An Ecological Study of the Kudzu Bug in East Tennessee: Life History, Seasonality, and Phenology

The kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), an invasive species from Asia, was first discovered in the United States in 2009 in Georgia. It has since spread to other states, including Tennessee, where it has spread rapidly to numerous counties in four years. Its common name, kudzu bug, implies a potential benefit to management of the invasive species kudzu; unfortunately, the kudzu bug has shown little impact on reducing growth of kudzu. The kudzu bug causes agricultural, urban, and health-related concerns in the United States. Soybean losses by kudzu bug have exceeded 20% in some areas of the southeastern United States. Primary research goals of this project are to: 1) assess ecology of kudzu bug in Tennessee; 2) determine behavioral responses of kudzu bug to host substrates; and 3) examine the relationship between kudzu bug and natural enemies present in Tennessee. In 2014 and 2015, studies were conducted to better understand population dynamics of kudzu bug in Tennessee. Kudzu bugs were present on kudzu in Knox County until early November in 2014 and mid-May to late November in 2015, with mid- and late-season peaks both years. Kudzu bugs were present at sites in other counties throughout the same time. Kudzu bugs exhibited different population trends in all counties, possibly due to differences in latitude, agricultural practices, and topography. In laboratory studies, kudzu bugs were more active on kudzu than alternate host plants (soybean, bush honeysuckle, and ragweed). Ragweed was the least attractive plant species. In no-choice tests, activity was similar across kudzu, soybean, and bush honeysuckle. In choice tests, kudzu had the highest percent of active insects. An unexpected natural enemy was found at all regularly sampled sites in 2015. Beauveria bassiana, an entomopathogenic fungus, was discovered infecting kudzu bug and impacting population densities. Mortality of immature kudzu bugs reached 100%. The kudzu bug egg parasitoid, Paratelenomus saccharalis, was not recovered. The outcome of this research project will provide essential information on ecology of kudzu bug in Tennessee. This information will help to enhance development and implementation of efficient and effective management tools

\u3ci\u3ePhorodon cannabis\u3c/i\u3e Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a newly recognized pest in North America found on industrial hemp

Phorodon cannabis Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Macrosiphini) is reported for the first time as a pest of Cannabis L. crops in North America. The insect has been confirmed from fields of industrial hemp in Colorado and Virginia and has been found present within greenhouses in at least several American states and one Canadian province. The generic position of the aphid species is discussed and other known members of the genus are ruled out. Phorodon cannabis is placed in genus Phorodon Passerini and subgenus (Diphorodon Börner). Phorodon persifoliae Shinji is transferred to Hyalopterus Koch as a nomen dubium

Technological Advances to Address Current Issues in Entomology: 2020 Student Debates

The 2020 Student Debates of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) were live-streamed during the Virtual Annual Meeting to debate current, prominent entomological issues of interest to members. The Student Debates Subcommittee of the National ESA Student Affairs Committee coordinated the student efforts throughout the year and hosted the live event. This year, four unbiased introductory speakers provided background for each debate topic while four multi-university teams were each assigned a debate topic under the theme ‘Technological Advances to Address Current Issues in Entomology’. The two debate topics selected were as follows: 1) What is the best taxonomic approach to identify and classify insects? and 2) What is the best current technology to address the locust swarms worldwide? Unbiased introduction speakers and debate teams began preparing approximately six months before the live event. During the live event, teams shared their critical thinking and practiced communication skills by defending their positions on either taxonomical identification and classification of insects or managing the damaging outbreaks of locusts in crops

Synergisms in science: Climate change and integrated pest management through the lens of Communication-2019 student debates

Every year, the Student Debates Subcommittee (SDS) of the Student Affairs Committee (SAC) for the annual Entomological Society of America (ESA) meeting organizes the Student Debates. This year, the SAC selected topics based on their synergistic effect or ability to ignite exponential positive change when addressed as a whole. For the 2019 Student Debates, the SAC SDS identified these topic areas for teams to debate and unbiased introduction speakers to address: 1) how to better communicate science to engage the public, particularly in the area of integrated pest management (IPM), 2) the influential impacts of climate change on agriculturally and medically relevant insect pests, and 3) sustainable agriculture techniques that promote the use of IPM to promote food security. Three unbiased introduction speakers gave a foundation for our audience to understand each debate topic, while each of six debate teams provided a strong case to support their stance or perspective on a topic. Debate teams submitted for a competitive spot for the annual ESA Student Debates and trained for the better part of a year to showcase their talents in presenting logical arguments for a particular topic. Both the debate teams and unbiased introduction speakers provided their insight toward a better understanding of the complexities of each topic and established a foundation to delve further into the topics of science advocacy and communication, climate change, and the many facets of integrated pest management

\u3ci\u3ePhorodon cannabis\u3c/i\u3e Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a newly recognized pest in North America found on industrial hemp

Phorodon cannabis Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Macrosiphini) is reported for the first time as a pest of Cannabis L. crops in North America. The insect has been confirmed from fields of industrial hemp in Colorado and Virginia and has been found present within greenhouses in at least several American states and one Canadian province. The generic position of the aphid species is discussed and other known members of the genus are ruled out. Phorodon cannabis is placed in genus Phorodon Passerini and subgenus (Diphorodon Börner). Phorodon persifoliae Shinji is transferred to Hyalopterus Koch as a nomen dubium

Phorodon humulifoliae Tseng and Tao 1938

<i>Phorodon humulifoliae</i> Tseng and Tao (1938) <p> was described from specimens on <i>Humulus japonica</i> Siebold & Zucc. (Cannabaceae) in Chengdu, China. It can be separated from other species in the genus by its heavily sculptured integument and long, s-curved siphunculi. The original description says the setae are not pointed but it does not call them flabellate.</p>Published as part of <i>Cranshaw, Whitney S., Halbert, Susan E., Favret, Colin, Britt, Kadie E. & Miller, Gary L., 2018, Phorodon cannabis Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a newly recognized pest in North America found on industrial hemp, pp. 1-12 in Insecta Mundi 662</i> on page 4, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/3710022">10.5281/zenodo.3710022</a&gt

Phorodon lanzhouense Zhang 1999

<i>Phorodon lanzhouense</i> Zhang et al. (1999) <p> was described from five apterae on an unknown host. The process on the frontal tubercles is described as “rounded” but appears mostly lacking in the illustration. Zhang et al. (1999) state that <i>P. lanzhouense</i> most resembles <i>P. humulifoliae</i> but differs in the structure of the mesosternal furca (two parts connected in the middle like a thread, rather than a solid structure), has shorter caudal setae, and has slightly longer siphunculi relative to the length of the cauda. More work is needed to confirm the validity of this species and determine if it belongs in <i>Phorodon</i>.</p>Published as part of <i>Cranshaw, Whitney S., Halbert, Susan E., Favret, Colin, Britt, Kadie E. & Miller, Gary L., 2018, Phorodon cannabis Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a newly recognized pest in North America found on industrial hemp, pp. 1-12 in Insecta Mundi 662</i> on page 4, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/3710022">10.5281/zenodo.3710022</a&gt

Phorodon viburni Matsumura 1918

<i>Phorodon viburni</i> Matsumura (1918) <p> was collected from the underside of leaves of <i>Viburnum</i> sp. (Caprifoliaceae) at the Botanical Garden of the Agricultural College of Hokkaido in mid-July. Only alatae and alatoid nymphs were found. This species has not been found since the original description (Blackman and Eastop 2006). More study, and likely more collection records, are needed to determine the status of this species. The host relationship is unusual for <i>Phorodon</i>.</p>Published as part of <i>Cranshaw, Whitney S., Halbert, Susan E., Favret, Colin, Britt, Kadie E. & Miller, Gary L., 2018, Phorodon cannabis Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a newly recognized pest in North America found on industrial hemp, pp. 1-12 in Insecta Mundi 662</i> on page 4, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/3710022">10.5281/zenodo.3710022</a&gt

Phorodon humuli

<i>Phorodon humuli</i> (Schrank 1801) <p>(Fig. 4a–f; Fig. 5a–f)</p> <p> is the hop aphid, adventive and widespread in North America at least since 1863 (Foottit et al. 2006). Apterae of <i>P. humuli</i> can be distinguished from those of <i>P. cannabis</i> by the absence of flabellate setae and by shorter setae on antennal segment III (Fig. 2b and 4b). This species is common and damaging on hops in North America, especially in the Pacific Northwest and is not known from <i>Cannabis</i>. The aphids overwinter on <i>Prunus</i>, particularly ornamental purple leaf plum, <i>Prunus cerasifera</i> Ehrh (Rosaceae) (S. E. Halbert, personal observation).</p>Published as part of <i>Cranshaw, Whitney S., Halbert, Susan E., Favret, Colin, Britt, Kadie E. & Miller, Gary L., 2018, Phorodon cannabis Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a newly recognized pest in North America found on industrial hemp, pp. 1-12 in Insecta Mundi 662</i> on page 3, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/3710022">10.5281/zenodo.3710022</a&gt

Phorodon japonensis Takahashi 1965

<i>Phorodon japonensis</i> Takahashi (1965) <p> was described as a subspecies of <i>P. humuli</i>. The species is holocyclic, overwintering on <i>Prunus mume</i> Siebold & Zucc. It differs from <i>P. humuli</i> in having a shorter projection on the frontal tubercle of the aptera. The ratio of the lengths of the ultimate rostral segment and the second hind tarsal segment is larger in <i>P. japonensis</i> than in <i>P. humuli</i>. This aphid was treated at the species level by Zhang et al. (1999) and Blackman and Eastop (2006).</p>Published as part of <i>Cranshaw, Whitney S., Halbert, Susan E., Favret, Colin, Britt, Kadie E. & Miller, Gary L., 2018, Phorodon cannabis Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a newly recognized pest in North America found on industrial hemp, pp. 1-12 in Insecta Mundi 662</i> on page 4, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/3710022">10.5281/zenodo.3710022</a&gt