The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture recently reported the first detection of Lycorma delicatula (proposed common name spotted lanternfly), yet another invasive hemipteran pest in the US. While efforts to tackle other invasive hemipterans like the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Kuwayama), the Bagrada bug, Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister), and the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) are still underway, L. delicatula is a new pest that could potentially impact industries ranging from lumber to wine. Here we review the literature regarding this insect in its native and invasive range in Asia. We also highlight the pest status and tentative management recommendations for this pest in North America.

The coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is the primary arthropod pest of coffee plantations worldwide. Since its detection in Hawaii (September 2010), coffee growers are facing financial losses due to reduced quality of coffee yields. Several control strategies that include cultural practices, biological control agents (parasitoids), chemical and microbial insecticides (entomopathogenic fungi), and a range of post-harvest sanitation practices have been conducted to manage CBB around the world. In addition, sampling methods including the use of alcohol based traps for monitoring CBB populations have been implemented in some coffee producing countries in Latin America. It is currently unclear which combination of CBB control strategies is optimal under economical, environmental, and sociocultural conditions of Hawaii. This review discusses components of an integrated pest management program for CBB. We focus on practical approaches to provide guidance to coffee farmers in Hawaii. Experiences of integrated pest management (IPM) of CBB learned from Latin America over the past 25 years may be relevant for establishing strategies of control that may fit under Hawaiian coffee farmers’ conditions.

Shade nets are widely used to protect floricultural crops from excessive radiation, wind, hail, and birds. Although black nets are most frequently used, growers are experimenting with colored, gray, and white dispersive netting to impact vegetative vigor, dwarfing, branching, leaf variegation, and timing of flowering. We monitored environmental data inside replicated shadehouse structures (10 × 10 × 3 m high) with full covering of red, blue, pearl, and black nets (all 50% nominal shading factor) in central Florida over 12 months. Actual photosynthetically active radiation ( PAR , μmol·m ⁻² ·s ⁻¹ ) was reduced most by black nets (55% to 60% shading factor depending on the season) and least under red nets (41% to 51%) with blue and pearl nets intermediate. Spectral analysis revealed blue nets had distinctive peaks at the blue (450 to 495 nm) and far-red beyond 750 nm. Red nets had a minor peak ≈400 nm and major transmittance beyond 590 nm. Pearl nets transmitted more light above 400 nm compared with black nets but did not otherwise alter spectral composition in the visible range. No nets had red/far-red (R/FR) ratios (600 to 700/700 to 800 nm) significantly greater than ambient (close to 1), whereas blue nets had a consistently lowest R/FR ratio of ≈0.8. Both ultraviolet-B and ultraviolet-A (280 to 400 nm) were reduced most by pearl nets and least by red nets. We also noted elevated temperatures and wind resistance (but not relative humidity) under colored and pearl nets compared with black, probably as a result of the different net porosities. Our study documents the different environmental modifications inside structures covered with black, colored, and photoneutral translucent nets, which will help predict or interpret specific plant responses.

A laboratory bioassay was developed to evaluate strains of Isaria fumosorosea Wize, against Diaphorina citri. Up to 100% of adult psyllids were killed at concentrations between 10⁶ and 10⁷ blastospores/ml after 12 days, with derived LC₅₀ values (at 7 days post treatment) between 1.4 × 10⁵ and 2.0 × 10⁶ blastospores/ml for strains ARSEF 3581, FE 9901 and Apopka-97. A significantly higher value (1.5 × 10⁷) was obtained with a conidial formulation of Apopka-97. Average survival times were dosage dependent, i.e. between 10.2 days at 10³ blastospores/ml and 3.5 days at 10⁸ blastospores/ml. Rates of mycosis were also dosage dependent, with up to 100% sporulation on cadavers at 10⁸ blastospores/ml but declining at lower concentrations. The Apopka-97 strain (commercially available as PFR-97) was tested against established D. citri infestations in potted citrus in greenhouse cages. Treatments at label rates reduced psyllid populations by approximately 50% over 3 weeks. The combination of PFR-97 with emulsifiable oils (0.25% v/v) did not increase psyllid mortality compared with either agent alone. Imidacloprid applied as a drench killed 100% of psyllids within 3 weeks. Subsequent greenhouse tests during humid conditions were hampered by natural dissemination of I. fumosorosea to untreated psyllids, suggesting that this fungus is spread by air movement and may be highly effective under very humid conditions. In later tests, a Cladosporium sp. rapidly colonised psyllid cadavers and leaf surfaces, but was not pathogenic in laboratory tests. Our studies confirm the potential of I. fumosorosea to be used in IPM strategies for D. citri that rely on other tactics, such as insecticidal oils and native or introduced biological control agents.

Biorational insecticides are being increasingly emphasized for inclusion in integrated pest management programs for invasive insects. The entomopathogenic fungus, Isaria fumosorosea, can be used to help manage the Asian citrus psyllid with minimal impact on beneficial arthropods, but its effectiveness may be compromised by agrochemicals used to control concurrent arthropod pests and diseases. We evaluated the compatibility of I. fumosorosea blastospores with a range of spray oils and copper-based fungicides registered for use in citrus groves. Results of laboratory and greenhouse tests showed a range of responses of the fungus to the different materials, including compatibility and incompatibility. Overall, I. fumosorosea growth in vitro was reduced least by petroleum-based materials and most by botanical oils and borax, and some of the copper-based fungicides, suggesting that tank mixing of I. fumosorosea with these latter products should be avoided. However, equivalent negative effects of test materials on fungal pathogenicity were not always observed in tests with adult psyllids. We hypothesize that some oils enhanced adherence of blastospores to the insect cuticle, overcoming negative impacts on germination. Our data show that care should be taken in selecting appropriate agrochemicals for tank-mixing with commercial formulations of entomopathogenic fungi for management of citrus pests. The prospects of using I. fumosorosea for managing the invasive Asian citrus psyllid and other citrus pests are discussed.