Paul E. Kendra’s research while affiliated with Central Institute For Subtropical Horticulture and other places

Previous studies have shown oviposition deterring properties of 8 coconut free fatty acid (CFFA) compounds on fruit flies with different key deterrent components for different species. Here we evaluated oviposition deterrence of CFFA using laboratory 2‐choice bioassays against Zeugodacus cucurbitae , determined key‐bioactive deterrent compounds, and evaluated their behavioral mode. Unlike other reported fruit fly species, CFFA mixture increased Z. cucurbitae oviposition when directly applied on an oviposition substrate. When tested individually in subsequent tests, 4 compounds (caprylic, capric, oleic, and linoleic acids) significantly reduced the oviposition (“negative‐compounds”), 1 compound (stearic acid) had no effect (“neutral‐compound”), and 3 compounds (lauric, myristic, and palmitic acids) stimulated the oviposition (“positive‐compounds”). The 4‐component negative‐compound blend was effective at reducing oviposition. However, adding stearic acid to the 4‐component blend (5‐component blend, 5c) further reduced oviposition. Adding any of the positive‐compounds to the 5c resulted in loss of oviposition deterrence, suggesting the 5c as the key deterrent component blend. The blend was also effective in no‐choice assays and when applied on cucumbers, a preferred host of Z. cucurbitae . When given a choice, Z. cucurbitae made 48.5% fewer visits, spent 39% less time, and oviposited 88.2% fewer eggs per min on 5c treated pumpkin agar than on control agar, suggesting that the 5c blend has both spatial repellency and contact deterrence. Given that all compounds are registered food additives and generally regarded as safe, this blend has potential application in behavioral control strategies, such as push–pull, to protect host fruit against Z. cucurbitae .

In late 2020, laurel wilt impacted the avocado collection at the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Subtropical Horticulture Research Station in Miami, Florida. Monitoring of the ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) community over the next 18 months suggested that the primary vector, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff, was likely not responsible for spreading the fungal pathogen (Harringtonia lauricola [T.C. Harr., Fraerich & Aghayeva] Z.W. de Beer & M. Procter; Ophiostomatales). Rather, eight secondary vectors were detected in greater numbers, with Xyleborinus saxesenii (Ratzeburg) being the most abundant. After detection of laurel wilt, beetle numbers increased for 2–4 months, then gradually declined over the next year. This pest suppression was likely due to several countermeasures, including the prompt removal of infected trees and prophylactic macroinfusions with propiconazole fungicides. In addition, to preserve the genetic diversity of the Miami avocado germplasm, the Subtropical Horticulture Research Station is collaborating with other Agricultural Research Service facilities to establish backup collections at alternative locations free of the laurel wilt pathogen and its beetle vectors.

BACKGROUND The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, is one of the most economically important insect pests attacking fruits and vegetables in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Semiochemical‐based pest management programs are being used to provide environmentally friendly control methods for medflies. The goals of the current study were to discover potential new, attractive, kairomones by designing, synthesizing, and testing simplified ethers of thymol and carvacrol along with their ether derivatives in short‐range attraction assays and electroantennogram (EAG) assays with male C. capitata. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first investigation of thymol and carvacrol, and their respective ethers for attractancy to C. capitata, a major agricultural pest worldwide. RESULTS In short‐range attraction bioassays, parent compounds, thymol and carvacrol, along with their propyl, butyl, benzyl, and octyl ethers captured the most male C. capitata. The attraction patterns changed over time and captures were only significant if they were greater than the positive control tea tree oil (TTO) at 90 min. In EAG assays, thymol benzyl, octyl ethers, and carvacrol benzyl ether evoked significantly greater antennal responses than their parent compounds. The EAG responses did not correlate with short‐range male attraction. The aliphatic side chains of thymol and carvacrol had a small effect on the activity. Future studies will investigate the long‐range attraction of the ethers that elicited large EAG responses. CONCLUSION This report provides new information for discovering potential kairomones through synthesis and structure–activity studies for sterile male medflies. Thymol, carvacrol, and several of their ether derivatives displayed improved longevity of attraction compared with TTO (a strong medfly attractant), with significantly higher captures than TTO observed at 90 min in laboratory bioassays. Further chemical synthesis of thymol and carvacrol ethers within this series may lead to the development of ethers that are more attractive or persistent than their parent compounds, thymol and carvacrol. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

The hibiscus bud weevil is an invasive pest that attacks tropical hibiscus. Its management has been challenging due to its cryptic adult and concealed immature stages. We evaluated the efficiency of four systemic insecticides (spirotetramat, chlorantraniliprole, flupyradifurone, and cyantraniliprole) against the pest using two approaches: one applied 4 weeks before infestation (prophylactic) and the other 1 week after (curative). The number of eggs, larvae, and feeding holes per sampled bud were recorded 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after the infestation (prophylactic), and after the application (curative), respectively. In general, a greater number of treatment effects were detected in the prophylactic approach in comparison with those in the curative. With the prophylactic approach, the mean number of larvae and feeding holes per actively growing bud was significantly greater for the control (water) than for all insecticides. Among fallen buds, chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, and spirotetramat had significantly fewer feeding holes than those in the control. With the curative approach, the mean number of feeding holes was greater in the control with no differences among insecticides. The prophylactic application can effectively suppress initial HBW infestation, in contrast to the curative application targeting already high populations. This provides the opportunity for reducing the impact of this regulated pest in areas of expansion.

Coconut free fatty acid (CFFA), a mixture of 8 fatty acids derived from coconut oil, is an effective repellent and deterrent against a broad array of hematophagous insects. In this study, we evaluated the oviposition deterrent activity of CFFA on spotted-wing drosophila (SWD; Drosophila suzukii), a destructive invasive pest of berries and cherries, and identified bioactive key-deterrent compounds. In laboratory 2-choice tests, CFFA deterred SWD oviposition in a dose-dependent manner with the greatest reduction (99%) observed at a 20-mg dose compared with solvent control. In a field test, raspberries treated with 20-mg CFFA received 64% fewer SWD eggs than raspberries treated with the solvent control. In subsequent laboratory bioassays, 2 of CFFA components, caprylic and capric acids, significantly reduced SWD oviposition by themselves, while 6 other components had no effect. In choice and no-choice assays, we found that a blend of caprylic acid and capric acid, at equivalent concentrations and ratio as in CFFA, was as effective as CFFA, while caprylic acid or capric acid individually were not as effective as the 2-component blend or CFFA at equivalent concentrations, indicating the 2 compounds as the key oviposition deterrent components for SWD. The blend was also as effective as CFFA for other nontarget drosophilid species in the field. Given that CFFA compounds are generally regarded as safe for humans, CFFA and its bioactive components have potential application in sustainably reducing SWD damage in commercial fruit operations, thereby reducing the sole reliance on insecticides.

O objetivo deste informativo é fornecer informações detalhadas sobre o ácaro da erinose da lichia. Destina-se ao público leigo e acadêmico, dentre outros interessados em adiquirir algum conhecimento sobre a biologia deste ácaro.

Este informativo sobre do bicudo do botão do hibisco é destinado ao público leigo e acadêmico, dentre outros interessados em adiquirir algum conhecimento sobre a biologia do bicudo do botão do hibisco. Essa praga do hibisco rosa da China, é originário do nordeste do México e do sul do Texas e pode causar grandes perdas econômicas aos produtores de hibisco. O objetivo desta publicação é fornecer informações importantes sobre essa praga do hibisco aos proprietários de viveiros, proprietários de casas-de-vegetação e outros.

The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, was detected in Georgia, USA, in 2002 and has since spread to 11 additional states. This wood-boring weevil carries a symbiotic fungus, Harringtonia lauricola, that causes laurel wilt, a lethal disease of trees in the Lauraceae family. Native ambrosia beetles that breed in infected trees can acquire H. lauricola and contribute to the spread of laurel wilt. Since 2002, laurel wilt has devastated native Persea species in coastal forests and has killed an estimated 200,000 avocado trees in Florida. Since laurel wilt is difficult to manage once it has entered a susceptible agrosystem, this study evaluated piperitone as a candidate repellent to deter attacks by X. glabratus and other ambrosia beetles. Additionally, piperitone was compared to the known repellent verbenone as a potential cost-effective alternative. The repellent efficacy was determined by comparing captures in traps baited with commercial beetle lures containing α-copaene versus captures in traps baited with lures plus a repellent. In parallel 10-week field tests, the addition of piperitone reduced the captures of X. glabratus in α-copaene-baited traps by 90%; however, there was no significant reduction in the captures of native ambrosia beetles in ethanol-baited traps. In two replicate 10-week comparative tests, piperitone and verbenone both reduced X. glabratus captures by 68–90%, with longevity over the full 10 weeks. This study identifies piperitone as a new X. glabratus repellent with potential for pest management.

O objetivo deste documento é fornecer uma visão geral sobre o Macrochlamys indica Benson), popularmente conhecido como caracol indiano, bem como recomendações para otimizar sua detecção e monitoramento em viveiros de mudas. O caracol indiano foi detectado em agosto de 2020 no Condado de Miami-Dade (Talamas 2020). Este caracol está atualmente sob regime quarentenário nos Estados Unidos, devido ao seu potencial para se tornar uma praga agrícola e hospedar nematóides parasitas de importância médica (Grewal et al. 2003; Cowie et al. 2009; Jayashankar e Murthy 2015). Um programa para pesquisar, controlar e erradicar o caracol indiano foi implementado pelo Departamento de Agricultura e Serviços ao Consumidor da Flórida, Divisão da Indústria de Plantas (FDACS-DPI). No entanto, o programa de erradicação foi suspenso no final de 2021.