VIEW ARTICLE

The Association of Aspergillus flavus with Hemipterous and Other Insects Infesting Cotton Bracts and Foliage. L. W. Stephenson, Research Associate, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arizona, Mesa Experiment Station, Mesa 85201; T. E. Russell, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arizona, Mesa Experiment Station, Mesa 85201. Phytopathology 64:1502-1506. Accepted for publication 24 June 1974. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-64-1502.

Aspergillus flavus was isolated from 61% of a surface-nonsterile and 33% of a surface-sterile sample of Lygus hesperus (lygus bug) and 79% of a surface-nonsterile and 37% of a surface-sterile sample of Chlorochroa sayi (stink bug). In addition, A. flavus was isolated from intestinal tissue of 20% and 23% of aseptically dissected surface-sterilized L. hesperus and C. sayi, respectively. A. flavus was also isolated from Collops vittatis, Zelus spp., Systena blanda, Chrysopa spp., and Diabrotica undecimpunctata. However, these species, unlike L. hesperus and C. sayi, were not frequently encountered on cotton plants after regular applications of insecticide for control of pink bollworm commenced in early July. A. flavus was isolated from 94% of the samples of floral bracts and 56% of the samples of foliar disks from leaves of cotton plants at Yuma. At Safford, however, A. flavus was isolated from only 15% of the samples of floral bracts and 8% of the samples of foliar disks. Examination of cultured intact and dissected floral bracts revealed that A. flavus was localized near the margins of the fimbriate projections.