Publications by authors named "Frank G Zalom"

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.

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Drosophila suzukii lay eggs in soft-skinned, ripening fruits, making this insect a serious threat to berry production. Since its 2008 introduction into North America, growers have used insecticides, such as pyrethroids and spinosads, as the primary approach for D. suzukii management, resulting in development of insecticide resistance in this pest.

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The invasion of , spotted-wing drosophila, across Europe and the US has led to economic losses for berry and cherry growers, and increased insecticide applications to protect fruit from damage. Commercial production relies heavily on unsustainable use of conventional toxic insecticides. Non-toxic insecticide strategies are necessary to alleviate the disadvantages and non-target impacts of toxic conventional insecticides and improve Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

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Background: Invasive species threaten the productivity and stability of natural and managed ecosystems. Predicting the spread of invaders, which can aid in early mitigation efforts, is a major challenge, especially in the face of climate change. While ecological niche models are effective tools to assess habitat suitability for invaders, such models have rarely been created for invasive pest species with rapidly expanding ranges.

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The spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), is a global economic pest of berry crops and stone fruit. Since management of this pest primarily relies on calendar insecticide applications, and field-derived resistance to spinosad has already been documented in California caneberry production, there is significant concern for development of resistance to other insecticides. In this study, susceptibility of D.

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The rapid invasion of Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) throughout Europe and the Americas has led to an increased reliance on calendar-based broad-spectrum insecticide programs among berry and cherry growers. Relatively few active ingredients (AIs) are currently available for effective D. suzukii management, and studies from multiple growing regions indicate that susceptibility to at least some of these materials is declining.

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Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) has spread rapidly, challenging berry and cherry crop production due to its ability to lay eggs into ripening fruit. To prevent infestation by this pest, insecticides are applied during fruit ripening and harvest. We field-tested the Rapid Assessment Protocol for IDentification of resistance in D.

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Spinosyn insecticides are widely used in conventional berry production, and spinosad is regarded as the most effective insecticide for managing Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), spotted-wing drosophila, in organic berry crops. Following the 2017 identification of spinosad resistance in caneberry fields in the Watsonville area, Santa Cruz Co., California, we conducted a study to examine the seasonal and annual susceptibility of D.

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Article Synopsis
  • Drosophila suzukii, the spotted-wing drosophila, is a significant pest hurting fruit crops globally, spreading from East Asia and established in the U.S. over the past decade.
  • Researchers sequenced genomes of 237 flies from the U.S., Europe, Brazil, and Asia to study genetic diversity and population structure, finding notable differences between Western and Eastern U.S. populations.
  • The study uncovered genetic admixture patterns linking U.S. populations to Europe and Asia, highlighting potential risks for agriculture and suggesting the need for improved shipping and quarantine measures.
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Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) also known as spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), is a pest native to Southeast Asia. In the last few decades, the pest has expanded its range to affect all major European and American fruit production regions. SWD is a highly adaptive insect that is able to disperse, survive, and flourish under a range of environmental conditions.

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High-temperature events can influence insect population dynamics and could be especially important for predicting the potential spread and establishment of invasive insects. The interaction between temperature and environmental humidity on insect populations is not well understood but can be a key factor that determines habitat range and population size. The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is an invasive agricultural pest in the United States and Europe, which causes serious economic damage to a wide range of crops.

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Chrysodeixis includens (Walker, [1858]) is one of the most important defoliator of soybean in Brazil because of its extensive geographical distribution and high tolerance to insecticides compared with other species of caterpillars. Because of this, we conducted bioassays to evaluate the efficacy of pyrethroid λ-cyhalothrin on a C. includens resistant strain (MS) and a susceptible (LAB) laboratory strain.

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The three-cornered alfalfa hopper, Spissistilus festinus (Say), was shown to transmit Grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV), the causative agent for Grapevine red blotch disease, in a greenhouse study on grapes. GRBV is a major concern of wine grape growers due to its economic impact on wine quality. Plants in the family Fabaceae are preferred hosts of S.

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The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), is one of the most damaging insect pests of olives worldwide, requiring the use of insecticides for fruit protection in many orchards. Olive fruit flies are attracted to volatile composunds, including a female-produced pheromone, and host-plant and bacterial volatiles. Preliminary laboratory bioassays were conducted for olive fruit fly attraction to over 130 yeast strains from among 400 that were isolated from B.

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Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is a devastating pest of tomato that has invaded many regions of the world. To date, it has not been detected in North America, but the pest reached Costa Rica in 2014 and seriously threatens the southern, southwestern, and western United States including California. Although the primary host of T.

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Spread and in-field spatial patterns of vines infected with grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV) were documented in Oregon vineyards using field sampling, molecular diagnostics, and spatial analysis. Grapevine petiole tissue collected from 2013 to 2016 was tested using quantitative polymerase chain reaction for GRBV. At Jacksonville in southern Oregon, 3.

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Many adult Chrysoperla comanche (Stephens) green lacewings were caught in traps baited with live yeast cultures during tests designed to catch olive fruit flies. All 13 yeast species tested were more attractive than the industry-standard dried torula yeast (Cyberlindnera jadinii; syn. Candida utilis).

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The three-cornered alfalfa hopper, Spissistilus festinus (Say) was shown to transmit Grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV) in a greenhouse study. GRBV is the causal agent of Grapevine Red Blotch Disease, which reduces the quality of wine produced from infected grapes. Due to the general lack of prior concern regarding S.

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Feeding by the three-cornered alfalfa hopper, Spissistilus festinus (Say) (Hemiptera: Membracidae) results in girdling of grapevine petioles and shoots. Its significance as an economic pest of grape has increased since it was shown to transmit Grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV) in a greenhouse study. However, the status of grapevines as a reproductive host for S.

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European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana (Denis and Schiffermüller), is an invasive pest species subject to regulatory control under the International Plant Protection Convention. An extensive infestation of this insect detected in California vineyards in October 2009 resulted in the initiation of postharvest research intended to ensure continuing trade of California table grapes by preventing the unintentional introduction of L. botrana to uninfested export destinations.

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Background: The bioinsecticide spinosad is among the most widely used insecticides for managing spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), and is critical for preventing fruit infestation in organic berry production. Recent reports, however, have raised concerns that the efficacy of this material is declining in fields near Watsonville, CA, a major hub of commercial berry production in the USA and the first location where D. suzukii was reported in North America.

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Grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV) currently poses a serious threat to the wine industry. The three-cornered alfalfa hopper (3CAH), Spissistilus festinus (Say) (Hemiptera: Membracidae), was recently shown in a greenhouse study to be a vector of GRBV in grapes. Feeding and reproductive status of 10 weed and 10 cover crop species commonly found in grape vineyards were evaluated in no-choice tests.

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Background: The spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), is an invasive vinegar fly with a preference for infesting commercially viable berries and stone fruits. SWD infestations can reduce yields significantly, necessitating additional management activities. This analysis estimates economic losses in the California raspberry industry that have resulted from the SWD invasion.

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Background: Gear Up/Throttle Down (GUTD) and Inward Only strategies represent potential alternatives to conventional airblast applications to reduce spray drift. This study evaluates Inward Only and a modified version of GUTD in almonds, the largest US tree crop, at the recommended hull split treatment timing for control of navel orangeworm (NOW), the key almond insect pest.

Results: Conventional treatment produced the most drift (15.

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