In this paper, the mutualistic relationship known as trophobiosis, which occurs convergently between ants and several groups of Hemiptera Sternorrhyncha and Auchenorrhyncha (formerly ‘Homoptera’) is reviewed. The main characteristics of ‘Homoptera’ and Formicidae which favor trophobiotic interactions, such as honeydew excretion by sapsucking insects, ant attendance and physiological needs of bo...

The hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand, is an introduced pest in North America that is native to Asia, and is causing extensive damage to eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis Carriere) and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana Englemann) in the eastern United States. We compared two coccinellids imported for biological control of the adelgid: Scymnus ningshanensis Yu et Yao from China and...

Particular alkaloids produced by Neotyphodium endophytes show toxicity to invertebrates. Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lamarck) cultivars and strains that are symbiotic with Neotyphodium endophytes have been recently established in Japan. N. uncinatum-infected Italian ryegrass lines accumulate N-formylloline, a type of loline alkaloid (1-aminopyrrolizidine) showing neurotoxicity to herbi...

The order Hemiptera was formerly divided into two suborders, Heteroptera and Homoptera. The suborder Homoptera was also divided into two convenient groups, the Auchenorrhyncha and the Sternorrhyncha, the latter comprising the superfamilies Aphidoidea, Psylloidea, and Aleyrodoidea, plus the scale insects in the superfamily Coccoidea. Until about the mid-20th century, most workers on scale insect...

Plastic reflective mulches significantly reduced populations of corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott), adults and the incidence of corn stunt disease caused by Spiroplasma kunkelii (CSS) in late planted sweet corn (Zea mays L.). The reflective mulches were more effective than were either foliar or soil applied insecticides in managing both the leafhopper and the pathogen it transm...

A 12-acre field at the Delta Branch Station in Clarkedale, AR, was subdivided into 16 plots, each ~ 0.75 acre in size (56 rows x 63 m). The experiment consisted of four treatments: (1) untreated control, (2) fungicide treated, (3) conventional threshold, and (4) experimental threshold; with four replicates in a Latin square design. The fungicide treatment was used in an attempt to disrupt the a...

Chlorophyll degradation enzyme (i.e., chlorophyllase, Mg-dechelatase, and chlorophyll oxidase) activities of aphid-infested and uninfested 'Tugela' and Tugela near-isogenic wheat lines (i.e., Tugela-Dn1, Tugela-Dn2, and Tugela-Dn5) were assayed. Chlorophyllase activity was higher in bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (Homoptera: Aphididae),-infested wheat lines compared with Russian...

The glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca coagulata (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), is a highly polyphagous insect species that is distributed throughout most of the southern regions of the United States. In the last 10 years, H. coagualta has become established in California and represents a significant threat to the state's 35 billion dollar wine and table grape industries. DNA sequencing analys...

Classically, Hemiptera is comprised of two suborders: Homoptera and Heteroptera. Homoptera includes Cicadomorpha, Fulgoromorpha and Sternorrhyncha. However, according to previous molecular phylogenetic studies based on 18S rDNA, Fulgoromorpha has a closer relationship to Heteroptera than to other hemipterans, leaving Homoptera as paraphyletic. Therefore, the position of Fulgoromorpha is importa...

The usage and acceptability of biological control methods are set to increase in agriculture in the future because of food safety and pesticide residue issues. Biological control implementation in Turkey started with control of cottony cushion scale Icerya purchasi (Homoptera: Margarodidae) through the introduction and release of Rodolia cardinalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in citrus plantati...