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In commercial apple orchards, the odor-baited trap tree approach involving the synergistic lure composed of benzaldehyde (BEN) and the PC aggregation pheromone grandisoic acid (GA) serves as an effective monitoring tool as well as an attract-and-kill strategy for plum curculio (PC), Conotrachelus nenuphar Herbst. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), management. However, the relatively high cost of the lure and the degradation of commercial BEN lures by UV light and heat discourage its adoption by growers. Over a 3-yr period, we compared the attractiveness of methyl salicylate (MeSA), either alone or in combination with GA, to plum curculio (PC) with that of the standard combination of BEN + GA. Our main goal was to identify a potential replacement for BEN. Treatment performance was quantified using 2 approaches: (i) unbaited black pyramid traps (2020, 2021) to capture PC adults and (ii) PC oviposition injury (2021, 2022) on apple fruitlets of trap trees and of neighboring trees to assess potential spillover effects. Traps baited with MeSA captured significantly more PCs than unbaited traps. Trap trees baited with a single MeSA lure and 1 GA dispenser attracted a similar number of PCs as trap trees baited with the standard lure composed of 4 BEN lures and 1 GA dispenser based on PC injury. Trap trees baited with MeSA + GA received significantly more PC fruit injury than neighboring trees suggesting no or limited spill-over effects. Our collective findings suggest that MeSA is a replacement for BEN thereby cutting costs of lures by ca. 50% while maintaining trap tree effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal fruit borers (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) are serious fruit pests. Of particular significance is Grapholita molesta given its pest status of stone and pome fruits. So far, successful control of tortricid moths largely relies on repeated insecticide applications. The development of novel technology by genome manipulation through CRISPR/Cas9 is an environmentally friendly pest management alternative. Due to the small size of eggs, CRISPR/Cas9 protocols have not been developed for tortricid moths like G. molesta. The white gene is widely used as genetic marker in Drosophila. Here, the white gene (Gmwhite) from G. molesta was identified and it was found that Gmwhite was expressed at all developmental stages. The Gmwhite knockout strain (White-KO) was established using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system. When compared with wild type, the eye color of the adult moth in the White-KO strain changed to white and the body color of the fifth-instar larvae of the White-KO strain changed from pink/red to white. The females' fecundity of the White-KO strain was not affected whereas the flight capacity was significantly decreased. The acquired white compound eye of the White-KO strain is autosomally recessive inherited. The feasibility of the CRISPR/Cas9 methodology was validated by dual-target editing of Gmwhite. Our findings provide the first evidence that the white gene can be used as a visual reference gene for genetic manipulation of tortricid moths. The present study developed CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing technology which can be used for developing genome editing control strategy as well as for gene function analyses in G. molesta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In recent years, there has been interest in low‐cost, reduced‐risk materials that could be used for attract‐and‐kill of the invasive pest, spotted‐wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii. This pest causes heavy economic damage to soft‐skinned fruits in many countries. In this study, we evaluated physiological and behavioral effects of adding either borax, boric acid, or sodium chloride to diluted Concord grape juice (DGJ), a material that is attractive to adult D. suzukii. RESULTS: Results showed that the addition of borax, sodium chloride and boric acid did not significantly affect the response of adult D. suzukii, relative to DGJ alone. Increases in concentrations (to 5% and 10%) of borax, sodium chloride and boric acid were correlated with decreased ingestion of materials. Mortality of males and females was almost 100% with lower concentrations (1% and 5%) of borax and boric acid within 72 h. The higher concentrations of sodium chloride (5% and 10%) resulted in 100% mortality of both sexes within 72 h. There was no significant effect of chemicals on the number of crop contractions of flies when fed for 4 h. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that some substances such as boric acid and borax may act as toxicants without influencing the behavioral response of D. suzukii. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an attempt to utilize large amounts of Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) that were captured using a mass trapping system, compost using Japanese beetle carcasses was prepared with the layer method. Carbon sources included shredded paper, wood chips and leaves, while the sole nitrogen source was frozen Japanese beetles. In addition, Japanese beetle-based vermicompost was prepared in the greenhouse by mixing the Japanese beetle-based compost with sphagnum peat moss and moist shredded paper and exposing this mixture to composting earthworms (Eisenia fetida). Chemical analyses of the Japanese beetle carcasses indicated that 10.8% of their body weight is nitrogen (N). Analyses of the resulting Japanese beetle-based compost and vermicompost indicated that both types of materials are good quality soil amendments. Greenhouse studies were conducted to quantify the effects of varying proportions of Japanese beetle-based vermicompost and compost mixed with a potting medium and varying dosages of synthetic fertilizer 20-0-0, on mean fresh and dry weight of lettuce shoots and leaf area. Japanese beetle-based compost and vermicompost increased lettuce biomass to an extent that was comparable with the addition of synthetic N-based fertilizer. A mixture of 15 and 30% of each compost type with potting media significantly increased plant weight and leaf area compared with potting medium alone. Results indicate that composting and vermicomposting insect carcasses are a simple, effective and affordable method to augment fertilization in support of organic production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]