Using Leaf-Derived Materials to Stop Common Bed Bugs ( L.) in Their Tracks.

The common bed bug, L., is a pervasive pest of humans throughout the world. Insecticide resistance, cryptic habits, and proclivity for harborage on human belongings have contributed to its global status as a difficult pest to control.

Effects of over-the-counter aerosol products on sociotomy of Monomorium pharaonis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

The Pharaoh ant, Monomorium pharaonis (L.), is a widely distributed invasive tramp ant species. Due to their ability to frequently relocate nest sites when disturbed, Pharaoh ants are particularly challenging to manage.

Toxicant translocation and colony impact in the Pharaoh ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) after consumption of gel bait-killed German cockroach (Blattodea: Ectobiidae) cadavers.

This study investigated the translocation of cockroach bait toxicants to the Pharaoh ant, Monomorium pharaonis (L.), through feeding on cadavers of German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.), which were killed by commercial gel baits.

Description of a new species of subterranean termite in the genus (Blattodea: Heterotermitidae) from southern California.

Using morphological assessments and phylogenetic inference, we described a new subterranean termite species in the genus in southern California: sp. nov. Genetic analyses utilizing 3 mitochondrial loci (, , and ) and 7 microsatellites successfully distinguished the new species from 2 other found in southern California: Banks and Banks.

Differential toxicological responses of brownbanded and German cockroaches (Blattodea: Ectobiidae) to commercial gel baits.

The brownbanded cockroach, Supella longipalpa (F.), is a cosmopolitan pest cockroach that infests indoor environments. Compared to the more prevalent German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.

A Novel Leaf-Derived Trapping Material Is More Effective at Capturing Common Bed Bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) than Selected Commercial Monitoring Devices.

Bed bugs () have become established as common and significant commensal pests throughout the world. Effective bed bug monitoring and control programs remain challenging goals within the urban pest management industry. Pitfall "interceptor" traps and sticky "glue board" traps are the most commonly utilized devices for bed bug monitoring and detection in various settings.

Toxicity and horizontal transfer of chitin synthesis inhibitors in the western drywood termite (Blattodea: Kalotermitidae).

Three chitin synthesis inhibitors (CSIs), bistrifluron, chlorfluazuron, and noviflumuron, were evaluated for their toxicity and horizontal transfer against the western drywood termite, Incisitermes minor (Hagen), when used to treat wood. In a no-choice bioassay, bistrifluron provided significantly faster kill than chlorfluazuron or noviflumuron treatments at 0.1 and 0.

A new nondestructive method for monitoring red imported fire ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) populations in the field.

Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), also known as the red imported fire ant (RIFA), is currently established in many Southern and Central Californian regions. RIFA can be managed using various insecticides, but in recent decades, granular baits have become a standard and effective management tool. To improve and maintain effective RIFA management programs, researchers and pest control experts need to perform careful population monitoring before and after treatments.

Overexpression of cytochrome P450 gene CYP6K1 is associated with pyrethroid resistance in German cockroaches (Blattodea: Ectobiidae) from California.

We investigated the expression of 4 cytochrome P450 genes (CYP4G19, CYP6J1, CYP6K1, and CYP4C21) in 4 field-collected strains (WM, RG386, CDR, and Ryan) of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.), collected from California. The UCR susceptible strain was used as a comparison.

Oral toxicity of an artificial sweetener sucralose on the German cockroach (Blattodea: Ectobiidae) and its impact on water balance and gut microbiome.

Artificial or non-nutritive sweeteners are indigestible by most animals. Some sweeteners are orally toxic to insects and have received recent interest as potential safe insecticides due to their low mammalian toxicity. In this study, we investigated the oral toxicity of sucralose on insecticide-susceptible and resistant German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.

The impact of selenium on insects.

Selenium, a naturally occurring metalloid, is an essential trace element for many higher organisms, including humans. Humans primarily become exposed to selenium by ingesting food products containing trace amounts of selenium compounds. Although essential in these small amounts, selenium exhibits toxic effects at higher doses.

The Potential of Fluralaner as a Bait Toxicant to Control Pest Yellowjackets in California.

The western yellowjacket, (Saussure), is an important seasonal pest of recreational and outdoor venues in the western United States. Its propensity to scavenge food increases the likelihood of stinging incidences. Control measures are limited to intensive trapping and treating subterranean nests.

Laboratory evaluations of biodegradable boric acid hydrogel baits for the control of Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Due to their mutualistic relationship with plant pests, the Argentine ant is considered a major pest in subtropical fruit orchards and vineyards. Besides insecticide sprays, liquid baiting has been demonstrated as an effective method to suppress the Argentine ant populations. To improve the economic feasibility of liquid baiting, hydrogel materials have been recently tested as a carrier for liquid baits containing various insecticidal active ingredients.

Effect of Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Aldehydes on Efficacy of Fungal Biopesticides.

The use of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals. - Criv.) Vuill.

Wash-off potential of pyrethroids after use of total release fogger products.

Pyrethroids are frequently detected in urban wastewater. Even though treatment facilities remove most pyrethroids (> 90 %) in wastewater, residual concentrations can exceed thresholds that are acutely toxic to sensitive aquatic species. Total release foggers (also known as "bug bombs") are widely used by the general public for insect control.

Genetic Evidence for Multiple Invasions of Coptotermes formosanus (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) in California.

New infestations of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae), were discovered in southern California, namely in Rancho Santa Fe and La Mesa (San Diego County) and Highland Park (Los Angeles County) in 2021. We investigated whether these new infestations were related to the previous infestations in La Mesa (2018) and Canyon Lake, Riverside County (2020). We used two mitochondrial genes (COI and COII) and seven polymorphic microsatellite markers to infer the genetic relationship between southern California colonies and their breeding systems.

Reduced Susceptibility Towards Commercial Bait Insecticides in Field German Cockroach (Blattodea: Ectobiidae) Populations From California.

Gel bait insecticides have been extensively used to manage the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattodea: Ectobiidae), but issues with reduced effectiveness of such formulations are becoming increasingly common. We collected five field strains of German cockroaches in California and evaluated them against five commercial bait products [Maxforce FC Magnum (0.

Identification of Chemicals Associated Gambusia affinis (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae), and Their Effect on Oviposition Behavior of Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Laboratory.

The western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard), has been used worldwide for the control of larval mosquitoes for more than 100 yr. We found that the western encephalitis mosquito, Culex tarsalis Coquillett (Diptera: Culicidae), can detect the presence of G. affinis in oviposition sites based on associated chemicals, leading to a decrease in the number of egg rafts laid.

Development and Demonstration of Low-Impact IPM Strategy to Control Argentine Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Urban Residential Settings.

Argentine ants are one of the most common nuisance pest ants treated by pest management professionals (PMPs) in southern and western urban residential areas of the United States. Two new technologies (spraying with a pheromone adjuvant and using a biodegradable hydrogel bait delivery method) were used to develop a unique low-impact integrated pest management (IPM) protocol for Argentine ants in urban residential settings. The IPM protocol included a one-time perimeter spray treatment with 0.

Genetic Analysis of Formosan Subterranean Termite (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) Populations in California.

A new infestation of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae), was discovered in Canyon Lake, Riverside County, California. We used three mitochondrial DNA (COI, COII, and 16S) and seven polymorphic microsatellite markers to characterize the genetic relationship of the colony with two other colonies that were collected in 1992 and 2018 in La Mesa, San Diego County. Maximum likelihood phylogeny of C.

Ontogenesis of Aldehyde Pheromones in Two Synanthropic Bed Bug Species (Heteroptera: Cimicidae).

Bed bugs produce volatile aldehydes that have alarm and aggregation functions. Using two synanthropic bed bug species, L. and (Fabricius), developmental changes were examined for ()-2-hexenal, 4-oxo-()-2-hexenal, ()-2-octenal, and 4-oxo-()-2-octenal, the four most abundant aldehydes shared between the two species.