The boll weevil [BW; Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)] is the main pest in the cotton-producing regions throughout the Americas from Southern Texas to Argentina. In the Colombian Caribbean, frequent population outbreaks have resulted in cotton planting bans in some localities and in massive applications of insecticides elsewhere (up to 15 insecticide sprays per cotton

AbstractThe General Beale Pilot Project serves as a case study for the use of areawide monitoring and treatment programs for glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar), and monitoring and roguing programs for grapevines infected with Xylella fastidiosa, to achieve regional management of Pierce’s disease. The Project is located in southeast Kern County, CA, and contains ~2,800

Soybean is an established crop with a high production value in the United States. The insects that utilize soybean as a food source have changed drastically over the last 20 yr. Much of the extension literature summarizing pest species distribution and abundance is out of date. This article provides profiles for five common soybean caterpillars, including description, life cycle, and injury to plants

The distribution of lepidopteran pests in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is a current knowledge gap limiting accurate prioritization of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) research. Regional characterizations of lepidopteran distribution in soybean are now more than 25 yr old. The goal of this study was to generate a contemporary assessment of the distribution and population persistence of lepidopteran

Beneficial insect conservation in agriculture is often studied in the context of integrated pest management (IPM). For instance, vegetative field edges provide habitat and changing the timing of insecticidal sprays decreases risk for pollinators and natural enemies of insect pests. However, the attitudes and confidence of U.S. growers towards IPM implementation in traditional row crops remain understudied

AbstractThe Asian longhorned beetle [Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky), ALB] was found in Hollywood, SC, in May 2020. This infestation is at least 7-yr old and represents the southernmost infestation in North America. A federally regulated invasive forest and tree pest, ALB primarily attacks maples but is known to attack and reproduce in trees in at least 12 different genera. Damage observed in

AbstractThe soybean gall midge (Resseliella maxima Gagné) was recently identified as a new species causing injury to soybean in the Midwestern United States. Although this insect was only recently identified, it has likely been present in soybean fields for at least the last 8 yr based on anecdotal reports. The soybean gall midge has historically been observed late in the season on soybean plants that

AbstractIt has been over five years since the first report of an outbreak of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Africa. The highly invasive pest, native to the Americas, has since spread across the African continent attacking many crops and causing significant yield loss to Africa’s staple crop, maize. From the onset of the outbreak, there have been massive

AbstractEconomic thresholds (ETs) are a foundational principle of integrated pest management but are not always widely accepted by farmers and agricultural professionals. This article reports on a survey of Minnesota farmer and agricultural professional perceptions of the ET for soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hempitera: Aphididae). We discuss insights for Extension programs on how to frame

The Editor-in-Chief and the Subject Editors of the Journal of Integrated Pest Management thank the following scientists for their voluntary commitment of valuable professional time and expertise to peer reviewing manuscripts submitted for publication in our journal. The quality and scientific stature of the journal depends on the conscientious efforts of these individuals.

AbstractNative to Europe and Central Asia, face flies (Musca autumnalis De Geer, Diptera: Muscidae) were unintentionally introduced into North America and became pests of pastured beef cattle, dairy cattle, and horses. Female and male flies use their sponging proboscis with prestomal teeth to feed around moist, mucus membranes of an animal’s face and other body parts. While feeding, face flies agitate

AbstractSorghum, Sorghum bicolor L. Moench (Poaceae), is a highly valued crop cultivated worldwide, with the grain and stover being of equal importance in some developing countries. Sorghum can produce high yields even under adverse environmental conditions, however, damage from insect pests at various stages of the plant’s development can reduce its productivity, impacting low-income farmers in developing

AbstractThe striped cucumber beetle [StCB; Acalymma vittatum (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)] and the western striped cucumber beetle [WStCB; Acalymma trivittatum (Mannerheim)] are closely related species of herbivores endemic to North America that specialize on Cucurbitaceae plants. StCB and WStCB are key pests of cucurbit crops that can reduce quantity and quality of yield or even kill plants, especially

AbstractThe sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is a broadly invasive pest of great economic significance to agricultural and horticultural systems in the world. Bemisia tabaci contains more than 44 cryptic species, among which B. tabaci Middle East Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and Mediterranean (MED) are the most invasive and destructive, and have spread to many countries

AbstractSince its introduction and establishment in Brazil in 2013 and subsequent spread through most of Latin America, the Old World bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), has become an economically important pest of soybean, cotton, and other crops. Because this pest can migrate long distances aided by wind currents, it is expected to arrive and establish in the United States. There were reports

AbstractThe pepper weevil (Anthonomus eugenii Cano) is a destructive insect pest of field and greenhouse pepper crops across North America. Its management remains challenging with significant implications for pepper production, despite a documented presence in Central America, Mexico, the United States, and the Caribbean for approximately a century, and recently in Canada. Currently, the main tools

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

Gloomy scale, Melanaspis tenebricosa (Comstock), is native to the eastern United States and feeds on deciduous trees. In natural areas, it is a background herbivore that typically remains at low densities. Gloomy scale generally responds positively to warming with greater egg production, size, survival, and abundance. In urban areas, which are warmer than surrounding natural areas, gloomy scale is

The Asian longhorned tick (ALT), Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann (Acari: Ixodidae), is a three-host tick that was first detected outside of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) quarantine in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, in 2017 and subsequently found in another 14 states. In its native Asia, and where it has become established in Australia and New Zealand, ALTs feed on a variety of hosts

Spodoptera frugiperda was considered an insect pest only in the Americas until its first report in African countries in 2016. In this study, farmers and agricultural officials in Ghana were interviewed on their perceptions and knowledge of the pest, on infestation and maize yield variations across years, and on management practices. Farms were inspected to determine the infestation level of 100 plants

Individual residents in the United States increasingly practice do-it-yourself pest management in their lawns and gardens. This self-managed pest control is frequently characterized by unnecessary and sometimes indiscriminate applications of pesticide that are often ineffective and environmentally damaging. Given residential consumers account for most of the world’s pesticide expenditures, the need

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a major crop grown in the United States but is susceptible to many diseases that cause significant yield losses each year. Consistent threats exist across both northern and southern production regions and include the soybean cyst nematode, charcoal rot, and seedling diseases. In contrast, significant soybean diseases like Phytophthora stem and root rot, sudden death syndrome

A hypothetical scenario of mixed populations of Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), and Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was used as a model to investigate the potential effects of mixed populations of lepidopteran pests, on the design and implementation of insect resistance management (IRM) strategies for

Rice root aphid, Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale (Sasaki), is a cosmopolitan species widespread in North America. Most records of this insect are of its association with roots of grasses and sedges, but known hosts also include numerous broadleaved plants both grown outdoors and in greenhouses. Indoor grown Cannabis sativa L., particularly when intensively grown for marijuana production, has also emerged

Tar spot on corn, caused by the fungus (Phyllachora maydis Maubl. [Phyllachorales: Phyllachoraceae]), is an emerging disease in the United States. In 2018 and 2019, significant but localized epidemics of tar spot occurred across the major corn producing region of the Midwest. After being first detected in 2015, tar spot was detected in 135 and 139 counties where the disease was not previously detected

Deer farming is a growing livestock industry. As with established livestock farming, biting arthropod pest control is a challenge, but knowledge about pest control practices being utilized by deer farmers is limited. To fill this knowledge gap and to assess if recommended integrated pest management (IPM) programs were being used, we surveyed Florida deer farmers about their pest management programs

Some bird species often benefit farmers by suppressing invertebrate crop pests, yet birds are rarely considered in integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. This is likely because some bird species pose risks to farmers through crop damage, intraguild predation, and food safety concerns. Nonetheless, the benefits of some bird species on crop production are often substantial. Therefore, understanding

Iowa State University’s (ISU) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program partnered with the ISU College of Design (COD) to use Design Thinking and other practical design methodologies and theories to identify and develop approaches to address IPM extension and communication issues. ISU IPM met with agriculture industry, program colleagues, and ISU COD faculty to discuss IPM-related needs in agriculture

The rednecked peanutworm, Stegasta bosqueella (Chambers), is the main lepidopteran pest in South and Central American peanut fields. The species name was misspelled earlier in the literature and the incorrect name is still more cited. In this review, we revisit the history of S. bosqueella classification. Although the rednecked peanutworm is an important defoliator in some peanut producing countries

Pest and disease risk factors causing maize yield and kernel quality issues in subtropical areas of North America (between 35°N and 23.5°N latitude) are reviewed: preharvest Aspergillus flavus (Link) (Deuteromycetes: Moniliales) infection and propagation in maize ears and ear injury principally caused by Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Risk

Worldwide, introduced pest species create significant challenges to native biodiversity and individual health. New Zealand has an extensive history of attempting to protect biodiversity from introduced pests such as the Brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula [Diprotodontia: Phalangeridae]). Success has been achieved on a small scale, but the transition to the whole country management poses new issues

Nipeacoccus viridis (Newstead), is an invasive, polyphagous mealybug pest recently found causing damage in citrus production fields in several counties in Florida, United States. In this short communication, we document the finding of this pest, its associated damage in citrus groves, and provide basic diagnostic and scouting information. Nipaecoccus viridis is a pest of concern, necessitating the

Eastern grape leafhopper, Erythroneura comes (Say), is a key pest of grapes (Vitales: Vitaceae) in the central and northeastern United States and eastern Canada. This native insect uses its piercing-sucking mouthparts to puncture the mesophyll cells of leaves and suck out the contents, thereby reducing the quality and quantity of fruit. Eastern grape leafhopper has been reported as a vineyard pest

We provide a case study where Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for rice production systems has been introduced to the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). Funded by the European Union (EU), this IPM initiative brought together local and international partners to develop an environmentally friendly and economically sustainable rice pest management strategy for southwestern China, Laos, and Myanmar. A key

The western bean cutworm, Striacosta albicosta (Smith) is a native North American pest of corn and dry beans. The historical geographic range of the western bean cutworm covered the western Great Plains states including Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Since 1999, the geographic range of the western bean cutworm has rapidly expanded eastward across the U.S. Corn Belt and eastern Canada, causing significant

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is now being grown within the United States over a much broader geographic area and for different uses than during its last period of significant production that ended after World War II. Within the past 3 yr, a large number of arthropod species have been documented to feed on hemp in the United States. Among key pest species, corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera:

Halyomorpha halys (Stål), the brown marmorated stink bug, is a globally invasive stink bug species. Its first major outbreak was in the United States, where it has caused millions of dollars in damage, threatened livelihoods of specialty crop growers and impacted row crop growers, and become an extreme nuisance pest in and around dwellings. The BMSB IPM Working Group, funded by the Northeastern IPM

While pest management decisions are made at the farm level, a distinctive characteristic of the pest management of invasive species is its public-good nature. Here, we examine the challenges that a vector-disease pathosystem such as Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae)—citrus greening, creates for the adoption of prevention and collective management practices from an economic perspective

The Editor-in-Chief and the Subject Editors of the Journal of Integrated Pest Management thank the following scientists for their voluntary commitment of valuable professional time and expertise to peer reviewing manuscripts submitted for publication in our journal. The quality and scientific stature of the journal depends on the conscientious efforts of these individuals.

Varroa mite (Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman) infestation of European honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies has been a growing cause of international concern among beekeepers throughout the last 50 yr. Varroa destructor spread from the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana Fabricius [Hymenoptera: Apidae]) to A. mellifera populations in Europe in the 1970s, and subsequently traveled to the Americas.

In 2013, the sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a new invasive pest of sorghum species in North America, was confirmed on sorghum in 4 states and 38 counties in the United States. In 2015, the aphid was reported on sorghum in 17 states and over 400 counties as well as all sorghum-producing regions in Mexico. Ability to overwinter on living annual and perennial hosts

Wheat is an important food security crop in central Asia but frequently suffers severe damage and yield losses from insect pests, pathogens, and weeds. With funding from the United States Agency for International Development, a team of scientists from three U.S. land-grant universities in collaboration with the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas and local institutions implemented

Kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria Fabricius (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), is an invasive exotic pest of soybeans that has been present in the southeastern United States since 2009 and has been rapidly spreading through soybean-producing states. Their primary reproductive hosts in the United States are soybean, kudzu, pigeon pea, black eye pea, lima bean, pinto bean, wisteria, white sweet clover, white clover

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a method of reducing economic, human health, and environmental risks from pests and pest management strategies. There are questions about the long-term success of IPM programs in relation to continued use of pesticides in agriculture. Total pounds of pesticides applied is a mis-measure of the impact of IPM in agriculture. A more complete measurement of the long-term

The Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), is an invasive pest of rice, Oryza sativa L., in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. This pest also damages sugarcane, Saccharum spp. hybrids; corn, Zea mays L.; and sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, and feeds on weedy noncrop grasses. Multiple aspects of integrated pest management including use of pheromone traps, manipulation of planting

Billbugs (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Sphenophorus spp.) are a complex of weevil pests affecting turfgrass throughout the United States. Billbug larvae cause damage by feeding in stems, on roots, and on the crowns of turf, causing severe discoloration and eventual plant death. Monitoring efforts have focused on nondestructive pitfall sampling of ground-active billbug adults and on destructive sampling

Public funding for Extension in the United States has been decreasing for many years, but farmers' need for robust information on which to make management decisions has not diminished. The current Extension funding challenges provide motivation to explore a different model for developing and delivering extension. The private sector has partnered with the public sector to fund and conduct agricultural

We summarize the economic importance, biology, and management of soft scales, focusing on pests of agricultural, horticultural, and silvicultural crops in outdoor production systems and urban landscapes. We also provide summaries on voltinism, crawler emergence timing, and predictive models for crawler emergence to assist in developing soft scale management programs. Phloem-feeding soft scale pests