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Acanthococcus ironsidei (Williams) (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae) is an invasive pest of macadamia, Macadamia integrifolia, in Hawai’i, causing death to macadamia trees and decreased nut productivity. Monitoring relies on wrapping double-sided sticky tapes over tree branches to trap dispersing crawlers (i.e., mobile immature stage), but this is tedious for growers, especially in large orchards. From September to November 2022 and December 2022 to February 2023, at two commercial macadamia orchards on Hawai’i Island, the use of colored sticky cards was assessed for improving the monitoring of A. ironsidei and to investigate the Hymenopteran parasitoid complex that inhabits macadamia canopies. At each study site, four different colored sticky cards (yellow, lime green, dark green, and white) were placed on the lower canopy of five trees, and on each tree, a transparent double-sided sticky tape was deployed. At bi-weekly intervals, the sticky cards were replaced and re-randomized on each tree, and the double-sided sticky tapes were replaced. The results showed that the sticky cards captured both A. ironsidei crawlers and (winged) male adults, while the double-sided sticky tapes captured only crawlers. The trap color did not have significant effects on the captures of A. ironsidei male adults at the sites, while the captures of crawlers on sticky cards were lowest on the dark green sticky traps at one site. The captures of A. ironsidei adult males on white sticky traps were generally correlated with the number of crawlers captured on the double-sided sticky tapes. The parasitoid complex captured had disparities in the attraction to color; however, the yellow, lime green and dark green colors were seemingly more effective for monitoring Encarsia lounsburyi (Berlese & Paoli), a reported parasitoid of A. ironsidei. These results have useful practical implications for improved monitoring of A. ironsidei crawlers, male adults and associated natural enemies.

Aphids are important pests of pecans. Traditionally, insecticides have been the primary method of management. However, over-reliance and non-judicious use has led to resistance and damage to natural enemy populations. Therefore, frequent assessment of insecticides is necessary in order to monitor resistance development and non-target impacts. Aphicides, flonicamid, sulfoxaflor, and afidopyropen were assessed for their effects on pecan aphids and parasitoid, Aphelinus perpallidus, in a mature pecan orchard in 2019 and 2020. Post-application assessments were performed 7, 14, and 21 days post-application. Leaf samples from non-treated trees had greater aphid numbers than treated trees 7 days post-application with differences diminishing throughout the other two treatment periods in 2019. In 2020, aphid numbers were lower but leaf samples from non-treated trees had more aphids than treated trees 7 days post-application in the lower canopy. These differences again diminished 14 and 21 days post-application. There was no difference among treatments in number of parasitoid adults or mummies. These findings indicate that pecan growers have multiple potential options available for aphid management that do not negatively impact the primary pecan aphid parasitoid. Implications of the results on pecan aphid management are discussed.

Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive pest of numerous agricultural crops with an increasing global distribution. Finding simple and reliable monitoring tools for H. halys agricultural and surveillance programs is imperative. In 2016, we compared standard pyramid traps to clear sticky cards attached atop wooden stakes and evaluated two commercially formulated lures (Trécé and AgBio) with low and high rates of the H. halys aggregation pheromone (PHER) and pheromone synergist (MDT) at 12 sites (low: 5 mg PHER + 50 mg MDT; high: 20 mg PHER + 200 mg MDT). In 2017, we reevaluated lure efficacy using only the clear sticky traps at six locations. Sites were classified as having low, moderate, or high relative population densities of H. halys in 2016, and as very low or low densities of H. halys in 2017. Although clear sticky traps captured fewer adults and nymphs than pyramid traps, their captures were generally correlated at all population levels indicating that clear sticky traps can reliably monitor H. halys presence and relative abundance regardless of relative population density. During both years, adult and nymphal captures were significantly greater in traps baited with Trécé lures than with AgBio lures. Captures were greater in traps baited with high loading rate lures for each lure type, and with the exception of traps baited with AgBio lures at high relative density sites in 2016, H. halys captures in traps with low and high loading rates of each lure type were correlated for both years. Comparison of yellow and clear sticky cards indicated they performed equally, but yellow cards captured more nontargets. In summary, clear sticky traps attached atop wooden posts and baited with H. halys pheromone and pheromone synergist lures are an effective option for this pest monitoring and detection.

Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are among the most devastating pests of orchards, nurseries, and forests. Improving trap design and ethanol lures for capturing ambrosia beetles is necessary to develop effective monitoring and management strategies. In this 2-year study, we assessed 4 trap designs and 3 commercially formulated ethanol lures to refine trapping methods tailored for orchard environments in the eastern United States. Our investigation included orchards in 2 regions, Georgia (pecan orchards) and New York (apple orchards), targeting major ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) pest species such as Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky), X. compactus (Eichhoff), X. germanus (Blandford), and Anisandrus maiche (Stark). Among the trap designs evaluated, clear sticky cards were most effective for capturing ambrosia beetles across orchard locations. Notably, in Georgia, sticky cards paired with specific low-release ethanol lures demonstrated enhanced capture of X. crassiusculus and X. compactus, 2 key ambrosia beetle pests found infesting young pecan trees. Similarly, in New York, sticky cards baited with low-release ethanol lures captured the highest rates of X. germanus and A. maiche, thus indicating its suitability for diverse ambrosia beetle populations. Overall, our study provides practical implications for tailoring trapping protocols to optimize ambrosia beetle management strategies in orchard settings.

In agricultural systems, aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) have been shown to exhibit differences in within plant vertical distribution in vegetation. In addition, natural enemies, such as parasitoids, may have canopy micro-climate preferences. Currently, the within plant vertical distribution of aphids is primarily documented in row crops with few studies in tree systems. Pecan orchards under commercial production range from new to old with variable tree height between these orchards. This height difference highlights the need to examine the vertical canopy distribution of pecan aphids in trees of varying height. In this study, we evaluated the vertical canopy distribution patterns of aphids, parasitized aphids ( i.e., mummies), and the primary parasitoid Aphelinus perpallidus (Gahan) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) in pecan trees (Fagales: Juglandaceae) within younger (~ 9 m) and older trees (~ 15 m). Pecan aphids and mummies were often more abundant in the lower canopy, especially in older trees. Conversely, parasitoid adults were observed at higher abundance in the upper canopy of younger trees in 2021 and in both the lower and upper half of older trees, but there was variability in parasitoid distributions between years. Results indicate that scouting the lower canopy for aphids may be sufficient to estimate populations. The presence of A. perpallidus in the upper canopy can be beneficial as it may allow for biological control in areas where insecticide application may fail.

Biodiversity is an essential attribute of sustainable agroecosystems. Diverse arthropod communities deliver multiple ecosystem services, such as biological control, which are the core of integrated pest management programs. The molecular analysis of arthropod diets has emerged as a new tool to monitor and help predict the outcomes of management on the functioning of arthropod communities. Here, we briefly review the recent molecular analysis of predators and parasitoids in agricultural environments. We focus on the developments of molecular gut content analysis (MGCA) implemented to unravel the function of community members, and their roles in biological control. We examine the agricultural systems in which this tool has been applied, and at what ecological scales. Additionally, we review the use of MGCA to uncover vertebrate roles in pest management, which commonly receives less attention. Applying MGCA to understand agricultural food webs is likely to provide an indicator of how management strategies either improve food web properties (i.e., enhanced biological control), or adversely impact them.

Abstract Global agricultural productivity faces significant challenges due to pest-related crop losses, and while integrated pest management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to mitigate pest risks, it is also inherently complex, which limits its implementation and adoption by farmers and pest management professionals. This article provides an overview of the MyIPM series of smartphone applications (apps), designed to facilitate IPM adoption by providing comprehensive pest management recommendations, covering diseases, arthropods, and weeds for multiple US commodities. Key features of the apps include high-resolution images for accurate pest identification, non-chemical integrated management information, detailed life cycle and epidemiology information, a pesticide search bar, and interactive tables allowing active ingredients and trade names to be sorted by multiple characteristics, including modes of action for easier implementation of resistance management tactics. The MyIPM apps complement traditional Extension outreach methods, offering portable access to a wealth of pest management information. In addition, the article highlights 3 practical examples—managing blossom blight and brown rot of peach caused by Monilinia sp.; addressing sugarcane aphids, Melanaphis sorghi (Theobald), in grain sorghum; and managing urban pests in Hawaii and postharvest quarantine of Hawaiian crops for export—demonstrating how the MyIPM apps streamline IPM decision-making for a diverse group of farmers and pest management professionals. Overall, the MyIPM series of apps provides a valuable tool for modern agriculture, offering users a wealth of IPM knowledge at their fingertips, and supporting the adoption of more sustainable and effective practices.

Several pests affect coffee (Coffea spp., Rubiaceae) and macadamia, Macadamia integrifolia Maiden & Betche (Proteaceae) in Hawaii. The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is the most damaging to coffee, while the tropical nut borer, Hypothenemus obscurus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is one of the worst pests of macadamia.This paper investigates the potential efficacy of a long-lasting insecticide-incorporated net (LLIN) under laboratory conditions to manage these pests.The LLIN (40 denier with mesh size 625 knots/in2), incorporated with α-cypermethrin (0.34%), was excised into 100 mm circles and inserted in 100 mm Petri dishes. Nets with the same quality but without insecticides were used as control treatments. Twenty beetles (H. obscurus or H. hampei) each were placed on the treated and non-treated netting at 4 treatment or exposure hours—1, 6, 12, and 24—with 5 replicates. Subsequently, the beetles were ranked alive, affected, or dead. The results showed that the LLIN with α-cypermethrin had significant lethal and sub-lethal effects on both Hypothenemus species, causing over 90% mortality after 24 h of exposure and paralysis after 1, 6, and 12 h of exposure. The highest lethality value was recorded after 24 h of exposure for both H. obscurus and H. hampei. The LT50 of H. obscurus and H. hampei was 18.78 min and 2.15 h, respectively, while the LT90 values were 32.11 and 20.67 h.These results imply the potential effectiveness of LLINs with α-cypermethrin for management of H. obscurus and H. hampei, but field studies are warranted for optimization.

The diel flight activity in Cathartus quadricollis (Guerin-Meneville) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae), a predator of two important pests in Hawaii, coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) and tropical nut borer, Hypothenemus obscurus (F.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) was studied in a macadamia nut orchard using yellow sticky traps baited with pheromone and fungal volatile attractants. The study was conducted at different months throughout the year and at different times during the lunar cycle (new moon and full moon). Flight activity peaked in the late hours of the photophase into the early hours of the scotophase, between 1830 and 2000 h; flight activity also occurred but to a lesser extent in the early morning hours between 0700 and 1030 h. Numbers of captured C. quadricollis during periods of flight activity were negatively correlated with wind speed. The implications of these findings for the development of optimal pest management strategies including biological control are discussed.

Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive pest which feeds on numerous economically significant crops. Many integrated pest management strategies for this species rely on effective season-long monitoring for H. halys populations, including attract-and-kill and threshold-based insecticide sprays. Previous studies have shown that a black pyramid trap effectively captures all mobile life stages of H. halys, however, these bulky, ground-deployed traps can be impractical in active orchard rows. Clear sticky cards have been used as a more practical tool for monitoring when paired with the H. halys aggregation pheromone and synergist. Here, the efficacy of deploying single- or double-sided sticky cards hanging in trees or deployed on wooden stakes was compared to standard black pyramid traps over 2 years.The efficacy of single-sided sticky cards deployed on wooden stakes was also evaluated after occlusion of 25%, 50%, or 75% of the surface area by 2D inert materials and 3D organic matter. Single-sided sticky cards were also exposed to simulated sunlight and rainfall for 0, 4, 8, and 12 wk before deployment on wooden stakes. Captures of H. halys adults using sticky cards deployed on wooden stakes were comparable to pyramid traps. Occlusion of cards by 25% or more of any material type led to a decrease in H. halys captures, however, weathering did not influence capture.These data show that clear sticky cards deployed on wooden stakes are effective for season-long monitoring of H. halys in apple orchards, and card replacement should be driven by maintenance of cleanliness.