Cavity-nesting megachilid bees in the genus Osmia, found throughout the Palearctic and Nearctic regions, are good candidates for domestication. In North America, Osmia lignaria Say has been reported to be an excellent pollinator of tree fruit and is currently being developed for commercial use in orchards. This is largely because of research over several decades with the western subspecies of this bee, Osmia lignaria propinqua Cresson, in western orchards. The behavior of the eastern subspecies, O. lignaria lignaria Say, in eastern orchards has not previously been reported. This study evaluated the nesting activity and pollen preference of a population of the eastern subspecies in five orchards in the foothills and piedmont regions of North Carolina and Virginia over a 2-yr period. Apple was present in all orchards and all were bordered by hardwood forest. Shelters were placed both within orchards and the forest border. Emergence dates, nest construction, and orchard bloom were monitored weekly. Bee populations increased by 2-3 times annually at most orchards. Pollen species comprising nest provisions from 720 individual nest cells were identified and quantified using scanning electron microscopy. The greatest amount of pollen (46-82%) was that of a small understory tree, Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis L.), at all orchard sites where these trees were present nearby. The quantity of orchard pollen was relatively low, <20% at full apple bloom, except for one orchard (53%) without nearby redbud. O. lignaria lignaria appears to prefer Eastern redbud pollen over orchard pollen.

Emergence patterns of a natural population of Osmia lignaria subsp. lignaria Say were monitored during a 5-yr period (2003-2007) in relation to air temperature, bloom of eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis L.), and emergence of the parasitoid Chysura kyrae Krombein. Bee cocoons were placed in gelatin capsules and overwintered within shelters in their natural habitat. Mean emergence of female O. l. lignaria was observed at approximately 2 d after redbud bloom began; mean male emergence was approximately 1 wk earlier than for females and was nearly identical to that of C. kyrae. Horticultural models used to predict budburst for several tree species were evaluated with respect to redbud bloom and O. l. lignaria emergence. Each model indicated that both sexes of the bee and redbud had similar chill unit requirements. Differences in emergence and bloom dates were attributed to the different requirements for growing degree hours (GDHs) after chilling requirements were met. The close phenological relationship observed between eastern redbud and bee emergence suggests an important role for this common understory tree in the early nesting success of O. l. lignaria.

Ten tofu and 14 green-vegetable soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, genotypes were evaluated over 3 yrs for resistance to defoliation by the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and seed damage by a hemipteran complex. Petri-dish assays were used to determine foliar antibiosis to corn earworm. Larvae were weighed after feeding for 10 d on excised soybean leaves. Hemipteran damage was determined at harvest by individually rating 300 randomly sampled seeds from each subplot for severity of damage and calculating a weighted damage index. The specialty soybeans most resistant to corn earworm defoliation were Tousan 122, Guanyun da hei dun, and Enrei; whereas, those with the least seed damage were Barc-8 and Houjaku. There was no significant (F = 1.193; df = 1,300; P < 0.276) correlation of larval weight with seed damage index. It is likely that different mechanisms are responsible for seed and foliage resistance. There was a small but significant correlation (F = 40; df = 1,300); P < 0.001, R2 = 0.12) of seed damage index with maturity group that may be related to the phenology of soybean seed development and insect populations.

Petri dish bioassays were used to evaluate terminal foliage from 47 field-grown genotypes of vegetable-type soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, from maturity groups III through VIII, for resistance to corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), in 1993 and 1994. Larvae reared on “Sato”, IAC 100, V89-1301, V89-1563, and V88-100 had low mean weights, not significantly different from resistant controls. However, larval weights ranged from moderate to high on most vegetable-type soybeans. The most susceptible genotypes were “Geulph”, PI 561291, and “Rokusun”, followed by “Kanrich”, “Kura”, “Camp”, “Wolverine”, G2246, G4032, “Kim”, “Hahto”, PI 561294, N2962, and D71-V89. Mortality averaged 2.9% in 1993 and 13.5% in 1994, but was not generally useful in evaluating resistance within maturity groups. High percent mortality and low weights of larvae reared on both resistant and susceptible genotypes in maturity group VII/VIII in 1994 may have been related to the use of insect-damaged foliage. Soluble leaf sugar was determined in 1994 samples and ranged from 0.50% (PI 416868-B) to 1.04% (PI 561291) of dry weight. A small but significant positive correlation (r = 0.20, P = 0.009) was found between sugar content and larval weight in maturity groups III through VI. Exceptional low larval weights in maturity groups VII and VIII were not related to leaf sugar content.

One hundred vegetable-type soybean, Glycine max [L.] Merrill, accessions from maturity groups III through VIII plus 70 grain-type cultivars and plant introductions (PIs) resistant and susceptible to Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis Mulsant, were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications for resistance to Mexican bean beetle foliar feeding in a 3-yr field study. Vegetable-type soybean cultivars ranged from moderate susceptibility ('Camp'), similar to many grain-type cultivars, to highly susceptible ('Sato', 'Hahto'). PIs with desirable vegetable-type traits and good to average resistance to Mexican bean beetle (PIs 417061, 417288, and 417310 and FC 31732) were identified, as was highly susceptible germplasm (PI 416771).

Two soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars, Forrest and Essex, were exposed to incremental levels of O3 in open-top field chambers during the 1986 growing season. Treatments consisted of chambers receiving carbon-filtered air or non-filtered air to which either 0.00, 0.03 or 0.06 ppm (μl/l)O3 was added continuously for 7 hr/day. After 3 weeks of exposure, the feeding preference of Mexican bean beetle (MBB) adults (Epilachna varivestis Mulsant) was determined by placing plants in a carbon-filtered chamber enclosed by an aluminum screen. Defoliation was visually determined after the MBB had fed for 6–8 days. Leaves from the remainder of the plants were brought to the laboratory and fed to MBB larvae. The larvae were reared in plastic boxes until pupation, and developmental time, pupal weight and mortality were determined. Visible O3 injury increased significantly with increasing O3 concentration and Forrest was significantly more sensitive than Essex. No cultivar differences were found in MBB adult feeding preference, but defoliation increased significantly with increasing O3 concentration. Results, although not as definitive as in the feeding preference study, indicated that MBB larvae tended to weigh more and develop faster on ozonated foliage. Implications of this pollutant × pest interaction are discussed relative to its potential impact on crop production.

Field screening of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., germplasm for resistance to insect defoliation was undertaken because of the many new additions to the USDA germplasm collection in recent years and because of the narrow genetic base of resistance currently available to plant breeders. All soybean plant introductions (PIs) available by 1980 (to PI 424595) in maturity groups VI, VII, and VIII were screened at the Randolph Research Farm of Virginia State Univ., Petersburg, VA, for resistance to feeding by the Mexican bean bettle (MBB), Epilachna varivestis Mulsant. Resistance was determined by estimating the percent defoliation caused by the MBB. All soybean accessions were initially tested in 1984 and selected lines were retested in 1985 (three replicates) and 1986 (four replicates). The least defoliated lines of each maturity group (MG) were identified and compared with three susceptible genotypes from their respective maturity groups. Although no PI had a higher level of resistance than the previously identified PIs 171451 and 229358, several accessions had nearly equal levels of resistance. These include two PIs (417061 and 417136) in MG VIII which had less defoliation than the standard resistant line of this MG, PI 227687. Also, sources of resistance were identified for the first time in MG VI: FC 31665, and PIs 379621, 416925, and 416937.

Trypsin inhibitory activity (TIA) was found in soybean, GLycine max (L.) Merrill, leaf extracts. Foliage of eight field-grown soybean accessions, from maturity groups V and VII, was assayed for TIA during an infestation of Mexican bean beetle (MBB), Epilachna varivestis Mulsant. Small quantities of TIA were found in prebloom foliage (6.3–15.9 μg trypsin inhibited per gram of leaf). As the plants matured and MBB defoliation increased, TIA in all lines increased from 4- to 23-fold. Amount of TIA was correlated to degree of defoliation. Two types of trypsin inhibitors, differing in molecular weight, were found. The inhibitor(s) with the smaller molecular weight was detected only in plants with feeding damage and, by late pod stage, accounted for 50–80% of total TIA in most plants.

Several species of monophagous jack pine sawflies (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae) were tested in the field and by electroantennograms (EAG) for activity toward the optical isomers of a pine sawfly sex pheromone, the acetate and propionate esters of 3,7-dimethylpentadecan-2-ol.Neodiprion rugifrons andNeodiprion dubiosus were attracted to a mixture of the propionate esters of the 2S,3R,7R and 2S,3R,7S isomers, whereasNeodiprion swainei was attracted to the 2S,3S,7S propionate isomer. Samples containing the 2S,3R,7S propionate isomer elicited the strongest EAG responses in these three species andNeodiprion nigroscutum. The 2S,3S,7S propionate isomer was equally active (EAG) in the case ofN. swainei.

Among optical isomers of 3,7-dimethylpentadecan-2-ol (diprionol) acetate or propionate tested as synthetic attractants, the 2S, 3S, and 7S isomers were most effective in attracting the males ofNeodiprion sertifer in the field. The 2S, 3S, and 7R isomers showed weak activity, but the other optical isomers were not attractive. Capillary GC analysis showed that the natural pheromone from body extracts of females was identical with the synthetic acetate of diprionol in its GC behavior. However, the natural pheromone was about 100-fold stronger than the most purified synthetic acetate of 2S,3S,7S-diprionol in the field. As a result of various isomer combination studies, it was found that the acetate of 2S,3R,7R-diprionol, when added to 2S,3S,7S-diprionol preparation at a low concentration, increased the catch by the latter. It was therefore concluded that the above combination of the optical isomers could account for the major sex attractancy in this species.

Field tests using the sawfly pheromone [3,7-dimethylpentadecan-2-ol acetate with (−)-erythro configuration (2S,3S)] were conducted near Gainesville, Florida, during 1978–1981 to determine the attraction ofNeodiprion lecontei males to baited traps with respect to time of year and time of day. Greatest numbers of males were caught during May, July, and September in traps placed within a pine stand from July 1978 to July 1979. Males were only caught between 1400 and 2000 hr on 10 dates in June and 10 dates in September–October 1980, and 10 dates in June 1981, with greatest catches from 1600–1800 hr. Catches in a synthetic-baited trap and in virgin female-baited traps were similar with respect to time of day.

Sawfly sex pheromones, the acetate and propionate esters of 3,7-dimethylpentadecan-2-ol, were field tested for activity towardNeodiprion lecontei (Fitch). Only the acetate form of the 2S,3S,7S isomer was active. Field catch decreased with the addition of the 2S,3R,7(R/S) acetate isomer sample. Electroantennogram recordings showed a positive correlation between response and degree to which the chirality of each isomer resembled the attractive isomer.