Location: Southern Insect Management Research
2018 Annual Report
Accomplishments
1. Determine key factors that naturally regulate tarnished plant bug populations. Microbial control agents and parasitoids have been codified and identified from field samples in the Mississippi Delta by ARS scientist at Stoneville, Mississippi. Spore powder of new microbial agents have been produced and used in bioassays to evaluate the pathogenicity on tarnished plant bugs adults and nymphs. Using biological control agents is the major goal addressed in this investigation. It will implement a tarnished plant bug management technology that will be environmentally safe and will contribute to improving profitability and sustainability of the U.S. cotton industry.
2. Determine the effect of the NI8 strain of Beauveria bassiana on populations of tarnished plant bugs and its possible effect on non-target arthropods. The impact of NI8 on feral populations of tarnished plant bugs and beneficial arthropods was quantified by ARS scientist at Stoneville, Mississippi. Seven species of beneficial arthropods including honeybees, green lacewings, three lady beetle species, jumping spiders, and crab spiders were evaluated to quantify the impact of NI8 on lab and field populations. Results suggested that control of tarnished plant bugs with NI8 will required significant ecological understanding of the interaction among the target host, fungal isolate, and the environment. NI8 will be suitable for control of tarnished plant bugs not only because of its high pathogenicity against this insect, but also, for its selectivity against some beneficial arthropods.
3. Field experiments were established to determine mortalities and estimate lethal doses of potential microbials of feral tarnished plant bug populations on southern crops and non-crop hosts. ARS scientist at Stoneville, Mississippi, evaluated field pathogenicity and infectivity of B. bassiana NI8 against the tarnished plant bug. The effect on fruit damage based on the within-season cotton plant mapping was evaluated depending on tarnished plant bug populations. Results indicated that B. bassiana applications resulted in decreased survival of tarnished plant bugs by >50% regardless of the isolates by direct spray or by contact. It was clear the superior performance of the Delta native strain NI8 observed in all treatments applications and times of evaluation.
Review Publications
Portilla, M., Luttrell, R.G., Snodgrass, G.L., Zhu, Y., Riddick, E.W. 2017. Lethality of the entomogenous fungus Beauveria bassiana strain NI8 on Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae) and its possible impact on beneficial arthropods. Journal of Entomological Science. 52(4):352-369. https://doi.org/10.18474/JES17-15.1.
Parys, K.A., Luttrell, R.G., Snodgrass, G.L., Portilla, M., Copes, J. 2017. Longitudinal measurements of tarnished plant bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) susceptibility to insecticides in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi: Associations with insecticide use and insect control recommendations. Insects. 8(4),109. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects8040109.
Portilla, M., Snodgrass, G.L., Luttrell, R.G. 2017. Lethal and sub-lethal effect of Beauveria bassiana strain NI8 on Chrysoperla rufilabris (Neuroptera:Chrysopidae). Florida Entomologist. 100(3):627-633. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.100.0321.
Parys, K.A., Luttrell, R.G., Snodgrass, G.L., Portilla, M. 2018. Patterns of tarnished plant bug (Heteroptera: Miridae) resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in the lower Mississippi Delta for 2008-2015: Linkage to pyrethroid use and cotton insect management. Journal of Insect Science. 18(2):29. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iey015.
