In 2009, an outbreak of dengue fever occurred in Yiwu, the major international market in Zhejiang province, China. A mosquito vector eradication program was undertaken using several insecticides to limit further transmission of the dengue virus. At the conclusion of this effort, the affected area was surveyed for dengue fever vector species, and mosquito-breeding area water samples were collected and analyzed for residual pesticide content. The survey detected the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse), in 19 villages in Yiwu, accounting for 51.7% of the mosquitoes in the 89 samples collected. Other species collected included Armigeres subalbatus (Coquillett), Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus Giles, Cx. mimulus Edwards, and Anopheles sinensis Wiedemann. Analysis of water from 45 mosquito-breeding sites using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry detected a total of 7 pesticides, including the herbicide prometryn, 2 organophosphate insecticides (chlorpyrifos and triazophos), and 3 pyrethroid insecticides (cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, and permethrin). The maximum level of permethrin detected was 323.9 μg/L in breeding waters in which Ae. albopictus and Ar. subalbatus coexisted.

The effects of rubidium chloride were characterized on immature and adult Grapholita molesta (Busck) in an effort to determine its suitability as a label to mark, release and recapture this species in field-based dispersal studies. Neonate G. molesta (Busck) larvae were fed lima bean-based diet enriched with 0, 600, 3,000 or 6,000 mg RbCI/L liquid diet (ppm). Both male and female adult G. molesta were successfully marked at the 3 highest concentrations. Increasing concentrations did not alter pupal mass or larva-to-adult development (first instar to adult death), but adult longevity decreased in response to increasing Rb concentrations in diet. All males and 83.3% of females reared on diet with 6,000 ppm RbCI retained a detectable Rb signature through 168 h post eclosion. Labeled males were more likely to exhibit stationary zig-zag flight prior to flying upwind to a sex pheromone lure in a wind tunnel. These experiments demonstrate that rubidium chloride may be used to label immature G. molesta for subsequent release and recapture without significant detrimental effects to the insects.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to examine the effects of light intensity on pac choi (Brassica rapa L. var. chinensis cv. ‘Mei Qing Choi’) and the corresponding plant-mediated effects of light intensity on the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.). Plants with and without diamondback moth larvae were exposed either to ambient light or shade in 4 experiments conducted at different times of the year, resulting in a range of light intensities. The plant parameters measured were shoot biomass, primary nutrients, and phenolic content of leaves; for diamondback moth, larval consumption, cohort development, and male and female body weights were measured. In the light treatments, plants tended to have higher levels of phenolics and exhibited greater shoot biomass with higher carbon:nitrogen ratios under ambient versus shade. However, diamondback moth responses were not correlated with any plant responses, with one exception. Higher concentrations of ferulic acid under higher light intensities were associated with lower adult male body weights. Larval consumption was not different among the 4 months. However, cohort development was more rapid on plants during August, which had higher light intensities, compared with July, where light intensity was lower. Based on the responses measured, growing pac choi in the greenhouse under different light intensities is unlikely to affect diamondback moths through changes in pac choi chemistry unless decreased male body weight confers a fitness cost. However, plant-mediated effects associated with changes in light intensity on P. xylostella survival should be evaluated.

Use of novel crops for bio-fuel production requires evaluating the potential for sound ecological and economical implementation in a particular region. We examined the pest and generalist beneficial insect species associated with various winter cover crops (including narrowleaf lupin, white vetch, Austrian winter pea, crimson clover, faba bean, and rye) as sources of colonists in 2 subsequent summer crops, sorghum and cotton. Sorghum is a potential cellulosic bio-fuel crop and cotton is commonly grown in the region and could be a viable low-input rotation for biofuel sorghum. Insects were sampled weekly over 3 ys in winter cover plots beginning in early spring and in the later planted crop plots beginning at the 15 cm height stage of the crops and continuing for 3 - 6 wks. Of the predators, coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) dominated and were consistently abundant in vetch, faba and lupin, as was the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and the aphid parasitoid, Lysiphlebus testaceipes Cresson (Hymenoptera: Aphiidae). Orius spp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) dominated in lupin. Of the pest species, thrips spp. (Thysanoptera: Thipidae) were highest in lupin and pea, and stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) were highest in clover. No differences in chinch bugs (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) were found among the covers. There was a ‘relay’ of these species into all of the summer crop plots from living winter crops. Boll damage from stink bugs was highest in the cotton following lupin, pea and fallow with fertilizer; there was no damage from chinch bugs in sorghum. Faba beans had declining stands over the 3 ys, suggesting that this species would not be a reliable winter crop in this system. Vetch and lupin may be the best candidates as banker plants because of their ability to consistently sustain pea aphids and coccinellids, the former which is a nonpest of sorghum and cotton.

A survey was conducted during the 2006 and 2007 growing seasons to record the presence of sharpshooters (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) vectors of Pierce's disease in Vitis vinifera L. growing regions of Virginia. Oncometopia orbona (F.) and Graphocephala versuta (Say) were consistently trapped in all regions and throughout each growing season, the latter trapped in the highest number. Peak flight of both species occurred early in the season, the time of greatest concern for introduction of infection. Peak flight of O. orbona occurred earlier than that of G. versuta. Homalodisca insolita (Walker) was trapped in the Coastal Plain of Virginia; this is the most northern record of this species to date.