Browsing by Author "Boyle, Sean M."

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    Both the Squash Bug Anasa tristis and Horned Squash Bug Anasa armigera (Hemiptera: Coreidae) are Attracted to Vittatalactone, the Aggregation Pheromone of Striped Cucumber Beetle
    Weber, Donald C.; Haber, Ariela I.; Pasteur, Kayla; Boyle, Sean M.; Kuhar, Thomas P.; Cornelius, Mary L. (Oxford University Press, 2022-12)
    Vittatalactone, the aggregation pheromone of the striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is attractive to two species of squash bugs (Hemiptera: Coreidae), the squash bug Anasa tristis (DeGeer) and horned squash bug Anasa armigera (Say). In field trapping experiments in Maryland and Virginia, clear sticky traps baited with 1 mg of a synthetic 8-isomer mix of vittatalactone captured similar to 9x more of female A. tristis and of both sexes of A. armigera, whereas male A. tristis were not significantly attracted, compared to unbaited traps. A. armigera showed a distinct dose-response to vittatalactone lure loading in the late season, and this species was more attracted than A. tristis, based on comparison to captures from underneath wooden boards emplaced in adjacent fields. Results suggest that vittatalactone could be a 'keystone semiochemical' in colonization of cucurbit hosts by specialist herbivores, and may offer the opportunity for multi-species behavioral control as a component of integrated pest management in cucurbit crops.
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    Effect of Plastic Mulch Colors on Anasa tristis (Hemiptera: Coreidae) Population Dynamics in Summer Squash, Cucurbita pepo (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae)
    Boyle, Sean M.; Alford, Adam M.; McIntyre, Kelly C.; Weber, Donald C.; Kuhar, Thomas P. (Oxford University Press, 2022-06)
    The squash bug, Anasa tristis (De Geer), is a serious pest of cucurbit crops across the United States, especially within summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) systems. Using their piercing sucking mouthparts, squash bugs feed on both leaf tissue and fruits, often leading to leaf necrosis, marketable fruit loss, and even plant death. To date, the relationship between squash bug presence and plasticulture has not been adequately investigated. This 2-yr study evaluated the effects of white, black, and reflective plastic mulch colors on the occurrence of all squash bug life stages and marketable zucchini yield in Virginia. In both years, A. tristis adults and egg masses were more numerous on zucchini plants grown in white and reflective plastic mulch compared to bare ground plants. Greater nymphal densities and marketable fruit yield were observed in certain plastic mulch treatments versus the bare ground treatment, yet these differences were not consistent in both years. Contrary to the repellency effects reflective mulches have on other cucurbit insect pests, our research suggests that reflective and other plastic mulch colors can negatively impact squash bug management, especially in regions with high A. tristis pressure. Our study offers new insights for cucurbit growers to use when considering whether they should implement plasticulture in their growing systems.
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    Parental host species affects behavior and parasitism by the pentatomid egg parasitoid, Trissolcus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)
    Boyle, Sean M.; Weber, Donald C.; Hough-Goldstein, Judith; Hoelmer, Kim A. (2020-10)
    The samurai wasp, Trissolcus japonicus, is the primary natural enemy of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, in its native range of Asia. Laboratory tests have found that the wasp can parasitize numerous native pentatomid species in North America, yet many potentially influential factors involved with T. japonicus host acceptance and host suitability are understudied. In this study we evaluated the effects of host related semiochemicals and parental host species on T. japonicus host foraging behavior and host parasitism. To address possible influences of parental host species, separate parasitoid lines were established using H. halys and native predatory pentatomid Podisus maculiventris eggs as hosts. Female T. japonicus from both host types were exposed to soybean (Glycine max) leaf surfaces contaminated by adult kairomones of either host species in behavioral assays. Females from each host type were also subject to no-choice tests in which they were exposed to either H. halys or P. maculiventris egg masses in large mesh cages. Each female used in the no-choice tests was weighed and their right hind tibiae were measured to identify possible phenotypic plasticity. Results from the behavioral assays suggest that T. japonicus exhibits some degree of host fidelity while searching for hosts. Females which emerged from P. maculiventris eggs resided for equal amounts of time on leaves contaminated with kairomones from either stink bug species. Differences in no-choice test performance were not found between the two host types, as parasitism rates and host suitability were determined to be dependent on exposed host species and not the parasitoid parental host species. T. japonicus which emerged from H. halys possessed longer right hind tibiae and weighed roughly twice as much as wasps which emerged from P. maculiventris.
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    Spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi) is attracted to vittatalactone, the pheromone of striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum)
    Haber, Ariela I.; Pasteur, Kayla; Guzman, Filadelfo; Boyle, Sean M.; Kuhar, Thomas P.; Weber, Donald C. (Springer, 2023-01-01)
    Spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi; also known as southern corn rootworm) is a pest feeding on many crops, including cucurbits, corn (maize), peanuts, beans, and other crops and wild plants in North America. On cucurbit crops, where it co-occurs with striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum), both are key pests that vector Erwinia tracheiphila, a destructive pathogen that causes bacterial wilt. Here we deployed synthetic vittatalactone, the male-produced aggregation pheromone of A. vittatum, as lures in the field, to measure attraction of the target and non-target insects. Both sexes of D. u. howardi were strongly attracted to the vittatalactone lures (5–7.5-fold compared to blank trap) throughout the growing season in Maryland and Virginia, USA. Moreover, D. u. howardi was more attracted to live A. vittatum males feeding on squash plants than to plants with females or without any beetles, confirming the genuine organismal cross-attraction between these two key pests. The kairomonal attraction to vittatalactone suggests that it functions as a “keystone semiochemical,” mediating the colonization of cucurbits by multiple herbivore species. Such cross attraction could allow for use of vittatalactone in management of multiple pest species, with potential reduction of pesticide use in cucurbit crops.