


Do Adult Periodical Cicadas Actually Eat?
A long-standing agricultural query about periodical cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years was recently answered by a research team at USDA Agricultural Research Service: Once periodical cicadas emerge, do they actually feed on vegetation? Their analysis of the gut contents found plant DNA in mature adult cicadas but none in freshly emerged adults, a strong sign that adult cicadas do feed on plants, since no plant matter in cicadas' guts carries over from their nymph stage.

This Predatory Mite is a Rising Star in Pest Management
The mite Amblyseius swirskii feeds on various insect and mite species, including many notorious pests of vegetable crops. A new article in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management explores the biology and applications of this versatile mite that have propelled it to the forefront of many IPM programs.

Spotted Cucumber Beetle: New Guide Profiles Crop Damage, Management for Polyphagous North American Pest
The spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata), also known as southern corn rootworm, feeds on over 200 plant species. A new guide in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management outlines its biology, damage, and current and potential management strategies.

Dispelling Urban Myths With Science Can Save Your Ash
Two decades after the arrival of the emerald ash borer in North America, plenty of misinformation remains about how best to manage its impact. A group of experts on this pest bust several myths about emerald ash borer in a new article in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management.