During a field evaluation of a boric acid bait against the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, it was observed that workers of intoxicated colonies produced stings with less toxic effects compared with workers from healthy colonies. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of boric acid on the levels of piperidine alkaloids in ant venom was investigated. Exposure to boric acid for a period of 4 wks resulted in significant changes in both concentrations and ratios of the piperidine alkaloids. The concentration of piperidine alkaloids was significantly lower in colonies treated with the boric acid bait. Thus, boric acid suppresses the production of piperidine alkaloids in red imported fire ants.

‘Captiva’ is a recently released variety of St. Augustinegrass which is resistant to the southern chinch bug, Blissus insularis Barber. We tested to determine if fertilization of Captiva influenced its resistance to the insect and/or disease incidence. Tissue nitrogen and phosphorus content increased in plants with increasing fertilization levels. Fertilization did not have a significant effect on Captiva resistance to southern chinch bug as measured by adult survival. However, incidence and severity of gray leaf spot disease, Pyricularia grisea (Cooke) Sacc., increased with increasing fertilization.

Monthly visits to 2 field sites in southern Mississippi were made to determine the influence of monitor examination on feeding site affinity by southeastern native subterranean termites (Reticulitermes spp.). Wooden board monitors were examined once every 30, 60, or 90 days. Presence of live termites and damage to the boards (both binary parameters) were collected for each plot examined over a 3-yr period, along with monthly soil moisture (as percentage of soil saturation) and temperature at 15.24 cm depth. Time to first occurrence of termite presence and/or damage and subsequent occurrences indicated no difference among the treatments, indicating that none of the treatments influenced termite foraging affinity.

The influence of turfgrass genotype (bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L.), centipedegrass Eremochloa ophiuroides Munro Hack, St. Augustinegrass Stenotaphrum secundatum [Walt.] Kuntze, zoysiagrass, Zoysia spp., and tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreb) on occurrence of hymenopteran parasitoids was evaluated in residential turf during May, June and July in 2005. Most wasps belonged to Chalcidoidea (55%) and Platygastroidea (29%). Adult wasps representing Mymaridae, Platygastridae, Scelionidae and Braconidae were captured in all turfgrasses. Among all wasps, 26.5% were mymarids and included Gonatocerus sp. and Mymar sp. Eulophidae, Aprostocetus and Pnigalio sp. were less abundant in centipedegrass compared with other turfgrasses. Trichogrammatids (18.2% of total wasps) were more abundant in St. Augustinegrass or tall fescue than in zoysiagrass. Platygastrid wasps, Allotropa and Fidiobia sp., were most often collected from zoysiagrass and St. Augustinegrass. Scelionids represented 23% of the total parasitoids collected. Baeus sp., a scelionid, was found in all turf types except in tall fescue, whereas another scelionid, Trimorus sp., was found among all turfgrass taxa. Figitids were most common in St. Augustinegrass, whereas a greater number of dryinid wasps were found in tall fescue than in all other turfgrasses. Vacuum sampling proved to be a better collecting technique than sweep netting for minute wasps. Chalcidoidea, particularly mymarids, eulophids and trichogrammatids, were abundant in July. Most aphelinid wasps were captured in June with none collected in July. Ichneumonids and braconids were more common in June than in July. Knowledge of species occurrence, abundance and distribution is important for conservation as well as pest management efforts. Our results demonstrate an abundant and diverse community of parasitic wasps in residential turfgrasses in central Georgia that could be a focus of conservation efforts.

A commercially available chitosan product, Beyond™, was evaluated for its effects on loblolly pine, Pinus taeda L., responses believed related to bark beetle resistance. Treatments were applied 4 times at approx. 6-wk intervals between May and November 2008. Five treatments were evaluated: ground application (soil drench), foliar application, ground and foliar applications combined, water-only (soil drench), and untreated. Two response variables were measured: yield of oleoresin accumulated at 48 h from wounds inflicted at breast height (5 sample periods) and area of lesion formed in response to inoculation with Ophiostoma minus (Hedgcock) Sydow & P. Sydow (2 sample periods). One treatment, ground application of Beyond, resulted in a significant increase in oleoresin yield (about 40% experiment-wide). Foliar treatment alone, or combined with ground application, did not result in a significant change in oleoresin yield. None of the treatments resulted in a difference in lesion area produced in response to inoculation with O. minus. In summary, application of a commercially-prepared chitosan formulation to loblolly pine produced inconsistent responses in tree parameters associated with bark beetle resistance, suggesting that exogenously applied chitosan preparations have limited utility for managing bark beetles.

Brown, Euschistus servus (Say), and dusky, E. tristigmus (Say), stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) readily respond to traps baited with the Euschistus spp. aggregation pheromone methyl (E, Z) -2,4-decadienoate. Previous studies examining trap capture of these stink bugs have used either laboratory-prepared dispensers or commercial dispensers with various known and unknown pheromone doses. We compared trap captures of E. servus and E. tristigmus using yellow pyramid traps baited with a range of pheromone doses (20 - 120 μL) loaded onto rubber septa and when baited with 2 commercially available pheromone dispensers. These baited traps were located primarily in or alongside pecan orchards with one exception being alongside a peach/plum orchard. Traps were monitored weekly for 4 wk during 2008 and 2009. Dispensers were either replaced weekly or the same dispenser remained in use for the entire study. All pheromone doses tested resulted in a numerical increase of both E. servus and E. tristigmus captured in traps compared with traps using no pheromone. In each experiment for each species, at least one pheromone dose significantly increased trap capture compared with traps using a septa containing no pheromone. In direct comparisons, neither commercial dispenser ever captured significantly more E. servus or E. tristigmus than traps without pheromone. Numerically higher trap captures were observed with a higher pheromone dose in each of 5 month-long studies. However, captures were not always significantly higher for either species suggesting that other factors affected stink bug capture in pheromone-baited traps. Results from this study could facilitate the use of this stink bug trap as a barrier to impede movement of pest Euschistus spp. into orchards or other crop habitats.

Pryeria sinica Moore (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae), an invasive pest of Euonymus, is susceptible in the second instar to the Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner product Thuricide®, and to several strains isolated from other B. thuringiensis products. Third instars are also susceptible, whereas susceptibility declines in the fourth (last) instar. The susceptibility of second-instar P. sinica to B. thuringiensis is comparable to that of second-instar gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), a pest commonly controlled with B. thuringiensis. Pryeria sinica, thus, should also be controllable with B. thuringiensis.

Transgenic corn, Zea mays L., hybrids expressing insecticidal Cry proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) were evaluated for control of insect pests in Florence and Blackville, SC, in 2009 and 2010. Two planting dates were used in trials in 2010. Early- and midseason pests and associated injury were consistently absent or at low numbers. Data analyses were limited primarily to Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) injury and infestations in corn ears. In Florence in 2009, event MON89034 reduced injury by 97% based on number of injured kernels per ear compared with the non-Bt isoline. Events TC1507 reduced injury by 53% across both years and locations of our study. The combined events MON89034 and TC1507 in a SmartStax hybrid significantly (P < 0.05) reduced injury by 98% compared with the non-Bt isoline across both years and locations of our study. The excellent control of H. zea in SmartStax was, therefore, the result of the MON89034 event, rather than the TC1507 event. Planting date did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect injury or yield at both locations in 2010. Yield was not affected by Bt traits. The increased effectiveness of recent hybrids with the MON89034 event in controlling H. zea in corn ears may lead to increased planting of Bt corn in the southeastern United States, as prior events were not as effective in controlling this key pest.