E-Journal of Entomology and Biologicals

As the food production faces the persistent threat of endemic and invasive pests, researchers continue to develop new technologies and strategies for protecting crops from these threats. One such new technology is RNA interference (RNAi) with targeted mechanisms towards specific pests.

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have a complex relationship with other microorganisms, arthropods, plants, and soil.

Western flower thrips adult (Photo courtesy: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM) The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is one of the major pests of lettuce in California.

Adult diamondback moth (Photo by Jack Kelly Clark) The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, is a small plutellid moth of European origin that has been in North America for nearly two centuries.

Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). Photo by Surendra Dara The spotted lanternfly (SLF) [Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)] is an invasive planthopper, which causes a significant damage to apples, grapes, stone fruit, trees used for timber, and other hosts (Dara et al. 2015).