding injury; however, this may not cause an increase in marketable yield.
Producers in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States often use prophylactic pesticide sprays in their fields to increase wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields regardless of disease or insect pest levels. This study was carried out at two sites during each of two field seasons to evaluate th-e effects of pesticide applications (fungicides and insecticide) on insect abundance, beneficial arthropods, foliar damage and grain yield in winter wheat. Insecticide applications reduced densities of cereal leaf beetle (CLB) and CLB damage of flag leaves at the Queenstown and aphid at the Upper Marlboro study site compared to controls during 2009 and 2011 field seasons, respectively. However, insecticide application also reduced arthropod predators at Queenstown in 2009. Fungicide applications reduced leaf spot severity symptoms at Queenstown in 2009 and both sites in 2011. Grain yield was negatively correlated with the percentage of severely damaged flag leaves during the 2009 growing season when diseases and insects pressure was greatest. Nevertheless, yield increase associated with application of pesticides (fungicides) was observed only at one out of four siteÀyear combinations. Results from this study suggest that prophylactic sprays will not enhance wheat yields in the absence of high pest pressure.
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