Bactrocera flies are economic pests of agricultural crops all over the world. Among Bactrocera flies, oriental fruit fly is an economically important pest of fruit crops in the world. Basic studies of Bactrocera flies are very important and helpful to the development of integrated management strategies. However, basic studies regarding behavior and age-stage, two-sex life table traits for this pest, which are vital for designing effective control methods, are currently lacking. Considering the importance of B. dorsalis, this study aimed to evaluate the fruit preference and age-stage, two-sex life table traits of B. dorsalis on guava (Psidium guajava), papaya (Carica papaya), and banana (Musa acuminata) fruits in the laboratory. In choice and no-choice tests, the number of visits and oviposition punctures made by female B. dorsalis flies were significantly higher on guava than those on papaya and banana. The life cycle from eggs to male (146.95 ± 3.43 d) and female (164.94 ± 3.85 d) adults was significantly longer on papaya than those on banana and guava. Bactrocera dorsalis females produced significantly more eggs when fed on guava (623.30 eggs female−1) than on papaya (527.80 eggs female−1) or banana (399.60 eggs female−1). Guava was the more suitable fruit for B. dorsalis, and could be used as a bait fruit to manage the B. dorsalis during the fruiting season of papaya and banana.

Insecticide use in homes leads to human exposure to insecticide residues that persist in the environment. Integrated pest management (IPM) programs have been known to be more environmentally friendly for managing German cockroach (Blattella germanica L.) infestations, but their effect on indoor insecticide residue levels are not well understood. An IPM program consisting of applying cockroach gel baits and placing insect sticky traps as the primary treatment methods were implemented. Floor wipe samples were collected from the bedroom and kitchen floors of 69 apartments with German cockroach infestations at 0 months and again at 12 months from 49 of the 69 apartments sampled at 0 months. Levels of 18 insecticide residues were measured. The mean insecticide residue concentration per apartment decreased by 74% after 12 months. The number of insecticides detected per apartment decreased from 2.5 ± 0.2 to 1.5 ± 0.2 (mean ± standard error). Indoxacarb residue was only detected in two apartments at 12 months despite the fact that an average of 32 ± 4 g 0.6% indoxacarb gel bait was applied per apartment. IPM implementation can result in significant reduction in the insecticide residue concentrations and number of detected insecticides in floor dust samples.

Bed bug, Cimex lectularius (L.) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), and German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattodea: Ectobiidae), infestations are commonly found in low-income housing communities and result in negative health effects and economic burden. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been shown to be an effective approach for managing these pests, yet practice of IPM in housing communities is very limited. We evaluated the effectiveness of a contractor-led bed bug IPM program and researcher-led cockroach IPM program in a high-rise apartment building for 1 yr. A second apartment building that received conventional monthly pest control service was used as control. The bed bug infestation rate decreased from 9% at 0 mo to 3% at 12 mo (63% reduction), even though the contractor only partially followed the IPM protocol; the German cockroach infestation rate decreased from 49% at 0 mo to 12% at 12 mo (75% reduction). In the control building, no monitors were installed in the infested apartments and the apartments received cursory treatment services from an existing pest control contractor. The bed bug infestation rate increased from 6% at 0 mo to 12% at 12 mo (117% increase); the German cockroach infestation rate decreased from 47% at 0 mo to 29% at 12 mo (39% reduction). IPM is a much more effective approach for building-wide control of cockroaches and bed bugs than conventional pest control service. This study confirms the benefit of building-wide IPM on pest reduction and challenges existed for carrying out IPM programs in low-income communities.

The entomopathogenic fungus, Cordyceps fumosorosea is a potential eco-friendly biocontrol agent. The present study revealed the entire course of infection of P. xylostella by C. fumosorosea with particular reference to cuticular penetration. Comparative studies on the infection of Plutella xylostella larvae by two strains of C. fumosorosea with different pathogenicity were carried out using light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. We found that C. fumosorosea tended to adhere to the cuticle surfaces containing protrusions. Although conidia of the lower pathogenic strain IFCF-D58 germinated, they failed to penetrate and complete the development cycle. In contrast, the higher pathogenic strain IFCF01 began to germinate within 4 h and attached to the cuticle by a thin mucilaginous matrix within 8 h post-inoculation. After 24 h post-inoculation, germ tubes and penetrating hyphae reached the cuticular epidermis and began to enter the haemocoel. Within 36 h post-inoculation, the hyphal bodies colonized the body cavity. Hyphae penetrated from inside to outside of the body after 48 h and sporulated the cadavers. After 72 h post-inoculation, numerous conidia emerged and the mycelial covered the entire cuticular surface. The two strains showed similarities in terms of conidial size and germination rate. However, IFCF-D58 exhibited significantly fewer appressoria and longer penetrating hyphae compared to the more infective IFCF01 on all surface topographies. The current pathogen invasion sequence of events suggested that the aggressive growth and propagation along with rapid and massive in vivo production of blastospores facilitate the conidia of IFCF01 to quickly overcome the diamondback moth’s defense mechanism.

Diaphorina citri is the mainly transmitting vector of the citrus huanglongbing pathogen, which causes severe losses in in the citrus industry. In this study, we isolated a new entomopathogenic fungus, identified as member of Cordyceps fumosorosea based on morphology and ITS sequence analysis. We named C. fumosorosea SCAU-CFDC01 and evaluated its pathogenicity against D. citri nymphs and adults by immersion under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Results showed that SCAU-CFDC01 was most pathogenic to young nymphs, followed by old nymphs and adults. The LC₅₀ values of the fungus on nymphs and adults showed a declining trend over a 2–7-day period after inoculation. The LT₅₀ (lethal time for a certain concentration to cause 50% mortality) values also presented a decreasing trend along with increasing conidia concentrations. For the results on greenhouse experiments, when 3rd and 5th instar nymphs were inoculated with 1 × 10⁵ conidia mL⁻¹, the survival rate of nymphs were lower, and the emergence rate of adults and female longevity was significantly reduced compared with the control. However, there were no significant effects on sex ratio of adults and male longevity. Our results showed SCAU-CFDC01 was highly pathogenic to D. citri, and may promote mycoparasite development for biological control of D. citri.