Rapid evolution has rarely been assessed in biological control systems despite the similarity with biological invasions, which are widely used as model systems. We assessed post-introduction climatic adaptation in a population of Longitarsus jacobaeae, a biological control agent of Jacobaea vulgaris, which originated from a low-elevation site in Italy and was introduced in the USA to a high-ele...

The genus Acanthaleyrodes Takahashi is reported for the first time from India. Acanthaleyrodes elevatus sp. n. is described from Bridelia retusa in Kerala, India, with a key to puparia of Acanthaleydes species. The new species differs in its exceptionally elevated eighth abdominal tergite, circular vasiform orifice and eight pairs of subdorsal setae. The generic characteristics of Acanthaleyrod...

In late 2002, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the agency that regulates field release of genetically engineered (transgenic) plants, found that the biotechnology company ProdiGene, Inc. failed to follow government regulations for growing genetically modified (GM) corn (Zea mays), engineered to produce a specialty pharmaceutical pro...

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera Aphididae), is one of the most important sap sucking pests in many cotton-growing areas world-wide. In this study, the efficacies of seven insecticides [organophosphate (Fenitrothion & Pirimiphos-methyl), carbamate (Carbosulfan & Aldicarb), pyrethroid (Lambda-Cyhalothrin & Deltamethrin) and imidaclopride (Confidor)] were determined against four...

Laboratory bioassays using leaf disks of apple dipped in test solutions of insecticides demonstrated that the apple aphid, Aphis pomi De Geer, and the spirea aphid, Aphis spiraecola Patch, differed significantly in susceptibility to a number of insecticides registered for control of aphids on apple (Malus spp.). Compared with A. pomi, A. spiraecola was approximately four- and three-fold less su...

Collections of parasitoids attacking the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), in South Korea yielded specimens that were originally identiÞed as Binodoxys communis (Gahan) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). We report here on laboratory studies indicating that this population is actually a previously unknown species of Binodoxys. Four classes of comparisons weremade between th...

Introduced species have been linked to declines of native species through mechanisms including intraguild predation and exploitative competition. However, coexistence among species may be promoted by niche partitioning if native species can use resources that the invasive species cannot. Previous research has shown that some strains of the aphid Aphis craccivora are toxic to a competitively dom...

Since the discovery of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), in North America in 2000, chemical control has been the most effective method to manage aphid outbreaks. Increased insecticide use in soybean raises the possibility of developing insecticide resistance in soybean aphid, and monitoring insecticide susceptibility is essential to maintain pesticide tools. We...