Abstract Little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), is an invasive ant with negative impacts on biodiversity and agriculture throughout the tropics and subtropics. These ants can be captured in one-way traps using the alarm pheromone attractant 2,5-dimethyl-3-(2-methylbutyl)pyrazine, but many trap parameters remain unknown. This field study was conducted to determine one-way trap performance parameters, including trap longevity, maximum trap capacity, and trap capture mechanism. Experiment 1 assessed the longevity of W. auropunctata captures in one-way traps over two 57-day periods. Pheromone-treated traps captured 79 ± 9 ants/trap/day with a maximum one-day capture of 4,938 ants, while control traps without pheromone captured 1.3 ± 0.2 ants/trap/day, with a maximum one-day capture of 112 ants. A bent-cable model was used to estimate that pheromone-treated traps remained attractive for 42.3 days (95 % confidence interval 38.9–48.7 days), even at what are likely very low concentrations of alarm pheromone. Experiment 2 assessed the maximum number of ants that could be captured in a single trap by leaving traps containing pheromone in macadamia trees for 57 days, concurrent with Experiment 1. Traps serviced in this way, not daily but only at the end of the trial period, captured 70 ants/trap. Experiment 3 was designed to explore the unexpected trap longevity observed in Experiment 1 by testing three trapping mechanism hypotheses: 1) ants establish trails or other markers to traps, 2) captured ants attract other ants to traps, and 3) ants are slow to find traps (discovery lag). Experimental results support hypotheses 1 and 2.
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major global pest of maize where the larvae can cause damage from vegetative to reproductive stages. The corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is another major pest of maize where the larvae mainly feed on ear tips, silk, and kernels. Severe infestations by these two insect pests can have a major effect on maize economic yield. A holistic approach in assessing potential maize germplasm lines is important as agronomic qualities are considered to offer stakeholders insect-resistant lines with suitable agronomic performance. Varied germplasm maize lines were evaluated for resistance to fall armyworm and corn earworm along with their agronomic traits. The maize lines were infested at V-7 stage with fall armyworm neonates and scored for leaf damage 14 days after infestation. Plants were evaluated for ear damage based on corn earworm natural infestation by measuring feeding penetration depth along the ear. There was no significant difference in the leaf damage scores between 2022 and 2023 for all maize lines. However, some maize lines showed evidence of an increase or decrease in ear damage in 2022 compared to 2023. The most resistant lines to fall armyworm were CML122, CML139, and Mp97:160. FBLL and LH199 were among the most resistant lines to corn earworm with good agronomic traits. Our next steps are to make test crosses of these potential insect resistant lines with other lines that possess good agronomic traits and possibly utilize maize breeding technologies to accelerate the process in producing superior maize lines. El gusano cogollero, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), es una plaga mundial importante del ma & iacute;z donde las larvas pueden causar da & ntilde;os desde las etapas vegetativas hasta reproductivas. El gusano elotero, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) es otra plaga importante del ma & iacute;z cuyas larvas se alimentan principalmente de las puntas de las mazorcas, la barba y los granos. Las infestaciones graves de estas dos plagas de insectos pueden tener un efecto importante en el rendimiento econ & oacute;mico del ma & iacute;z. Es importante adoptar un enfoque hol & iacute;stico en la evaluaci & oacute;n de l & iacute;neas potenciales de germoplasma de ma & iacute;z, ya que se considera que las cualidades agron & oacute;micas ofrecen a las partes interesadas l & iacute;neas resistentes a los insectos con un desempe & ntilde;o agron & oacute;mico adecuado. Se evaluaron l & iacute;neas de germoplasma variado de ma & iacute;z para determinar su resistencia al gusano cogollero y al gusano elotero junto con sus caracter & iacute;sticas agron & oacute;micas. Las l & iacute;neas de ma & iacute;z se infestaron en la etapa V-7 con reci & eacute;n nacidos del gusano cogollero y se calificaron por da & ntilde;o foliar 14 d & iacute;as despu & eacute;s de la infestaci & oacute;n. Se evalu & oacute; el da & ntilde;o a las mazorcas en las plantas bas & aacute;ndose en la infestaci & oacute;n natural del gusano cogollero midiendo la profundidad de penetraci & oacute;n del alimento a lo largo de la mazorca. No hubo diferencias significativas en las puntuaciones de da & ntilde;o foliar entre 2022 y 2023 para todas las l & iacute;neas de ma & iacute;z. Sin embargo, algunas l & iacute;neas de ma & iacute;z mostraron evidencia de un aumento o disminuci & oacute;n en el da & ntilde;o a las mazorcas en 2022 en comparaci & oacute;n con 2023. Las l & iacute;neas m & aacute;s resistentes al gusano cogollero fueron CML122, CML139 y Mp97:160. FBLL y LH199 se encuentran entre las l & iacute;neas m & aacute;s resistentes al gusano elotero con buenas caracter & iacute;sticas agron & oacute;micas. Nuestros pr & oacute;ximos pasos son realizar cruces de prueba de estas l & iacute;neas potencialmente resistentes a insectos con otras l & iacute;neas que poseen buenas caracter & iacute;sticas agron & oacute;micas y posiblemente utilizar tecnolog & iacute;as de mejoramiento de ma & iacute;z para acelerar el proceso de producci & oacute;n de l & iacute;neas de ma & iacute;z superiores.
This study examined the thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) species complex associated with relay-cropped strawberry-Jalape & ntilde;o pepper fields in Florida and evaluated how sampling methods influenced species detection. Four thrips species were present across all fields, with Frankliniella bispinosa Morgan being the most common, while Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, Thrips palmi Karny, and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) occurred at substantial levels. Whole-plant sampling provided the most accurate representation of thrips species composition and was essential for detecting less common species. S cirtothrips dorsalis appeared later in the season and their population increased toward the end of the Jalape & ntilde;o pepper crop, suggesting that relay-cropped peppers may serve as a source of S. dorsalis for subsequent strawberry plantings. Este estudio evalu & oacute; el complejo de especies de trips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) asociado con campos de fresa y Jalape & ntilde;o manejados bajo un sistema de cultivo en relevo en Florida, y analiz & oacute; c & oacute;mo los m & eacute;todos de muestreo influyen en la detecci & oacute;n y caracterizaci & oacute;n de las especies presentes. En todos los campos evaluados se registraron cuatro especies de trips. La especie m & aacute;s abundante fue Frankliniella bispinosa Morgan, mientras que Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, Thrips palmi Karny y Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) tambi & eacute;n estuvieron presentes en niveles considerables. El m & eacute;todo de muestreo de planta completa proporcion & oacute; la estimaci & oacute;n m & aacute;s precisa de la composici & oacute;n de especies y fue esencial para la detecci & oacute;n de especies menos abundantes. Scirtothrips dorsalis fue detectado principalmente en etapas tard & iacute;as de la temporada, con un incremento poblacional hacia el final del ciclo del cultivo de Jalape & ntilde;o. Estos resultados sugieren que los cultivos de chile en relevo pueden funcionar como reservorio de S. dorsalis y que contribuye a la infestaci & oacute;n de siembras subsecuentes de fresa.
In order to quantify the abundance of red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta Buren) and other dominant ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the urban/suburban areas of Miami, we set out two hotdog baits at each of 49 sample sites along 80 km of roads with a sample area of about 400 km2. Red imported fire ants were found at only 8.2 % of sample sites and in 5.1 % of bait occurrences, ranking it in a tie for fourth or fifth place in the list of ants collected. The most common ants were Pheidole parva Mayr, Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius), and Pheidole subarmata Mayr, which were collected at 46.9 %, 18.4 %, and 12.2 % of sites, respectively. The majority of ants collected in this survey were exotic species, accounting for 93.6 % of species occurrences and 98 % of individuals. Dominant species of ants in the Miami area appear to have been dynamic over the last 50 years, several species have likely declined markedly (e.g. Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius) and S. invicta) while two of the current dominant species, P. parva and P. subarmata, were unknown in Florida only 10 years ago. Para cuantificar la abundancia de hormigas rojas de fuego importadas (Solenopsis invicta Buren) y otras hormigas dominantes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) en las & aacute;reas urbanas/suburbanas de Miami, colocamos dos cebos de salchicha en cada uno de los 49 sitios de muestreo a lo largo de 80 km de carreteras con un & aacute;rea de muestreo de aproximadamente 400 km2. Las hormigas rojas de fuego importadas se encontraron en solo el 8,2 % de los sitios de muestreo y en el 5,1 % de las ocurrencias de cebo, ubic & aacute;ndolas en un empate en el cuarto o quinto lugar en la lista de hormigas recolectadas. Las hormigas m & aacute;s comunes fueron Pheidole parva Mayr, Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius) y Pheidole subarmata Mayr, que se recolectaron en el 46,9 %, 18,4 % y 12,2 % de los sitios, respectivamente. La mayor & iacute;a de las hormigas recolectadas en este estudio fueron especies ex & oacute;ticas, representando el 93,6 % de las ocurrencias de especies y el 98 % de los individuos. Las especies de hormigas dominantes en el & aacute;rea de Miami parecen haber experimentado cambios din & aacute;micos durante los & uacute;ltimos 50 a & ntilde;os. Varias especies probablemente han disminuido notablemente (por ejemplo, Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius) y S. invicta), mientras que dos de las especies dominantes actuales, P. parva y P. subarmata, eran desconocidas en Florida hace tan solo 10 a & ntilde;os.
Tropical pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne; Cucurbitaceae) is popular among Caribbean and Latin American people in Florida but is mostly imported. Research is needed to support the expansion of domestic production. The goals of this study were to determine the arthropod pest complex on tropical pumpkin in Florida and investigate the effects of genotype and mulch type on this complex. Pests and natural enemies were sampled during spring 2022, fall 2022, and summer 2023 cropping seasons. A total of 13 genotypes, all grown on roller-crimped mulch, were compared, and included 11 tropical pumpkin genotypes (C. moschata), one butternut squash genotype (C. moschata), and one hull-less seed pumpkin genotype (Cucurbita pepo L.). In addition, the genotype 'La Estrella' was evaluated on roller-crimped cover crop mulch, an unmulched raised bed, and a raised bed with black plastic mulch. The main pests each season were aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae), whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius MEAM1; Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), squash bugs (Anasa tristis (DeGeer); Hemiptera: Coreidae), and flower thrips (Frankliniella spp.; Thysanoptera: Thripidae). There were no differences in aphid and whitefly numbers among genotypes, but squash silverleaf disorder (SSL) ratings did differ. 'Kakai', 'Waltham Butternut', and 'Verde Luz' had the lowest SSL ratings while UFTP42 and 'Soler' had the highest SSL ratings. The use of black plastic mulch reduced aphid numbers per plant in the spring and thrips numbers in the fall and summer. In conclusion, the pest complex of tropical pumpkin is like that of C. pepo, UFTP42 and 'Soler' may be unsuitable choices for Florida due to high SSL levels, and roller-crimped mulch is a viable option for organic growers. La calabaza tropical (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne; Cucurbitaceae) es popular entre la poblaci & oacute;n caribe & ntilde;a y latinoamericana de Florida, pero es importada principalmente. Se necesita investigaci & oacute;n para impulsar la producci & oacute;n nacional. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron determinar el complejo de plagas de artr & oacute;podos que afectan a la calabaza tropical en Florida e investigar los efectos del genotipo y el tipo de mantillo sobre dicho complejo. Se tomaron muestras de plagas y enemigos naturales durante las temporadas de cultivo de primavera de 2022, oto & ntilde;o de 2022 y verano de 2023. Se compararon un total de 13 genotipos, todos cultivados sobre mantillo compactado con rodillo, incluyendo 11 genotipos de calabaza tropical (C. moschata), un genotipo de calabaza moscada (C. moschata) y un genotipo de calabaza de semilla sin c & aacute;scara (Cucurbita pepo L.). Adem & aacute;s, el genotipo 'La Estrella' fue evaluado en mantillo de cultivo de cobertura compactado con rodillo, un bancal elevado sin mantillo y un bancal elevado con mantillo de pl & aacute;stico negro. Las principales plagas cada temporada fueron pulgones (Hemiptera: Aphididae), mosquitas blancas (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius MEAM1; Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), chinches de la calabaza (Anasa tristis (DeGeer); Hemiptera: Coreidae) y trips de las flores (Frankliniella spp.; Thysanoptera: Thripidae). No hubo diferencias en el n & uacute;mero de pulgones y mosquitas blancas entre los genotipos, pero las calificaciones del trastorno de la hoja plateada de la calabaza (SSL) s & iacute; difirieron. 'Kakai', 'Waltham Butternut' y 'Verde Luz' tuvieron las calificaciones SSL m & aacute;s bajas, mientras que UFTP42 y 'Soler' tuvieron las calificaciones SSL m & aacute;s altas. El uso de acolchado pl & aacute;stico negro redujo la cantidad de pulgones por planta en primavera y la de trips en oto & ntilde;o y verano. En conclusi & oacute;n, el complejo de plagas de la calabaza tropical es similar al de C. pepo; las variedades UFTP42 y 'Soler' podr & iacute;an no ser adecuadas para Florida debido a los altos niveles de SSL (s & oacute;lidos solubles en agua), mientras que el acolchado con rodillos es una opci & oacute;n viable para los productores org & aacute;nicos.
