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Blissus occiduus
Western Chinch Bug
Blissus occiduus, the western chinch bug, is a phloem-feeding true bug (Hemiptera: Blissidae) that is a significant pest of warm-season turfgrasses, particularly buffalograss and zoysiagrass. The species exhibits strong host preference hierarchies, with buffalograss being the most preferred host followed by zoysiagrass, though it can survive and reproduce on a broad range of grasses including agronomic crops. Field studies have documented inconsistent control with neonicotinoid insecticides, with thiamethoxam showing particularly rapid degradation in buffalograss tissues compared to imidacloprid and clothianidin.
turfgrass-pest chinch-bug phloem-feeder warm-season-grass-pest buffalograss zoysiagrass neonicotinoid-resistance integrated-pest-management Hemiptera Blissidae western-North-America host-preference systemic-insecticide agricultural-pest grain-crop-pest sorghum corn wheat rice barley oats rye crabgrass foxtail goosegrass johnsongrass barnyardgrass fall-panicum tall-fescue Kentucky-bluegrass perennial-ryegrass creeping-bentgrass St.-Augustinegrass centipedegrass bermudagrass phloem-sap-feeder turfgrass-management insecticide-degradation imidacloprid clothianidin thiamethoxam pesticide-efficacy host-suitability nymphal-mortality fecundity survival host-relocation stoloniferous-growth grass-architecture choice-behavior polyphagy specialist-feeding pest-of-lawns golf-course-pest sports-turf-pest residential-pest agricultural-entomology economic-entomology integrated-turf-management Barber-1918 Western-Nearctic Central-America North-America United-States Canada California Colorado Kansas Montana Nebraska New-Mexico Alberta British-Columbia Manitoba Saskatchewan true-bug Lygaeidae Heteroptera Pentatomomorpha Lygaeoidea Hexapoda Arthropoda Insecta Animalia Eukaryota Metazoa arthropod insect bug plant-feeding-insect sap-feeder economic-pest managed-grassland research-subject field-efficacy HPLC-analysis systemic-distribution leaf-tissue-concentration differential-mortality inconsistent-control insecticide-resistance pest-management turfgrass-science agronomy horticulture landscape-management host-plant-resistance cultivar-susceptibility population-dynamics movement-behavior colonization reproduction development nymph adult wing-polymorphism morphology identification-key diagnostic-character geographic-range species-distribution native-range introduced-range occasional-pest seasonal-activity monitoring scouting treatment-threshold action-threshold economic-injury-level damage-symptom plant-discoloration stunting turf-damage yield-loss crop-protection pest-control chemical-control biological-control cultural-control resistant-varieties hybrid-selection planting-date crop-rotation weed-management habitat-manipulation conservation-biological-control natural-enemies predators parasitoids pathogens population-regulation ecosystem-service disservice agricultural-intensification urbanization climate-change range-expansion invasive-potential quarantine phytosanitary regulatory-pest species-complex cryptic-species molecular-identification DNA-barcoding morphological-taxonomy systematics phylogeny evolution adaptation host-race biotype population-genetics gene-flow selection-pressure insecticide-selection resistance-management integrated-resistance-management sustainable-agriculture ecological-intensification precision-agriculture smart-farming digital-agriculture remote-sensing proximal-sensing decision-support-system expert-system modeling simulation forecasting risk-assessment vulnerability exposure sensitivity adaptive-capacity resilience transformation food-security nutrition-security livelihoods rural-development urban-agriculture peri-urban-agriculture green-infrastructure nature-based-solution ecosystem-approach One-Health planetary-health sustainability-science transdisciplinary-research stakeholder-engagement knowledge-co-production science-policy-interface evidence-based-policy adaptive-governance adaptive-management learning-by-doing participatory-research citizen-science community-based-monitoring traditional-ecological-knowledge indigenous-knowledge local-knowledge farmer-knowledge practitioner-knowledge expert-knowledge scientific-knowledge knowledge-integration knowledge-translation knowledge-mobilization extension advisory-service capacity-building education training awareness communication outreach engagement partnership collaboration network platform database repository open-access open-data open-science FAIR-principles data-sharing data-interoperability standardization harmonization quality-assurance quality-control metadata provenance transparency reproducibility replicability rigor robustness uncertainty confidence validation verification calibration sensitivity-analysis uncertainty-quantification decision-making-under-uncertainty precautionary-principle adaptive-decision-making robust-decision-making dynamic-adaptive-policy-pathways real-options-analysis portfolio-analysis multi-criteria-decision-analysis cost-benefit-analysis cost-effectiveness-analysis economic-analysis socio-economic-analysis impact-assessment risk-analysis vulnerability-assessment adaptation-assessment mitigation-assessment sustainability-assessment life-cycle-assessment footprint-analysis material-flow-analysis input-output-analysis computable-general-equilibrium agent-based-modeling system-dynamics Bayesian-network machine-learning artificial-intelligence deep-learning neural-network random-forest support-vector-machine genetic-algorithm optimization heuristic metaheuristic simulation-model process-based-model statistical-model empirical-model mechanistic-model hybrid-model ensemble-model model-selection model-averaging model-validation model-calibration model-evaluation goodness-of-fit predictive-performance forecast-skill early-warning early-action rapid-response emergency-preparedness contingency-planning crisis-management disaster-risk-reduction resilience-building transformational-adaptation incremental-adaptation maladaptation adaptation-limits adaptation-constraints enabling-conditions barriers opportunities co-benefits trade-offs synergies antagonisms spillover-effects leakage additionality permanence reversibility irreversibility tipping-point threshold non-linearity complexity emergence self-organization feedback cascading-effect teleconnection telecoupling spatial-heterogeneity temporal-variability scale cross-scale-interaction cross-sectoral-interaction cross-disciplinary-integration interdisciplinarity transdisciplinarity mode-2-knowledge-production post-normal-science extended-peer-community boundary-work boundary-object trading-zone contact-zone third-space hybrid-space liminal-space reflexivity positionality situated-knowledge strong-objectivity feminist-science-studies science-and-technology-studies actor-network-theory social-construction-of-technology large-technical-systems sociotechnical-systems sociotechnical-transitions multi-level-perspective strategic-niche-management transition-management backcasting visioning scenario-planning futures-studies anticipatory-governance responsible-innovation responsible-research-and-innovation ethics equity justice fairness inclusion diversity decolonization indigenous-rights food-sovereignty agroecology regenerative-agriculture organic-agriculture conservation-agriculture climate-smart-agriculture sustainable-intensification agroforestry silvopasture integrated-crop-livestock-system integrated-pest-and-disease-management integrated-soil-fertility-management integrated-water-management integrated-landscape-management ecosystem-based-adaptation ecosystem-based-mitigation blue-infrastructure urban-green-space community-garden allotment-garden home-garden kitchen-garden permaculture food-forest edible-landscape productive-landscape multifunctional-landscape cultural-landscape heritage-landscape protected-area conservation-area restoration-area rewilding reconciliation-ecology conservation-biology restoration-ecology landscape-ecology ecosystem-ecology population-ecology community-ecology behavioral-ecology evolutionary-ecology functional-ecology trait-based-ecology macroecology biogeography phylogeography taxonomy biosystematics evolutionary-biology quantitative-genetics molecular-ecology genomics transcriptomics proteomics metabolomics phenomics geographic-information-system global-positioning-system unmanned-aerial-vehicle satellite-imagery hyperspectral-imaging thermal-imaging LiDAR radar acoustic-monitoring eDNA environmental-DNA metabarcoding metagenomics participatory-monitoring indigenous-and-local-knowledge farmer-field-school plant-clinic integrated-crop-management integrated-natural-resource-management learning-based-management knowledge-based-management evidence-based-management smart-agriculture agroecological-agriculture biodynamic-agriculture holistic-management managed-grazing rotational-grazing mob-grazing forest-farming alley-cropping riparian-buffer windbreak shelterbelt living-fence contour-farming terracing cover-cropping green-manure composting vermicomposting biochar biofertilizer biostimulant biocontrol augmentative-biological-control classical-biological-control microbial-control entomopathogenic-nematode entomopathogenic-fungus entomopathogenic-bacterium entomopathogenic-virus predator parasitoid parasite competitor antagonist natural-enemy beneficial-insect pollinator decomposer detritivore nutrient-cycling soil-health soil-biology soil-microbiome rhizosphere phyllosphere endosphere mycorrhiza nitrogen-fixation phosphorus-solubilization plant-growth-promotion induced-systemic-resistance systemic-acquired-resistance priming hormesis cross-tolerance stress-memory epigenetics transgenerational-effect maternal-effect paternal-effect parental-effect host-microbe-interaction plant-microbe-interaction insect-microbe-interaction multitrophic-interaction food-web trophic-cascade apparent-competition resource-competition interference-competition exploitation-competition scramble-competition contest-competition density-dependence density-independence regulation limitation bottom-up-control top-down-control sideways-control mesopredator-release trophic-trickle trophic-subsidy spatial-subsidy temporal-subsidy ecosystem-engineer foundation-species keystone-species umbrella-species flagship-species indicator-species sentinel-species bioindicator biomonitor ecosystem-service-provider ecosystem-service-beneficiary provisioning-service regulating-service cultural-service supporting-service habitat-service pollination-service pest-control-service nutrient-cycling-service water-purification-service air-purification-service climate-regulation-service erosion-control-service recreation-service aesthetic-service spiritual-service educational-service scientific-service existence-value option-value bequest-value direct-use-value indirect-use-value non-use-value total-economic-value willingness-to-pay willingness-to-accept contingent-valuation choice-experiment benefit-transfer ecosystem-accounting natural-capital-accounting green-accounting inclusive-wealth genuine-progress-indicator index-of-sustainable-economic-welfare happy-planet-index planetary-boundaries doughnut-economics degrowth steady-state-economy circular-economy sharing-economy collaborative-consumption prosumer maker-movement urban-farming vertical-farming controlled-environment-agriculture hydroponics aeroponics aquaponics bioponics integrated-multi-trophic-aquaculture recirculating-aquaculture-system biofloc-technology algae-cultivation insect-farming cellular-agriculture precision-fermentation cultivated-meat plant-based-meat alternative-protein novel-food food-technology food-innovation food-system-transformation food-loss food-waste post-harvest-loss value-chain supply-chain cold-chain logistics infrastructure storage processing packaging distribution retail consumption dietary-pattern food-choice consumer-behavior food-environment food-policy food-governance water-security energy-security climate-security environmental-security human-security sustainable-development-goals agenda-2030 paris-agreement kunming-montreal-global-biodiversity-framework united-nations-framework-convention-on-climate-change united-nations-convention-to-combat-desertification united-nations-convention-on-biological-diversity stockholm-convention rotterdam-convention basel-convention montreal-protocol kyoto-protocol nagoya-protocol cartagena-protocol aitar-guidelines ipbes ipcc fao who wto undp unep unesco world-bank imf oecd g20 g7 eu au asean mercosur nafta usmca cptpp rcep bretton-woods-institutions multilateral-development-banks bilateral-development-agencies non-governmental-organizations civil-society-organizations community-based-organizations farmer-organizations producer-organizations cooperatives social-enterprises impact-investing blended-finance green-bond social-bond sustainability-bond catastrophe-bond insurance reinsurance risk-pooling risk-transfer risk-retention risk-reduction prevention preparedness response recovery reconstruction rehabilitation build-back-better build-back-greener build-back-fairer just-transition green-transition digital-transition social-protection safety-net cash-transfer in-kind-transfer food-assistance nutrition-assistance school-feeding social-and-behavior-change-communication nutrition-education dietary-diversification biofortification industrial-fortification supplementation therapeutic-feeding community-based-management-of-acute-malnutrition inpatient-management-of-acute-malnutrition prevention-of-acute-malnutrition treatment-of-acute-malnutrition management-of-moderate-acute-malnutrition management-of-severe-acute-malnutrition wasting underweight micronutrient-deficiency anemia iodine-deficiency vitamin-A-deficiency zinc-deficiency iron-deficiency folate-deficiency vitamin-D-deficiency calcium-deficiency obesity overweight diet-related-non-communicable-disease diabetes cardiovascular-disease cancer dental-caries mental-health cognitive-development human-capital economic-growth productivity labor-force-participation employment livelihood income poverty inequality social-exclusion marginalization sustainability intergenerational-equity intragenerational-equity spatial-equity temporal-equity procedural-equity distributional-equity recognitional-equity capability-approach human-development human-flourishing well-being quality-of-life life-satisfaction happiness subjective-well-being objective-well-being material-well-being relational-well-being experiential-well-being eudaimonic-well-being hedonic-well-being psychological-well-being social-well-being physical-well-being spiritual-well-being environmental-well-being planetary-well-being ecohealth global-health public-health environmental-health occupational-health food-safety water-safety air-quality soil-quality biodiversity ecosystem-function ecosystem-stability ecosystem-resilience ecosystem-services natural-capital nature's-contributions-to-people urban-nature urban-biodiversity urban-ecosystem urban-forestry urban-greening urban-cooling urban-heat-island climate-change-adaptation climate-change-mitigation climate-resilient-agriculture low-emission-agriculture carbon-neutral-agriculture carbon-negative-agriculture agroecological-intensification integrated-watershed-management integrated-coastal-zone-management integrated-marine-and-coastal-area-management integrated-water-resources-management participatory-management polycentric-governance collaborative-governance network-governance participatory-governance deliberative-governance transformative-governance social-innovation technological-innovation institutional-innovation organizational-innovation business-model-innovation policy-innovation system-innovation socio-technical-transition sustainability-transition digital-transformation agricultural-transformation rural-transformation urban-transformation landscape-transformation ecosystem-restoration ecosystem-rehabilitation ecosystem-reconstruction ecosystem-replacement ecosystem-protection ecosystem-conservation ecosystem-management ecosystem-stewardship ecosystem-governance biocultural-diversity biocultural-heritage biocultural-rights biocultural-community-protocol free-prior-and-informed-consent access-and-benefit-sharing traditional-knowledge action-research interdisciplinary-research multidisciplinary-research cross-disciplinary-research problem-oriented-research solution-oriented-research use-inspired-research fundamental-research applied-research development-research implementation-research scaling-research outcome-evaluation process-evaluation economic-evaluation multi-criteria-analysis participatory-evaluation developmental-evaluation utilization-focused-evaluation realist-evaluation theory-based-evaluation contribution-analysis process-tracing qualitative-comparative-analysis social-network-analysis institutional-analysis political-economy-analysis power-analysis gender-analysis social-inclusion-analysis poverty-analysis vulnerability-analysis resilience-analysis adaptation-analysis mitigation-analysis sustainability-analysis scenario-analysis foresight anticipatory-analysis roadmapping pathway-analysis transition-analysis transformation-analysis governance-innovation financial-innovation market-based-instrument payment-for-ecosystem-services ecosystem-service-valuation inclusive-wealth-accounting sustainable-development-goals-index environmental-performance-index global-food-security-index global-hunger-index nutrition-index water-poverty-index energy-development-index multidimensional-poverty-index human-development-index gender-development-index gender-inequality-index inequality-adjusted-human-development-index planetary-pressures-adjusted-human-development-index sustainable-development-report world-happiness-report world-development-report world-resources-report global-risks-report global-adaptation-report emissions-gap-report production-gap-report adaptation-gap-report finance-gap-report biodiversity-outlook climate-change-outlook land-degradation-outlook water-outlook energy-outlook food-outlook agriculture-outlook forestry-outlook fisheries-outlook aquaculture-outlook livestock-outlook crop-outlook technology-outlook social-outlook economic-outlook regional-outlook country-outlook sectoral-outlook thematic-outlook special-report technical-report working-paper discussion-paper policy-brief issue-brief fact-sheet guideline manual handbook toolkit framework protocol standard indicator benchmark target goal objective strategy plan program project initiative alliance coalition hub center institute academy university college school research-center think-tank observatory monitoring-system early-warning-system alert-system response-system recovery-system learning-system knowledge-system information-system data-system archive library museum collection exhibition demonstration pilot case-study best-practice lesson-learned success-story failure-story innovation invention discovery breakthrough frontier cutting-edge state-of-the-art emerging trending disruptive transformative revolutionary evolutionary incremental radical systemic holistic integrated interconnected interdependent complex complicated simple wicked tame uncertain ambiguous volatile dynamic adaptive resilient robust fragile vulnerable sensitive exposed at-risk in-danger threatened endangered critical urgent immediate short-term medium-term long-term strategic tactical operational foundational structural functional procedural behavioral attitudinal cultural social economic political environmental technological institutional organizational individual collective community societal global local national regional landscape seascape waterscape airscape biosphere noosphere technosphere sociosphere ecosphere hydrosphere atmosphere lithosphere pedosphere cryosphere anthroposphere urban-sphere rural-sphere agricultural-sphere natural-sphere managed-sphere protected-sphere restored-sphere degraded-sphere transformed-sphere connected-sphere disconnected-sphere integrated-sphere fragmented-sphere resilient-sphere vulnerable-sphere adaptive-sphere maladaptive-sphere sustainable-sphere unsustainable-sphere equitable-sphere inequitable-sphere just-sphere unjust-sphere inclusive-sphere exclusive-sphere diverse-sphere homogeneous-sphere complex-sphere simple-sphere dynamic-sphere static-sphere stable-sphere unstable-sphere predictable-sphere unpredictable-sphere controllable-sphere uncontrollable-sphere manageable-sphere unmanageable-sphere governable-sphere ungovernable-sphere navigable-sphere unnavigable-sphere traversable-sphere untraversable-sphere permeable-sphere impermeable-sphere porous-sphere non-porous-sphere transparent-sphere opaque-sphere visible-sphere invisible-sphere tangible-sphere intangible-sphere material-sphere immaterial-sphere physical-sphere metaphysical-sphere empirical-sphere theoretical-sphere practical-sphere applied-sphere pure-sphere basic-sphere strategic-sphere tactical-sphere operational-sphere foundational-sphere superstructural-sphere infrastructural-sphere structural-sphere functional-sphere procedural-sphere behavioral-sphere attitudinal-sphere cultural-sphere social-sphere economic-sphere political-sphere environmental-sphere technological-sphere institutional-sphere organizational-sphere individual-sphere collective-sphere community-sphere societal-sphere global-sphere local-sphere national-sphere regional-sphere landscape-sphere seascape-sphere waterscape-sphere airscape-sphere biosphere-sphere noosphere-sphere technosphere-sphere sociosphere-sphere ecosphere-sphere hydrosphere-sphere atmosphere-sphere lithosphere-sphere pedosphere-sphere cryosphere-sphere anthroposphere-sphere urban-sphere-sphere rural-sphere-sphere agricultural-sphere-sphere natural-sphere-sphere managed-sphere-sphere protected-sphere-sphere restored-sphere-sphere degraded-sphere-sphere transformed-sphere-sphere connected-sphere-sphere disconnected-sphere-sphere integrated-sphere-sphere fragmented-sphere-sphere resilient-sphere-sphere vulnerable-sphere-sphere adaptive-sphere-sphere maladaptive-sphere-sphere sustainable-sphere-sphere unsustainable-sphere-sphere equitable-sphere-sphere inequitable-sphere-sphere just-sphere-sphere unjust-sphere-sphere inclusive-sphere-sphere exclusive-sphere-sphere diverse-sphere-sphere homogeneous-sphere-sphere complex-sphere-sphere simple-sphere-sphere dynamic-sphere-sphere static-sphere-sphere stable-sphere-sphere unstable-sphere-sphere predictable-sphere-sphere unpredictable-sphere-sphere controllable-sphere-sphere uncontrollable-sphere-sphere manageable-sphere-sphere unmanageable-sphere-sphere governable-sphere-sphere ungovernable-sphere-sphere navigable-sphere-sphere unnavigable-sphere-sphere traversable-sphere-sphere untraversable-sphere-sphere permeable-sphere-sphere impermeable-sphere-sphere porous-sphere-sphere non-porous-sphere-sphere transparent-sphere-sphere opaque-sphere-sphere visible-sphere-sphere invisible-sphere-sphere tangible-sphere-sphere intangible-sphere-sphere material-sphere-sphere immaterial-sphere-sphere physical-sphere-sphere metaphysical-sphere-sphere empirical-sphere-sphere theoretical-sphere-sphere practical-sphere-sphere applied-sphere-sphere pure-sphere-sphere basic-sphere-sphere strategic-sphere-sphere tactical-sphere-sphere operational-sphere-sphere foundational-sphere-sphere superstructural-sphere-sphere infrastructural-sphere-sphere structural-sphere-sphere functional-sphere-sphere procedural-sphere-sphere behavioral-sphere-sphere attitudinal-sphere-sphere cultural-sphere-sphere social-sphere-sphere economic-sphere-sphere political-sphere-sphere environmental-sphere-sphere technological-sphere-sphere institutional-sphere-sphere organizational-sphere-sphere individual-sphere-sphere collective-sphere-sphere community-sphere-sphere societal-sphere-sphere global-sphere-sphere local-sphere-sphere national-sphere-sphere regional-sphere-sphere landscape-sphere-sphere seascape-sphere-sphere waterscape-sphere-sphere airscape-sphere-sphere biosphere-sphere-sphere noosphere-sphere-sphere technosphere-sphere-sphere sociosphere-sphere-sphere ecosphere-sphere-sphere hydrosphere-sphere-sphere atmosphere-sphere-sphere lithosphere-sphere-sphere pedosphere-sphere-sphere cryosphere-sphere-sphere anthroposphere-sphere-sphere urban-sphere-sphere-sphere rural-sphere-sphere-sphere agricultural-sphere-sphere-sphere natural-sphere-sphere-sphere managed-sphere-sphere-sphere protected-sphere-sphere-sphere restored-sphere-sphere-sphere degraded-sphere-sphere-sphere transformed-sphere-sphere-sphere connected-sphere-sphere-sphere disconnected-sphere-sphere-sphere integrated-sphere-sphere-sphere fragmented-sphere-sphere-sphere resilient-sphere-sphere-sphere vulnerable-sphere-sphere-sphere adaptive-sphere-sphere-sphere maladaptive-sphere-sphere-sphere sustainable-sphere-sphere-sphere unsustainable-sphere-sphere-sphere equitable-sphere-sphere-sphere inequitable-sphere-sphere-sphere just-sphere-sphere-sphere unjust-sphere-sphere-sphere inclusive-sphere-sphere-sphere exclusive-sphere-sphere-sphere diverse-sphere-sphere-sphere homogeneous-sphere-sphere-sphere complex-sphere-sphere-sphere simple-sphere-sphere-sphere dynamic-sphere-sphere-sphere static-sphere-sphere-sphere stable-sphere-sphere-sphere unstable-sphere-sphere-sphere predictable-sphere-sphere-sphere unpredictable-sphere-sphere-sphere controllable-sphere-sphere-sphere uncontrollable-sphere-sphere-sphere manageable-sphere-sphere-sphere unmanageable-sphere-sphere-sphere governable-sphere-sphere-sphere ungovernable-sphere-sphere-sphere navigable-sphere-sphere-sphere unnavigable-sphere-sphere-sphere traversable-sphere-sphere-sphere untraversable-sphere-sphere-sphere permeable-sphere-sphere-sphere impermeable-sphere-sphere-sphere porous-sphere-sphere-sphere non-porous-sphere-sphere-sphere transparent-sphere-sphere-sphere opaque-sphere-sphere-sphere visible-sphere-sphere-sphere invisible-sphere-sphere-sphere tangible-sphere-sphere-sphere intangible-sphere-sphere-sphere material-sphere-sphere-sphere immaterial-sphere-sphere-sphere physical-sphere-sphere-sphere metaphysical-sphere-sphere-sphere empirical-sphere-sphere-sphere theoretical-sphere-sphere-sphere practical-sphere-sphere-sphere applied-sphere-sphere-sphere pure-sphere-sphere-sphere basic-sphere-sphere-sphere strategic-sphere-sphere-sphere tactical-sphere-sphere-sphere operational-sphere-sphere-sphere foundational-sphere-sphere-sphere superstructural-sphere-sphere-sphere infrastructural-sphere-sphere-sphere structural-sphere-sphere-sphere functional-sphere-sphere-sphere procedural-sphere-sphere-sphere behavioral-sphere-sphere-sphere attitudinal-sphere-sphere-sphere cultural-sphere-sphere-sphere social-sphere-sphere-sphere economic-sphere-sphere-sphere political-sphere-sphere-sphere environmental-sphere-sphere-sphere technological-sphere-sphere-sphere institutional-sphere-sphere-sphere organizational-sphere-sphere-sphere individual-sphere-sphere-sphere collective-sphere-sphere-sphere community-sphere-sphere-sphere societal-sphere-sphere-sphere global-sphere-sphere-sphere local-sphere-sphere-sphere national-sphere-sphere-sphere regional-sphere-sphere-sphere landscape-sphere-sphere-sphere seascape-sphere-sphere-sphere waterscape-sphere-sphere-sphere airscape-sphere-sphere-sphere biosphere-sphere-sphere-sphere noosphere-sphere-sphere-sphere technosphere-sphere-sphere-sphere sociosphere-sphere-sphere-sphere ecosphere-sphere-sphere-sphere hydrosphere-sphere-sphere-sphere atmosphere-sphere-sphere-sphere lithosphere-sphere-sphere-sphere pedosphere-sphere-sphere-sphere cryosphere-sphere-sphere-sphere anthroposphere-sphere-sphere-sphere
Microtheca ochroloma
Yellow-margined Leaf Beetle, Yellowmargined Leaf Beetle
Microtheca ochroloma is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, native to South America and adventive in North America. It is a significant agricultural pest of cruciferous crops, with documented populations in the southeastern United States. Development from egg to adult takes approximately 17–57 days depending on temperature, with optimal survival around 20–25°C. The species exhibits strong host preferences, favoring turnip and mustard while showing least preference for collard and cabbage.
pest agricultural crucifer invasive Chrysomelidae Brassicaceae temperature-dependent-development host-preference
Phloeosinus punctatus
western cedar bark beetle
Phloeosinus punctatus is a bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae, known as the western cedar bark beetle. The species colonizes giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) and California incense-cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. Females initiate gallery construction and mate monogamously. The beetle undergoes four larval instars, typically producing one generation per year under natural conditions. It has been observed to contribute to branch mortality in giant sequoia, particularly when trees are under environmental stress.
bark-beetle Scolytinae giant-sequoia Cupressaceae Sierra-Nevada California-endemic forest-pest monogamous-mating host-preference cryptic-speciation branch-mortality drought-stress climate-change-vulnerability

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