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Papers by abbie Fox

Journal of Visualized Experiments

Fruit flies of the Tephritidae family are among the most destructive and invasive agricultural pe... more Fruit flies of the Tephritidae family are among the most destructive and invasive agricultural pests in the world. Many countries undertake expensive eradication programs to eliminate incipient populations. During eradication programs, a concerted effort is made to detect larvae, as this strongly indicates a breeding population and helps establish the spatial extent of the infestation. The detection of immature life stages triggers additional control and regulatory actions to contain and prevent any further spread of the pest. Traditionally, larval detection is accomplished by cutting individual host fruits and examining them visually. This method is labor intensive, as only a limited number of fruit can be processed, and the probability of missing a larva is high. An extraction technique that combines i) mushing host fruit in a plastic bag, ii) straining pulp through a series of sieves, iii) placing retained pulp in a brown sugar water solution, and iv) collecting larvae that float to the surface was tested. The method was evaluated in Florida with field-collected guava naturally infested by Anastrepha suspensa. To mimic low populations more representative of a fruit fly eradication program, mangos and papaya in Hawaii were infested with a known, low number of Bactrocera dorsalis larvae. The applicability of the method was tested in the field on guava naturally infested by B. dorsalis to evaluate the method under conditions experienced by workers during an emergency fruit fly program. In both field and laboratory trials, mushing and sieving the pulp was more efficient (required less time) and more sensitive (more larvae found) than cutting fruit. Floating the pulp in brown sugar water solution helped detect earlier instar larvae. Mushing and sieving fruit pulp of important tephritid hosts may increase the probability of detecting larvae during emergency programs.

EDIS, 2013

Tropical soda apple is a prickly shrub native to South America. First reported in Glades Co., Flo... more Tropical soda apple is a prickly shrub native to South America. First reported in Glades Co., Florida in 1988, it later spread to Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It is a major problem in pastures and conservation areas. Negative impacts of tropical soda apple include reduction of cattle stocking rates, competition with native plants, and the costs associated with its control. Dense thickets of the weed also can disrupt the movement of wildlife. This 4-page fact sheet provides a summary of the major steps of the successful biological control program against tropical soda apple in Florida. The article covers the importance of the weed, identification and biology of the biological control agent, rearing and release efforts, establishment and impact, and efforts to communicate the outcomes of the program to stakeholders. Written by R. Diaz, J. Medal, K. Hibbard, A. Roda, A. Fox, S. Hight, P. Stansly, B. Sellers, J. Cuda and...

Specialty tomatoes have become a staple item in the produce section of many markets. There is lit... more Specialty tomatoes have become a staple item in the produce section of many markets. There is little literature available, however, regarding postharvest handling. Field-grown mini-pear ('Red Pear') and grape ('Santa') tomatoes were harvested at breaker/turning stage (10% to 30% red), sorted for uniformity, placed in loosely capped glass vials (n = 4), and stored the same day at 5, 10, 13 or 20C. After 7 days tomatoes stored at 5 or 10C were transferred to 20C for ripening. Pear tomatoes stored at 5C/20C reached the red-ripe stage (lightred + 6 days) in 18 days, while those stored at 10C/20C in 17 days, those stored at 13C in 16 days, and those stored at 20C in 12 days. Grape tomatoes ripened similarly for respective storage temperatures. At red-ripe stage there were no temperature effects on external or internal color for either type. External hue angles ranged from 40 to 45(red-orange); internal color of grape tomatoes was more yellow than pear (83 to 87 and 67 to ...

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruit, 'Santa Clara', were harvested at the breake... more Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruit, 'Santa Clara', were harvested at the breaker stage from commercial fields in Brazlandia, DF (Brazil) to investigate the ability of 1- methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) to retard tomato fruit ripening. Fruit without external blemishes were graded for size and di ameter, placed inside hermetically sealed boxes, and 1-MCP was applied for 12-hours (22 ± 1 °C; 80-85% RH) at four different concentrations: 0 (control), 250, 500 or 1000 ppb. Fruit were held at ambient conditions (23 ± 2°C; 80-85% RH) for 2 days and then stored inside a cold room (20 ± 1°C; 85-95% RH). Every 3 days during a 15-day period, fruit were analyzed for firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, external color, and total carotenoids. Fruit treated with 1-MCP at 1000 ppp had a firmness about 88% higher than control fruit after 17 days. The a7b* ratio, an indicator of skin color, for fruit treated with 1- MCP at 1000 ppb was 38% lower than control fruit at the en...

American Entomologist • Summer 2019 Invasive insect pests and the pathogens they vector are a chr... more American Entomologist • Summer 2019 Invasive insect pests and the pathogens they vector are a chronic concern for human, animal, and plant health worldwide. For the agricultural community, fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are among the top threats. Many regulatory agencies monitor fruit fly incursions using various survey activities and protocols and commonly undertake expensive eradication programs using approved phytosanitary measures to eliminate them when they occur (FAO 2010). Numerous incursions and ensuing eradication efforts worldwide have been summarized in the Global Eradication and Response Database (GERDA; Kean et al. 2018), which includes reports of 1,025 eradication programs in 107 countries against terrestrial arthropod pests and plant pathogens. They recorded 259 eradication programs directed against tephritids, with 117 directed against the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and 126 directed against eight species of Bactrocera/Zeugodacus. Of t...

A key component in tephritid fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) area-wide IPM programs has been app... more A key component in tephritid fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) area-wide IPM programs has been application of insecticidal soil drenches under the drip line of host trees where fruit flies have been detected and as a regulatory treatment in the certification process for movement of nursery stock outside of fruit fly quarantine areas. Diazinon has been the most effective and widely used insecticide for this purpose; however, it is being phased out in many areas due to environmental issues. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of several insecticides as Diazinon replacements for control of three economically important fruit fly species, Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae, and oriental fruit fly, B. dorsalis using a semi-field approach. Fruit fly pupae that were ready to eclose within 24 h were exposed to organic soil treated with Radiant SC (Spinetoram), Force 3G and Force CS (Tefluthrin); Warrior II (Lambda-cyhalothrin); t...

Florida Entomologist, 2013

Field trials were conducted in south Florida to compare capture of wild Caribbean fruit flies, An... more Field trials were conducted in south Florida to compare capture of wild Caribbean fruit flies, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), and sterile male Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), in Multilure traps, which are McPhail-type traps that use an aqueous solution to retain attracted flies, and Phase 4 traps, which are open-bottom dry traps that use a sticky insert to retain attracted flies. One study was conducted in a guava orchard and compared capture of A. suspensa in both trap types baited with ammonium acetate plus putrescine alone (two-component BioLure) or in combination with trimethylamine (three-component BioLure). A second study compared captures of A. suspensa and sterile male C. capitata in traps baited with three-component BioLure in an urban area near the end of the eradication program for a C. capitata outbreak. In both studies, captures were higher in the Multilure traps than the Phase 4 traps baited with the same lure, with catches ranging from 5:1 for sterile C. capitata, and ~10:1 to ~100:1 for wild A. suspensa. Large scale area-wide deployment of fruit fly detection traps is costly in both materials and in the time and effort required in routine servicing. Although a simpler and cheaper trap such as the Phase 4 trap would be a welcome relief to any large scale area-wide detection programs, it must perform effectively. This is the first report of tests of fruit fly capture in Phase 4 traps conducted under of south Florida conditions.

ABSTRACT Eight insecticides, including the natural bioinsecticide, spinosad and the semisynthetic... more ABSTRACT Eight insecticides, including the natural bioinsecticide, spinosad and the semisynthetic insecticide spinetoram, as well as two synthetic pyrethroids, insect growth regulator,an anthranilicdiamide, and an organophosphate were evaluated as soil drench treatments for control of three economically important Tephritid fruit fly species, the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae, and the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis. Adult emergence was the endpoint evaluated. All of the insecticides evaluated, except Intrepid 2F, significantly reduced adult emergence of all three species after exposure as third instars, compared to the control. All insecticides, except Cyazapyr, significantly reduced adult emergence of all three species after exposure as pupae. Cyazapyr significantly reduced adult emergence in C. capitata and B. dorsalis, but not in B. cucurbitae. Radiant SC was not as effective against the larval stage as Diazinon AG600, Warrior II, Force CS, Entrust or GardStar 40% EC, but still quite effective. Entrust, a natural product (spinosad), and its synthetic counterpart, Radiant SC were quite effective at reducing adult emergence from soil and may be good alternatives to the synthetic pyrethroids, Warrior II, Force CS, and GardStar 40% EC.

Postharvest biology and …, 2005

Mamey sapote (Pouteria sapote (Jacq.) HE Moore and Stearn) fruit is highly appreciated in the Car... more Mamey sapote (Pouteria sapote (Jacq.) HE Moore and Stearn) fruit is highly appreciated in the Caribbean region; however, marketable life is significantly limited by abrupt softening during postharvest handling. Postharvest wax and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatments ...

From 2003 to 2008, 176,643 Gratiana boliviana Spaeth (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) were released in... more From 2003 to 2008, 176,643 Gratiana boliviana Spaeth (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) were released in Florida as part of a biological control program targeting tropical soda apple (TSA) Solanum viarum Dunal (Solanaceae). The spatial distribution of releases was clustered with more beetles released in south/central Florida than further north. A survey conducted in the fall of 2008 found G. bolviana present at >70% of randomly selected locations between 26° and 29° latitude, but no beetles were found at sites further north. The presence of beetles and beetle damage were associated with smaller TSA plants and fewer fruits per plant. The absence of beetles in northern Florida may be due to the fewer number released in that area, but also could be influenced by land cover and climate.

HortScience

Greenhouse-grown bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. `Robusta') were harvested at five stages of ... more Greenhouse-grown bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. `Robusta') were harvested at five stages of maturation (10% red to full red) in early winter 2002 (Expt. 1) and at two stages (10% red and full red) in early Spring 2002 (Expt. 2). The fruit were subsequently stored at 20 °C in a continuous-flow chamber consisting of either 100 μL·L–1 ethylene (balance air) or air-only (control) at 90% relative humidity (RH). Individual fruit were removed from the chambers upon reaching full red color, and stored at –30 °C until physicochemical analyses were conducted. Harvest maturity, and ethylene exposure had no appreciable effect on pulp soluble solids content, total titratable acidity or pH. Exposure to ethylene hastened ripening time compared to the air control but was independent of fruit maturity at harvest. Fruit exposed to ethylene reached full-red color 6.4 days (Expt. 1) and 4 days (Expt. 2) earlier than air-only fruit, respectively. There were no significant phytochemical and antioxid...

Journal of economic entomology, 2015

Ammonia and its derivatives are used by female fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) as volatile cue... more Ammonia and its derivatives are used by female fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) as volatile cues to locate protein-rich food needed to produce their eggs. This need for external protein sources has led to the development of behaviorally based control strategies such as food-based lures and insecticidal baits targeting pestiferous fruit fly species. In field cage studies conducted in Hawaii, we examined the behavioral response of laboratory-reared male and female Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), to seven commercially available protein baits and to beer waste, a relatively inexpensive and readily available substance. Each material was tested alone or in combination with either ammonium acetate or ammonium carbonate. For the majority of baits evaluated, the presence of ammonium acetate, but not ammonium carbonate, elicited a significantly greater level of response of female C. capitata compared with the protein baits alone. The addition of ammonium acetate to ...

Florida Entomologist, 2012

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Http Dx Doi Org 10 1653 024 096 0202, Jun 27, 2013

The giant African snail (GAS), Lissachatina fulica Bowdich is one of the world's most pestiferous... more The giant African snail (GAS), Lissachatina fulica Bowdich is one of the world's most pestiferous snail species. This invasive pest was discovered in Miami, Florida in Sep 2011. Shortly thereafter, an eradication program was implemented by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture. In the past, most mollusc eradication efforts have relied on metaldehyde and carbamate-based products that may also have deleterious effects on humans and non-target vertebrates. This study compared the efficacy of 4 commercially available molluscicides: a metaldehyde and carbamate-based bait (Ortho Bug-Geta Plus) and 3 more environmentally "friendly" formulations, including 2 iron-based baits (Ferroxx and Sluggo) and 1 boric acidbased bait (Niban) to elicit mortality in laboratory populations of GAS. Bait formulations were evaluated using a combination of choice and no-choice tests. OrthoBug-Geta Plus was the most effective molluscicide and produced mortality between 69.2% in choice tests and 71.7% in no-choice tests. Sluggo produced a mortality of 49.2% in choice tests and 59.2% in no-choice tests. Niban produced the highest mortality of all the baits evaluated in the no-choice test at 74.2% but was much less effective in choice tests with a 48.3% mortality rate. Ferroxx caused some mortality, 50.8%, but was statistically no different than Sluggo in the no-choice test. Mean percent mortality was significantly higher in adults and neonates compared to juveniles in all treatments. Sluggo, Niban and Ferroxx all proved to be significantly less toxic than Ortho Bug-Geta Plus in choice tests. Although Niban had a very high mortality rate in the no-choice tests, when given a choice mortality declined sharply indicating that this product is not very attractive to GAS. Of the 2 iron based products, Sluggo and Ferroxx, Ferroxx was less effective at 35.8% mortality in the choice tests. While only having a moderate mortality rate, Sluggo was deemed to be effective enough to incorporate into Florida's eradication program.