Abstract Flighted spongy moth, Lymantria dispar asiatica Vnukovskij and Lymantria dispar japonica Motschulsky, is a highly destructive defoliator that threatens forest and urban trees in both its native Asian range and where introduced. This moth goes through outbreak periods with very high population numbers resulting in defoliation of almost all deciduous and coniferous trees and potentially severe human allergic reactions to the insect hairs and scales. Adult females are capable of strong ascending flight and at night are attracted to lights where they lay their egg masses on surrounding surfaces. This has resulted in flighted spongy moth hitchhiking multiple times to new areas as egg masses, or occasionally as pupae, on ships and their cargo. Flighted spongy moths have a broad host range that includes several hundred tree species, both broadleaf and conifer. Identification of stages and species, life history, and ecology are reviewed here. There are few biological differences between the 2 subspecies, but L. dispar japonica tends to be larger and flies at a slightly different time of day than L. dispar asiatica. Both eradication (in introduced areas) and management require detection which is primarily accomplished using male pheromone traps and egg mass surveys. Populations are controlled by various natural and managed methods including parasitoids, predators, pathogens, microbial pesticides registered for aerial and ground application, mating disruption (applying pheromone in various formulations), and aerially spraying insect growth regulators. Synthetic insecticides are rarely used due to public concerns regarding unintended nontarget impacts.

Abstract The aster leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Macrosteles quadrilineatus Forbes) is considered to be a significant pest in the Western Canadian Prairies and the United States Upper Midwest due to its ability to transmit a bacterial plant pathogen known as Aster Yellows phytoplasma (AYp) to several plant species. Aster Yellows (AY) disease can be devastating to growers and home gardeners, as common symptoms in infected plants include altered pigmentation of leaves, changes in size and structure of grain heads, and sterile pods. Since there are no resistant crop varieties and leafhoppers remain infective for life, control strategies primarily focus on surveillance of populations on both crops and weedy hosts and on managing aster leafhopper populations. Several crops and wild species can sustain leafhopper populations; however, cereals are optimal hosts for their reproduction and development. Depending on environmental conditions, aster leafhoppers can complete between 2 and 5 generations per growing season. Collaborative research efforts across multiple institutions have expanded our understanding of this pathosystem, including leafhopper movement at various scales, seasonal changes in AY infection levels, and the effectiveness of different management tactics. The development of diagnostic tools has improved the identification of infection sources, which, alongside action thresholds, can help guide decisions on the need for additional insecticide applications. This article compiles this information into a single extension resource.

Abstract The economic threshold for defoliating insects during the reproductive stages of soybean varies among US states, from 15% to 25%. Defoliation estimation is made by visually inspecting the soybean canopy. However, there is variation among individual estimates, resulting in over- and underestimations of defoliation that might lead to improper spray decisions. Growers, consultants, and extension personnel are usually responsible for insecticide decisions, but their ability to estimate defoliation has not been documented. We surveyed 303 growers, consultants, extension personnel, as well as other occupations. We asked them to estimate defoliation based on trifoliate photographs. We also asked growers and consultants about the amount of area they typically grow soybeans and if they scout for defoliation or not. We hypothesized that low levels of defoliation would be easier to estimate compared to intermediate level of defoliation, that people with different backgrounds would estimate defoliation differently, and that growers who scouted their fields would better estimate defoliation compared to those who did not. We analyzed the data using multinomial logistic regression. Estimates were more correct for low levels compared to intermediate levels of defoliation. Estimates were not different depending on occupations. Growers who scout their fields better estimate defoliation compared to those who do not. Our results highlight the importance of experience for more accurate visual estimations of soybean defoliation and point out the need for reference tools to aid estimates of thresholds above 20% defoliation.

Abstract The annual bluegrass weevil (ABW), Listronotus maculicollis Kirby, is arguably the most destructive turfgrass insect pest of golf courses and tennis courts in eastern North America, threatening high-value playing surfaces. The ABW was first detected on golf courses in Long Island, New York, in the late 1950s, and has since spread throughout the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. Its accelerated spread over the past 30 yr is likely related to the transport of infested sod, leading to its establishment in the southeastern and midwestern United States. Concomitantly, it has increasingly infested less favorable hosts, such as creeping bentgrass, especially in regions where its preferred host, Poa annua L., is scarce. With few viable alternatives for ABW management, insecticides remain integral to maintaining the aesthetic and functional characteristics of managed turfgrass playing surfaces. Insecticide applications are often made sequentially throughout the season due to the relatively small size of ABW, its cryptic life stages, and the potential for damage to high-value turf. This overreliance on chemical control has fueled widespread resistance to pyrethroids, with some highly resistant populations exhibiting decreased sensitivity to unrelated compounds (i.e., multiple resistance), disrupting ABW control and threatening the long-term sustainability of management programs. Understanding ABW ecology and targeting key vulnerabilities can help design management programs that disrupt its life cycle and minimize turfgrass damage. Here, we review over 50 yr of research on ABW ecology, biology, and management, highlighting key discoveries, persistent and emerging challenges, and potential opportunities for more sustainable control strategies.

Abstract Walnut husk fly, Rhagoletis completa (Cresson), is a major pest of English walnut, Juglans regia Linn. This pest is native to Southern and Central United States, and has since spread to many parts of North America. Walnut husk fly is also considered an invasive species and significant pest in many walnut-growing countries in Europe. Walnut husk fly larvae feed directly on the fruit’s husk (mesocarp) tissue, and can cause shell (endocarp) staining, kernel (seed) shriveling and darkening, and increased adherence of hulls which can interfere with nut processing. Growers typically rely on monitoring and well-timed insecticide applications to control husk fly adults, though stricter regulations on insecticides limit their spray options. Since the current options for biological and cultural control are limited, the use of novel lure types and entomopathogens are being explored in recent research. The shifting economic market, stricter regulations, and nontarget pesticide effects highlight a need for a deeper understanding of this pest, robust monitoring tools, and alternative management methods. This study discusses the life history, biology, seasonal ecology of walnut husk fly, and current integrated pest management practices in walnut orchards.

Abstract The cotton fleahopper, Pseudatomoscelis seriatus Reuter, is a key pest of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in Texas and surrounding regions. Its range in Texas spans from the Lower Rio Grande Valley in the south to the northern High Plains, and it consistently ranks among the top insect pests requiring insecticide treatment per hectare planted annually. Feeding by cotton fleahopper on developing squares (flower buds) negatively affects lint and fiber quality, causing square losses that significantly impact yields. Impact of cotton fleahopper diminishes beyond the first bloom and its ecological role in later stages of cotton remains unclear. With limited options for effective host plant resistance and cultural management, insecticide sprays remain the primary means for controlling the pest. This article examines geographic distribution, biology, feeding habits, and management strategies for P. seriatus within cotton production systems.

Abstract Taphrorychus bicolor (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) is emerging as a potential threat to European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Central Europe, particularly under recurrent drought and a warming climate. We review its ecology, damage symptoms, monitoring methods, and management strategies, integrating published research with recent observations from Slovakia. Regarded as a secondary pest of dead or dying wood, T. bicolor has also been observed infesting living beech trees, producing characteristic lesions that degrade timber quality and may accelerate tree decline. These injuries marked by sap exudation, blister-like bark, and black fluid-filled lesions occur more frequently in drought-stressed stands, especially along forest edges and south-facing slopes. Monitoring trials demonstrated that pheromone-baited traps and felled beech trap trees effectively attract large numbers of beetles, although outbreak thresholds for this species are not yet defined. We recommend preventive management through timely removal and treatment of logging residues and weakened trees to reduce breeding sites. Biological control options, including the predator Nemozoma elongatum and entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana, show promise but require further study. A critical knowledge gap remains regarding the role of secondary infections in lesion development following beetle infestation. Whether T. bicolor represents a persistent threat or a transient response to climatic stress remains unclear, but proactive monitoring and management are essential to mitigate its impact on beech forests. This review provides an updated basis for forest managers, researchers, and policymakers confronting the challenges posed by T. bicolor.

Abstract The rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), has been the primary economic pest of rice, Oryza sativa, in the United States for more than 100 yr. Management of L. oryzophilus with conventional foliar insecticides is challenging owing to the difficulty in effectively timing insecticide applications against adults as well as the subterranean, aquatic feeding of larvae on rice plant roots. Two neonicotinoids (thiamethoxam and clothianidin) and 2 diamide (chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole) seed treatments have replaced foliar applications against L. oryzophilus and other pests in the past 2 decades. The neonicotinoids control L. oryzophilus along with more sporadic pests including chinch bugs (Hemiptera: Blissidae), Colaspis spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), and aphids. The diamides have superior activity against L. oryzophilus and provide control of several lepidopteran pests including 3 Crambid stem borers (Eoreuma loftini, Diatraea saccharalis, and Chilo plejadellus) and fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The products used individually or in combination have greatly improved control of L. oryzophilus and other insect pests providing immense value to US rice producers. Currently, the products are used on approximately 80% of rice acreage in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. Diamides are predominant in Louisiana and Texas, while neonicotinoids are most prevalent in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Missouri. Across the region, the insecticidal seed treatments were used on 775,000 ha at a total cost of 19 million USD. Estimated return on investment from pest losses prevented range from 100 to 500 USD per ha, making the total economic value of insecticidal seed treatments in US rice approximately 77.5 to 387.5 million USD annually. Future rice pest management strategies should aim to diversify tactics to mitigate resistance development and preserve efficacy of these valuable seed treatments.

Abstract The red sunflower seed weevil, Smicronyx fulvus LeConte (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a native pest of cultivated sunflower in North America. Larvae consume a portion of the seed, reducing the amount of extractable oil and the marketability of confection seeds. Aerial application of insecticides during sunflower bloom is the primary method of weevil population management. However, sole reliance on chemical control appears to have led to insecticide resistance and crop failure in some areas. Furthermore, insecticide applications may negatively affect yields in this pollinator-dependent crop. Consequently, a holistic approach to red sunflower seed weevil management is needed. We provide an overview of red sunflower seed weevil biology, ecology, and current management practices, including scouting, economic thresholds, and insecticides. Complementary methods, such as cultural control, biological control, and host plant resistance also are discussed as tools to improve management of this pest.