Donald C. Steinkraus

The natural occurrence of Pandora heteropterae (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) infecting Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae).

An unknown fungal pathogen was recovered from Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) during a survey of parasitic and pathogenic natural enemies conducted in Franklin County, Arkansas. The pathogen was identified as Pandora heteropterae (Bałazy) Keller based on characteristics of the morphology, as well as growth and sporulation on hosts. The fungus infected 11 of the 3405 (0.32%) wild L. lineolaris collected. In a laboratory host-range bioassay, five of seven hemipteran species from the families Miridae, Coreidae, Lygaeidae, and Pentatomidae were successfully infected. P. heteropterae was previously reported only once, from an unidentified host species in Poland. Here we describe the morphology and growth of P. heteropterae and discuss its potential impact on L. lineolaris in the field.

Experimental Treatment Threshold for the Cotton Aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) Using Natural Enemies in Arkansas Cotton

The potential of an experimental threshold for reducing the number of insecticide applications for control of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, was demonstrated in cotton. A 3-yr field study...

Documentation of Naturally-Occurring Pathogens and Their Impact in Agroecosystems

Microbial pathogens play a vital role in the natural regulation of many arthropod populations in agricultural systems. Their importance has been underemphasized compared to parasitoids and predators because fewer specialists work on pathogens, and pathogens are generally less noticeable than parasitic and predaceous arthropods.

Rise and Fall of Cotton Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Populations in Southeastern Cotton Production Systems

Abstract The impact of natural enemies on cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), populations in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., production systems in the southeastern United States was evaluated over 3 yr in irrigated commercial cotton fields. Fungal epizootics caused by the entomopathogen Neozygites fresenii (Nowakowski) Batko reduced aphid numbers to subthreshold levels in 1999, 2000, and 2001 and occurred consistently in early to mid-July in all 3 yr. Scymnus spp. were the most abundant aphidophagous predators, although other coccinellid species and generalist predators such as spiders, fire ants, heteropterans, and neuropterans also were present. Studies using arthropod exclusion cages demonstrated little impact of predators or parasitoids on aphid populations before fungal epizootics. Arthropod natural enemies were most abundant after epizootics and may have suppressed aphid populations late in the season. Seed cotton yield, and lint quality were not affected by aphicide applications in any year of the study. Implications of these findings for aphid management in the southeastern United States are discussed.

Effects of long-term storage at −14 °C on the survival of Neozygites fresenii (Entomophthorales: Neozygitaceae) in cotton aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Neozygites fresenii-infected Aphis gossypii cadavers, containing dormant hyphal bodies of N. fresenii, were stored in 4 ml glass vials at -14 degrees C in a standard consumer-type refrigerator/freezer for 1, 21, 30, 43, 51, and 68 months to determine the effect of storage on fungal survival. When the cadavers were removed from the freezer and placed in 25+/-1 degrees C, 100% relative humidity, and 12:12 (L:D) conditions, N. fresenii survival, as shown by fungal sporulation from the cadavers, was high at all storage periods. The average percentage of cadavers from which the fungus sporulated were 93, 47, 100, 100, 80, and 60% from 1, 21, 30, 43, 51, and 68 months storage periods, respectively. The number of primary conidia discharged from each sporulating cadaver was estimated using a scale of 1 (low, ca. 1000 primary conidia), 2 (medium, ca. 2000 primary conidia) and 3 (high, ca. 3000 primary conidia). The median scores for the number of primary conidia produced per sporulating cadaver were 3, 2, 3, 3, 2.5, and 1 for 1, 21, 30, 43, 51, and 68 months, respectively. Therefore, except for the longest storage period, most cadavers produced medium to high numbers of primary conidia. Mean germination of primary conidia produced from N. fresenii-infected-aphid cadavers from each time period varied significantly from 66.3 to 86.1% in the 21 and 43 months categories, respectively. Infectivity of capilliconidia, produced from frozen N. fresenii, to live healthy cotton aphids varied significantly from 16.7 to 68.7% from cadavers stored 68 months and 1 month, respectively. Overall N. fresenii survived well in dried frozen cotton aphid cadavers for up to 6 years with little reduction in sporulation, numbers of spores produced, germination of primary conidia, or infectivity.

Infectivity of resting spores of Massospora cicadina (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae), an entomopathogenic fungus of periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) (Homoptera: Cicadidae).

Massospora cicadina Peck is a fungal pathogen of 13- and 17-year periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.). In northwest Arkansas, during the spring 1998 emergence of the 13-year periodical cicada, Magicicada tredecassini (Brood XIX), <1% of emerging cicadas were infected with the conidial stage of M. cicadina, similar to data collected from the same population in 1985. However, in northwest Arkansas plots treated with M. cicadina resting spores collected from infected 17-year Magicicada septendecim cicadas (Brood IV) in 1997 from southern Iowa, 10 months prior to the 1998 emergence in Arkansas, conidial stage infections of M. cicadina in 13-year Arkansas M. tredecassini cicadas increased significantly to 10.6% (7.9% in males and 2.6% in females). These data suggest that M. cicadina resting spores do not require a dormancy of 13 or 17 years between cicada emergences. Instead M. cicadina resting spores appear to be capable of germinating and infecting periodical cicadas after less than 1 year. In addition, M. cicadina resting spores derived from one species (17-year M. septendecim cicadas) were infective for a second species (13-year M. tredecassini cicadas). A mean of 1.4 x 10(6)(SE = 1.8 x 10(5)) mature resting spores were produced per infected male M. septendecim.

Zombie soldier beetles: Epizootics in the goldenrod soldier beetle, Chauliognathus pensylvanicus (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) caused by Eryniopsis lampyridarum (Entomophthoromycotina: Entomophthoraceae)

Adult goldenrod soldier beetles, Chauliognathus pensylvanicus, were found infected by the fungus Eryniopsis lampyridarum (Entomophthoromycotina) in Arkansas during September - October (1996, 2001, 2015 and 2016). Living and dead infected beetles were found on flowering frost aster, Symphyotrichum pilosum, common boneset, Eupatorium perfoliatum, and Canada goldenrod, Solidago canadensis. Live and dead beetles (n=446) were collected in 1996 from S. pilosum flowers and held individually in the laboratory for determination of fungal prevalence. Of the beetles collected, 281 (63%) were males and 165 (37%) were females. A total of 90 beetles were infected with E. lampyridarum, an overall prevalence of 20.2%. Prevalence in males was 19.6% (n=55 infected/281 males total) and prevalence in females was 21.2% (n=35 infected /165 females total). Conidia were produced from 57% of the infected beetles, 23% of the infected beetles produced resting spores, and 20% contained the hyphal body stage. Infected beetles produced either conidia or resting spores but never both in the same host. Post-mortem morphological changes in the hosts due to E. lampyridarum were observed periodically for 24h. Shortly before death, by unknown mechanisms, dying infected beetles tightly clamped their mandibles into flower heads and ca. 15-22h later (between 2400 and 0700h) the fungus caused dead beetles to raise their elytra and expand their metathoracic wings.

Survey of parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) of house fly (Diptera: Muscidae) pupae from broiler-breeder poultry houses in northwest Arkansas

Abstract Parasitoids were collected from broiler-breeder poultry houses in northwest Arkansas using sentinel bags containing house fly, Musca domestica L., pupae. At least five species of Pteromalidae were collected over a two-year sampling period: Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani), Spalangia endius Walker, S. cameroni Perkins, Muscidifurax spp., and Nasonia vitripennis (Walker).

Survey of pathogens and parasitoids of Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in northwest Arkansas

The impact of pathogens and parasitoids on the recently established population of Popillia japonica Newman in northwest Arkansas has been unknown. In this study, we quantified the prevalence of natural enemies: Stictospora villani Hays, Ovavesicula popilliae Andreadis and Hanula, Paenibacillus spp. (Dingman), nematodes and parasitic Diptera and Hymenoptera in third instar and adult populations in 2010 and 2011. S. villani was found in 38.4% and 35.5% of larvae in 2010 and 2011, respectively. S. villani was not found in adult beetles. Paenibacillus bacteria were not found in either larvae or adults in either year. In 2010, the microsporidian O. popilliae was not found in larvae but was present in 0.2% of adults. In 2011, 2.6% of larvae were infected with O. popilliae, but the microsporidian was not found in adults. A previously unknown Adelina sp. was found infecting 0.4% of adult beetles in 2010 and 1.3% of larvae in 2011. Nematode infections were found in 1.8% of larvae and 0.1% of adults in 2010 and not found in either life stage in 2011. No parasitic Hymenoptera or Diptera were found in either year. Apparently, pathogens and parasitoids currently provide little control of the Japanese beetle population within northwest Arkansas.

Survey for Microbial Pathogens of the Red Oak Borer (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) on Northern Red Oak in Northwest Arkansas

Abstract An outbreak of red oak borer, Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman), in Arkansas has resulted in millions of dollars in damage to oak trees. A survey for microbial pathogens of late stages of red oak borer in northwest Arkansas forests demonstrated that red oak borer infected with Beauveria bassiana were present in 12 of 21 Quercus spp. trees. Oak trees dissected in the survey were located in an area of heavy infestation in the Ozark National Forest, Franklin County, Arkansas. Individual trees were selected for the survey based on a likelihood of E. rufulus infestation. Overall prevalence of B. bassiana-infection was 2.7%. Infected late stage larvae, pupae and adults were found between May and July 2003. Mean number of late stage larval, pupal and adult red oak borers per 0.5 m bole sample was 1.64 (SE ± 0.1). Mean number of B. bassiana-infected red oak borer per 0.5 m bole sample was 0.04 (SE ± 0.01). These data demonstrate that B. bassiana-infected red oak borers in Quercus spp. were found throughout the height of the tree.