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.

Since its first detection in 2009, spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is common in all of Florida’s fruit-producing counties. Surveys indicate that SWD are active year-round in Florida’s warm climate, with peak activity from April to May when the blueberry harvest is highest. Although this is a significant pest of blueberries in Florida, with good cultural practices, proper monitoring, and appropriate pesticide applications it can be successfully managed. This publication is intended to be used as a resource for Florida blueberry growers to successfully identify and manage SWD.

The blueberry gall midge, Dasineura oxycoccana Johnson (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), is a key pest of cultivated blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) in North America. Adult emergence often coincides with early floral bud development, making timely detection and control critical for effective pest management. We evaluated diel patterns of adult emergence and larval drop in a naturally infested southern highbush blueberry planting during 2020 and 2022. Larval drop was most pronounced during early morning hours (6 to 9 AM), while female adult emergence peaked in mid-afternoon (12 to 3 PM). Environmental conditions, particularly temperature and relative humidity, were associated with variation in larval drop. In addition, pheromone-baited traps consistently captured more males than unbaited controls. Laboratory olfactometer assays showed reduced male orientation, even when lure dosage was increased, suggesting that emergence patterns and pheromone responses are regulated by interactions with environmental, genetic, and chemical factors. Incorporating regionally calibrated pheromone blends and diel emergence dynamics into monitoring and spray programs may improve the precision and efficacy of integrated pest management strategies targeting this pest.

Numerous natural enemies have been investigated to suppress spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, a pest of small fruits and cherries. Current efforts include widespread releases of an imported figitid parasitoid, Ganaspis kimorum, conserving resident pupal parasitoids and an adventive figitid, Leptopilina japonica, and the application of entomopathogenic nematodes. However, the combined effectiveness of parasitoids and nematodes is relatively unknown. Five laboratory studies examined the combination of G. kimorum or L. japonica with the nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae or S. feltiae. The nematodes were applied to the substrate when wandering D. suzukii larvae were about to pupate. Results showed that the combination of parasitoids and nematodes led to higher pest suppression than either parasitoid or nematode only treatments, with an overall 56% to 83% reduction in D. suzukii emergence relative to the control. In 2 cases, the combination had similar effectiveness as the parasitoid-only treatment. The exposure of parasitized larvae to nematodes lowered parasitoid emergence by 26% to 68%. Two studies exposed pupae recently parasitized by the pupal parasitoids Pachycrepoideus vindemiae and Trichopria drosophilae to S. carpocapsae, and the exposure to nematodes lowered adult parasitoid emergence by 49% and 71%, respectively. Given the potential increase in overall pest control but negative impact on developing parasitoids, the decision to combine approaches may be based on whether the goal is to maximize biological control or to establish parasitoids.

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), is a significant pest of cole crops such as cabbage, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, radish, carinata, turnips, and watercress. Globally, the annual cost of managing the DBM is estimated to be USD 4 to 5 billion. The pest originated in Europe but is now widely distributed wherever cole crops are extensively grown. DBM has become widespread due to its high dispersal ability, multiple generations per year, and potential to develop resistance to most commonly used insecticides. DBM management is heavily reliant on chemical control, but DBM is notorious for developing resistance to many classes of insecticides, so frequent pesticide applications can lead to insecticide resistance, ineffective pest suppression, and yield losses. Therefore, to manage DBM, a good integrated pest management (IPM) strategy is critical.

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), is one of the most destructive pests of cruciferous crops worldwide. This pest has gained notoriety due to its high dispersal ability, substantial number of generations per year, and high potential to develop resistance to various classes of insecticides. Current management practices for diamondback moth in cabbage rely heavily on chemical control. However, increasing resistance to insecticides and concerns about nontarget effects underscore the need for alternative pest management tools. The attractiveness of product code ISR: PLT-008A1, a semiochemical Specialized Pheromone and Lure Application Technology formulation, was evaluated against diamondback moths using a 4-choice olfactometer to present a choice to adult insects between untreated samples of cabbage leaves and samples treated with ISR: PLT-008A1. Diamondback moths chose cabbage discs treated with ISR: PLT-008A1 as their first choice compared to untreated cabbage samples. In the field, ISR: PLT-008A1 mixed with small quantities of different insecticides were evaluated against diamondback moth and beneficial insects. ISR: PLT-008A1 mixed with spinosad (Entrust), alone or combined with a single application of azadirachtin + pyrethrins (Azera), applied on the middle beds of the plots, reduced diamondback moth populations. Natural enemy populations also increased in these 2 treatments compared to other treatments. These findings confirm that ISR: PLT-008A1 effectively attracts diamondback moth and can be used to manage diamondback moth populations when combined with an insecticide. ISR: PLT-008A1 combined with reduced-risk insecticides (spinosad and azadirachtin) can be integrated into a cole crop integrated pest management program in both organic and conventional systems.

The sugarcane rust mite (SRM), Abacarus sacchari (Channabasavana), has been reported in Florida for decades; however, the information about the impact of the mites’ feeding is very limited. We investigated the effects of SRM feeding activity on the sugarcane leaf ultrastructure and physiology in a sugarcane field within three consecutive cropping cycles with manipulation of the SRM population using acaricide applications. The experiment was arranged in a two-factorial randomized complete block design using acaricide application as the main plot treatment, three sugarcane genotypes, namely CP88-1762, CP89-2143, and CP00-1101 as the subplot treatment. The study showed that sugarcane genotypes responded differently to SRM attacks, with CP89-2143 displaying the most obvious symptoms. The injury due to SRM feeding could reach the leaf tissues deep under the epidermal layer and ultrastructure alterations were detected on the affected leaves. Furthermore, SRM could change leaf morphology and anatomy, leading to a reduction in chlorophyll content of up to nearly 20

The pepper weevil (Anthonomus eugenii) is a major pest that causes significant economic damage to several species and cultivars of pepper, including jalapeño (Capsicum annuum var. jalapeño). Protecting pepper crops from this pest often necessitates the use of chemical insecticides. To enhance control measures and mitigate the risk of insecticide resistance in the pepper weevil, this study focused on determining the optimal timing and application intervals of thiamethoxam and isocycloseram and assessed the effectiveness of rotating these pesticides with biorational insecticides. The effectiveness of various spray intervals for thiamethoxam and isocycloseram, starting at the bloom stage and one week post-bloom, was also assessed on the management of pepper weevils. The spray intervals for each insecticide included foliar applications weekly, every two weeks, every three weeks initiated at the blooming stage, and every two weeks beginning one week after blooming. The application of thiamethoxam and isocycloseram starting at bloom at one-week (7.3 ± 0.9 and 0.6 ± 0.4) and two-week (7.3 ± 0.9 and 0.7 ± 0.2) intervals significantly reduced the number of pepper weevil-infested buds compared to the untreated control (18.3 ± 2.5 and 1.7 ± 0.2). Isocycloseram starting at bloom and rotated with azadirachtin + pyrethrins as well as isocycloseram rotated with azadirachtin + pyrethrins and thiamethoxam on a weekly basis had the lowest number of pepper weevil-infested buds, flowers, and fruits and higher marketable yield. These findings suggest that adopting foliar applications weekly or every two weeks starting at bloom, as well as the rotation of thiamethoxam and isocycloseram with biorational insecticides, can effectively reduce pepper weevil infestation and increase pepper yield.

The pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii Cano, is an economically important pest of cultivated peppers (Capsicum annuum) in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. This study aimed to ascertain the spatial distribution of pepper weevil infestation across various fields in Miami Dade County, South Florida. The spatio-temporal dynamics of pepper weevil were evaluated using 144 sample points within each of seven pepper fields. The data were analyzed using three different geospatial techniques, spatial analysis by distance indices (SADIE), Moran’s I, and Geary’s C, to determine the spatial distribution of pepper weevil. The SADIE analysis revealed a significant aggregation distribution in 18 out of 30 sampling dates across all fields. The results from Geary’s C and Moran’s I indices indicated a positive spatial autocorrelation (spatial clustering/aggregation) of pepper weevil regardless of field or pepper types. Overall, the findings from this study depict an aggregated spatial distribution pattern of pepper weevil populations, characterized by a tendency for aggregation that transitions to a more uniform distribution as the season progresses.

Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a vinegar fruit fly that infests ripening and ripe berries and other thin-skinned fruits in Europe and the Americas. Previous studies have identified numerous wild hosts and have documented movement into crops from these wild hosts. Other studies have documented higher numbers of D. suzukii in crops adjacent to wild hosts. We studied D. suzukii adult movement and distribution in strawberries at an organic research station plot away from alternate hosts in 2016-2017, and at an organic on-farm site with a woody field border in 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. On the research station trial traps were placed 5 m outside the north border of the field and 5, 10, 20, and 40 m into the field. The same design was used in the on-farm trials with the addition of traps along the woody border. Populations of D. suzukii on the research station trial were low and randomly distributed. In contrast, D. suzukii male and female numbers on the on-farm trial were higher in the woods border and strawberry field edge compared with numbers farther into the strawberry plot in both years. The trend was more pronounced for males, especially in 2018-2019. Implications for management of D. suzukii in strawberries are discussed. Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) es una mosca de la fruta del vinagre que infesta bayas maduras y otras frutas de piel fina en Europa y Am & eacute;rica. Estudios anteriores han identificado numerosos hu & eacute;spedes silvestres y han documentado el movimiento de estos hu & eacute;spedes silvestres hacia los cultivos. Otros estudios han documentado mayores cantidades de D. suzukii en cultivos adyacentes a hu & eacute;spedes silvestres. Aqu & iacute;, estudiamos el movimiento y la distribuci & oacute;n de adultos de D. suzukii en fresas, en 2016-2017 para una parcela de investigaci & oacute;n org & aacute;nica alejada de hu & eacute;spedes alternativos, y en 2017-2018 y 2018-2019 para una granja org & aacute;nica con un borde de campo le & ntilde;oso. En la parcela de investigaci & oacute;n, las trampas se colocaron a 5 m fuera del borde norte del campo y a 5, 10, 20 y 40 m dentro del campo. Se utiliz & oacute; el mismo dise & ntilde;o en la prueba en granja con la adici & oacute;n de trampas a lo largo del borde del bosque. Las poblaciones de D. suzukii en la parcela de la estaci & oacute;n de investigaci & oacute;n eran bajas y estaban distribuidas al azar. En contraste, en ambos a & ntilde;os, el n & uacute;mero de machos y hembras de D. suzukii en la prueba en granja fue mayor en el borde del bosque y en el borde del campo de fresas en comparaci & oacute;n con el n & uacute;mero de machos y hembras m & aacute;s adentro de la parcela de fresas. La tendencia fue m & aacute;s pronunciada para los machos, especialmente en 2018-2019. Adem & aacute;s, se discuten las consecuencias para el manejo de D. suzukii en fresas.

Sugarcane rust mite (SRM), Abacarus sacchari, has been recognized in Florida since 1983. However, no detection technique had been developed yet, whereas a reliable, effective, and efficient technique is important in a mite management practice. The purposes of this study were to determine the within-plant distribution and to develop a sampling technique for SRM. The study was carried out in sugarcane fields naturally infested with the mite population. The mite distribution was identified with the visual direct counting technique and the imprinting technique. Subsequently, the effectiveness and reliability of both techniques were evaluated. The results showed that the within-plant distribution of mite populations was more concentrated in the middle canopy than in the upper or lower canopies. Furthermore, the mite sampling of the middle portion of the leaf could represent the entire mite population on the plant. More importantly, the imprinting technique was reliable, especially when the third or fourth (+3 or +4) fully expanded leaf was taken as sample, resulting in relative variation (RV) as low as 12.9% and 12.4%, respectively; therefore, the imprinting technique is a promising technique for population monitoring programs.

Attract-and-kill can be a useful tactic in managing insect pests as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) program. An attractant, usually a pheromone or food-based volatile blend, is mixed with a killing agent, usually an insecticide, in some form of applicator or dispenser. HOOK (R) products utilize a SPLAT (R) gel matrix (ISCA, Riverside, California). HOOK (R) SWD has been developed for the management of Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), a major pest of thin-skinned fruit and berry crops. The attractant is a blend of food-based volatiles, and the killing agent is spinosad. This study looked at the use of HOOK (R) SWD in combination with insecticide applications to manage D. suzukii in conventional and organic blackberries and blueberries. The experiment was conducted on four farms: a conventional commercial blueberry farm, a commercial organic blueberry farm, a conventional u-pick blackberry farm, and a conventional organic blackberry farm all in north-central Florida. HOOK (R) SWD applied at 7- and 14-day intervals demonstrated efficacy in reducing D. suzukii trap catch and emergence at the organic blackberry and conventional blueberry farms. Drosophila suzukii trap catch and emergence counts at the conventional u-pick blackberry and the organic blueberry farms were not significantly different among treatments. Several factors may have contributed to this lack of efficacy including understory weeds, proximity of unmanaged areas, etc. Therefore, HOOK (R) SWD shows promise as a D. suzukii management tactic, but further research is needed to optimize its efficacy. Una t & aacute;ctica & uacute;til en el manejo de plagas de insectos como parte de un programa de manejo integrado de plagas (MIP) es "attract-and-kill". Un atrayente, generalmente una feromona o una mezcla vol & aacute;til a base de alimentos, se mezcla con un agente letal, generalmente un insecticida, en alg & uacute;n tipo de aplicador o dispensador. Los productos HOOK (R) utilizan una matriz de gel SPLAT (R) (ISCA, Riverside, California). HOOK (R) SWD ha sido desarrollado para el control de Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), una plaga importante de cultivos de frutas y bayas de piel fina. El atrayente es una mezcla de vol & aacute;tiles de origen alimentario y el agente letal es spinosad. Este estudio analiz & oacute; el uso de HOOK (R) SWD en combinaci & oacute;n con aplicaciones de insecticidas para controlar D. suzukii en moras y ar & aacute;ndanos convencionales y org & aacute;nicos. El experimento se llev & oacute; a cabo en cuatro granjas: una granja comercial convencional de ar & aacute;ndanos, una granja comercial de ar & aacute;ndanos org & aacute;nicos, una granja "u-pick" convencional de moras y una granja convencional de moras org & aacute;nicas, todas en el centro-norte de Florida. HOOK (R) SWD, aplicado en intervalos de 7 y 14 d & iacute;as, demostr & oacute; eficacia para reducir la captura y emergencia en trampas de D. suzukii en granjas org & aacute;nicas de moras y ar & aacute;ndanos convencionales. Los conteos de captura y emergencia de trampas de D. suzukii en las granjas de moras convencionales y de ar & aacute;ndanos org & aacute;nicos no fueron significativamente diferentes entre los tratamientos. Varios factores pueden haber contribuido a esta falta de eficacia, incluidas las malezas del sotobosque, la proximidad de & aacute;reas no administradas, etc. Por ende, HOOK (R) SWD se muestra prometedor como t & aacute;ctica de manejo de D. suzukii, pero se necesita m & aacute;s investigaci & oacute;n para optimizar su eficacia.

This publication is intended to be a resource for Florida blueberry growers to use in scouting for disease and insect/mite pest damage; managing disease, insect/mite pests, and weeds; and application of certain plant growth regulators.