How a PCR Test (and Some Mouthwash) Could Nab an Invasive Fruit Fly
Detecting the presence of the invasive spotted-wing drosophila could soon get easier with a new molecular test for analyzing DNA in bulk trapping samples—sensitive enough to sniff out just one target fruit fly in a sample of 2,000. And the best liquid for preserving trapped flies' DNA comes from the dental-care shelf.
Effective Management Remains Elusive for Beetle That Eats Almost Anything
The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) is a widely known invasive species in North America. Adults feed on more than 300 plant species and can be downright difficult to manage. A new guide in the open-access Journal of Integrated Pest Management reviews their invasion history, ecology, and management.
Researchers Use Simulation Model to Optimize Delimitation Trapping Surveys
When an invasive insect appears, responders must quickly set monitoring traps in the area to determine the extent of the pest outbreak. A collaboration between USDA-APHIS and USDA-ARS is working to improve such delimitation trapping survey designs and will publish new guidelines after field experiments are completed later this year.
How an Invasive Species Spreads: The Case of Aedes notoscriptus in Southern California
First arriving in California in 2014, the mosquito species Aedes notoscriptus, native to Australia and the southwest Pacific, has since established and spread to 44 cities in three counties. A new study examines the public health implications of this species and documents its likely arrival and expansion routes.