Pallis, S., A. Alyokhin, B. Manley, T. Rodrigues, E. Barnes, and K. Narva. 2023. Baseline susceptibility to a novel dsRNA-based insecticide across US populations of Colorado potato beetle. Agriculture 2023, 13, 2283. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13122283

Insecticides /

The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an insect defoliator of the potato, Solanum tuberosum L. This species thrives in agricultural environments because of its flexible and complex life history, as well as its ability to evolve insecticide resistance. As a result, it has become a widely distributed agricultural pest. Ledprona (trade […]

Pallis, S., A. Alyokhin, B. Manley, T. Rodrigues, E. Barnes, and K. Narva. 2023. Baseline susceptibility to a novel dsRNA-based insecticide across US populations of Colorado potato beetle. Agriculture 2023, 13, 2283. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13122283 Read More »

Pallis, S., A. Alyokhin, B. Manley, T. Rodrigues, E. Barnes, and K. Narva. 2023. Effects of low doses of a novel dsRNA-based biopesticide (Calantha) on the Colorado potato beetle. Journal of Economic Entomology 116: 456-461

Insecticides /

The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a destructive pest of the cultivated potato, Solanum tuberosum. Members of this species are well-suited to agricultural habitats because of a suite of physiological adaptations and their ability to evolve resistance to multiple insecticides. Recently, a novel double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) insecticide (Calantha, active ingredient ledprona) has

Pallis, S., A. Alyokhin, B. Manley, T. Rodrigues, E. Barnes, and K. Narva. 2023. Effects of low doses of a novel dsRNA-based biopesticide (Calantha) on the Colorado potato beetle. Journal of Economic Entomology 116: 456-461 Read More »

Moyet, M., H. Morrill, D. Leal Espinal, E. Bernard, and A. Alyokhin. 2023. Early growth patterns of Bacillus cereus on potato substrate in the presence of low densities of black soldier fly larvae. Microorganisms 11(5): 1284. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051284

Insect Husbandry /

Bacillus cereus is a common and ubiquitous bacterium that can cause foodborne illnesses in humans and other animals. Common methods of contact between foodborne pathogens and their victims include exposure through contaminated food or food containment products. Using larvae of black soldier flies, Hermetia illucens, for biological conversion of wastes into components of animal feeds

Moyet, M., H. Morrill, D. Leal Espinal, E. Bernard, and A. Alyokhin. 2023. Early growth patterns of Bacillus cereus on potato substrate in the presence of low densities of black soldier fly larvae. Microorganisms 11(5): 1284. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051284 Read More »

Kinney, M., M. Moyet, E. Bernard, and A. Alyokhin. 2022. Suppression of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and reduction of other bacteria by black soldier fly larvae reared on potato substrate. Microbiology Spectrum 10(5): e02321-22. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02321-22

Insect Husbandry /

Larvae of black soldier flies, Hermetia illucens, are increasingly used for biological conversion of animal and plant wastes into ingredients of animal feeds on an industrial scale. The presence of pathogenic microorganisms in harvested larvae may be a serious problem for wide-scale adoption of this technology. Fortunately, black soldier fly larvae may have some antimicrobial

Kinney, M., M. Moyet, E. Bernard, and A. Alyokhin. 2022. Suppression of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and reduction of other bacteria by black soldier fly larvae reared on potato substrate. Microbiology Spectrum 10(5): e02321-22. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02321-22 Read More »

Yoon, K. A., J. H. Kim, R. Nauen, A. Alyokhin, J. M. Clark, and S. H. Lee. 2022. Characterization of molecular and kinetic properties of two acetylcholinesterases from the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 185: 105137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2022.105137

Insecticides, Microevolution /

The molecular and biochemical properties of two acetylcholinesterases (LdAChE1 and LdAChE2) from the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, were investigated in this study. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in conjunction with western blotting with LdAChE1- or LdAChE2-specific antibodies suggested that LdAChE1 exists in a soluble form, whereas LdAChE2 exists in both soluble and amphiphilic forms with a

Yoon, K. A., J. H. Kim, R. Nauen, A. Alyokhin, J. M. Clark, and S. H. Lee. 2022. Characterization of molecular and kinetic properties of two acetylcholinesterases from the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 185: 105137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2022.105137 Read More »

Pallis, S., A. Alyokhin, B. Manley, T. B. Rodrigues, A. Buzza, E. Barnes, and K. Narva. 2022. Toxicity of a novel dsRNA-based insecticide to the Colorado potato beetle in laboratory and field trials. Pest Management Science 78: 3836-3848.

Insecticides /

BACKGROUND: The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is one of the most notorious pests of the potato, Solanum tuberosum. Potato beetles are capable of developing resistance to various insecticides in relatively few generations. Novel and effective means of controlling Colorado potato beetle populations are constantly required to protect potato crops and prevent loss

Pallis, S., A. Alyokhin, B. Manley, T. B. Rodrigues, A. Buzza, E. Barnes, and K. Narva. 2022. Toxicity of a novel dsRNA-based insecticide to the Colorado potato beetle in laboratory and field trials. Pest Management Science 78: 3836-3848. Read More »

Erbland, P., A. Alyokhin, and M. Peterson. 2021. An automated incubator for rearing black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens). Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 64: 1989-1997.

Insect Husbandry /

Biological conversion of agricultural wastes into animal feed ingredients using larvae of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is a promising technology that improves the sustainability of agriculture. We designed and tested a prototype automated incubation system for producing black soldier fly larvae. The system consisted of six 50 L plastic bins enclosed on a ventilated

Erbland, P., A. Alyokhin, and M. Peterson. 2021. An automated incubator for rearing black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens). Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 64: 1989-1997. Read More »

Rodrigues, T. B., S. K Mishra, K. Sridharan, E. R. Barnes, A. Alyokhin, R. Tuttle, W. Kokulapalan, D. Garby, N. J. Skizim, Y. Tang, B. Manley, L. Aulisa, R. D. Flannagan, C. Cobb, and K. E. Narva. 2021. First sprayable double-stranded RNA-based biopesticide product targets proteasome subunit beta type-5 in Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Frontiers in Plant Science 12:728652. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.728652  

Insecticides /

Colorado potato beetle (CPB, Leptinotarsa decemlineata) is a major pest of potato and other solanaceous vegetables in the Northern Hemisphere. The insect feeds on leaves and can completely defoliate crops. Because of the repeated use of single insecticide classes without rotating active ingredients, many chemicals are no longer effective in controlling CPB. Ledprona is a

Rodrigues, T. B., S. K Mishra, K. Sridharan, E. R. Barnes, A. Alyokhin, R. Tuttle, W. Kokulapalan, D. Garby, N. J. Skizim, Y. Tang, B. Manley, L. Aulisa, R. D. Flannagan, C. Cobb, and K. E. Narva. 2021. First sprayable double-stranded RNA-based biopesticide product targets proteasome subunit beta type-5 in Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Frontiers in Plant Science 12:728652. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.728652   Read More »

Insinga, J.K., A. Alyokhin, J. Hao, T. Ge, N. F. Marangoni, A. Baron. 2021. Dickeya dianthicola is not vectored by two common insect pests of potato. PhytoFrontiers 1: 160-172. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-12-20-0049-R

Abundance Factors / ,

Dickeya dianthicola (Samson) is an important pathogen causing blackleg disease of potato. Previous work suggested that insects might vector species of Pectobacteriaceae between plants but no conclusive work has confirmed this. Green peach aphids (Myzus persicae Sulzer) and Colorado potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) are aggressive potato pests and related to known vectors of several

Insinga, J.K., A. Alyokhin, J. Hao, T. Ge, N. F. Marangoni, A. Baron. 2021. Dickeya dianthicola is not vectored by two common insect pests of potato. PhytoFrontiers 1: 160-172. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-12-20-0049-R Read More »

Liu, Y., T. Moural, B.K.S. Koirala, J. Hernandez, Z. Shen, A. Alyokhin, and F. Zhu. 2021. Structural and functional characterization of one unclassified glutathione s-transferase in xenobiotic adaptation of Leptinotarsa decemlineata. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22: 11921. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222111921

Microevolution /

Arthropod Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) constitute a large family of multifunctional enzymes that are mainly associated with xenobiotic or stress adaptation. GST-mediated xenobiotic adaptation takes place through direct metabolism or sequestration of xenobiotics, and/or indirectly by providing protection against oxidative stress induced by xenobiotic exposure. To date, the roles of GSTs in xenobiotic adaptation in the

Liu, Y., T. Moural, B.K.S. Koirala, J. Hernandez, Z. Shen, A. Alyokhin, and F. Zhu. 2021. Structural and functional characterization of one unclassified glutathione s-transferase in xenobiotic adaptation of Leptinotarsa decemlineata. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22: 11921. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222111921 Read More »