scholarly journals A New Pest Species of the Mealybug Genus Ferrisia Fullaway (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) from the United States

Author(s):  
P. J. Gullan ◽  
D. A. Downie ◽  
S. A. Steffan
2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (35) ◽  
pp. 17371-17376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Songlin Fei ◽  
Randall S. Morin ◽  
Christopher M. Oswalt ◽  
Andrew M. Liebhold

Worldwide, forests are increasingly affected by nonnative insects and diseases, some of which cause substantial tree mortality. Forests in the United States have been invaded by a particularly large number (>450) of tree-feeding pest species. While information exists about the ecological impacts of certain pests, region-wide assessments of the composite ecosystem impacts of all species are limited. Here we analyze 92,978 forest plots distributed across the conterminous United States to estimate biomass loss associated with elevated mortality rates caused by the 15 most damaging nonnative forest pests. We find that these species combined caused an additional (i.e., above background levels) tree mortality rate of 5.53 TgC per year. Compensation, in the form of increased growth and recruitment of nonhost species, was not detectable when measured across entire invaded ranges but does occur several decades following pest invasions. In addition, 41.1% of the total live forest biomass in the conterminous United States is at risk of future loss from these 15 pests. These results indicate that forest pest invasions, driven primarily by globalization, represent a huge risk to US forests and have significant impacts on carbon dynamics.


1958 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 631-632
Author(s):  
Hahn W. Capps

The cotton stem moth, Platyedra vilella (Zeller), was not known to occur in the United States prior to 1951. In August of that year, larvae of the species were found infesting hollyhock plants at Mineola, New York, by J. H. Maheny, a plant quarantine inspector of the port of New York. Adults were reared from additional material collected the following year, an indication that the species had become established. How or when P. vilella was introduced has not been determined, but doubtless it was only recently.


2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary W. Witmer ◽  
Frank Boyd ◽  
Zandy Hillis-Starr

The United States National Park Service and the United States Wildlife Services made a planned and sustained effort to eradicate the introduced roof rats (Rattus rattus) from Buck Island Reef National Monument in the Caribbean Sea during 1998–2000. The rats were causing substantial damage to a variety of the 80-ha island’s floral and faunal resources. An island-wide grid of elevated bait stations containing anticoagulant (0.005% diphacinone; 50 ppm) rodenticide bait blocks were used to eradicate the rats. The bait stations were modified several times to assure ready access by rats while minimising access by non-target animals, especially crabs and birds. Numerous post-project trapping sessions over six years resulted in no rat captures, suggesting that, indeed, the rats had been eradicated from the island. No non-target losses resulting from the baiting program were observed by field personnel, but they noted what appeared to be a recovery of some of the island’s floral and faunal resources. There have been no depredations of endangered sea turtle nests since the eradication. Post-project monitoring sessions revealed the presence of a growing house mouse (Mus musculus) population on the island. The threats posed by, and potential management strategies for, this introduced pest species are being investigated. This is the first successful rat eradication on a sizable island, using diphacinone bait blocks with a unique, elevated bait-station system. Diphacinone can provide an alternative to the highly toxic brodifacoum and may help reduce non-target hazards in some situations, although several applications are generally required.


2006 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 1310-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie R. Kikkert ◽  
Christine A. Hoepting ◽  
Qingjun Wu ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Robert Baur ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa M Crimmins ◽  
Katharine L Gerst ◽  
Diego G Huerta ◽  
R Lee Marsh ◽  
Erin E Posthumus ◽  
...  

Abstract Insect pests cost billions of dollars per year globally, negatively impacting food crops and infrastructure, and contributing to the spread of disease. Timely information regarding developmental stages of pests can facilitate early detection and control, increasing efficiency and effectiveness. In 2018, the U.S. National Phenology Network (USA-NPN) released a suite of ‘Pheno Forecast’ map products relevant to science and management. The Pheno Forecasts include real-time maps and short-term forecasts of insect pest activity at management-relevant spatial and temporal resolutions and are based on accumulated temperature thresholds associated with critical life-cycle stages of economically important pests. Pheno Forecasts indicate, for a specified day, the status of the insect’s target life-cycle stage in real time across the contiguous United States. The maps are available for 12 pest species including the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire [Coleoptera: Buprestidae]), hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae Annand), and gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar Linnaeus [Lepidoptera: Erebidae]). Preliminary validation based on in-situ observations for hemlock woolly adelgid egg and nymph stages in 2018 indicated the maps to be ≥93% accurate depending on phenophase. Since their release in early 2018, these maps have been adopted by tree care specialists and foresters across the United States. Using a consultative mode of engagement, USA-NPN staff have continuously sought input and critique of the maps and delivery from end users. Based on feedback received, maps have been expanded and modified to include additional species, improved descriptions of the phenophase event of interest, and e-mail-based notifications to support management decisions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Whitney Cranshaw ◽  
Melissa Schreiner ◽  
Kadie Britt ◽  
Thomas P Kuhar ◽  
John McPartland ◽  
...  

Abstract Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is now being grown within the United States over a much broader geographic area and for different uses than during its last period of significant production that ended after World War II. Within the past 3 yr, a large number of arthropod species have been documented to feed on hemp in the United States. Among key pest species, corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), has demonstrated greatest potential for crop injury, being particularly damaging to flower buds. Hemp russet mite, Aculops cannibicola (Farkas), and cannabis aphid, Phorodon cannabis Passerini, are the two species observed most damaging among those that suck plant fluids. Eurasian hemp borer, Grapholita delineana Walker, is widely present east of the Rocky Mountains and appears to have potential to significantly damage both flower buds and developing seeds. Numerous species of caterpillars, grasshoppers, and beetles chew hemp foliage; the severity of these defoliation injuries appears to be minimal, but needs further study. Similarly, numerous seed feeding hemipterans, most notably stink bugs and Lygus bugs, are regularly found in the crop but injury potential remains unclear. Some preliminary efforts have been made to develop integrated pest management strategies for these insects, particularly for corn earworm. Future research can be expected to rapidly resolve many of the data gaps that presently restrict advancing pest management on the crop. However, a major confounding issue involves the use of pesticides on hemp. Federal agencies have not yet provided clear direction on this issue, and regulatory decisions have subsequently devolved to the states.


2006 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 1310-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie R. Kikkert ◽  
Christine A. Hoepting ◽  
Qingjun Wu ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Robert Baur ◽  
...  

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Runshi Xie ◽  
Bin Wu ◽  
Haijie Dou ◽  
Cuiyu Liu ◽  
Gary W. Knox ◽  
...  

Crapemyrtle bark scale (CMBS; Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae) is an exotic pest species that causes aesthetic and economic damage to crapemyrtles and poses potential threats to other horticultural crops in the United States. Although previous studies reported the infestation of CMBS on several alternative hosts across multiple families in Asia, its potential threats to other documented alternative hosts remain elusive and yet to be confirmed. In this study, feeding preference studies of CMBS were conducted on forty-nine plant species and cultivars in 2016 and 2019, in order to gain insight into the expansion of CMBS distribution in the United States, as well as other regions of the world. The infestations of CMBS were confirmed on apple (Malus domestica), Chaenomeles speciosa, Disopyros rhombifolia, Heimia salicifolia, Lagerstroemia ‘Spiced Plum’, M. angustifolia, and twelve out of thirty-five pomegranate cultivars. However, the levels of CMBS infestation on these test plant hosts in this study is very low compared to Lagerstroemia, and may not cause significant damage. No sign of CMBS infestation was observed on Rubus ‘Arapaho’, R. ‘Navaho’, R. idaeus ‘Dorman Red’, R. fruticosus, B. microphylla var. koreana × B. sempervirens, B. harlandii, or D. virginiana.


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