Entomopathogenic fungi were collected from soil in four adjacent habitats (oak forest, agricultural soil, pine reforestation and chaparral habitat) in Saltillo, México using the insect bait method with Tenebrio molitor (L.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larvae as bait. Overall, of the larvae exposed to soil, 171 (20%) hosted Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae), 25 (3%) hosted Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) and 1 (0.1%) hosted lsaria (=Paecilomyces) sp. (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae). B. bassiana was significantly more frequent on larvae exposed to oak forest soil. M. anisopliae was significantly more frequent on larvae exposed to agricultural soil. From the infected bait insects, 93 isolates of B. bassiana and 24 isolates of M. anisopliae were obtained. Strains were tested for their infectivity against Cuban laurel thrips, Gynaikothrips uzeli Zimmerman (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) and the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). B. bassiana isolates caused the highest mortality on thrips (some causing 88% mortality after 6 days); both fungal species caused similarly high mortality levels against whiteflies (75%) after 6 days. Large amounts of germplasm of entomopathogenic fungi, fundamentally B. bassiana and M. anisopliae, exist in the habitats sampled; pathogenicity varied among strains, and some strains possessed significant virulence. Soils in these habitats are reservoirs of diverse strains with potential for use in biocontrol.

The painted bug or bagrada bug, Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a key pest of crops in the family Brassicaceae. In this work, three species of Scelionidae (Hymenoptera) are reported for the first time as parasitoids of painted bug eggs in Mexico, at Saltillo, state of Coahuila: Gryon myrmecophilum (Ashmead), Telenomus podisi Ashmead and Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston). This is also the first report of a species of the widespread genus Telenomus as an egg parasitoid of B. hilaris outside of India. Total percent parasitism, high resolution images, and CO1 sequences are provided for each species. In the future, research in Mexico should be carried out on parasitoid species presented in this work to determine their potential as biological control agents and the feasibility of augmentative, classical or inoculative biocontrol strategies for integrated pest management.

Denisse Ramirez-Rodriguez and Sergio R. Sánchez-Peña (2016) Endophytic Beauveria bassiana in Zea mays: Pathogenicity against Larvae of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. Southwestern Entomologist: Vol. 41, No. 3, pp. 875-878. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3958/059.041.0330

Reyna Ivonne Torres-Acosta and Sergio R. Sánchez-Peña (2016) Geographical Distribution of Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Mexico. Journal of Entomological Science: Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 165-167. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18474/JES15-41.1

Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is a vector of Liberibacter asiaticus Jagoueix et al. and Liberibacter americanus Teixeira et al., causal agents of the critical yellow dragon disease or Huanglongbing (HLB), which affects citrus production worldwide. Recently, green synthetic nanoparticles have emerged as a potential alternative to control of agricultural insect pests. The insecticide effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on 2nd instar nymphs of D. citri under laboratory and greenhouse conditions was evaluated. Mortality was recorded 24, 48, and 72 h after application on D. citri nymphs under both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. The laboratory results showed that AgNPs caused 97.84 and 100% mortality at 32 and 64 ppm, respectively, 72 h after treatment. In the greenhouse, AgNPs caused 78.69 and 80.14% mortality using 64 and 128 ppm 72 h after application. This research is the first to evaluate the green synthesis AgNPs on D. citri and are a promising strategy to control the pest.