Lepidoptera genitalia

About: Lepidoptera genitalia is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 10114 publications have been published within this topic receiving 78876 citations. The topic is also known as: Uncus.

Biology and Management of Navel Orangeworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in California

Abstract: Navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker), is a primary pest of almonds, pistachios, and walnuts in California. These specialty tree nut crops are widely planted across the state and account for a significant share of total agricultural revenue, with 1.7 million combined acres generating a total farm-gate value of $8.9 billion. Larvae of A. transitella cause direct damage to the nut, burrowing into the kernel and contaminating it with frass and webbing, while adults are able to introduce fungi during oviposition that produce aflatoxin, a known human carcinogen that is heavily regulated both domestically and in key foreign markets. As such, there is little tolerance for A. transitella infestation, and most operations aim for <2% crop damage from this pest. Currently, integrated management of A. transitella involves a combination of orchard sanitation, well-timed insecticide sprays, timely harvest, and, most recently, mating disruption. Additional novel tools, such as sterile insect technique, are currently being explored. This species has a strong dispersal capacity, and given the extensive, and many times contiguous, acreage of tree nuts in California, long-term management will require the development of an effective area-wide management strategy. Tools, tactics, and conditions are in an ongoing state of change, and therefore pest management for this economically important species is a work in progress. Here, we discuss the biology, seasonal phenology, monitoring, and management of A. transitella across almonds, pistachios, and walnuts.

Insects associated with purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria L., in Southern Manitoba

Abstract: In 1994 and 1995 insects were collected from several sites in southern Manitoba, where purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria L., is dominant. Collection techniques included the use of trap plants, sweep netting, vacuum sampling, and hand collecting. Insects from 38 families were collected and grouped into four general feeding guilds: herbivores, predators, omnivores, and fungivores. Herbivores that directly fed on L. salicaria included Galerucella nymphaeae Linne (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Myzus lythri (Schrank) (Homoptera: Aphididae), Poecilocapsus lineatus (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Miridae), Kleidocerys resedae (Panzer) (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae), Ametastegia glabrata (Fallen) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), Orgyia leucostigma (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), Lophocampa maculata (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), Spilosoma virginica (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), Simyra henrici (Grote) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Dichomeris ligulella (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), Melanchrapicta (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Hyles galli (Rottenburg) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), and Biston betularia cognataria (Gn) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). These herbivores cannot severely limit the density of purple loosestrife in southern Manitoba and any interactions with the introduced agents should be minimal. The predatory stink bug, Apoecilus bracteatus Fitch (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), was identified as a potentially important predator of the introduced biological control agents, Galerucella pusilla Duftschmidt and Galerucella calmariensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).