The WX-F strain of Laodelphax striatellus (Fallén) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) was derived from a field-collected strain (WX strain) after 77 generations of continuous selection with fipronil. The selection resulted in 86.6-fold resistance to fipronil; WX-F showed no cross-resistance to dieldrin (1.8-fold) and low-level cross-resistance to endosulfan (3.7-fold) compared with the primary WX strain. Bioassay with synergists and analysis of detoxification enzyme activities indicated that metabolic detoxification is not significantly associated with fipronil resistance in the WX-F strain. Further molecular analysis indicated that the fipronil resistance was most likely attributed to target site insensitivity. Sequencing a cloned single cDNA fragment of the Rdl γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor gene showed a high frequency (80%) of the A2′N mutation in the fipronil-selected strain (WX-F). It carried a mutant LsRdl allele with the amino acid replacement of Ala (GCC) to Asn (AAC). This mutation was not detected in the 23 individuals in the WX strain. The high frequency of the LsRdl-Asn allele in the WX-F strain indicates that the A2′N mutation of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor gene may be associated with fipronil resistance in L. striatellus. In addition, a novel R305Q or R305W mutation was found in the cytoplasmic loop between M3 and M4 of the L. striatellus Rdl γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor subunit (Ls-Rdl). These were only found in cDNA clones carrying the A2′N mutation.

Twenty-one taxa of the warm-season perennial grass, Paspalum spp., were evaluated for response to the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), an important pest of turfgrass. In studies using excised grass clippings conducted in a growth chamber and on whole plants in a greenhouse, the most resistant taxon was P. ionanthum Chase (PI 404,449) as measured by larval and pupal weights, days to develop to pupal stage, and survival. Paspalum notatum Flüeggé var. saurae Parodi (PI 422,024), P. notatum Flüeggé (PI 310,146), P. thunbergii Kunth ex Steud. (PI 286,486) and P. macrophyllum Kunth. (PI 282,807) showed moderate resistance, whereas the turf-type P. vaginatum Swartz taxa were highly susceptible. Identifying resistant Paspalum taxa can inform plant breeding programs in development of pest-resistant grasses, a foundational integrated pest management strategy.

The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), is a major rice pest in many Asian countries. Virtako™ (Syngenta, Switzerland) is a relatively new mixture insecticide, containing 20% chlorantraniliprole and 20% thiamethoxam, which has low mammalian toxicity and high efficacy against Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera and Orthoptera. The effects of this insecticide on life table parameters and wing formation of N. lugens were examined in the laboratory. The results showed that Virtako could significantly reduce the fecundity of N. lugens, demonstrating further activity against this pest in addition to direct toxicity. The fecundity (eggs produced per female) of N. lugens treated with the sublethal rates (LC₁₀ and LC₃₀) of Virtako was 75.6% and 59.4% of the control in macropterous cohorts, and 73.0% and 59.3% in brachypterous cohorts, respectively. The relative fitness values were 0.56 and 0.31 for treatments with the LC₁₀, and 0.53 and 0.32 for treatments with the LC₃₀ in macropterous and brachypterous cohorts, respectively. Treatment with sublethal concentrations of Virtako showed the significant induction of macropterous offspring in both macropterous and brachypterous cohorts, which are important in the control of N. lugens, particularly in the prediction of the population dynamics.

The velvety tree ant, Limetopum occidentale Emery, is commonly found in urban areas throughout the western U.S. and has been reported damaging structures. Foragers prefer sucrose, glucose, and honey sucanat solutions. Solid protein baits containing anchovy also were retrieved by workers. In the early summer, foragers were active both day and night. In the late summer when daytime temperatures exceeded 35°C, workers only foraged at night. Even though workers are polymorphic, they all consumed about 0.25 mg of a 25% sucrose solution and thus providing a mechanism of determining foraging activity by determining sugar water removal from monitoring stations. Liquid bait bases containing 25% sucrose would be effective if suitable toxicants can be identified.

The effect of a pheromone antagonist-based disruption blend on disruption of dogwood borer, Synanthedon scitula (Harris), mate-finding behavior and incidence of infestation was evaluated in a commercial apple orchard from 2006 - 2008. Although the pheromone antagonist-based disruption blend treatment significantly disrupted male mate-finding behavior during each year of the study, there was a significant increase in the percentage of infested trees from the start to the conclusion of the experiment, likely due to the immigration of mated females from surrounding untreated orchard blocks. In 2007, pheromone-baited traps deployed in an east-west transect through the study area showed that capture of male moths increased as the distance from the disruption plot increased. The results of geostatistical analysis indicated that there were high degrees of aggregation in dogwood borer infestations in the study area, with ranges of spatial autocorrelation from 10.2 - 22.5 m. For each year, the spatial distribution of larval infestation was best described by the exponential semiovariogram model. Interpolated surface maps revealed areas of high infestation levels, which were more prevalent within the control 2 plot in 2006 and 2007. Infestation sites increased in size and intensity each year of the study in the disruption and control 1 plot.

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the host preference of the tachinid parasitoid fly Trichopoda pennipes (F.) for the brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), and the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.). In choice and no-choice tests, 8-fold fewer eggs were laid on E. servus compared with N. viridula. Twenty-four T. pennipes emerged from 100 N. viridula, whereas only 2 larvae emerged from 100 laboratory-parasitized E. servus. Postmortem dissections of egg-bearing stink bugs without larval emergence revealed 20 T. pennipes larvae inside N. viridula but only 1 inside E. servus. These results confirm that T. pennipes prefers N. viridula as a host and is likely only an infrequent parasitoid of E. servus.

We report different values of supercooling points (SCP) of overwintering larvae of 4 European species belonging to the globally-distributed butterfly genus Colias. The selected species represent diverse habitat and altitude preferences, from dry and warm steppe grasslands to alpine meadows and peat bogs. The Mediterranean migrant C. crocea Geoffroy did not survive the acclimation temperature of 5°C. All 4 remaining species were freeze-susceptible. Colias palaeno (L.), a peat bogs species, showed a high degree of cold hardiness (mean SCP: −24.8°C). It was followed by the steppe grassland specialist C. alfacariensis Ribbe (−18.6°C). Alpine C. phicomone (Esper) (−13.8°C) and lowland generalist C. hyale (L.) (−14.5°C) exhibited similar high values. We argue that besides ambient temperature, the specific microclimate at overwintering sites, and continentality influencing snow cover influence the diversity of cold hardiness in Colias butterflies.

Within the West-Paleartic, Turkey is home to many taxonomic groups and is critically located at a cross-point of geographical regions with large climatic and topographical gradients contributing, at least in part, to the rich diversity of habitats, ecosystems, and biodiversity therein. Loss of deadwood habitats is but one major concern in conservation or biodiversity efforts in the region. An emblematic group, such as Lucanus spp. of the family Lucanidae, may prove to be a critical component of these conservation efforts. Eight taxonomic groups of Lucanus spp. are found in Turkey. A taxonomic key for these species and subspecies was developed and should serve as a basis for gathering needed data on the distribution, ecology, biology, and occurrence of Lucanus spp. in Turkey and surrounding areas.

The ultrastructural morphology of the tarsus of the adult beetle, Aspidomorpha dorsata (F.) (Coleoptera: Hispidae), is described for the first time, using scanning electron microscopy observations. The tarsus of A. dorsata consists of 5 tarsomeres and the distal pretarsus consists of a pair of ungues. The foretarsus and midtarsus are similar to each other whereas the hindtarsus exhibits specialization. The ungues, which articulate dorsally at the distal end of the tarsus, are broad basally (about 169 - 178 μm long and 126 - 133 μm wide), gradually taper into an acute apex over apical half, with the surface of the ungues being rough dorsally and longitudinally grooved innerly and ventrally. There are three small, parallel, accessory ungues (about 35 - 80 μm long) on the ungues. The surface of the accessory ungue is smooth. The ventral surface of the first, second and third tarsomeres is covered with dense adhesive setae. Each seta consists of two parts: a setal shaft and a modified apex (terminal plate). Four types of adhesive setae, viz. the pointed setae, the spatulate setae, the discoidal setae and the drop-shaped setae, are recognized based on the shape of the setal tip. The pointed setae are about 29 - 39 μm long, have acute, pronged and curved tips and are found on tarsomeres I and II of the hind legs and on the edge of tarsomeres I and II of the fore and middle legs. The spatulate setae are about 34 - 55 μm long, have spatulate, pronged and curved terminal plates and are present on tarsomere III of three pairs of legs. The discoidal setae are about 23 - 24 μm long, have discoidal tips and are found on tarsomeres I and II of fore and middle legs. A few drop-shaped setae are found on tarsomere II of three pairs of legs. The distribution of the 4 types of setae is different on the 3 pairs of legs. This suggests that the fore, middle and hind legs exhibit different adhesive functions during the climbing.