The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, has developed resistance to many insecticides, renewing interest in the biological control of this global pest. Generalist predators might contribute to whitefly suppression if they commonly occur in infested fields and generally complement rather than interfere with specialized natural enemies. Here, we review literature from the last 20 years, across US cropping systems, which considers the impacts of generalist predators on B. tabaci. Laboratory feeding trials and molecular gut content analysis suggest that at least 30 different generalist predator species willingly and/or regularly feed on these whiteflies. Nine of these predators appear to be particularly impactful, and a higher abundance of a few of these predator species has been shown to correlate with greater B. tabaci predation in the field. Predator species often occupy complementary feeding niches, which would be expected to strengthen biocontrol, although intraguild predation is also common and might be disruptive. Overall, our review suggests that a bio-diverse community of generalist predators commonly attacks B. tabaci, with the potential to exert substantial control in the field. The key challenge will be to develop reduced-spray plans so that generalist predators, and other more specialized natural enemies, are abundant enough that their biocontrol potential is realized.

A 2-yr study in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was conducted to determine the abundance and species composition of thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on different plant parts throughout the season in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Plant parts sampled included seedlings, terminals with two expanded leaves, leaves from the upper, middle, and lower sections of the canopy, white flowers, and medium-sized bolls. Adult thrips were significantly more abundant on seedlings and flowers in 2014, and on flowers followed by seedlings and leaves from the middle canopy in 2015. Immature thrips were significantly more abundant on seedlings, followed by flowers in 2014, and on seedlings followed by leaves from the lower canopy and flowers in 2015. Across locations and plant parts, thrips consisted of Frankliniella tritici (Fitch) (46.8%), Frankliniella fusca Hinds (23.5%), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (17.1%), Neohydatothrips variabilis (Beach) (7.4%), Thrips tabaci (Lindeman) (1.8%), and other species (3.4%). Frankliniella fusca represented 86.7% of all thrips on seedlings, while F. tritici was more abundant on terminals (51.6%), squares (57.5%), and flowers (75.1%). Across all leaf positions, F. fusca was the most abundant species (28.8%), followed by F. tritici (19.2%), N. variabilis (18.8%), F. occidentalis (12.9%), and T. tabaci (5.2%), as well as other species (15.0%). As neonicotinoid insecticides remain a primary tool to manage seedling infestations of F. fusca, our data indicate that mid- to late-season applications of neonicotinoid insecticides targeting other insect pests will intensify selection pressure for resistance on F. fusca, the primary pest of seedling cotton.

The threecornered alfalfa hopper, Spissistilus festinus (Say) (Hemiptera: Membracidae), was first described in 1831. Since its discovery, it has been observed feeding on > 20 plant species across seven plant families; preferred hosts include species in the family Fabaceae. Spissistilus festinus has been identified as a serious economic pest of alfalfa, Medicago sativa L.; soybean, Glycine max L; and recently peanut, Arachis hypogaea L. Damage by S. festinus results from feeding and girdle formation on the plant stems; stem girdles inhibit the transportation of photosynthate through the phloem. Photosynthates accumulate above girdles, and the insects feed preferentially at these locations. Girdles can also reduce the structural stability of stems, resulting in significant stand loss in extreme circumstances. The timing of chemical applications for management of S. festinus is critical for successfully reducing insect populations, but information regarding S. festinus’ economic impact in modern alfalfa, soybean, and peanut production systems is scarce. The following is a review of the biology, life history, distribution, pest status, and management of S. festinus on alfalfa, soybean, and peanut.

The identification of alternate hosts that can act as virus inoculum sources and vector reservoirs in the landscape is critical to understanding virus epidemics. Cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV) is a serious pathogen in cotton production and is transmitted by the cotton/melon aphid, Aphis gossypii, in a persistent, circulative, and non-propagative manner. CLRDV was first reported in the United States in Alabama in 2017, and thereafter in several cotton-producing states. CLRDV has since established itself in the southeastern United States. The role of alternate hosts in CLRDV establishment is not clear. Fourteen common plant species in the landscape, including crops, weeds, and ornamentals (cotton, hollyhock, marshmallow, country mallow, abutilon, arrowleaf sida, okra, hibiscus, squash, chickpea, evening primrose, henbit, Palmer amaranth, and prickly sida) were tested as potential alternate hosts of CLRDV along with an experimental host (Nicotiana benthamiana) via aphid-mediated transmission assays. CLRDV was detected following inoculation in hibiscus, okra, N. benthamiana, Palmer amaranth, and prickly sida by RT-PCR, but not in the others. CLRDV accumulation determined by RT-qPCR was the highest in N. benthamiana compared with cotton and other hosts. However, aphids feeding on CLRDV-infected prickly sida, hibiscus, and okra alone were able to acquire CLRDV and back-transmit it to non-infected cotton seedlings. Additionally, some of the alternate CLRDV hosts supported aphid development on par with cotton. However, in a few instances, aphid fitness was reduced when compared with cotton. Overall, this study demonstrated that plant hosts in the agricultural landscape can serve as CLRDV inoculum sources and as aphid reservoirs and could possibly play a role in the reoccurring epidemics of CLRDV in the southeastern United States.

The two-spot cotton leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula (Ishida, 1913) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is a polyphagous pest native to the Indian subcontinent, where it is a significant pest of cotton (Gossypium spp.), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus, Moench), and other crops. At adult and immature stages, they feed on leaf cell contents, causing characteristic “hopperburn” symptoms and yield losses of up to 40% in cotton in its native range. In July 2025, A. biguttula was detected for the first time during the cotton growing season in commercial and experimental fields across multiple counties in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Identification was confirmed through morphological examination of diagnostic external features and male genitalia. Within four weeks, the pest was found in 101 counties, with injury symptoms ranging from mild chlorosis to severe necrosis and defoliation. Given the southeastern United States’ average of 979,339 hectares of cotton valued at USD 1.7–USD 2.8 billion annually, the potential for economic impact is considerable. Rapid symptom development, broad host range, and multiple generations per year underscore the need for coordinated monitoring and research to determine preliminary control measures and to identify potential alternative hosts. This report documents the first confirmed occurrence of A. biguttula in U.S. cotton and highlights its potential as an established recurring pest threat in the region.

After resistance is first detected, continued resistance monitoring can inform decisions on how to effectively manage resistant populations. We monitored for resistance to Cry1Ac (2018 and 2019) and Cry2Ab2 (2019) from southeastern USA populations of Helicoverpa zea. We collected larvae from various plant hosts, sib-mated the adults, and tested neonates using diet-overlay bioassays and compared them to susceptible populations for resistance estimates. We also compared LC₅₀ values with larval survival, weight and larval inhibition at the highest dose tested using regression, and found that LC₅₀ values were negatively correlated with survival for both proteins. Finally, we compared resistance rations between Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 during 2019. Some populations were resistant to Cry1Ac, and most were resistant to CryAb2; Cry1Ac resistance ratios were lower than Cry2Ab2 during 2019. Survival was positively correlated with larval weight inhibition for Cry2Ab. This contrasts with other studies in both the mid-southern and southeastern USA, where resistance to Cry1Ac, Cry1A.105, and Cry2Ab2 increased over time and was found in a majority of populations. This indicates that cotton expressing Cry proteins in the southeastern USA was at variable risk for damage in this region.