NOTE First Records of Alcathoe carolinensis Engelhardt and Synanthedon alleri (Engelhardt) in South Carolina, U.S.A.1

Clearwing moths (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) are day-flying hornet and wasp mimics that can be found visiting flowers for nectar. Larvae bore in the roots, branches and trunks of woody and some herbaceous plants. Some of these larvae are pests in orchards, nurseries and commercial forestry operations. For example, Synanthe- don exitiosa (Say) and Synanthedon pictipes (Grote & Robinson) are major pests of peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch; Rosaceae] (Johnson et al. 2005), and Synanthe- don scitula (Harris) is a major pest of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.; Rosaceae) (Bergh & Leskey 2003). These species, and Podosesia syringae (Harris), Podosesia aureocincta Purrington & Nielsen and Paranthrene simulans (Grote) are pests of ornamental trees (Brown and Mizell 1993, Braxton & Raupp 1995, Held 2019). About 135 sesiid species in 20 genera occur in North America (Pühringer & Kallies 2004, Pohl et al. 2016). Forty-four species are likely to occur in South Carolina based on collection records from South Carolina and neighboring states documented in Eichlin & Duckworth (1988). This species richness has not been validated with a comprehensive survey of sesiid diversity in the state. As a first step to better understand sesiid species diversity in South Carolina, a survey was conducted in three counties (Darlington, Georgetown and Pickens) from March 2011 to December 2013. A mixed pine-hardwood forest, an ornamental plant nursery and a botanical garden were surveyed in each of Darlington and Georgetown Counties to diversify the habitats and outcome of this exploratory survey. In Pickens County, a single ornamental plant nursery was surveyed. Surveyed locations in Georgetown County lay within the Sea Island and Coastal Marsh Ecoregion, those in Darlington County within the Atlantic Southern Loam Plain Ecoregion, and that in Pickens County within the Southern Outer Piedmont Ecoregion (Griffith et al. 2002). Locations within a county were separated by at least 20 km

First Records of Alcathoe carolinensis Engelhardt and Synanthedon alleri (Engelhardt) in South Carolina, U.S.A.

Clearwing moths (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) are day-flying hornet and wasp mimics that can be found visiting flowers for nectar. Larvae bore in the roots, branches and trunks of woody and some herbaceous plants. Some of these larvae are pests in orchards, nurseries and commercial forestry operations. For example, Synanthedon exitiosa (Say) and Synanthedon pictipes (Grote & Robinson) are major pests of peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch; Rosaceae] (Johnson et al. 2005), and Synanthedon scitula (Harris) is a major pest of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.; Rosaceae) (Bergh & Leskey 2003). These species, and Podosesia syringae (Harris), Podosesia aureocincta Purrington & Nielsen and Paranthrene simulans (Grote) are pests of ornamental trees (Brown and Mizell 1993, Braxton & Raupp 1995, Held 2019). About 135 sesiid species in 20 genera occur in North America (Pühringer & Kallies 2004, Pohl et al. 2016). Forty-four species are likely to occur in South Carolina based on collection records from South Carolina and neighboring states documented in Eichlin & Duckworth (1988). This species richness has not been validated with a comprehensive survey of sesiid diversity in the state. As a first step to better understand sesiid species diversity in South Carolina, a survey was conducted in three counties (Darlington, Georgetown and Pickens) from March 2011 to December 2013. A mixed pine-hardwood forest, an ornamental plant nursery and a botanical garden were surveyed in each of Darlington and Georgetown Counties to diversify the habitats and outcome of this exploratory survey. In Pickens County, a single ornamental plant nursery was surveyed. Surveyed locations in Georgetown County lay within the Sea Island and Coastal Marsh Ecoregion, those in Darlington County within the Atlantic Southern Loam Plain Ecoregion, and that in Pickens County within the Southern Outer Piedmont Ecoregion (Griffith et al. 2002). Locations within a county were separated by at least 20 km

Regulatory T Cells: Potential Target in Anticancer Immunotherapy

SummaryThe concept of regulatory T cells was first described in the early 1970s, and regulatory T cells were called suppressive T cells at that time. Studies that followed have demonstrated that these suppressive T cells negatively regulated tumor immunity and contributed to tumor growth in mice. Despite the importance of these studies, there was extensive skepticism about the existence of these cells, and the concept of suppressive T cells left the center stage of immunologic research for decades. Interleukin-2 receptor α-chain, CD25, was first demonstrated in 1995 to serve as a phenotypic marker for CD4+ regulatory cells. Henceforth, research of regulatory T cells boomed. Regulatory T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of cancer, autoimmune disease, transplantation immunology, and immune tolerance in pregnancy. Recent evidence has demonstrated that regulatory T cellmediated immunosuppression is one of the crucial tumor immune evasion mechanisms and the main obstacle of successful cancer immunotherapy. The mechanism and the potential clinical application of regulatory T cells in cancer immunotherapy are discussed

Phytophagous mites and their management on ornamental plants

Several phytophagous mite species, including spider mites, eriophyid mites, tarsonemid mites, flat mites, and bulb mites, are pests of ornamental plants. This article provides information on the identification, biology, and management of these phytophagous mites to ornamental plant growers, arborists, landscape care professionals, crop protection advisors and consultants, and Extension personnel. This article discusses biological control commercially available for mite management, and the target species, life stage spectrum, use site, and biological control compatibility of miticides currently registered in the United States

NOTE First Records of Alcathoe carolinensis Engelhardt and Synanthedon alleri (Engelhardt) in South Carolina, U.S.A.1

Clearwing moths (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) are day-flying hornet and wasp mimics that can be found visiting flowers for nectar. Larvae bore in the roots, branches and trunks of woody and some herbaceous plants. Some of these larvae are pests in orchards, nurseries and commercial forestry operations. For example, Synanthe- don exitiosa (Say) and Synanthedon pictipes (Grote & Robinson) are major pests of peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch; Rosaceae] (Johnson et al. 2005), and Synanthe- don scitula (Harris) is a major pest of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.; Rosaceae) (Bergh & Leskey 2003). These species, and Podosesia syringae (Harris), Podosesia aureocincta Purrington & Nielsen and Paranthrene simulans (Grote) are pests of ornamental trees (Brown and Mizell 1993, Braxton & Raupp 1995, Held 2019). About 135 sesiid species in 20 genera occur in North America (Pühringer & Kallies 2004, Pohl et al. 2016). Forty-four species are likely to occur in South Carolina based on collection records from South Carolina and neighboring states documented in Eichlin & Duckworth (1988). This species richness has not been validated with a comprehensive survey of sesiid diversity in the state. As a first step to better understand sesiid species diversity in South Carolina, a survey was conducted in three counties (Darlington, Georgetown and Pickens) from March 2011 to December 2013. A mixed pine-hardwood forest, an ornamental plant nursery and a botanical garden were surveyed in each of Darlington and Georgetown Counties to diversify the habitats and outcome of this exploratory survey. In Pickens County, a single ornamental plant nursery was surveyed. Surveyed locations in Georgetown County lay within the Sea Island and Coastal Marsh Ecoregion, those in Darlington County within the Atlantic Southern Loam Plain Ecoregion, and that in Pickens County within the Southern Outer Piedmont Ecoregion (Griffith et al. 2002). Locations within a county were separated by at least 20 km

Integrated Pest Management Strategies for Fungus Gnats in Ornamental Plant Propagation

Fungus gnats are major pests in ornamental plant production. High organic matter content and moisture in the rooting media facilitate fungus gnat population growth and damage in plant propagation. Historically, propagation greenhouse managers turn to insecticides to manage fungus gnats. However, management of fungus gnat must be an integrated approach due to their short life cycle, damage potential, and ability to take advantage of the humid condition in propagation greenhouses. An integrated pest management (IPM) program brings together multiple chemical and non-chemical control strategies to manage fungus gnats and keep the population below damaging levels. The deployment of cultural and biological control tools also has the benefit of avoiding residual toxicity of some insecticides to biological control agents that growers may use during the finishing stage. This article provides information on fungus gnat as a pest in plant propagation that may be helpful to growers in developing an integrated fungus gnat management program in propagation facilities

Biological Control Strategies in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programs

Consumers are becoming more concerned about pesticide usage on ornamental plants and turfgrass in and around their homes, and on the fruits and vegetables they eat. The concerns are not only about the negative health and environmental risks of pesticides, but also over the impacts of neonicotinoids and other broad-spectrum pesticides on pollinators and other beneficial organisms. Many growers and green industry professionals are searching for alternative pest management strategies to satisfy consumer demands and their desire for sustainability and operational flexibility. Many of them are considering biological control, which offers several benefits including reduced reliance on pesticide (thus avoid the cost and potential development of pesticide resistance), flexibility in personal protective equipment, shorter or no requirement on restricted entry interval, and reputational benefit of being a sustainable and responsible grower or professional

Biology and Management of Bermudagrass Mite

This article describes bermudagrass mite biology, symptoms of mite infestation, and potential management strategies against bermudagrass mite in turfgrass and hay. Monitor grass for the characteristic symptoms of mite infestation, including crowded and stunted leaves and tiller proliferation. Combine cultural control strategies, such as reduced fertilization and scalping of turf, with miticides for an effective management program

Repellency and Toxicity of Eight Plant Extracts against the Western Flower Thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis

We investigated the repellency and toxicity of eight plant extracts containing celangulin, cnidium lactone, matrine, nicotine, pyrethrins, rotenone, stemonine and veratrine against the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande; Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Flowers treated with 0.05% nicotine, pyrethrins, stemonine and rotenone harbored fewer western flower thrips in two- and multiple-choice repellency bioassays. When evaluated at concentrations varying from 0.005% to 0.1% in two-choice repellency bioassays, pyrethrins and rotenone were most repellent at 0.01% to 0.1%, and nicotine was most repellent at 0.025%. Mortality was 76% with 0.1% nicotine at 48 h, 78% with 0.5% stemonine at 72 h, and 100% with 0.1% pyrethrins and 0.5% rotenone at 48 h after contact with fresh (<1-d-old) residue. Effective residue age was 1 d for nicotine, pyrethrins and rotenone, and 5 d for stemonine in aged residual toxicity bioassays. Celangulin, cnidium lactone, matrine and veratrine did not provide sufficient repellency and toxicity. Stemonine had inconsistent results. Therefore, additional evaluation of its potential as a botanical insecticide will be needed. When sprayed onto whole plants, plant extracts containing nicotine, pyrethrins, rotenone and stemonine caused unacceptable damage to flowers, suggesting that the final formulation will need to be modified to improve crop safety

Managing crapemyrtle bark scale infestations in urban landscapes and nurseries

Crapemyrtle bark scale is a serious invasive pest of the beloved and widely planted crapemyrtles. This felt scale species was first detected in Texas, and recently in South Carolina (2019) and Delaware (2020). Its current distribution is restricted to Columbia, SC, but will likely expand due to the ubiquity of crapemyrtles in South Carolina landscapes. When infestation is severe, trunks and branches are covered completely by the white, cottony covers of adult females and immature males. Severe infestation can also reduce growth, delay flowering and result in unsightly honeydew and sooty mold. While degree-day model is still being developed, landscape care professionals and growers can easily diagnose crapemyrtle bark scale infestation based on their appearance and host range that is restricted to crapemyrtles. Suspected infestation should be reported to Clemson University Extension Service and the Department of Plant Industry so that proper identification can be conducted. Landscape care professionals and growers are advised not to purchase or plant infested plants. Infested plants should be pruned or culled, and properly disposed. Insecticides may be applied to the trunks and branches (via sprays of contact insecticides), or to the soil (via drench of systemic insecticides). Studies have reported good to excellent efficacy with soil drench of dinotefuran and imidacloprid, and trunk sprays of bifenthrin, buprofezin, dinotefuran and pyriproxyfen. Soil drench should be applied at the time of bud break, and trunk sprays should be applied during or soon after crawler emergence