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In this study, the distribution of the Ficus whitefly, Singhiella simplex (Singh) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and its natural enemies in the Western Mediterranean Region of Turkey were investigated. For this purpose, the sampling was made from trees of Ficus spp. during Aug, Sep, and Oct when the pest population was at its peak in the various districts within the Antalya province in 2018 and 2019. In addition, the rate of natural parasitism in the sampling periods also was determined. To determine the dispersal and parasitoids of S. simplex, at least 100 branches were collected from Ficus trees in each district, the Ficus trees were checked visually for the determination of the predators. The results showed that Ficus whitefly is dispersed in all the districts within the Antalya province. Encarsia protransvena Viggiani (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) has been identified as the parasitoid of the Ficus whitefly in Antalya and its districts, wereas the highest natural parasitism rate was found to be 32.88% and 21.66% in Oct 2018 and 2019, respectively, across the sampling mo. Chrysoperla mutata (McLachlan) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), Semidalis aleyrodiformis (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae), Conwentzia psociformis (Curtis) (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae), Conwentzia sp. (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae), Oenopia conglobata (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), and Serangium parcesetosum Sicard (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) species were determined as the predators. The results obtained in the study may contribute to the control of S. simplex by using its natural enemies. En este estudio, se investigó la distribución de la mosca blanca del ficus, Singhiella simplex (Singh) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), y sus enemigos naturales en la región mediterránea occidental de Turquía. Para tal efecto, el muestreo se realizó a partir de árboles de Ficus spp. durante agosto, septiembre y octubre, cuando la población de plagas alcanzó su punto máximo en los diversos distritos de la provincia de Antalya en el 2018 y 2019. Además, también se determinó la tasa de parasitismo natural en los períodos de muestreo. Para determinar la dispersión y parasitoides de S. simplex se recolectaron al menos 100 ramas de árboles de Ficus en cada distrito, los árboles de Ficus fueron revisados visualmente para la determinación de los depredadores. Los resultados mostraron que la mosca blanca del ficus está dispersa en todos los distritos dentro de la provincia de Antalya. Encarsia protransvena Viggiani (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) ha sido identificada como el parasitoide de la mosca blanca del ficus en Antalya y sus distritos, donde se encontró que la tasa de parasitismo natural más alta del 32,88% y el 21,66% en octubre de 2018 y 2019, respectivamente. Se determinó Chrysoperla mutata (McLachlan) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), Semidalis aleyrodiformis (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae), Conwentzia psociformis (Curtis) (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae), Conwentzia sp., Oenopia conglobata (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), y Serangium parcesetosum Sicard (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) como depredadores. Los resultados obtenidos en el estudio pueden contribuir al control de S. simplex mediante el uso de sus enemigos naturales.

Iridopsis panopla Prout (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) is an important lepidopteran defoliator of eucalyptus. I. panopla eggs were collected naturally in a commercial plantation of Eucalyptus urograndis W. Hill (Myrtaceae) in Três Lagoas, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. After nine days, the natural emergence of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) occurred from I. panopla eggs. Parasitism was evaluated under laboratory and field conditions, this being the first record for eucalyptus in Brazil. Based on the biological characteristics evaluated in the laboratory, I. panopla eggs are suitable for T. pretiosum reproduction. The obtained percentage parasitism, particularly when 72,000 adult females of T. pretiosum per hectare were employed, provide valuable insights regarding the potential of T. pretiosum as an effective biological control agent against I. panopla in eucalyptus plantations. Iridopsis panopla Prout (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) é um importante desfolhador de eucalipto. Ovos de I. panopla foram coletados naturalmente em uma plantação comercial de Eucalyptus urograndis, em Três Lagoas, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Após nove dias, ocorreu a emergência natural de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) nos ovos de I. panopla. O parasitismo foi avaliado em condições de laboratório e campo, sendo este o primeiro registro para eucalipto no Brasil. Com base nas características biológicas avaliadas em laboratório, os ovos de I. panopla são adequados para a reprodução de T. pretiosum. As taxas de parasitismo obtidas, especialmente quando foram empregadas 72.000 fêmeas adultas de T. pretiosum por hectare, fornecem informações valiosas sobre o potencial de T. pretiosum como um agente de controle biológico eficaz contra I. panopla em plantações de eucalipto.

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an invasive, polyphagous pest known to disperse between non-crop host plants and crops searching for food. Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata Willdenow; Cannabaceae) is commonly found in woodland habitats in the southeastern USA and may serve as a non-crop host for H. halys. Therefore, the main objective of this two-year study was to determine if 1) sugarberry serves as a host tree and 2) whether natural enemies attack H. halys sentinel egg masses in the tree canopy. We monitored H. halys in sugarberry trees in woodlands bordering field crops in Prattville, Alabama during 2022 and similarly for orchard crops in Byron, Georgia during 2023. Each year pheromone-baited stink bug traps were deployed in the canopy of trees to capture H. halys. We evaluated parasitism and predation of H. halys by placing sentinel egg masses in tree canopies. H. halys males and females and 2nd through 5th instars were captured in tree traps over the season for each location. Trissolcus euschisti (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) was the only parasitoid species that emerged from H. halys eggs. Chewing and stylet sucking were the primary types of predation on sentinel egg masses. We conclude that sugarberry is a reproductive host for H. halys, and native natural enemies provide biological control services of H. halys eggs on this host. El chinche marmorino café, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), es una plaga polífaga e invasora que se sabe se dispersa en busca de alimento entre plantas hospedantes no cultivadas y cultivos. El palo blanco (Celtis laevigata Willdenow; Cannabaceae) comúnmente se encuentra en hábitats boscosos en el sureste de EE. UU. y puede servir para H. halys como huésped no agrícola. Por lo tanto, el objetivo principal de este estudio de dos años de duración fue determinar si 1) el palo blanco sirve como árbol huésped y 2) si los enemigos naturales atacan las masas de huevos centinela de H. halys en la copa del árbol. Monitoreamos H. halys en árboles de arándanos en bosques que bordean cultivos agricolas en Prattville, Alabama durante 2022 y similarmente en cultivos de huertos en Byron, Georgia durante 2023. Se desplegaron trampas para chinches hediondas cebadas cada año con feromonas en el dosel de los árboles para capturar H. halys. Evaluamos el parasitismo y la depredación de H. halys colocando masas de huevos centinela en las copas de los árboles. Durante la temporada, y para cada ubicación, se capturaron machos y hembras de H. halys en los estadios segundo a quinto en trampas de árboles. Trissolcus euschisti (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) fue la única especie de parasitoide que surgió de huevos de H. halys. Los principales tipos de depredación de las masas de huevos centinela fueron la masticación y la succión del estilete. Concluimos que el palo blanco es un huésped reproductivo de H. halys, y que los enemigos naturales nativos brindan servicios de control biológico de los huevos de H. halys en este huésped.

The invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an agricultural and nuisance pest in Georgia and Alabama, USA. Natural enemies may provide significant suppression of the brown marmorated stink bug, and sentinel egg masses are deployed commonly on plants in the field to measure their effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of deployment duration (2–5 d) on parasitism and predation of brown marmorated stink bug sentinel egg masses in plum, peach, blueberry, tomato, sassafras, corn, and soybean in these 2 states. Retrieved egg masses were processed to quantify rates of predation and parasitism and identify parasitoid species and predation types. Across crops, predation and parasitism were higher significantly in plum at 5 d compared to 2 d deployment but was similar in soybean regardless of exposure time in 2017. Predation and parasitism were higher significantly after 5 d of exposure compared to 2 d and 3 d whereas parasitism was significantly higher at 3 d compared to 2 d exposure in 2018 to 2020. For individual crop trials, though, effects of time of exposure were tested in different yr, sampling dates, and crops with variable results. When significant differences were detected for parasitism in plum, peach, tomato, and sassafras, a 5 d deployment resulted in higher parasitism compared to 2 d. Given the variability of factors that affect parasitism and predation under field conditions, we conclude that a 5 d deployment is optimal and a 3 d exposure time is minimal for assessing predation and parasitism. An additional benefit for a 5 d exposure is that it increases the probability of detecting hyperparasitism.

Hosts of avian brood parasites, such as cuckoos, are duped into taking care of a foreign chick and this has led to the evolution of host defenses, such as egg rejection. However, many host species are not egg rejecters and it has been suggested that poor illumination inside closed nests may constrain the evolution of this defense. In this study, we experimentally increased the light inside the dome nests of Yellow-Rumped Thornbills, the main host of the Shining Bronze-Cuckoo. Our results show that rejection events did not increase significantly when nests were brighter, although there is a possibility that rejection mistakes could decrease. Moreover, we found that natural light levels inside dome nests were highly variable, and in many cases as high as those in cup-nesting species with high rejection rates. This evidence suggests that rapid changes in nest illumination do not alter rejection behavior.

Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), the brown marmorated stink bug, an invasive agricultural pest in America and Europe, is reaching a global distribution. In the US, the first detection of H. halys was in the mid–1990s, and it has become a serious pest in multiple crop systems. In 2014, an exotic egg parasitoid, Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), was documented parasitizing sentinel H. halys egg masses in a wooded habitat in Beltsville, Maryland, USA. The parasitoid has since been reported in several other locations in the eastern and western US, and its population appears to be expanding in geographic range. However, there have been no reports of T. japonicus parasitizing H. halys egg masses within cultivated crops in the US. Whereas attack of H. halys in non-agricultural habitat may provide important biological control services in the landscape, if T. japonicus is not able to successfully forage for H. halys eggs within crops, its impact as a biological control agent may be limited. Here we report on successful parasitism of egg masses deployed in 2 peach orchards in New Jersey, USA. Egg masses were deployed as part of an experiment investigating the efficacy of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy utilizing border insecticide sprays in apple and peach. While overall egg parasitism was low, the majority of successfully developing parasitoids (97.4% of total adult parasitoids emerging, and from 75% of successfully parasitized sentinel egg masses) were T. japonicus.

Armored scales and their parasitoids were collected and identified from avocado orchards in 2 municipalities of the state of Mexico; the population fluctuation and parasitism of the 3 most abundant armored scales also were determined. The armored scales species (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) identified were Hemiberlesia cyanophylli (Signoret), Davidsonaspis aguacatae (Evans, Watson, & Miller), Diaspis nr. coccois (Lichtenstein), Hemiberlesia lataniae (Signoret), and Hemiberlesia rapax (Comstock); as well as the associated parasitoids Encarsia aurantii (Howard), Encarsia citrina (Craw), Encarsia gaonae (Myartseva & Evans), Encarsia lounsburyi (Berlese & Paoli), Aphytis proclia (Walker), Coccobius averini (Myartseva); Coccobius juliae (Myartseva), Coccobius mariae (Myartseva) (all Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), Signiphora falcata (Woolley & Dal Molin); Signiphora fax (Girault), Signiphora flavella (Girault), Signiphora mexicana (Ashmead) (all Hymenoptera: Signiphoridae), and Plagiomerus diaspidis (Crawford) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Some species from both groups constituted new distribution or host records in Mexico. Armored scale population densities generally increased per orchard and type of avocado tree structure from Oct to Apr, depending on the phenology of the avocado trees. The percentage of parasitism and adult parasitoid emergence varied according to their armored scale host population density. Most of the parasitoids emerged from armored scales collected from branches (82), followed by armored scales collected from fruits (59), and leaves (18).

Little is known about the effect of adult leafhopper age and its oviposition period on the emergence of egg parasitoids. The objective of this study was to determine the emergence rate of egg parasitoids that attack eggs of the corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), when the adult corn leafhopper differs in age and is subject to different lengths of time for the oviposition process. A total of 4 treatments compared adult females of D. maidis of 2 different ages, young (2-wk-old) and mature (8-wk-old), as well as 2 periods of oviposition of different lengths (3 and 6 d). The adult parasitoids emerging from the eggs of D. maidis were Anagrus virlai Triapitsyn and Anagrus columbi Perkins (both Hymenoptera: Mymaridae). When analyzing the interactions of leafhopper age at oviposition, it was found that the age of the leafhopper females (2-wk-old vs 8-wk-old) had a different effect on the number of oviposited eggs for the 2 oviposition periods. On the other hand, in the emergence of parasitoids, there were no significant differences between age and oviposition period, but the emergence of parasitoids was related to the number of eggs oviposited by D. maidis.

Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are minute polyphagous wasps and endoparasitoids of lepidopteran eggs. The objective of this study was to identify Trichogramma species emerging from the eggs of the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) attacking corn, Zea mays L. (Poaceae) in Bunga Raya, Siak, Riau, Sumatra, Indonesia, and individuals from an unidentified species obtained from a commercial laboratory in Jatisari, Karawang, West Java, Java, Indonesia. The emergence rate of Trichogramma yousufi sp. nov. Khan & Ikram (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on an infestation containing eggs of both pest species, beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), and the tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura (F.) (both Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), on Acacia crassicarpa A. Cunn ex Benth. (Fabaceae) also was evaluated in a nursery in Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau. Two Trichogramma species, namely Trichogramma chilonis Ishii (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and a new species, T. yousufi sp. nov., were recovered from the eggs of O. furnacalis in Bunga Raya. Trichogramma poliae Nagaraja (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) was identified as the species reared in the laboratory in Jatisari. Trichogramma yousufi sp. nov. was compared and separated from its closer species, Trichogramma latipennis Haliday (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Trichogramma species, recovered from corn crops and 1 that also was reared in the laboratory, successfully parasitized the eggs of S. exigua and S. litura under controlled conditions. The emergence rate of T. yousufi sp. nov. was recorded at 24.79 to 40.82%, with the highest percentage for more adults of this parasitoid released per m2 in the nursery, indicating its potential to be employed as a biological control agent of Spodoptera in natural conditions.

Anamnesis: A polytraumatized wild oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus) was admitted to the Unidad de Rehabilitación y Rescate de Animales Silvestres (URRAS) veterinary clinic of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Despite the medical efforts, the animal died six hours later. Clinical and laboratory findings: Necropsy examination revealed multiple white nodules of about 2 mm in diameter distributed on the visceral surface of lung caudal lobes. Histopathology revealed lymphoplasmacytic interstitial pneumonia with multiple coiled larvae of metastrongyloid nematodes in alveoli and bronchioles. First-stage Aelurostrongylus abstrusus nematode was identified in a fecal sample using the Ritchie copromicroscopic technique. Conclusion: This study reports an incidental severe pulmonary parasitism caused by A. abstrusus in a wild Oncilla (L. tigrinus). This is the first report of A. abstrusus infection associated with pathological lesions in a L. tigrinus from Colombia.