Neelendra K. Joshi

Aphelinus mali (Haldeman) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is an effective endoparasitoid of the woolly apple aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a globally important pest of apple orchards. Reliable monitoring of A. mali populations is essential for evaluating its establishment and effectiveness as a biological control agent within integrated pest management systems. This 3-yr field study evaluated the efficacy of yellow, blue, and white pan traps for capturing adult A. mali in 9 commercial apple orchards in Pennsylvania, representing both conventional and reduced-risk pesticide programs. Weekly sampling was conducted from April through October, and data were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed-effects model with a negative binomial distribution to account for over-dispersed count data. A total of 526 A. mali adults were captured over the study period. Trap color had a significant effect on capture rates, with yellow traps collecting over 6 times more parasitoids than either blue or white traps, which did not differ significantly. Capture rates were not significantly affected by the pesticide management program, and no interaction between trap color and management regime was detected. Analysis of seasonal dynamics revealed significant differences in monthly capture rates, with peak activity occurring during July and August for this region. These findings demonstrate that yellow pan traps provide a simple, standardized, and cost-effective tool for monitoring A. mali populations, supporting improved decision-making and reduced reliance on chemical inputs in sustainable apple orchard management.

Signal efficacy is crucial to communicative behaviors. To be effective, a signal once broadcast must be capable of being received and interpreted by a receiver or receivers. In addition to maximizing the amount that a signal stimulates receptive organs, the timing of when a signal is broadcast would optimally synchronize with a receiver's peak receptivity. Here, we investigated whether peak timing of male courtship, which includes release of a pheromone required for copulation to occur, is synchronized with female pheromone sensitivity in the butterfly Bicyclus anynana (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). To do this, we performed behavioral, pheromone, and electrophysiological assays at dawn, noon and dusk. We also investigated the diel rhythmicity of antennae gene expression by performing RNA sequencing on antennal tissues collected at the same three time points. We found that although males court most often near dusk and produce pheromones at constant levels throughout the day, females are more sensitive to odorants in the morning. Furthermore, female antennae exhibited differential and diurnally rhythmic expression of olfactory receptors and genes associated with learning and sexual receptivity, as well as gene ontology (GO) terms related to fatty acid metabolism and trehalose biosynthesis, supporting our diel electrophysiological results. Previous literature indicates that females form both positive and negative mate preference associations with male pheromones in the morning, regardless of whether males court females. Thus, this asynchrony may enable female B. anynana to learn mate preferences before they are courted by conspecific (or potentially heterospecific) males.

: The Mid-Southern United States is responsible for approximately 75% of total rice hectares planted annually, making it the most saturated rice producing region in the country. Two cultivation systems are predominantly used in this region. Traditional flooded rice cultivation involves labor-intensive levee construction, prolonged harvest times, and crop rotation challenges. Furrow-irrigated rice (FIR) systems offer a promising alternative that can reduce costs and address these other limitations. During 2018, FIR accounted for approximately 10% of the total rice hectares in Arkansas. As of 2025, FIR has been adopted on nearly 20% of Arkansas’ total rice hectares, and similar trends have emerged in many states across the Mid-Southern United States, in particular Missouri, due to the regions lighter soil types. Rice producers have expanded their FIR hectares to reduce labor and tillage costs and facilitate crop rotation. However, the absence of a flooded field environment has rendered rice more susceptible to pests that were previously considered minor in traditional flooded rice systems. In particular, rice billbug (Sphenophorus pertinax) (Oliver) have established its presence in FIR across the Mid-Southern United States, and initial observations suggest that it could become the most impactful insect pest in FIR with respect to yield loss. As the popularity of this production system continues to grow, there is a pressing need for research to develop effective pest management practices. This paper reviews the major insects affecting traditional flooded rice systems, assesses their impact on furrow-irrigated rice production, and addresses new insect threats in the FIR production system.

The authors would like to issue the following corrections about the published paper

Native bee communities in Arkansas remain poorly documented, particularly within fire-managed prairie ecosystems that provide critical habitat for pollinators. This study surveyed bee assemblages at two native prairie remnants in the Arkansas River Valley, one large (Cherokee Prairie Natural Area, CPNA) and one small urban fragment (Jewel Moore Nature Reserve, JMNR), both managed using prescribed fire. Using pan trapping, we recorded 599 individuals representing 96 species across 25 genera, including 49% singletons. Despite differences in size and landscape context, both prairies supported similarly rich bee communities per sample day, with JMNR and CPNA averaging 16.1 and 13.75 species, respectively. However, species composition diverged notably, with only 34.5% similarity, suggesting distinct community structure driven by site-specific habitat conditions and management histories. CPNA was dominated by large-bodied ground-nesting and cavity-nesting solitary bees, while JMNR supported smaller eusocial halictids and cavity nesters. Results highlight the value of prescribed fire in maintaining nesting substrates and floral resources. Even small, urban prairie remnants like JMNR can support high pollinator richness, emphasizing their role as conservation assets. Our findings contribute to a foundational baseline for native bee diversity in Arkansas and highlight the importance of both large and small fire-managed prairies in regional pollinator conservation planning.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a vital food crop for majority of the world’s population. However, its yield potential is significantly threatened by insect pests, which adversely affect production, quality, and overall food security. The diverse array of insect pests throughout wheat’s growth stages necessitates a comprehensive understanding of their interactions with wheat cultivation. This review critically assesses the diversity, biology, ecology, and management strategies of major insect pests in North India, including aphids, termites, pink stem borer, gram pod borer, armyworm, and brown wheat mite. These pests infest wheat at various growth stages, posing significant challenges to sustainable production. Moreover, existing pest control strategies are challenged by evolving agronomic practices in the region and climate change globally. As agricultural systems worldwide aim for sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change, this review advocates for the adoption of an integrated pest management (IPM) approach combining innovative and traditional pest control strategies to enhance ecosystem services and fortify the resilience of agricultural systems. By interlinking these pivotal elements, this review presents a valuable perspective on the important pests affecting wheat and the currently used IPM practices, emphasizing the need for adaptive management in the context of evolving climate challenges.

Broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Acari: Tarsonemidae), is an emerging pest impacting blackberry (Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson) production globally. Small plot research recommends applying miticides when mite density averages 5 mites per leaflet or one egg per leaflet. However, an optimal scouting method has not been investigated at the field scale, and many growers rely on assessments of visual injury. This study aimed to identify an effective scouting strategy to estimate broad mite density, investigate the relationship between mite density and visual injury, and develop a visual injury sampling strategy for broad mite. We evaluated 3 leaflet sample sizes (5, 10, and 15 leaflets) in 12 commercial fields, and visual injury was rated on a descriptive scale (1 to 5) in 33 commercial fields. Regression analysis was used to correlate mite density with visual injury assessment, and the optimal sample size was determined. We determined that 15-leaflet samples provided the best estimate of mite populations due to it having the lowest variance-to-mean ratio of 12.2 for motile mites. At 70% accuracy, 31 samples of 15 leaflets were necessary to estimate mite density at threshold in blackberry fields. A positive correlation was observed between broad mite density and visual injury; when an injury rating of two was observed, 72% of samples were above threshold. Additionally, only 11 replicates, 10-cane visual injury samples were necessary per field. Our findings suggest that visual injury can be used to estimate broad mite populations and may encourage better adoption by growers than labor-intensive leaf sampling methods.

Agricultural pesticides have historically been a critical tool in controlling pests and diseases, preventing widespread suffering and crop losses that led to catastrophes such as the Great Irish Famine (1845–1852) and the Cotton Boll Weevil Infestation (1915–1916). However, their usage has brought challenges, including resistance development, secondary pest outbreaks, harm to non‐target organisms like pollinators, and environmental contamination. In response to these concerns, integrated pest management (IPM) has emerged as a comprehensive approach, emphasizing non‐chemical pest control methods such as cultural practices, biological control, and crop rotation, with pesticides as the last resort. IPM has evolved, influenced by regulations like the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), which prioritizes human health protection, especially for children. The development of systemic pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, introduced a more efficient and targeted pest control method within the IPM framework. However, they have also raised concerns due to their potential adverse effects on pollinators. In recent years, integrated pest and pollinator management (IPPM) has emerged as an enhanced approach, integrating pollinator health considerations into pest management strategies. In this article, we discuss this new approach, and briefly present an example of a modifying pesticide program in Pennsylvania apple orchards to illustrate the application of IPPM, in order to highlight the importance of IPPM in sustaining agriculture, protecting vital pollinators, and maintaining effective pest control practices. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.