The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, as with many noctuid moths, is a serious agricultural pest in the United States. Researchers often use pheromone traps to monitor for the presence of economically important noctuid pests. Pheromone traps may attract more than one species and samples often degrade, making morphological identification of some adult noctuid species nearly impossible. A molecular diagnostics protocol using polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was developed in order to distinguish the fall armyworm from six other noctuid species commonly found in Arkansas. A 611-bp region of the mtDNA COI, COII genes was amplified using PCR and then sequenced. The restriction enzymes Dra I, Alu I and Nla III had specific restriction sites that distinguished the seven noctuid species. This proved to be a reliable, quick and economical technique for identifying the fall armyworm as well as six other noctuid species.

Corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea Boddie, is a major pest of maize in the United States. Host plant resistance is widely considered a desirable method for reducing losses to this pest. Nine inbred lines were evaluated for resistance to ear damage, larval survival, and weight of larvae. Mp313E and Mp717 sustained less damage than the other lines, and larval survival and growth on these lines was reduced. Analysis of a diallel cross among the nine lines indicated that both general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were significant sources of variation in the inheritance of resistance to ear damage. GCA was also a significant source of variation in the inheritance of resistance to larval growth. GCA effects for reduced larval weight were significant for Mp313E and Mp717. These lines could be useful in the development of maize hybrids with corn earworm resistance.

Muscidifurax zaraptor Kogan and Legner, M. raptorellus Kogan and Legner, and Spalangia cameroni Perkins were released bi-weekly in two facilities at a broiler-breeder egg production farm in Arkansas during 2003 and 2004. Of the recovered house fly, Musca domestica L., sentinel pupae, 18.8% were parasitized in 2003, with M. zaraptor being the dominant species (66.8%) and M. raptorellus contributing 6.9% of the parasitism. The release of M. raptorellus did not result in substantial parasitism in sentinel house fly pupae until the second year of study when M. raptorellus was the most dominant species, contributing approximately 61.9% parasitism. At the non-release farm, 13.9% of the sentinel house fly pupae were parasitized, with S. cameroni and M. zaraptor dominating in 2003. Parasitism at the control farm decreased to 3.4% in 2004. It appeared that sustained releases of parasitoids at the release farm over two years provided a significant increase in house fly pupal parasitism when compared to the percentage of pupae parasitized at the non-release farm. Of the sentinel Hydrotaea aenescens (Wiedemann) pupae recovered from the release farm, 9.3% were parasitized in 2003. Filth fly data indicated that the combined predator activity of H. aenescens and sustained parasitoid releases reduced M. domestica to a level well below the treatment threshold. In addition, the sustained release of parasitoids reduced H. aenescens numbers to below the treatment threshold of 100 filth flies per sticky ribbon per week by 9 wk during the latter part of the filth fly season during 2003 and 2004.

An outbreak of red oak borer, Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman), in Arkansas has resulted in millions of dollars in damage to oak trees. A survey for microbial pathogens of late stages of red oak borer in northwest Arkansas forests demonstrated that red oak borer infected with Beauveria bassiana were present in 12 of 21 Quercus spp. trees. Oak trees dissected in the survey were located in an area of heavy infestation in the Ozark National Forest, Franklin County, Arkansas. Individual trees were selected for the survey based on a likelihood of E. rufulus infestation. Overall prevalence of B. bassiana-infection was 2.7%. Infected late stage larvae, pupae and adults were found between May and July 2003. Mean number of late stage larval, pupal and adult red oak borers per 0.5 m bole sample was 1.64 (SE ± 0.1). Mean number of B. bassiana-infected red oak borer per 0.5 m bole sample was 0.04 (SE ± 0.01). These data demonstrate that B. bassiana-infected red oak borers in Quercus spp. were found throughout the height of the tree.

Diflubenzuron is an insect growth regulator labeled for application to pastures and rangeland to suppress grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) populations. Livestock are permitted access to land immediately after treatment. We hypothesized the development and survivorship of horn fly Haematobia irritans (L.) larvae feeding on manure resulting from these animals would not be impacted due to the presence of diflubenzuron residue. Survivorship to the adult stage and percent pupae deformed were recorded for horn flies developing on manure samples from three pastures treated with 59 ml Dimilin 2L^® /0.4 hectares. Pastures not treated served as the controls. Manure samples ranged in age from three to 31 d post treatment. This study was replicated in 2004 and 2005. Results were highly variable between site and year. Horn fly survivorship to the adult stage in 11 of 15 sample dates taken was lower in treated than the control manure samples. Accordingly, a significantly greater percentage of deformed pupae was recorded for samples from the treated than the control sites ≤17 d post treatment. Based on this study, our null hypothesis was rejected. Using Dimilin 2L to suppress pasture and range land pests can also impact horn fly populations associated with cattle feeding in these pastures. However, care should be taken to apply adequate pasture coverage ensuring appropriate Dimilin 2L^® levels are consumed to achieve the suppression of associated horn flies.