Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

2025 S1073 Working Group Meeting Minutes

Date: March 9th 2025 Time: 1:00 - 3:30 PM Central Time

In Attendance- Nicole Quinn -UF (Chair) and Sriyanka Lahiri - UF (Secretary)

Symposium Speakers: Rodrigo Diaz -LSU, Norman Leppla - UF, Jason Schmidt - UGA, Philip

Hahn - UF, Sara Salgado - UF, Sriyanka Lahiri - UF.

Nicole reminded members to submit their annual reports to her by April 30th 2025. She

also reported that Amy Grunden (amgrunde@ncsu.edu) acknowledged our request to

approve this meeting and will provide us with the required paperwork soon. Amy will verify

whether another online meeting to officially approve the meeting will be needed then.

The symposium was well attended by faculty and students. Number of attendees ranged

from 20 at 1 PM and reached at 50 by 2 PM. Overall, we had 46 attendees in the room

thereafter until the business meeting began. A highly interactive talk and networking

session ended at 3:02 PM.

The business meeting began promptly at 3:04 PM.

Business Meeting: 3:04 PM

-Attendance: 22 members

-Nicole Quinn reiterated the final report submission deadline of April 30th.

-Jason Schmidt reiterated the importance of new members joining the working group

officially through the NIMSS application portal to access Hatch funds.

-Nicole Quinn and Sriyanka Lahiri will include the instructions on how to join this group to

interested new members, if contacted.

-Norm Leppla responded to a question from attendees and confirmed that employees in

state agencies can also join this working group. However, they will not have access to the

Hatch funding.

-Voting for the Secretary position was conducted: Philip Hahn was unanimously elected as

the next Secretary.

-Sriyanka Lahiri will serve as the next Chair.

-Sriyanka will develop a written guide for assistance with transitioning new Chairs and

Secretaries.

-It was unanimously voted to forego the readings of last year's meeting.

-The next S1073 meeting will be held in correspondence with the ESA-SEB Branch Meeting

2026, as agreed upon by those in attendance.

-Nicole Quinn thanked everyone for their participation and adjourned the meeting at 3:30

PM.

FLORIDA

ACCOMPLISHMENTS (by Objective)

1. To discover, assess, and release new biological control agents
2. To characterize and evaluate the impact of native and introduced biocontrol agents

The daily feeding rate of adult and nymphal Orius insidiosus on S. dorsalis was determined in a series of well replicated lab study and published. It is clear that O. insidiosus can feed on an average of 4-7 adult or larval S. dorsalis on a daily basis, depending on its own growth stage. With this new information about the potential of biological control impact on S. dorsalis, growers can be provided evidence of feeding activity and rate so that they may release this species in their crop fields infested with S. dorsalis.

Air potato- We have completed several experiments examining synergistic interactions between two classical biological control agents introduced to control the invasive plant air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera): a leaf-feeding beetle Liliocerus cheni and a bulbil-feeder L. egena. We found that overall there is limited interactions between the two beetles. Specifically, feeding on leaves by L. cheni does not impact subsequent feeding by L. egena on the reproductive bulbils. This is promising from a biocontrol perspective, because it shows that the two beetles will not likely be interacting negatively in the field, either through competition for changes in host plant quality. Therefore, the two beetles should provide additive control, where the two beetles together provide more effective control than either one my itself.

Bulimulus bonariensis: We collected data on the potential natural enemies of B. bonariensis using camera traps and pitfall traps. Our initial results indicate that some generalist predators, such as earwigs, may be useful natural enemies.

3. To develop augmentation and conservation biological control tactics

Orius spp. and number of pests and Orius spp. visiting banker crops such as Mexican sunflower, sweet alyssum, and French marigold was assessed in a field study to study impact of having banker crops within the vicinity of strawberry crops. It was clearly determined that S. dorsalis was absent from these banker plants and three species of Orius were consistently present in these banker plants. Orius insidiosus was one of these species and knowing its daily feeding rate on S. dorsalis, we have a clear candidate for both augmentative and conservation biocontrol efforts.

Trichopoda pennipes is a tachinid fly that parasitizes species of Heteroptera in certain geographical areas. It parasitized the bordered plant bug, Largus cinctus, largid, in California but not the local squash bug, Anasa tristis, despite occurring with each other in the same squash field. However, T. pennipes collected from A. tristis in New York and transported to California immediately parasitized A. tristis on squash. Trichopoda pennipes also parasitizes A. tristis and other coreids in the Southeast, along with the southern green stinkbug, Nezara viridula, and additional species of pentatomids. It frequently oviposits on the eastern leaffooted bug, Leptoglossus phyllopus, another coreid, as well. Therefore, three host-determined strains of T. pennipes were assumed to occur in different geographical areas: one from coreids in the Northeast, a second from pentatomids in the South, and a third from the bordered plant bug in California. We observed recently, however, that several species of coreids and pentatomids were parasitized by T. pennipes at the same southern farms. To determine if the T. pennipes from these host species are host-determined strains, mated females were given a choice between A. tristis, N. viridula, and L. phyllopus adults for oviposition. The females oviposited primarily on their parental host species for at least one generation. However, mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed separate markers for only two parasitoid lineages, one from both A. tristis and N. viridula and another from only L. phyllopus.

Nipaecoccus viridis: Efficient rearing procedures of N. viridis and its parasitoid A. dactylopii have been developed. These techniques will prove useful in future mass rearing efforts and biological control agent evaluation.

4. To develop integrated pest management programs that have a biological control component.

Ornamental peppers were intercropped with strawberry at different rates to combine the impact of plant repellency and biological control to manage S. dorsalis issues in strawberry. The first year of this study was completed and data is being analyzed currently. Previous published studies have already shown that ornamental pepper strip near strawberry plants resulted in lower S. dorsalis infestation.

UTILITY OF FINDINGS

1. Strawberry growers in Florida have shown an interest in planting sweet alyssum and Mexican sunflower either on field edges, strawberry bed edges, or woodland borders to recruit more natural enemies of S. dorsalis, based on our findings.
2. Strawberry growers learnt the negative impact of fungicides and insecticides on predatory mites and have stopped using certain products in their field if they released predatory mites for S. dorsalis management.
3. Soil temperature was generally higher with conventional treatments in citrus groves (orange, lemon, and grapefruit) without cover crops; however, soil moisture varied per citrus grove type. The total number of fungal species identified in all the groves combined was 1172, and of those 136 (~12%) were beneficial species. Of the beneficial fungi, 2 species were from the order Entomophthorales and 134 from Hypocreales. Entomophthoralean species were only found in the conventional treatments, not the cover crops. Many of the beneficial fungi identified in these soil samples are agroecosystem service providers that function as natural bactericides/fungicides, nematicides, miticides, insecticides and/or endophytes. New soil samples were still being analyzed.
4. The southern green stink bug is one of the most destructive invasive insect pests impacting agriculture worldwide. Nymphs and adults of this species are highly polyphagous, feeding on many important economic crops in the United States such as soybean, cowpea, southern pea, lima bean, pecan, wheat, grain sorghum, corn, tomato, tobacco, and cotton. The squash bug is a very damaging pest of cucurbits in North America and the eastern leaffooted bug feeds on many vegetables, fruits and ornamental plants in the Southeast. Trichopoda pennipes was observed parasitizing 100% of the southern green stink bugs in an organic soybean crop. Additionally, this parasitoid has maintained squash bugs below the economic threshold in squash crops. Therefore, we are conducting research to determine how to produce T. pennipes that can be used in augmentative biological control of specific pest stink bugs.

WORK PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR (2025-2026)

1. Publish findings of the study of impact of diet on feeding and oviposition rate of Orius spp. on invasive pest, chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis.
2. Repeat field experiments with ornamental peppers intercropped with strawberries for the management of S. dorsalis.
3. Continue assessing the soil samples collected in each citrus grove type of on a biannual basis to determine if the beneficial fungi numbers and species biodiversity changes over time. Also determine if soil moisture and temperature is affected by the presence of cover crops compared to conventional treatments (cover crops absent) over time.
4. Air potato- We are planning to use field cages to evaluate potential interactions between L. cheni and L. egena. To date, our work with the two biocontrol agents has been conducted in the lab and greenhouse, so the field experiments will provide more realistic settings to test of their interactions influence their effectiveness in controlling air potato.
5. We planted border rows of a grain sorghum trap crop along two to four sides of an organic tomato crop in North Florida to reduce fruit injury caused by the southern green stink bug and other invasive stink bugs. Many more stink bug adults were captured in sorghum than tomato when the sorghum panicles were in the milk to soft dough stage. Additionally, only 30% of the females in the sorghum and tomato crops were mated and contained more than 15 eggs, indicating that 70% had limited reproduction. We will classify the stages of oogenesis in southern green stink bug females and determine the timing of oviposition as they disperse in the tomato crop. Since most of the stink bugs aggregate and mate in the trap crop, there may be a discrete period when they can be targeted for elimination before they infest the tomato crop.
6. Florida is a rice-producing state, with approximately 20,000 acres grown annually in the organic muck soil of the Everglades Agricultural Area. The major pests of rice in Florida are three species of stink bugs in the genus Oebalus, O. pugnax being the most damaging. Telenomius podisi attacks rice stink bug eggs at high levels in rice fields so has potential for augmentative biological control. We will assess the life history parameters of T. podisi required to establish and optimize a mass-rearing system. In addition, the effectiveness of mass-reared T. podisi as a biological control agent will be evaluated under field conditions.
7. Urban and residential landscapes – We plan to conduct a series of research projects investigating the role of urban landscape design and host plant origin on scale insect invasions and biological control, using Fiorinia phantasma (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) and ornamental palms as a model system. We will also be investigating the compatibility of insecticides with natural enemies of armored scale insects, and whether insecticide application technique influences non-target organism impacts.
8. Continue to investigate B. bonariensis, N. viridis, and their natural enemies in FL and in their native ranges.

LOUISIANA                                               

ACCOMPLISHMENTS (by Objective)

1. To discover, assess, and release new biological control agents

Giant salvinia: Efforts in 2024 were made to import a population of the salvinia weevil (Cyrtobagous salviniae) from Argentina.  Observations at the quarantine in LSU suggested potential incompatibilities of this population while exposed to giant salvinia, specifically lack immature development. Therefore, we will not pursue further studies with this population.

2. To characterize and evaluate the impact of native and introduced biocontrol agents

Giant salvinia: During 2024, we expanded our mass rearing operation of salvinia weevils in the Reproductive Biology Center in St. Gabriel. During the summer, we held three weevil harvests for the public.

3. To develop augmentation and conservation biological control tactics

The LSU AgCenter website on Invasive Species was updated. The website contains biological control options for the management of several invasive weeds and insects common in Louisiana. https://www.lsuagcenter.com/invasivespecies

4. To develop integrated pest management programs that have a biological control component.

None

UTILITY OF FINDINGS

How to integrate control methods for giant salvinia?

The impact of the salvinia weevil was studied in Puerto Rico and coastal Louisiana. The findings from these studies demonstrated the great potential of biological control using the salvinia weevil in different aquatic ecosystems. Both studies show rapid and substantial reductions in salvinia coverage, leading to improved water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen levels and the recovery of submerged aquatic vegetation. Moreover, the Puerto Rico study highlighted the effectiveness of combining biological control with mechanical removal, achieving near-complete eradication over three years. The Louisiana study improved our understanding of the relationship between weevil density and coverage reduction in different habitat types. These findings offer resource managers an effective and sustainable tool for combating giant salvinia. The success in varied environments (tropical reservoir and coastal wetlands) suggests a broad applicability of this approach. Furthermore, the predictive models developed in the Louisiana study can help managers estimate control timelines and optimize their strategies, potentially improving the cost-effectiveness and success rates of future giant salvinia infestations.

WORK PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR (2023-2024)

 Specific objectives:

1) Identify populations of biological control agents suitable for the climate in Louisiana

None.

2. Release, monitor establishment, and evaluate biological control agents

Giant Salvinia: One of the major limitations of the program is not knowing where is salvinia and the weevil in the landscape. During 2024 and 2025, we will work with satellites and drone to develop a remote sensing model. This model will aid in the detection of plants using satellite images (Senitel-2). We will continue supporting the biological control programs of giant salvinia and waterlettuce (Pistia stratiotes) in Puerto Rico.

Biocontrol of Aquatic Weeds: In the summer of 2025, we will work improving the biological control of waterhyacinth, and ludwigia. Surveys will be conducted in Louisiana and nearby states for agents which could imported to California. Additionally, augmentation biological control is new area which has a tremendous opportunity in weed biological control. Experiments will be conducted to improve the release and establishment of mass-reared agents.

NORTH CAROLINA

ACCOMPLISHMENTS (by Objective)

1. To discover, assess, and release new biological control agents

none

2. To characterize and evaluate the impact of native and introduced biocontrol agents

We have begun to characterize endemic natural enemies associated with native plants and their cultivars.

We have surveyed natural enemies associated with hemlock trees in commercial production nurseries and in more natural forestry nurseries to identify predators and parasitoids of hemlock woolly adelgid and elongate hemlock scale.

3. To develop augmentation and conservation biological control tactics

 We have conducted experiments with biological control agents in greenhouses and in nurseries. Biological control agents include Cryptolaemus spp., six species of nematodes, multiple Beauvaria bassiana strains, greenlacewings, and predatory mites. We have assessed the efficacy of these for management of mealybugs, armored scales, and soft scales.

4. To develop integrated pest management programs that have a biological control component.

 In greenhouses and nurseries we are focused on developing complete IPM programs that can be shared with producers including developing pre-sale intervals for the use of neonicotinoids and other insecticides so plants do not harm beneficials once planted in landscapes.

UTILITY OF FINDINGS

 The utility of our findings overall is producing IPM programs incorporating insecticides, biological control, or both to help greenhouse and nursery personnel manage pests in effective and cost efficient ways.

WORK PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR (2023-2024)

We are continuing the work above for at least another year and do not have plants to start new projects.

OKLAHOMA

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

I.   Continued participation in the multistate research project (S-1073: 2023-2028) with the goal to conduct research on locally and regionally important issues related to insect pest management and biological control.  I am participating in objectives 2 and 3 outlined in the multistate research project.   Objective 2.  To develop IPM programs that incorporate biological control components.  Research focuses on natural enemies that attack insect pests, and describing aphid parasitism and predation in wheat and sorghum landscapes.  In 2024, published results of a multi-year studies to examine aphid parasitism in agricultural landscapes.  Results indicated the dominance of Lysiphlebus testaceipes in winter wheat, the re-emergence of a native parasitoid Aphelinus nigritus on sorghum and winter wheat.  Studies were completed to describe the ecology of aphid parasitoids in the Southern Plains with an emphasis on describing competitive interactions. Studies were also completed validating natural enemy thresholds of sorghum aphid in sorghum and development of sampling plans for these natural enemies.  Key Outcomes:  Based on studies completed in Oklahoma, crop diversity that includes summer crops is more likely to support key parasitoid populations that prevent aphid outbreaks in winter crops, but factors such as insecticidal seed treatments may be interfering with parasitoid conservation.  Studies on competitive outcomes among aphid natural enemies indicate that Aphelinus nigritus is a superior competitor at small spatial scales, and Lysiphlebus testaceipes coexists because it avoids patches occupied by competitors, utilizing alternative hosts. Analyses of spatial distribution of natural enemies in sorghum indicate that both predators and parasitoid sampling plans can be merged with those of sorghum aphid to allow for efficient use of validated natural enemy thresholds.  Objective 3:   To develop augmentation and conservation biological control tactics. Research is focusing primarily on conservation of parasitoids and predators in field crops, and evaluation of predators in stored grain systems.  Work in stored grain systems indicate that the warehouse pirate bug provides predictable control of psocid pests. Studies describing pest suppression in field crops and stored grain were published.  Key Outcome:  Crop diversity in time and space in agricultural landscapes has a positive effect on aphid suppression by parasitoids.  Studies were also completed on predatory mites in stored grain systems and indicated their strong potential for augmentation programs.

WORK PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR (2025-26):

*Continued studies related to objectives 2 and 3.

*Studies describing competitive outcomes among aphid natural enemies will be published.

*Publish studies describing life history traits of natural enemies in stored grain.

*Validation of natural enemy thresholds for SCA on sorghum, and integration of sampling approaches will be published.

TEXAS A&M

ACCOMPLISHMENTS (by Objective)

1. To discover, assess, and release new biological control agents
2. To characterize and evaluate the impact of native and introduced biocontrol agents

Dr. Kheirodin Lab is currently running functional response trials to understand the response of Orius spp. and Delphastus catalinae to range of whitefly densities in tomato. The work is currently ongoing.

3. To develop augmentation and conservation biological control tactics

Dr. Kheirodin's laboratory is currently conducting manipulative cage experiments to find a compatible natural enemy mix for controlling whiteflies and thrips in CEA tomatoes. The work has started and is expected to continue for over 2-3 years until suitable candidates are identified. Extensive molecular screenings will be done to evaluate natural enemies' compatibility within cages.

4. To develop integrated pest management programs that have a biological control component.

Dr. Kheirodin's lab conducts extensive biological product efficacy and compatibility testing (i.e., entomopathogenic fungal strains, bacterial strains) with selected whitefly natural enemies. The first set of trials is expected to be completed next month, and the result is expected to be published in 2025. Dr. Kheirodin's lab aims to develop a natural enemy species-based product selection guide, allowing growers to use biological products compatible with the natural enemy species they want to release in their facility.

UTILITY OF FINDINGS

WORK PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR (2023-2024)

Dr. Kheirodin lab will continue product compatibility trials to develop a comprehensive natural enemy species-based guide for compatible product selection to develop an ecological based IPM strategy. Extensive manipulative cage experiment will be continued throughout 2025 to move towards developing compatible natural enemy mix resulting in complementary whitefly and thrips control.

Dr. Kheirodin PhD. student is expected to start researching habitat management practices within high tunnel tomatoes, to promote the efficacy of augmentation biological control program in CEA.

1. Lahiri, S., Shapiro-Ilan, D., Avery, P., Sharma, A., Wang, X., Peres, N., Gao Z., Nottingham, L., Hoheisel, G., Burman, A., Stelinski, L., Martini, X., Elwakil, W., and Hickey, L. 2024. USDA-NIFA-OREI. Organic management of specialty crops with broadly compatible systems that integrate biopesticides and ecosystem services with novel cultural controls.
2. SARE 2024 On-Farm Research Grant. Evaluation and management of eriophyid mites on new varieties of elderberry. April 1,2024. Norman Leppla (PD, PI). $27,479. (100% Leppla) (unfunded)
3. UF, ISRI. A novel harmonic radar system for tracking invasive insect species. April 15, 2024-April 14, 2025. Norman Leppla (PD, Co-PI), Tan Wong, Jasmeet Judge, Isaac Esquivel, and Marcelo Wallau. $49,398 ($5,594 to Leppla).
4. USDA, NIFA, CPPM, EIP. 2024 CPPM, EIP Project for the University of Florida: Entomology and Nematology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science. August 20, 2024- September 30, 2025. Norman Leppla (PD, Co-PI), Adam Dale, Natalia Peres, and Brent Sellers. $192,326. ($29,291 to Leppla)
5. UF, ROSF. SRD-ROSF2025: Optimization of a novel harmonic radar system and applications for tracking insects and other small organisms. June 1, 2025. Leppla, N.C. (PD, Co-PI), Tan Wong, Jasmeet Judge, Isaac Esquivel, Marcelo Wallau, and Emilio Bruna. $98,747. (100% Leppla) (unfunded)
6. AgriProspects, Workforce development Network. Enhancing Extension Expertise: A Multi-Method Training Approach for Workforce Development. September 1, 2024. Marcelo Wallau, Norman Leppla (Co-PI), Matt Benge, Peyton Beatty, Ashley Kuhn, and Jennifer Taylor. $99,979 ($2,000 to Leppla) (unfunded)
7. Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program. 2024-2026. Using satellite imagery and a web-based application for early detection and management of giant salvinia in the BTNEP region. Rodrigo Diaz. $81,000. Funded.
8. United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. USDA-APHIS. 2024-2025. Biological Control of Chinese tallowtree. Rodrigo Diaz. $68,200. Funded.
9. United States Department of Agriculture, ARS. USDA-ARS. 2024-2026. Synergies in aquatic plant biological control: translating research between the Southern and Western USA.  Rodrigo Diaz. $46,700. Funded.
10. Elm zigzag sawfly management. US Dept. of Agriculture - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Oten, K., Frank, S.
11. Elm Zigzag Sawfly Management. NCDA&CS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Oten, K., Frank, S.
12. Crape Myrtle Bark Scale Management. NCDA&CS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Frank, S.
13. Restoring Hemlock with Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Resistant Planting Stock. US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service.  Frank, S.
14. IPM for native plant production. NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.  Frank, S., Meadows, I., Seth-Carley, D.
15. Kheirodin, A., Zahid, A., et al. Optimizing Integrated Pest Management Program For Sustainable Tomato Production Under Controlled Environments and Field Conditions. USDA SAS.
16. Kheirodin, A., Zahid, A., Bhattarai, K. Optimizing controlled environment strawberry production through AI, breeding, and integrated pest management. USDA FFAR.
17. Kheirodin, A., Niu, G. Advancing commercial strawberry production through protected cultivation and ecological-based integrated pest management. Southern SARE.
18. Zahid, A., Kheirodin, A. Leveraging AI-assisted Sensing Technologies and Pest Biocontrol for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Decision Support. Southern SARE.
19. Kheirodin, A., Bhattarai, K., & Andreason, S. Mitigation of tomato viral diseases through host resistance development and vector management. TDA Specialty Crops Multi-state Program.
20. Kheirodin, A. Developing an ecological based IPM strategy for Bemisia tabaci control in controlled environment tomato production. TDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

Adhikary, A. (G), H. A. Smith, S. Lahiri. (2025). Daily prey consumption and functional response of Orius insidiosus: Implications for biological control of Scirtothrips dorsalis in strawberries. Insects. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16020205

Lahiri, S., G. Kaur (G), A. Busuulwa (G). (2024). Field efficacy of a biopesticide and predatory mite for suppression of Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in strawberry. Journal of Economic Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toae144

Busuulwa, A. (G), A. M. Revynthi, O. E. Liburd, and S. Lahiri. 2024. Banker plant efficacy to boost natural predators for management of field populations of Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in strawberries. Insects. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100776

Busuulwa, A. (G), and S. Lahiri. 2024. Rearing Neoseiulus cucumeris and Amblyseius swirskii (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) on non-target species reduces their predation efficacy on target species. Florida Entomologist. https://doi.org/10.1515/flaent-2024-0062

Busuulwa, A. (G), S. S. Riley, A. M. Revynthi, O. E. Liburd, and S. Lahiri. 2024. Residual effect of commonly used insecticides on key predatory mites released for biocontrol in strawberry. Journal of Economic Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toae220

Busuulwa, A. (G), A. M. Revynthi, O. E. Liburd, and S. Lahiri. 2024. Residual effect of commonly used fungicides in strawberries on Amblyseius swirskii, Neoseiulus cucumeris, and Neoseiulus californicus (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae). Experimental and Applied Acarology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-024-00928-1

Kaur, J., E. Kraus, E. Rohrig, D. Salazar, E. Clifton, and P.G. Hahn. (2025). Induced defenses increase preference and feeding of a biocontrol herbivore to an invasive plant. Biological Invasions 27:1-16.

Murray, R., P.G. Hahn and O.S. Menocal. (2025). Mass rearing protocol and density trials of Lilioceris egena (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biocontrol agent of air potato. Florida Entomologist 108:202400074.

Calixto, E.S., J.L. Maron, K. Keefover-Ring, J.H. Cammarano, and P.G. Hahn. (2025). Phytochemical diversity increases with resources availability but has mixed effects on herbivory. Oikos e10914.

Cammarano, J.H., S. Kroening, E.S. Calixto, and P.G. Hahn. (2025). Co-blooming neighbor plant diversity and floral display color similarity associated with higher flower visitation to focal species. Natural Areas Journal 45.

Leppla, N. C., L. M. LeBeck, and M. W. Johnson. 2024. Status and Trends of Biological Control Research, Extension, and Education in the United States. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 117:130-138. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saae005.

Daren, S.M., Laura, L.C., Pilcher, C., Sisson, A.J., Magarey, R., Adams, R., Almodovar, W.I., Alston, D., Beauzay, P., Bessin, R….Leppla, N.C.….et al. 2024. Integrated Pest Management (IPM): State Infrastructure Status After 50 Years of Federal Support (1973-2023). J. Integrated Pest Mgmt.15:X-X. (minor revision)

Conlong, D.E., Cohen, A.C., Leppla, N.C., Gillespie, D.Y., Karsten, M., Bierman, A., Terblanche, J.S., Hatting, J., and Pieterse, J.J. 2024. Chapter 7: Insect Mass Rearing for IPM Applications. In: Principles of Integrated Pest Management: A Southern African Perspective. Minette Karsten and John S. Terblanche (Eds.) CABI (in press)

Yong Wang, Patrick De Clercq, Norman C. Leppla, Adeney de Freitas Bueno, Maria Luisa Dindo, Ricardo Ramirez-Romero, Nicolas Desneux, Su Wang, Asad Ali, Lian-Sheng Zang. 2025 Artificial diets for arthropod natural enemies: present status, challenges, and perspectives Biological Reviews (in review)

Pinkney IV JL, Iannone III BV, Milla-Lewis S, van der Laat R, Unruh JB, Schiavon M, Dale AG. 2025. Investigating multi-trophic effects of St. Augustinegrass cultivar blends in the Southeastern United States. Crop Science.

Copeman, S.M.^† and Frank, S.D. (2024) Profile of Duponcheli fovealis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) as a greenhouse and nursery pest in the United States. Journal of Integrated Pest Management. 15(1), 19. doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmae011.

Copeman, S.M.^† and Frank, S.D. (2024) Differential feeding on ornamental plants by Duponcheli fovealis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) larvae. Environmental Entomology. doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvae020.

Wilson, C.J.^†, Backe K.M., Just M.G., Lahr, E.C., Nagle, A.M., Long, L.C., Dale, A.G., and Frank, S.D. (2023) Tree species richness around urban red maples reduces pest density but does not enhance biological control. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2023.128093.

Mitchell, J.C., D’Amico, V., Trammel, T., and Frank, S. D. (2023) Nonnative plant invasion increases urban vegetation structure and influences arthropod communities.  Diversity and Distributions. doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13755.

Wilson, C.J.^† and Frank, S. D. (2023) Scale insects contribute to spider conservation in urban trees and shrubs. Journal of Insect Conservation. doi.org/10.1007/s10841-023-00471-1.

Wilson, C.J.^† and Frank, S. D. (2023) Urban tree pests can support biological control services in landscape shrubs. Biocontrol. doi.org/10.1007/s10526-023-10192-8.

Mitchell, J.C., Trammel, T., D’Amico, V., and Frank, S.D. (2023) Carabid specialists respond differently to nonnative plant invasion in urban forests. Urban Ecosystems. doi.org/10.1007/s11252-022-01323-7.

Elliott, N. C., K. L. Giles, K. A Baum, S. D. Elzay and G. F. Backoulou. 2024. Aphid parasitism in winter wheat fields in a heterogeneous agricultural landscape. J. Economic Entomology. 117: 907–917. doi.org/10.1093/jee/toae073

Giles, K., N. C. Elliott, T. Royer, H. Butler and Nina Rudin. 2024. Ecology of Aphid Parasitoids in Winter Wheat Habitats of the Southern Plains: How Latitude and Crop Diversity Influence. pp. 119-132. In: Arthropod Management and Landscape Considerations in Large-scale Agroecosystems. M. J. Brewer and Gary L. Hein. doi.org/10.1079/9781800622777.0006

Elliott, N. C., K. Giles, K. Baum, M. J. Brewer, S. Elzay and T. Royer. 2024. Aphid Biological Control by Parasitoids in Winter Wheat and Canola in Heterogeneous Agricultural Landscapespp. 104-118. In: Arthropod Management and Landscape Considerations in Large-scale Agroecosystems. M. J. Brewer and Gary L. Hein. doi.org/10.1079/9781800622777.000

Elliott, N., K. Giles, H. Butler, N. Vázquez and L. Coakley. 2025. Parasitism of Three Aphid Species by Aphelinus nigritus on Sorghum. The Southwestern Entomologist. Southwestern Entomologist, 50:340-357 (2025). doi.org/10.3958/059.050.0135

Koralewski, T. E., M. J. Brewer, L. L. Deleon, N. C. Elliott, K. Giles, A. Szczepaniec and A. M. Faris. 2025. Activity of sorghum aphid and its natural enemies in the context of agro-ecological and weather conditions. Frontiers in Insect Science.  doi: 10.3389/finsc.2025.1503044

Bosomtwe, A., G. Opit , K. Giles, B. Kard and C. Goad. 2025. Functional responses of the warehouse pirate bug Xylocoris flavipes (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) on a diet of Liposcelis decolor (Pearman) (Psocodea: Liposcelididae). Insects. 16. doi.org/10.3390/insects16010101

Bosomtwe, A., G. Opit , C. Goad, K. Giles and B. Kard. 2025. Numerical responses of Xylocoris flavipes (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) on a diet of Liposcelis decolor (Pearman) (Psocodea: Liposcelididae). Insects. 16 doi.org/10.3390/insects16030296.

Graham, K., Kheirodin, A. Generalist predators of sweet potato whiteflies. TAMU Extension publication. 2025. AgriLife Extension publication. Https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/asset-external/generalist-predators-of-the-sweet-potato-whitefly-bemisia-tabaci/

Perier, J., Cremonez, P., Kheirodin, A., Parkins, A., Simmons, A., and Riley, D. 2024. Modified Maximum Dose Bioassay for Assessing Insecticide Response in Field Populations of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Journal of Entomological Science; doi: https://doi.org/10.18474/JES23-88

Parkins, A., Kheirodin, A., Perier, J., Cremonez, P., Simmons, A., Riley, D., and Schmidt 2024. Direct and indirect effects of selective insecticides on two generalist predators of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Journal of Insect Science.1;24(6):1

Kheirodin, A., Sayari, M., & Schmidt, J.M. 2024. Rethinking trophic interaction in agricultural landscapes through tracking secondary feeding. Environmental DNA. 2024;6:e495.

Kheirodin, A., Toledo, P., Simmons, A., & Schmidt, J.M. 2023. Crop diversity and within field multi-species interactions mediate herbivore abundances in cotton fields. Journal of Pest Science.

Cremonez, P., Kheirodin, A., Perier, J., Nagaoka, M., Dunn, T., Parkins, A., Schmidt, J., Simmons, and A., Riley, D. Leaf Trichome and Insecticide Interactions Relative to Bemisia tabaci Management in a Cotton-Cucurbit Intercropping Model in Georgia, USA. Journal of Insect Science, In final preparation for submission.

Sayari, M., Kheirodin, A., and Daayf, F. Differential gene expression analysis in Goss’s bacterial wilt tolerance and susceptible corn lines. 2024. BMC genomics, in review.

Aigner, B., Kheirodin, A., Schmidt, J.M., Crossley, M.S., and Abney, A. Multi-scale relationships of peanut burrower bug, Pangaeus bilineatus, peanut injury with landscape & environmental factors in South Georgia. Manuscript in final preparation for submission. Target journal: Journal of Applied Ecology.