Location: Southern Insect Management Research
2017 Annual Report
Accomplishments
1. Impact of various pesticide classes on honey bee survival. Information regarding the impact of direct sprays and residues from different pesticide classes on honey bee populations is needed to understand which classes may pose the greatest risks. The toxicity of imidacloprid mixed with seven different pesticide classes on honey bees through direct sprays and residues was determined by ARS scientists at Stoneville, Mississippi. Results demonstrated that residue levels of seven pesticides in pollens/hive may not adversely affect honey bees, but long term exclusive ingestion of the maximal residue levels of some insecticides may induce substantial bee mortality. Rotating pesticide chemistries and proper selection of pesticide mixtures can alleviate toxicity risks to honey bees.
2. Sweet potato variety evaluations. Many small-scale sweet potato producers in the Mississippi Delta have limited information regarding varieties that are compatible in the environmental conditions of the Mississippi Delta. Sweet potato varieties compatible to the climate and growing conditions of the Mississippi Delta were evaluated by ARS scientists at Stoneville, Mississippi. Varieties that produced the highest yields, best quality potatoes, and showed reduced insect damage were recorded. Results were presented at the National Sweet Potato Meeting and National Sweet Potato Collaborator’s Meeting. This information is being used by sweet potato growers in the Mississippi Delta and other areas of the Southern U.S. to choose varieties that will enhance their profit margin.
3. Native bees in agricultural production fields. Currently, there is little or no information regarding native bee communities in agricultural environments across the Mississippi Delta. Through a variety of sampling techniques, baseline information regarding the species richness and abundance of native bees inhabiting agricultural commodities in the Mississippi Delta was collected by ARS scientists at Stoneville, Mississippi. Sampling techniques included: modified pan traps, malaise traps, colored vane traps, monitoring pheromone bycatch, and directed netting. This baseline information will be used to evaluate impacts of various agricultural practices on populations of these insects.
Review Publications
Yao, J., Zhu, Y., Nanyan, L., Buschman, L.L., Zhu, K. 2017. Comparisons of transcriptional profiles of gut genes between cry1Ab-resistant and susceptible strains of Ostrinia nubilalis revealed genes possibly related to the adaptation of resistant larvae to transgenic cry1Ab corn. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 18:301. doi:10.3390/ijms18020301.
Blackman, B.D., Allen, K.C., Jones, W.A., Little, N., Grodowitz, M.J., Luttrell, R.G. 2017. First report of soybean pest, Euschistus quadrator (Hempitera: pentatomidae) in Mississippi. Florida Entomologist. 100(1):192-194. doi:10.1653/024.100.0132.
Caprio, M.A., Edwards, K.T., Musser, F.R., Allen, K.C., Fleming, D.E. 2016. Impact of insect management on population dynamics and insecticide resistance of tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris). Journal of Economic Entomology. 109(6):2517-2524.
Clay, N.A., Little, N., Riggins, J.J. 2016. Inoculation of ophiostomatoid fungi in Loblolly pine trees increases the presence of subterranean termites in fungal lesions. Arthropod-Plant Interactions. 16(3):260-264. doi:10.1111/afe.12053.
Zhu, Y., Yao, J., Adamczyk Jr, J.J., Luttrell, R.G. 2017. Feeding toxicity and impact of imidacloprid formulation and mixtures with six representative pesticides at residue concentrations on honey bee (Apis mellifera). PLoS One. 12(6):e0178421. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0178421.
Zhu, Y., Yao, J., Adamczyk Jr, J.J., Luttrell, R.G. 2017. Synergistic toxicity and physiological impact of imidacloprid alone and binary mixtures with seven representative pesticides on honey bee (Apis mellifera). PLoS One. 12(5):e0176837. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0176837.
Zhu, Y., Yao, J., Luttrell, R.G. 2016. Identification of genes potentially responsible for extra-oral digestion and overcoming plant defense from salivary glands of the tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris) using cDNA sequencing. Journal of Insect Science. 16(1):60;1-11.
