NC205: Ecology and Management of European Corn Borer and Other Lepidopteran Pests of Corn

(Multistate Research Project)

Status: Inactive/Terminating

Project Menu

SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[03/24/2011] [03/20/2012] [08/16/2012] [12/04/2012] [01/18/2013] [04/04/2013] [07/01/2014] [07/02/2014] [02/19/2015]

Date of Annual Report: 03/24/2011

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 01/26/2011 - 01/28/2011
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2009 - 11/01/2010

Participants

Hunt, Tom (thunt2@unl.edu), Univ. of Nebraska, Concord NE;
Gassmann, Aaron (aaronjg@iastate.edu), Iowa State University;
Kang, Jungkoo (kangb1@illinois.edu), University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign;
White, Jen (jenawhite@uky.edu), University of Kentucky;
Onstad, David (onstad@illinois.edu), University of Illinois;
Tooker, John (tooker@psu.edu), Penn State;
Porter, Pat (p-porter@tamu.edu), Texas A&M;
Smith, Jocelyn (jsmith@ridgetown@uoguelph.ca), University of Guelph;
Baute, Tracey (tracey.baute@ontario,ca), Ontario Ministry of Ag;
Hellmich, Rick (Richard.Helmich@ars.usda.gov), ARS, Ames, IA;
Sappington, Tom (Tom.Sappington@ars.usda.gov), ARS, Ames, IA;
Hutchison, Bill (hutch002@umn.edu), University of Minnesota;
MacKellar, Bruce (mackella@msu.edu), MSU Extension;
DiFonzo, Chris (difonzo@msu.edu), MSU;
Meyer, Rick (rmeyer@nifa.usda.gov), NIFA;
Siegfried, Blair (bsiegfried1@unl.edu), University of Nebraska;
Coates, Brad (brad.coates@ars.usda.gov), ARS, Ames, IA;
Pueppke, Steve (pueppke@msu.edu), Michigan State University;
Huang, Fangneng (fhuang@agcenter.lsu.edu), LSU;
Cullen, Eileen (Cullen@entomology.wisc.edu), University of Wisconsin;
Moraes, Silvana Paula (silvana.moraes@huskers.unl.edu), University of Nebraska;
Wright, Bob (rwright2@unl.edu), University of Nebraska;
Velez, Ana Maria (anamaria.velez@gmail.com), University of Nebraska;
Buntin, David (gbuntin@uga.edu), University of Georgia-Griffin Campus;
Whalen, Joanne (jwhalen@udel.edu), University of Delaware;
Johnson, Holly (hollylyn@udel.edu), University of Delaware;
Mason, Chuck (mason@udel.edu), University of Delaware;
Weber, Patrick (pjweber@iastate.edu), Iowa State University;
Buschman, Larry (lbuschma@ksu.edu), Kansas State University;
Andow, Dave, University of Minnesota;

Brief Summary of Minutes

2011 Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Multi-State Regional Research Committee NC-205 Ecology and Management of European Corn Borer and Other Lepidopteran Pests of Corn

As recorded by Eileen Cullen, secretary (edited by Tom Hunt, chair).

Columbus, Ohio
January 27-28, 2011
University Plaza Hotel
3110 Olentangy River Road
Columbus, OH, 43202
614-267-7461

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Meeting began at 8:00 AM.

Local Arrangement Announcements:
Ron Hammond indicated the combined registration fee for the NC205 and the NCCC46/NC205 joint meeting would be $75.

Administrative Advisor and NIFA Reports:
Steve Pueppke and Rick Meyer discussed the budget climate at the federal level. Many unknowns remain. NC205 members noted that Ag is underfunded and formula funds are essential to rapid and effective response to local and regional problems.

Recap of Significant Activities and Influence:
Many noted increased efforts to communicate Bt corn IRM requirements to growers, as IRM requirements are becoming more diverse and grower confusion is increasing.

Bill Hutchison indicated the ECB suppression Science paper has generated much publicity nationally and internationally, and NC-205 was mentioned in many media releases. Media pieces were fairly consistent and balanced.

Tom Sappington organized a symposium at ESA on the Bag Tag issue (US and Canada represented) reported on rough spots on getting blanket contracts in place, but that things were progressing.

Rick Hellmich reported on trip to China 2010 to give 2-3 IRM and non-target talks. China's budget is increasing (10X), particularly in transgenic and agricultural investment. He also went to Argentina for a GMO crops meeting. A core group is working to harmonize and standardize tier I testing for GMO crops. He also met with EPA to discuss IRM best practices modeling.

Tracy Baute indicated a WBC working group was formed. Her Baute Bug Blog had 7K hits, 4K unique visitors. Her twitter audience is mostly consultants and keen farmers. Pat Porter found the opposite experience. Texas growers are not blog focused.

Dave Onstad responded in public comment to recent EPA SAP (private) noting that 1) EPA does not model insect density (no density dependent mortality), only allele frequency; 2) EPA is not distinguishing between ECB an SWCB (i.e., SWCB cannibalism, no density dependence) in models; and 3) EPA currently believes that larval movement is occurring on daily basis. Onstad encouraged members to contact EPA if they feel EPA model assumptions are questionable.

Aaron Gassmann interacted with industry stake holders on whether CEW densities are becoming more problematic in the Midwest.

Tom Hunt indicated the Nebraska Corn Board has introduced Product Stewardship as a priority in their current RFP. He reported on trip to the Philippines to present at an IRM symposium. There was much concern over what products to register, the registration process, and how to implement IRM. He also organized a roundtable symposium at the Brazilian Entomological Society meeting and spoke at the Univ. of Brasilia.

Blair Siegfried finished a collaborative project with Philippine scientists on comparative susceptibility of ECB and Asian Corn Borer.

Dave Andow testified to the Danish parliament concerning reconsidering regulations for GMO. They have a big sector of grass seed grown in Denmark. They use GE to modify enzymes to understand phenotypic traits. If they see something desirable, they use genetic marker R&D approach.

Pat Porter creating a corn insect and IPM file, so send images to him.

Blanket Agreement Discussion:
Several noted that because attorneys are involved, establishing blanket agreements can be a very detailed, slow process. If some Univ. get these agreements established, it would be very helpful to send them out to NC-205 membership. Dave Andow reported that Elson Shields found it helpful if industry provides source draft for Univ. to work with. Aaron Gassmann reported a smooth experience. Tom Sappington suggests communicating with the right person. Letter of Understanding from Pioneer supposedly will override current agreement. Tom Sappington will send a handout to NCCC46, NC205 with updated contacts. Overall, there is still confusion between Individual and Blanket Agreements. It's moving, it is just moving in fits and starts. Communicate with Tom Sappington and Elson Shields if you are running into complications.

NCR 327 Progress:
Charles Mason indicated the document is almost complete. The Bt trait section is still being worked on. Chuck Mason is taking writing sabbatical spring 2011 to finish it up. Need to figure out how to implement this as electronic media. If there are things that make sense to demonstrate, videos can be done, Smart Phone apps, keys, website, PDF. Question is where will this be housed and run. Pat Porter will be on committee to work this out with Chuck. ISU will be doing layout. Pat Porter, Rick Hellmich, Tracey Baute, and Chuck Mason will be the 327 Committee.

Discussion of NCCC46 and NC205 'Merger':
Pros and cons were discussed, a major point being one is a funded research committee (NC-205), and on is an unfunded research sharing committee (NCCC-46). It was suggested that rather than merge officially into one group, it may be better to have the meetings coordinated and scheduled to have better overlap and time compression. The joint meeting could be cut to half a day, and in some years it may not be necessary. It was noted that NC-205 is a hallmark group, and should be keep separate administratively. It was decided that during the next three years of the current projects we work on condensing the meetings. Tom Hunt and Pat Porter will work on this for the 2012 meeting.

Invited Presentations:
Brad Coates gave a presentation on the current state of and future trends for corn lepidopteran genomics. Chuck Mason discussed the current status of ECB pheromone races. Tom Sappington discussed the invasion history, host use, and gene flow of E-race ECB.

State Reports and Discussion, by Objective:
Research, extension, and outreach reports were presented by state representatives to NC-205. Discussion ranged over a variety of NC-205 objective-related topics.

Time and Place Discussion"
Two options were discussed: Omaha, NE or Louisville KY. Since group that meets first typically makes the decision, NC-205 will make decision for 2012.

5:00 PM Adjourn for Thursday, January 27, 2011.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Meeting begins 8:00 AM.

Continuation of State Reports & Discussion:
Research, extension, and outreach reports were presented by state representatives to NC-205. Discussion ranged over a variety of NC-205 objective-related topics.

General Discussion:
Tom Sappington discussed an effort to convince ARS to fund Bt/non-Bt area-wide rotation effort, and requested a letter of support for this type of research for a BRAG proposal (PIs: Sappington, Lundgren, Tooker, Krupke) due on March 2nd. The BRAG proposal would be complimentary to the area-wide concept. Letter is written in general terms - effects of area-wide management important to ECB ecology.

Tom Hunt basked for clarification on NC205 policy on letters of support, letters of comment, letters of warning. Does a letter of support need vote of Appendix E membership, or those in attendance at a particular meeting. It was noted we could take straw vote at a meeting, but the official vote needs to be Appendix E members. How would this affect potential reviewers? It may be better to note in minutes that group is generally supportive of research to understand ecology related to area-wide or large scale rotations of Bt/non-BT. Indeed, NC-205 generally is supportive of research to understand ecology related to area-wide or large scale rotations of Bt/non-BT. It was noted that this interest is directly related to the NC-205 project objectives. The group decided to not provide a letter under NC205 banner, but those in support were encouraged to write letters.

Pat Porter initiated a discussion on the irregular ear/kernel expression of toxins in RIB and how this may affect the development of resistance. Cross pollination is not significant for ECB not feeding heavily on corn ear, but it could be significant for Lepidoptera feeding extensively on the ear (e.g. corn earworm, western bean cutworm). It was noted that IRM does not consider the current suite of target Lepidoptera, such as western bean cutworm.

Return to Committee Business:
Place and Time Committee report: A motion was made to suggest Lexington, KY as the 2012 location for the NC-205 annual meeting, held in the last full week of January 2012. The motion was seconded and approved by NC-205. They will forward that suggestion to the NCCC-46 Committee.

Nominating Committee report: A motion was made to confirm Thomas Hunt as Chair, and Eileen Cullen as Secretary for the next year of NC-205. The motion was seconded and approved by NC-205.

Tom Hunt will introduce NC-205 members to an NC-205 Wiggio site. The concept of reducing the NC-205 Chair term to two years (or 2.5 years) will be discussed during 2011.

12:00 Adjourn 2011 NC-205 Annual Meeting.

Accomplishments

Taken together, the results of Iowa dispersal and gene flow suggest that O. nubilalis exhibits substantial gene flow over long distances and that the lack of genetic differentiation between populations across hundreds of kilometers is not simply due to migration-drift disequilibrium arising from a recent range expansion. PI-E Section Symposium: Reaching out across the bag-tag: Overcoming diversity of industry, university, and government interests to embrace public-sector research on commercialized transgenic crops. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA, Dec. 12-15, 2010. Co-Organizers, T. W. Sappington and B. E. Hibbard. Since first being commercialized in 1996, transgenic Bt maize has gained widespread acceptance for managing maize stalk borer pests in the United States. Since 2004, a cooperative research program has been established to evaluate resistance risk of D. saccharalis to Bt maize in Louisiana. Field surveys have documented the overwintering, distribution, and population structures of maize stalk borer species in the state. Unlike any other regions of the United States where O. nubilalis/D. grandiosella are the major maize stalk boring pests, our survey showed that D. saccharalis is the dominant species in many areas of the mid-south region, especially in Louisiana. A landmark accomplishment of the Louisiana research program was the detection of a major Bt resistance allele in a 2004 field population of D. saccharalis. This was the first major resistance allele to commercial Bt maize discovered in any maize borer species worldwide. A D. saccharalis strain containing this major resistance allele has been established in the laboratory for future studies. Results from studies in Louisiana suggest that the resistance allele frequency in D. saccharalis to the three pyramided Bt maize technologies is low in the mid-southern region of the United States, which should meet the rare resistance assumption of the 'high dose/refuge' IRM strategy. A pheromone trapping network was implemented to determine the range and magnitude of western bean cutworm in NY. Unitraps baited with western bean cutworm pheromone were placed near corn fields to monitor seasonal occurrence and number of moths trapped. A total of 18 traps were monitored, augmenting a nascent monitoring network comprising 57 traps in 30 counties. To assist with commercial production of Trichogramma for biological control of Lepidopteran pests, a device was fabricated to assist with separating parasitized from unparasitized host eggs. Olfactometer studies showed that T. ostriniae was attracted to volatiles from corn leaf tissue taken from areas near to, but absent European corn borer egg masses. This suggests that induced plant volatiles may play a role in host finding. Results also indicate that humidity played a role in parasitoid responses; in our trials, lower humidity elicited an attractant response to host eggs; high humidity elicited an arrestant response. Trichogramma ostriniae readily parasitized western bean cutworm eggs under laboratory conditions suggesting that biological control with egg parasitoids may be a feasible. Because the cutworm eggs are relatively large, 3 to 6 adult T. ostriniae emerged per egg. Preliminary analysis of feral Trichogramma, collected from field sites where releases had occurred in previous years, showed T. ostriniae in 6 samples of 21 Ostrinia nubilalis egg masses collected. This reinforces that T. ostriniae may establish and provide some background classical biological control. Quiescence, but not diapause was not observed in T. ostriniae placed out of doors in fall 2009. Adult emergence from outdoor eggs was protracted for up to 6 weeks after placement under warm conditions. This implies that quiescence may suffice and that diapause may not be obligatory. Vacuum storage of host eggs resulted in substantial clumping, indicating that this is not a good method for prolonging the shelf life of factitious host eggs. When eggs were provided to Trichogramma in various spatial arrangements from single to highly clustered, there was no apparent difference in parasitism levels. This suggests that the standard method of sprinkling eggs onto a tray for parasitism is adequate and probably does not need modification to improve parasitism levels. In general the two Bt-gene hybrids (VT3 Pro) provided greater protection from corn earworm in early and late plantings (Texas), but in many cases the single Bt-gene hybrids from Pioneer provided nearly as good control under the pest pressure encountered in the study. Texas made two collections of fall armyworm larvae from corn in the Lubbock area and sent them to Nebraska for screening for resistance to transgenic corn. The Nebraska assay results suggested no increase in resistance to Cry1F. Dave Andow made the keynote address to the annual meeting of the Japanese Society of Applied Entomology and Zoology was presented using data from this project. Dave Andow made a special address to the Danish Parliament was delivered as a part of their deliberations over the regulation of biotechnology. Laboratory results (Minn, Morey et al.) corroborated what is currently observed in the field as the overwintering range of H. zea in the eastern United States; approximately areas south of the 40th parallel. The research shows, however, that these areas are not lethal to overwintering pupae due to temperature extremes, but rather in the length of time spent at near zero temperatures. Paula-Moraes and Thomas E. Hunt (EMBRAPA and Univ. of Nebraska) organized a roundtable 'IPM in the Age of Transgenic Crops: Are IPM and Transgenic Technology Compatible or in Conflict?' at the XXIII Congresso Brasileiro de Entomologia, September 26-30, Natal, RN, Brasil. Various NC-205 members presented talks on IRM around the world (e.g. Japan, Philippines, Brazil, and Europe).

Publications

Andow, D. A. and J. S. Bentur. 2010. Pedigreed crosses to estimate recessive virulence allele frequencies in natural populations of gall midges. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 135: 18-36. Andow, D. A., S. L. Farrell and Y. Hu. 2010. Planting patterns of in-field refuges observed for Bt maize in Minnesota. Journal of Economic Entomology 103(4): 1394-1399. Buschman, L.L and Ankush Joshi. 2010. Efficacy of miticides applied at tassel stage for control of spider mites in corn, 2008. Arthropod Management Tests 2010 (35) F1. Buschman, L.L. and Ankush Joshi. 2010. Efficacy of miticides applied by chemigation pre-tassel and standard spray post-tassel for control of spider mites in corn, 2008. Arthropod Management Tests 2010 (35) F2. Buschman, L., and A. Joshi,. 2010. Blended Refuge versus Block Refuge: Efficacy in European Corn Borer Larval Production, 2009. In SWREC '2010 Field Day Rept.' K-State Rept. Prog. 1034: pp. 57-62. http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/crpsl2/SRP1034.pdf Buschman, L., and A. Joshi. 2010. Blended Refuge versus Block Refuge: Pioneer Experiment, 2009. In SWREC '2010 Field Day Rept.' K-State Rept. Prog. 1034: pp. 67-71. http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/crpsl2/SRP1034.pdf Cengiz Ikten, Steven R. Skoda, Thomas E. Hunt, Jaime Molina-Ochoa, and John E. Foster. 2010. (in press). Genetic Variation And Inheritance Of Diapause Induction In Two Distinct Voltine Populations Of The European Corn Borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) (Lepidoptera:Crambidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America. Coates, Brad S., Douglas V. Sumerford, Richard L. Hellmich, Leslie C. Lewis. 2010. A Helitron-Like Transposon Superfamily from Lepidoptera Disrupts (GAAA)n Microsatellites and is Responsible for Flanking Sequence Similarity within a Microsatellite Family. J Mol Evol (2010) 70:275288. Coates, B. S., J. A. Kroemer, D. V. Sumerford and R. L. Hellmich. 2010. A novel class of miniature inverted repeat transposable elements (MITEs) that contain hitchhiking (GTCY)n microsatellites. Insect Molecular Biology 2010: 1-13. Engels, H., D. Bourguet, =. CagáH, B. Manachini, I. Schuphan, T. J. Stodola, A. Micoud, C. Brazier, C. Mottet and D. A. Andow. 2010. Evaluating resistance to Bt toxin Cry1Ab by F2 screen in European populations of Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 103(5): 1803-1809. Gardner, J, Hoffmann MP, Pitcher SA, Harper JK. 2010. Integrating insecticides and Trichogramma ostriniae to control European corn borer in sweet corn: Economic analysis. Biological Control 56:9-16. Hu, Y. and D. A. Andow. 2010. Field observations of Ostrinia nubilalis eclosion and post-eclosion activity of females around their natal plants. Insect Science, in press. Hutchison, W. D., E. C. Burkness, P. D. Mitchell, R. D. Moon, T. W. Leslie, S. J. Fleischer,M. Abrahamson, K. L. Hamilton, K. L. Steffey, M. E. Gray, R. L. Hellmich, L. V. Kaster,T. E. Hunt, R. J. Wright, K. Pecinovsky, T. L. Rabaey, B. R. Flood, E. S. Raun. 2010. Areawide Suppression of European Corn Borer with Bt Maize Reaps Savings to Non-Bt Maize Growers. Science 330, 222 (2010). Joshi, Ankush and L.L. Buschman. 2010. Efficacy of miticides applied at pre-tassel stage for control of spider mites, 2009A. Arthropod Management Tests 2010 (35) F4. Joshi, Ankush and L.L. Buschman. 2010. Efficacy of miticides applied at tassel stage for control of spider mites, 2009B. Arthropod Management Tests 2010 (35) F5. Joshi, Ankush and L.L. Buschman. 2010. Efficacy of miticides applied at pre- and post-tassel stage for control of spider mites, 2009C. Arthropod Management Tests 2010 (35) F6. Joshi, A., and L. Buschman. 2010. Efficacy of New Hybrids for Control of Corn Earworm and Southwestern and European Corn Borer, 2009. In SWREC '2010 Field Day Rept.' K-State Rept. Prog. 1034: pp. 63-66. http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/crpsl2/SRP1034.pdf Joshi, A., and L. Buschman. 2010. Experiment 2: Efficacy of Miticides Applied at Tassel Stage for Control of Spider Mites in Corn, Garden City, KS, 2009. In SWREC '2010 Field Day Rept.' K-State Rept. Prog. 1034: pp. 79-80. http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/crpsl2/SRP1034.pdf Joshi, A., and L. Buschman. 2010. Experiment 3: Efficacy of Miticides Applied at Pre-Tassel and Post-Tassel Stage for Control of Spider Mites in Corn, Garden City, KS, 2009. In SWREC '2010 Field Day Rept.' K-State Rept. Prog. 1034: pp. 81-82. http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/crpsl2/SRP1034.pdf Khajuria C., L.L. Buschman, M-S. Chen, S. Muthukrishnan and K.Y. Zhu. 2010. A gut-specific chitinase gene essential for regulation of chitin content of peritrophic matrix and growth of Ostrinia nubilalis larvae. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 40(2010): 621-629. Liu F, Xu Z, Zhu YC, Huang F, Wang Y, Gao C et al. 2010. Evidence of field-evolved resistance to Cry1Ac-expressing Bt cotton in Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Northern China. Pest Manage Sci 66:155164 (2010). Milonas, P. G. and D. A. Andow. 2010. Virgin male age and mating success in Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Animal Behaviour 79: 509-514. Milonas, P. G., S. L. Farrell and D. A. Andow. 2010. Experienced males have higher mating success than virgin males despite fitness costs to females. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, in press. O'Rourke, M. E., T. W. Sappington, and S. J. Fleischer. 2010. Managing resistance to Bt crops in a genetically variable insect herbivore, Ostrinia nubilalis. Ecol. Appl. 20: 1228-1236. Porter, P., G. Cronholm, R.D. Parker, N. Troxclair, S. Biles and E. Bynum Jr. E-400, Managing Insect and Mites Pests of Texas Corn, 2010 Revision. Sappington, T. W., K. R. Ostlie, C. DiFonzo, B. E. Hibbard, C. H. Krupke, P. Porter, S. Pueppke, E. J. Shields, and J. J. Tollefson. 2010. Conducting public-sector research on commercialized transgenic seed: In search of a paradigm that works. GM Crops 1: 55-58. Yang, Y., Y.C. Zhu, J. Ottea, C. Husseneder, B.R.Leonard and F. Huang. 2010. Molecular characterization and RNA Interference of three midgut aminopeptidase N isozymes from Bacillus thuringiensis-susceptible and -resistant strains of sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis. Ins. Biochem. Mol. Biol. 40: 592-603. Zeilinger, A. R., D. A. Andow, C. Zwahlen and G. Stotzky. 2010. Earthworm populations in a northern U.S. Cornbelt soil are not affected by long-term cultivation of Bt maize expressing Cry1Ab and Cry3Bb1 proteins. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 42: 1284-1292.

Impact Statements

NC-205 members and others documented that area-wide suppression of European corn borer is associated with the wide-spread use of Bt corn (Science article: Hutchison et al. 2010). Benefits (14 year cumulative) are estimated at $3.2 billion for corn growers in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, with over $2.4 billion of this total as a benefit to non-Bt corn growers. Comparable estimates for Iowa and Nebraska are $3.6 billion, with $1.9 billion for non-Bt corn growers. These results affirm theoretical predictions of area-wide pest suppression and highlight the economic incentives for growers to maintain non-Bt corn refuge for sustainable insect resistance management.
Information on European corn borer dispersal and gene flow will provide decision support to regulatory agencies, in the U.S. and abroad, responsible for resistance management regulations for current and future transgenic corn targeting this pest. It also will be useful to university, government, and industry scientists and modelers trying to understand and predict rates of development and geographic spread of resistance to transgenic corn in European corn borer.
Various NC-205 members presented talks on transgenic technology and IRM around the world (e.g. Japan, Philippines, Brazil, and Europe) which significantly contributed to their discussions and decisions with respect to risk assessment and IRM.
The western bean cutworm has become the second most important lepidopteran pest of corn in Nebraska, and it has spread across the north central U.S. and into Canada. Current research findings helps farmers select appropriate management tools, will help explain why the western bean cutworm range has expanded, and will increase farmer profitability by providing improved management recommendations across ecozones.
Information related to Bt resistance management of European corn borer provided by Siegfrieds lab (Nebraska) is currently utilized by most of the major seed and biotechnology companies to support registrations of transgenic corn hybrids. These data are necessary to the long-term sustainability of this technology. The development of these techniques has brought international attention to our program and will assist developing countries that have interest in utilizing transgenic technologies for pest management in developing their own regulatory policies.
The review Regulation of migration in the oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata (Walker) in China: A review integrating environmental, physiological, hormonal, genetic, and molecular factors represents a thorough synthesis of knowledge on this important model species, and makes technical information available to Western scientists that until now has been inaccessible because many important studies have been published only in Chinese. The information will be valuable to university, government, and industry scientists and modelers studying migratory pest Lepidoptera in North America and worldwide.
An acoustic egg separator was capable of cleaning up parasitized from unparasitized host eggs. Trials showed that unparasitized eggs were reduced from 20% to 10%, a 50% improvement. This method will help ensure that producers of Trichogramma market a product with a high level of parasitized eggs.
Pheromone trapping showed that western bean cutworm was widespread in NY and that populations increased relative to 2009. This knowledge suggests that the pest will become well established in the Northeast and will complicate pest management in corn, dry beans, and potentially snap bean. This information is valuable to corn and bean growers who will need to know when to initiate scouting and intervention.
The economics of using Trichogramma ostriniae were presented to approx. 50 entomologists with research and extension appointments. This will help them to advise growers on whether or not to integrate biological control in sweet corn. Commercial sales of T. ostriniae increased to approximately 1000 acre equivalents in 2010, demonstrating increased adoption of augmentative biological control in sweet corn and sweet peppers, mostly in the organic sector.
Andow and Bentur (2010) is an extension of earlier work specifically on European corn borer and resistance evolution. This paper has caused some of the researchers in the Directorate of Rice Research in the Indian agricultural research system to alter they way they screen for resistance.
Zeilinger et al. (2010) is a part of the objective on non-target impact assessment of Bt corn. This work demonstrates that in the upper Midwest, Bt corn does not have an adverse effect on earthworm populations in corn fields. This resolves a rather long-standing debate about potential adverse effects of Bt corn on earthworms, at least for northern temperate zones.
Andow et al. (2010) found that farmers typically did not use in-field Bt corn refuges properly. These results have been used to support the need for mixed seed refuges, and have also been used to support the need for refuges outside of Bt corn fields. Interestingly these needs are mutually exclusive. This work was used in a recent Scientific Advisory Panel to the US-EPA.
Engels et al. (2010) is an extension of work done in Minnesota and France on the frequency of resistance in European corn borer to Bt corn. This work suggests that resistance in European corn borer to Cry1Ab-Bt corn is rare throughout Europe, and has been used to justify commercial use of Bt corn in Europe.
Milonas and Andow (2010) is a new direction for the research under this project. We found that male age had no effect on mating success, but that females had lower fecundity when they mated with older males. This work has implications for sexual selection theory and for the evolution of resistance to Bt corn, but these connections have not yet been fully explored.
Andow‘s talks in Japan have contributed to their intensive discussions to revise risk assessment methodologies.
Andow‘s address to the Danish parliament had a major impact on how they intend to develop biotechnology. The Minister of Agriculture indicated that he would ensure that commercial use of biotechnology would not interfere with the needs and rights of public sector scientists to conduct research in the public interest.

Date of Annual Report: 03/20/2012

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 01/23/2012 - 01/24/2012
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2010 - 09/01/2011

Participants

Hunt, Tom (thunt2@unl.edu), Univ. of Nebraska, Concord NE;
White, Jen (jenawhite@uky.edu), University of Kentucky;
Tooker, John (tooker@psu.edu), Penn State;
Porter, Pat (p-porter@tamu.edu), Texas A&M;
Smith, Jocelyn (jsmith@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca), University of Guelph, Canada;
Hellmich, Rick (Richard.Helmich@ars.usda.gov), ARS, Ames, IA;
Sappington, Tom (Tom.Sappington@ars.usda.gov), ARS, Ames, IA;
Hutchison, Bill (hutch002@umn.edu), University of Minnesota;
DiFonzo, Chris (difonzo@msu.edu), MSU;
Siegfried, Blair (bsiegfried1@unl.edu), University of Nebraska;
Coates, Brad (brad.coates@ars.usda.gov), ARS, Ames, IA;
Pueppke, Steve (pueppke@msu.edu), Michigan State University;
Huang, Fangneng (fhuang@agcenter.lsu.edu), LSU;
Moraes, Silvana Paula (silvana.moraes@huskers.unl.edu), University of Nebraska;
Wright, Bob (rwright2@unl.edu), University of Nebraska;
Velez, Ana Maria (anamaria.velez@gmail.com), University of Nebraska;
Johnson, Holly (hollylyn@udel.edu), University of Delaware;
Mason, Chuck (mason@udel.edu), University of Delaware;
Andow, Dave, (dandow@umn.edu), University of Minnesota;
Sun, Jing (jingsun@iastate.edu), Iowa State University;
Schaafsma (aschaafs@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca), University of Guelph, Canada;
Reay-Jones, Francis (freayjo@agcenter.lsu.edu), Clemson;
Michel, Andy (michel.70@osu.edu), OARDC Ohio State University;
McCornack, Brian (mccornac@ksu.edu), Kansas State University;

Brief Summary of Minutes

2012 Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Multi-State Regional Research Committee NC-205 Ecology and Management of European Corn Borer and Other Lepidopteran Pests of Corn

As recorded by Tom Hunt (chair).

Lexington, Kentucky
January 23-24, 2012
The Lexington Regency Hyatt
401 West High Street,
Lexington, Kentucky, USA 40507
Tel: +1 800 233 1234

Monday, January 23, 2012

Meeting began at 8:00 AM.

Local Arrangement Announcements
Jen White indicated the registration fee for NC205 was $75, and the NC205/NCCC46 joint meeting would be $25.

Tom Hunt indicated we may have an opportunity to meet with the International Working Group on Ostrinia and Other Corn Pests (IWGO) in April of 2014. Tom Sappington is involved with IWGO local arrangements and will look into the logistics.

Administrative Advisor Report
Steve Pueppke reported that Hatch funding was flat and we will just have to see what the default mandatory cut to the budget will be January 2013. Rick Meyer (NC205 USDA Administrative Advisor) retired and no news on a new USDA Administrative Advisor for the committee. A mid-term review of the committee will occur in 2013, so an impact statement is due by December 15, 2012.

Time and Place and Nominating Committees
Time and Place: Charles Mason and Rick Hellmich. Nominating Committee: Dave Andow.

Recap of Activities and Influence
Tom Sappington indicated the IRM landscape project he presented last year was received with enthusiasm, but there was no available funding.

Fangneng Huang traveled to China and met with farmers about Bt cotton.

John Tooker reported that with low populations of corn borer and other Lepidoptera in Pennsylvania, farmers are considering planting more non-Bt corn to save on seed cost.

Bill Hutchison reported a response to the Greenpeace article on WBC expansion was published and news releases were released across Europe.

Andy Michel reported a general decline in Lepidoptera in Ohio and a similar farmer response as in Pennsylvania, that is, a trend to reduce Bt acres. Until now, Bt acres have been increasing. Western bean cutworm has become a significant issue in seed production and in dry bean production.

Charles Mason reports growers are becoming very concerned about marmorated stink bug. With respect to transgenic registration/regulation, he and Art Schaafsma note the success of the Canada coalition and suggest we consider using some of their process for future transgenic transgenic/IRM regulation.

NCR 327 Progress
Charles Mason noted the difficulties of incorporating rapid change in the document and suggested we publish online an 8-pg companion (already written) to the more extensive NC327 document. Administrative changes at the Iowa State University publishing office have delayed the hard copy publishing process.

Invited Presentations
Silvana Paula-Moraes gave a presentation on her western bean cutworm IPM research at the University of Nebraska. Discussion ensued on western bean cutworm and mycotoxins, possible IRM (particularly in Canada), and how a suite of lepidopteran ear-feeding pests are now becoming more important. Tom Hunt gave Pat Porters short presentation on fall armyworm injury to corn ears in Texas. Jing Sun (Jessie) gave a presentation on her research on the effect of geography on gene flow of E and Z strain European corn borer.

State Reports and Discussion, by Objective
Research, extension, and outreach reports were presented by state representatives to NC-205. Discussion ranged over a variety of NC-205 objective-related topics.

5:00 - Adjourn for Monday, January 23, 2012.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Meeting began at 8:00 AM.

Continuation of State Reports and Discussion
Research, extension, and outreach reports were presented by state representatives to NC-205. Discussion ranged over a variety of NC-205 objective-related topics.

General Discussion
Discussion ensued concerning the corn rootworm resistance to Cry3Bb1, the delays in reporting, the scientific definitions/protocols with respect to resistance, the costs of resistance, and our role in the issue. Dave Andow proposed pursuing a pilot project with additional meetings of NC205/NCCC46. the project would explore better communication between farmers and the private sector (concerning problem fields), determining a reasonable definition of resistance, and what could be done (e.g. needed research projects).

Pat Porter led a discussion of ear feeding pests, particularly with respect to resultant ear molds.
It was suggested we modify the projects objective to strengthen ear-feeding insect pests, but it was decided we have enough justification in the current project and objectives to pursue this line of research without modification. A common NC205 ear mold protocol was suggested, and Art Schaafsma agreed to lead the effort. Members agreed to contact their corn pathologists to enlist their participation.

Return to Committee Business
Time and Place committee report: A motion was made to suggest new Orleans, LA as the 2013 location for the NC-205 annual meeting, held in the last full week of January 2013. The motion was seconded and approved by NC-205. They will forward that suggestion to the NCCC-46 Committee. If accepted, Fangneng Huang will be local arrangements. NC205 will be held January 23-24 following NCCC46.

12:00 Noon Adjourn 2012 NC-205 Annual Meeting.

Accomplishments

It is likely that the synchrony of oviposition activity triggered by migratory flight in beet weborm is a common mechanism in other migratory insect species that promotes outbreak populations. The method for measuring this novel parameter (period of first oviposition) is an important new tool for other scientists studying migratory insects. MSU Field Crops Entomology Web site includes the following bulletins as pdfs: 15 on western bean cutworm, 1 on armyworms, 2 on corn transgenics. A Twitter feed is available - @AphidQueen and MSU Field Crops Entomology newsletters are distributed via an email list, the Fast Fonz Facts. The list includes approximately 300 agribusiness, commodity, grower, and extension contacts. Western bean cutworm spray recommendations have been made this way since 2009. Clemson outreach programs included presentations at field days for corn growers and at agent training sessions. Demonstration plots of Bt hybrids and non-Bt isolines at different planting dates were shown at the Pee Dee REC and Edisto REC field days. Publications included the corn insect management sections of the 2011 Clemson Extension Pest Management Handbook and Corn Production Guide, with print and online editions. In response to low refuge compliance and increased monitoring by industry, Texas Extension Entomologists developed a news release on refuge compliance. This was distributed regionally by Agricultural Communications. Extension Specialists also developed a slide show for use at county extension meetings and featured the refuge compliance issue in their regional newsletters. Our online corn IPM video series was viewed viewed 13,783 times in 2011. Recommendations on experimental design for early-tier laboratory studies used in risk assessments to evaluate potential adverse impacts of arthropod-resistant genetically engineered (GE) plants on non-target arthropods (NTAs) were developed. Spatial analyses revealed a barrier to gene flow between Pennsylvania and the other sampled locations, along with an overall pattern of higher genetic divergence among locations in the eastern portion of the distribution compared to the western locations. Results suggest that O. nubilalis exhibits substantial gene flow over long distances and that the lack of genetic differentiation between populations across hundreds of kilometers is not simply due to migration-drift disequilibrium arising from a recent range expansion. Research indicates that ~13% of O. nubilalis adults disperse a net distance > 12 km per generation from their natal source. Transgenic expression of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crystalline (Cry) toxins in crop plant tissues results in reduced insect feeding damage, but sustainability of this agricultural practice is threatened by resistance traits within target insect populations. Research indicates that gene regulatory pathways influence insecticide resistance traits. These findings are important in that gene-gene interactions are shown to be important in the manifestation of Bt resistance traits. Transposable elements (TEs) can affect the structure of genomes through their acquisition and transposition of novel DNA sequences. The preferential integration of Lep1 Helitrons in proximity to gene coding regions results in the creation of genetic novelty that is shown to impact gene structure and function through the introduction of novel exon sequence (exon shuffling). These findings are important in the understanding the structural requirements of genomic DNA sequences that are acquired and transposed by Helitron-like TEs. An O. nubilalis Z chromosome linkage map provides new tools for isolating quantitative trait loci (QTL) involved in sex-linked traits that drive speciation and it exposes genome rearrangements as a possible mechanism for differential gene regulation in Lepidoptera. The results of the 6-year study suggest that there appears to be a high risk for development of Cry1Ab resistance in D. saccharalis if Cry1Ab maize continues to be widely used in the U.S. mid-south region. Transgenic corn hybrids that express toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are highly effective against the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), and the closely related Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée). Results indicate that both of the Ostrinia corn borer species are similar in sensitivity to the Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1Ba and Cry1F toxins, thus suggesting shared toxin receptors and mechanisms of toxicity for the two species. F2 screening results suggest that the resistance allele frequency in D. saccharalis to the three pyramided Bt maize technologies is low in the mid-southern region of the United States, which should meet the rare resistance assumption of the currently used IRM strategy for Bt maize. When laboratory results were compared to field temperatures and observed distributions of H. zea in the contiguous United States, the laboratory results corroborated what is currently perceived to be the northern overwintering limit of H. zea; approximately the 40th parallel. Moreover, our research showed that areas north of this limit are lethal to overwintering pupae not because of low temperature extremes, but rather the length of time spent at near-zero temperatures. Yield loss from fall armyworm is significant and results from both direct damage and indirect damage caused by fungi. Yield loss to indirect damage exceeded that to direct damage (1.16:1). The amount of indirect damage seems to be not closely correlated with the amount of direct damage, and this will make it difficult to construct an economic threshold. Work on European corn borer male mating has implications for sexual selection theory and for the evolution of resistance to Bt corn.

Publications

Andow, D. A. 2011. Assessing unintended effects of GM plants on biological species. Journal für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit 6(S1): S119-124 (DOI: 10.1007/s00003-011-0670-y). Andow, D. A. 2011. Transgenic varieties and Indias agriculture. Review of Agrarian Studies 1(1): 128-129. Burkness, E.C., P.K. ORourke, and W.D. Hutchison. 2011. Cross pollination of nontransgenic corn ears with transgenic Bt corn: Efficacy against Lepidopteran pests and implications for resistance management. Journal of Economic Entomology 104(5): 1476-1479. Coates, Brad S., Darrell O. Bayles, Kevin W. Wanner, Hugh M. Robertson, Richard L. Hellmich, Thomas W. Sappington. 2011. The application and performance of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for population genetic analyses of Lepidoptera. Frontiers in Genetics 2: 38. Coates, Brad S., Jeremy A. Kroemer, Douglas V. Sumerford, Richard L. Hellmich. 2011. A novel class of miniature inverted repeat transposable elements (MITEs) that contain hitchhiking (GTCY)n microsatellites. Insect Molecular Biology 20(1): 1527. Coates, Brad S., R.L. Hellmich, D.M. Grant, Craig A. Abel. 2011. Mobilizing the genome of Lepidoptera through novel sequence gains and end creation by non-autonomous Lep1 Helitrons. DNA Research 2012 doi:10.1093/dnares/dsr038. Coates, Brad S., Douglas V. Sumerford, Miriam D. Lopez, H Wang, Lisa M. Fraser, Jeremy A. Kroemer, Terrance Spencer, Kyung Seok Kim, Craig A. Abel, Richard L. Hellmich, Blair D. Siegfried. 2011. A single major QTL controls the expression of a larval Cry1F resistance trait in Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Genetica 139 (8): 961972. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21822602. Crespo, A.L.B., A. Rodrigo-Simón, H.A.A. Siqueira, E.J.G. Pereira, J. Ferre, and B.D. Siegfried. 2011. Cross-resistance and mechanism of resistance to Cry1Ab toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis in a field-derived strain of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis. J. Invert. Pathol. 107: 185-192. Dana, Logan A., Thomas E. Hunt. 2011. Control of Second Generation European Corn Borer, 2010. Arthropod Management Tests, 36: F13. Gaspers, C., B.D. Siegfried, T. Spencer, A.P. Alves, N.P. Storer, I. Schuphan, and S. Eber. 2011. Susceptibility of European and North American populations of the European corn borer to the Cry1F insecticidal protein. J. Appl. Entomol. 135: 7-16. Gassmann AJ, Petzold-Maxwell JL, Keweshan RS, Dunbar MW. 2011. Field-Evolved Resistance to Bt Maize by Western Corn Rootworm. PLoS ONE 6(7): e22629. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0022629. Ghimire, M.N, F. Huang, R.B. Leonard, G. P. Head, and Y. Yang. 2011. Susceptibility of Cry1Ab-susceptible and -resistant sugarcane borer to transgenic corn plants containing single or pyramided Bacillus thuringiensis genes. Crop Protect. 30: 74-81. Hardke, J.T., B.R Leonard, F. Huang, and R.E. Jackson. 2011. Damage and survivorship of fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on transgenic field corn expressing Bacillus thuringiensis Cry proteins. Crop Protect. 30:168-172. Huang, F., D.A. Andow, and L.L. Buschman. 2011. Success of the high dose/refuge resistance management strategy after 15 years of Bt crop use in North America. Entom. Exp. App. 140: 1-16. Huang, F., D. A. Andow and L. L. Buschman. 2011. Corrigendum. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. doi: 10.1111/j.1570-7458.2011.01190.x. Huang, F., M.N. Ghimire, B.R. Leonard, J. Wang, C. Daves, R. Levy, D. Cook, G.P. Head, Y. Yang, J. Temple, and Rob Ferguson. 2011, F2 screening for resistance to pyramided Bacillus thuringiensis maize in Louisiana and Mississippi populations of Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Pest Manag. Sci. 67:1269-1276. Huang, F., B.R. Leonard, X. Wu, and M.N. Ghimire. 2011. Risk assessment of sugarcane borer resistance to transgenic maize expressing Bacillus thuringiensis proteins. pp. 89-103. In Genetically Engineered Crops: Biotechnology, Biosafety and Benefits, ed by L. M. Grover Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, NY. Hunt, Thomas E. and Robert J Wright. 2011. Bt Corn: Whats new for 2011. pp. 37-39, Proceedings of the 2011 Crop Production Clinics, UNL Extension. Hutchison, W. D., Thomas E. Hunt, Gary L. Hein, Kevin L. Steffey,C. D. Pilcher and Marlin E. Rice. 2011. Genetically Engineered Bt Corn and Range Expansion of the Western Bean Cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the United States: A Response to Greenpeace Germany. J. Integrated Pest Mgmt. 2(3): 2011;DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/IPM11016. Ikten, C., S. R. Skoda, T. E. Hunt, J. Molina-Ochoa, and J. E. Foster. 2011. Genetic Variation And Inheritance Of Diapause Induction In Two Distinct Voltine Populations Of The European Corn Borer, Ostrinia Nubilalis (Lepidoptera:Crambidae), Annals of the Entomol. Soc. Am. 104(3): 567-575. Ives, A. R., P. R. Glaum, N. L. Ziebarth and D. A. Andow. 2011. The evolution of resistance to two-toxin pyramid transgenic crops. Ecological Applications 21(2): 503-515. Jiang, Xingfu, Lizhi Luo, Lei Zhang, Thomas W. Sappington, and Yi Hu. 2011. Regulation of Migration in Mythimna separata (Walker) in China: A Review Integrating Environmental, Physiological, Hormonal, Genetic, and Molecular Factors. Environ. Entomol. 40(3): 516Ð533 (2011); DOI: 10.1603/EN10199. Kim, Kyung Seok, Brad S. Coates, Richard L. Hellmich, Thomas W. Sappington. 2011. Genetic structure and gene flow among European corn borer populations from the Great Plains to New York. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 13: 383393. Khajuria, C., L.L. Buschman, M. Chen, B.D. Siegfried, and K.Y. Zhu. Identification of a novel aminopeptidase P-like gene (OnAPP ) possibly involved in Bt toxicity and resistance in a major corn pest (Ostrinia nubilalis). PLoSONE 6(8):e23983. http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0023983. Kroemer, J. A., Brad S. Coates, Tyas Nusawardani, Dean S. Rider Jr., Lisa M. Fraser, Richard L. Hellmich. 2011. A rearrangement of the Z chromosome topology influences the sex-linked gene display in the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis. Molecular Genetics and Genomics 286(1): 3756. Kroemer, J.A., Nusawardani, T., Rausch, M.A., Moser, S.E., Hellmich, R.L. 2011. Transcript analysis and comparative evaluation of shaker and slowmo gene homologues from the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis. Molecular Biology 20(4): 493-506. Li, W., X. Zhang, Z. Fan, B. Yue, F. Huang, E. King, and J. Ran. 2011. Structural characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial genome of the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). DNA and Cell Biol. 30:3-8. Milonas, P. G., S. L. Farrell and D. A. Andow. 2011. Experienced males have higher mating success than virgin males despite fitness costs to females. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 65: 1249-1256. DOI 10.1007/s00265-011-1138-x. Paula-Moraes, S., Burkness, E.C., Hunt, T.E., Wright, R.J., Hein, G.L., Hutchison, W.D. 2011. Cost-effective binomial sequential sampling of western bean cutworm, Striacosta albicosta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), egg masses in corn. J. Econ. Entomol. 104(6):1900-1908. Peira, E.J.G., N.P. Storer, and B.D. Siegfried. 2011. Fitness Costs of Cry1F Resistance in Laboratory-Selected European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). J. Appl. Entomol. 135: 1-6. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0418.2009.01488.x/full. Prasifka, Jarrad R., Jennifer E. Buhay, Thomas W. Sappington, Emily A. Heaton, Jeffrey D. Bradshaw, and Michael E. Gray. 2011. Stem-boring caterpillars of switchgrass in the Midwestern United States. Annals Entomological Society of America (2011) 104: 507-514. Razze, J. M., C. E. Mason, and T. D. Pizzolato. 2011. Feeding Behavior of Neonate Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on Cry1Ab Bt Corn: Implications for Resistance Management. J. Econ. Entomol. 104(3): 806Ð813 (2011); DOI: 10.1603/EC10287. Reay-Jones, F.P.F., and P. Wiatrak. 2011. Evaluation of new transgenic corn hybrids producing multiple Bacillus thuringiensis toxins in South Carolina. Journal of Entomological Science. 46(2): 152-164. Reay-Jones, F.P.F. 2011. Corn insect control. 2011 Pest Management Handbook for Field Crops. Clemson Extension. 22pp. Reay-Jones, F.P.F. 2011. Corn insect management. 2011 Corn Production Guide. Clemson Extension. (online) Romeis, Jörg, Richard L. Hellmich, Marco P. Candolfi, Keri Carstens, Adinda De Schrijver, Angharad M. R. Gatehouse, Rod A. Herman, Joseph E. Huesing, Morven A. McLean, Alan Raybould, Anthony M. Shelton, Annabel Waggoner. 2011. Recommendations for the design of laboratory studies on non-target arthropods for risk assessment of genetically engineered plants. Transgenic Res (2011) 20:122 DOI 10.1007/s11248-010-9446-x. Tabashnik, B.E., F. Huang, N. Mukti, B. Ghimire, B. R. Leonard, B. D. Siegfried, M. Rangasamy, Y. Yang, Y. Wu, L. J. Gahan, D.G. Heckel, A. Bravo, and M. Soberón. 2011. Efficacy of genetically modified Bt toxins against insects with different mechanisms of resistance. Nature Biotechnology. 29:1128-1131. Tan, S.Y., B.F. Cayabyab, E.P. Alcantara, Y. Ibrahim, F. Huang, E. Blankenship, and B.D. Siegfried. 2011. Comparative susceptibility of Ostrinia furnacalis, Ostrinia nubilalis and Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1 toxins. Crop Protection. 30: 1184-1189. http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/0022-0493%282006%29099%5B0194:CSOECB%5D2.0.CO%3B2. Vilarinho, E. C., O. A. Fernandes, T. E. Hunt, D. F. Caixeta. 2011. Movement of Spodoptera frugiperda adults (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in maize in Brazil. Florida Entomol. 94(3): 480-488. Yang, Y., Y.C. Zhu, J. Ottea, C. Husseneder, B.R.Leonard, C. Abel, R.L. Lutrell, and F. Huang. 2011. Down regulation of a gene for cadherin, but not alkaline phosphatase, associated with Cry1Ab resistance in the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis. PLoS ONE 6(10): e25783. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0025783.

Impact Statements

A cost-effective binomial sequential sampling plan for western bean cutworm Cost-effective binomial sequential sampling of western bean cutworm, Striacosta albicosta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), egg masses in corn. J. Econ. Entomol. 104(6):1900-1908, Paula-Moraes et al. 2011 will reduce time and labor spent sampling by at least 50% across the Corn Belt. Smartphone applications will be released in 2012.
Purchasing the right transgenic hybrid for the right pest and planting it with the correct refuge in the proper location is critical to maximizing profitability and delaying resistance, but this process is increasingly confusing. The table Handy Bt Trait Table, Chris DiFonzo, Michigan State Eileen Cullen, Univ. of Wisconsin (www.msuent.com) summarizes the currently available Bt traits and their spectrum of control and is being used across the Corn Belt to assist farmers in hybrid selection.
Presentations and papers by Dave Andow (e.g. Andow, D. A. 2011. Assessing unintended effects of GM plants on biological species. Journal für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit 6(S1): S119-124) have influenced European scientists to believe that it may possible to incorporate equivalence testing in the environmental oversight of GMOs.
The paper The evolution of resistance to two-toxin pyramid transgenic crops. Ecological Applications 21(2): 503-515, Ives et al. 2011 has influenced the USEPA staff scientists to make more risk-averse recommendations to their managers related to the management of resistance in GM maize.
Papers such as Success of the high dose/refuge resistance management strategy after fifteen years of Bt crop use in North America, Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 140(1): 1-16 Huang, et a. 2011 point out that the high dose/ refuge strategy for prolonging the life of Bt maize has been very successful where ever it has been implemented. This should impact policy related to resistance management.
Switchgrass is a native perennial prairie grass that harbors corn lepidoperan pests and is being developed for large scale planting as a biofuel feedstock. Very little is known about the insect species that feed on this plant and how damaging they may become once switchgrass is grown in large acreages. The fundamental information obtained from studies of these pests will be useful to university, government, and industry scientists and farmers as switchgrass increases in importance as a biofuel crop and is monitored for pest damage.
Numerous international and national presentations were made by NC205 members and have resulted in offers to collaborate, student and scientist exchanges, and additional invitations to speak. These interactions significantly influence integrated pest management and insect resistance management worldwide.

Date of Annual Report: 08/16/2012

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 06/18/2012 - 06/19/2012
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2011 - 09/01/2012

Participants

Abel, Craig (craig.abel@ars. usda.gov) - USDA ARS Ames, IA; Andow, David (dandow@umn.edu)-University of Minnesota; Blodgett, Susan (sblodg@mail.iastate.edu)-Iowa State University; Coates, Brad (Brad.Coates@ars.usda.gov) - USDA ARS, Ames, IA; Cullen, Eileen (cullen@entomology.wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin; French, Wade (Wade.French@ars.usda.gov)-USDA ARS Brookings, SD; Fuller, Billy (Billy.Fuller@sdstate.edu)-South Dakota State University; Gassmann, Aaron (aaronjg@iastate.edu)-Iowa State University; Gray, Michael (megray@illinois.edu) - University of Illinois; Hellmich, Richard (Richard.Hellmich@ars.usda.gov) - USDA ARS Ames, IA; Hibbard, Bruce (hibbardb@missouri.edu)-USDA ARS/University of Missouri; Hunt, Thomas (thunt@unlnotes.unl.edu)-University of Nebraska; Krupke, Christian (ckrupke@purdue.edu)-Purdue University; Mason, Charles (mason@udel.edu)-University of Delaware; Meinke, Lance (lmeinke@unlnotes.unl.edu)-University of Nebraska; Michel, Andy (michel.70@osu.edu)-The Ohio State University; Murrell, Ebony (murrell2@wisc.edu)-University of Wisconsin; Ostlie, Ken (ostli001@umn.edu)-University of Minnesota; Porter, Pat (pporter@ag.tamu.edu)-Texas A&M University; Pueppke, Steve (pueppke@anr.msu.edu)-Michigan State University; Sappington, Thomas (Tom.Sappington@ars.usda.gov)-USDA ARS Ames, IA; Schaafsma, Art (aschaafs@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca)-University of Guelph; Shields, Elson (es28@cornell.edu)-Cornell University); Siegfried, Blair (bsiegfri@unlnotes.unl.edu)-University of Nebraska; Spencer, Joseph (spencer1@illinois.edu)-University of Illinois; Sun, Jing (jingsun@iastate.edu)-USDA ARS/Iowa State University; Wintersteen, Wendy (wwinters@iastate.edu)-Iowa State University.

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

22 NCCC46 and NC205 members submitted a letter to the EPA Open Docket Plant-Incorporated Protectant Insect Resistance Management (IRM) titled "Comment submitted by Patrick Porter, North Central Coordinating Committee NCCC46 (22 members)" concerning western corn rootworm resistance to Bt corn and focus on IPM and IRM in U.S. corn production (March 2012). Submitted multi-state funding proposal to Agricultural Experiment Station Directors titled "Need for research and coordination to sustain the use of Bt corn in the USA". Proposal accepted by AES directors April 2012 with AES directors issuing a resolution of support for this effort. Proposed work will cover research and extension initiatives to preserve efficacy and use of Bt corn, clarify scientific definitions of resistance, operationalize these definitions in regulatory terms, identify and fill research data gaps on resistance development and improve information flow on insect resistance in Bt crops between public sector scientists, producers and registrants.

Publications

Impact Statements

The June 18-19, 2012 interim meeting of NCCC46 and NC205 was authorized as a planning meeting to organize 3 additional meetings (Oct. 2012; Jan. 2013; Mar. 2013) as outlined in meeting minutes.
Cumulative impacts resulting from the June 18-19, 2012 and October 23-24, 2012 meetings will be featured in the NCCC46 Annual Report following the January 2013 meeting in New Orleans, LA.

Date of Annual Report: 12/04/2012

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/23/2012 - 10/24/2012
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2011 - 09/01/2012

Participants

Andow, David (dandow@umn.edu) - University of Minnesota; Armstrong, Richard (richarm@qwestoffice.net) - Crop Consultant, Minnesota; Bjostad, Louis (louis.bjostad@colostate.edu) - Colorado State University; Caprio, Michael (mcaprio@entomology.msstate.edu) - Mississippi State University; Cullen, Eileen (cullen@entomology.wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin; Farias, Juliano (julianofarias@gmail.com) - University of Minnesota; Faur, David (david.pfaur@pioneer.com) - Pioneer Hi-Bred, Minnesota; Fields, Nathan (fields@ncga.com)- National Corn Growers Association;
French, Lee (lfrench@rrcnet.org) - University of Minnesota; French, Wade (wade.french@ars.usda.gov) - USDA ARS Brookings, SD; Gassmann, Aaron (aaronjg@iastate.edu) - Iowa State University;
Gray, Michael (megray@illinois.edu) - University of Illinois; Hammond, Ron (Hammond.5@osu.edu) - The Ohio State University; Hellmich, Richard (richard.hellmich@ars.usda.gov) - USDA ARS Ames, IA; Hibbard, Bruce (hibbardb@missouri.edu) - USDA ARS/University of Missouri; Hunt, Thomas (thunt2@unl.edu) University of Nebraska; Hurley, Terrance (tmh@umn.edu) - University of Minnesota; Hutchison, Bill (hutch002@umn.edu) - University of Minnesota; Larson, Van (vjlarson@rconnect.com) - Crop Consultant, Minnesota; Martinez, Jeannette (martinez.jeannette@epa.gov) - US EPA Washington, DC;
Mason, Chuck (mason@udel.edu) - University of Delaware; Mayer, Randy (randy.mayer@cpsagu.com) - Farmer, Minnesota; McManus, Bradley (bradley.mcmanus@sdstate.edu) - South Dakota State University;
Meinke, Lance (lmeinke1@unl.edu) - University of Nebraska; Milonas, Panos (panag006@umn.edu) - University of Minnesota; Mitchell, Paul (pdmitchell@wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin; Ostlie, Ken (ostli001@umn.edu) - University of Minnesota; Ponce De Leon, Abel (apl@umn.edu) - University of Minnesota; Porter, Patrick (p-porter@tamu.edu) - Texas A&M University; Potter, Bruce (bpotter@umn.edu) - University of Minnesota; Ramos, Renata (renataramosp@gmai.com) - University of Nebraska; Sappington, Tom (tom.sappington@ars.usda.gov) - USDA ARS Ames, IA; Schaafsma, Art (aschaafs@uoguelph.ca) - University of Guelph; Schrader, Keith (kcschrad@hotmail.com) - Farmer, Minnesota; Siegfried, Blair (bsiegfried1@unl.edu) - University of Nebraska; Sodeman, Steve (ssodeman@mvtvwireless.com) - Farmer, Minnesota; Spencer, Joe (spencer1@illinois.edu) - University of Illinois; Szczepaniec, Ada(adrianna.szczepaniec@sdstate.edu)-South Dakota State University; Tenhumberg, Brigitte (btenhumberg2@unl.edu) - University of Nebraska; Wright, Robert (rwright2@unl.edu) - University of Nebraska; Xavier, Vania (vaniamxavier@gmail.com) - University of Nebraska

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

Second meeing in a series of three special interim meetings among public-sector scientists, drawing primarily from the membership of NC-205 and NCCC-46, to (a) clarify and develop a consensus around a series of terms about insect resistance that can be used both in scientific discourse and in regulatory documents, (b) operationalize these definitions ased on presently available monitoring methodologies and methodologies that are likely to be developed in the near future, and (c) link response/mitigation measures to these definitions.

Publications

None to report this period (special interim meeting)

Impact Statements

None to report this period (special interim meeting)

Date of Annual Report: 01/18/2013

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 01/22/2013 - 01/24/2013
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2011 - 11/01/2012

Participants

Hunt, Tom (thunt2@unl.edu), Univ. of Nebraska, Concord NE;
Eileen Cullen (cullen@entomology.wisc.edu), University of Wisconsin-Madison;
Tooker, John (tooker@psu.edu), Penn State;
Knodel, Janet (janet.knodel@ndsu.edu), North Dakota State University;
Porter, Pat (p-porter@tamu.edu), Texas A&M;
Smith, Jocelyn (jsmith@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca), University of Guelph, Canada;
Hitchon, Andrea (ahitchon@uoguelph.ca), University of Guelph, Canada;
Hellmich, Rick (Richard.Helmich@ars.usda.gov), ARS, Ames, IA;
Sappington, Tom (Tom.Sappington@ars.usda.gov), ARS, Ames, IA;
Dively, Galen (galen@umd.edu), University of Maryland;
Bynum, Ed (ebynum@ag.tamu.edu), Texas A&M;
DiFonzo, Chris (difonzo@msu.edu), MSU;
Siegfried, Blair (bsiegfried1@unl.edu), University of Nebraska;
Spencer, Joseph (spencer1@illinois.edu), University of Illinois;
Pueppke, Steve (pueppke@msu.edu), Michigan State University;
Huang, Fangneng (fhuang@agcenter.lsu.edu), LSU;
Paula-Moraes, Silvana (silvana.moraes@embrapa.br), Embrapa Cerrados/BRAZIL;
Alexandre, Juliana R. (Juliana.Alexandre@agricultura.gov.br), MAPA/BRAZIL ;
Buntin, David (gbuntin@uga.edu), University of Georgia;
Wright, Bob (rwright2@unl.edu), University of Nebraska;
Farias, Juliano R. (julianofarias@gmail.com), University of Sao Paulo/BR;
Johnson, Holly (hollylyn@udel.edu), University of Delaware;
Mason, Chuck (mason@udel.edu), University of Delaware;
Andow, Dave, (dandow@umn.edu), University of Minnesota;
Sun, Jing (jingsun@iastate.edu), Iowa State University;
Schaafsma (aschaafs@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca), University of Guelph, Canada;
Reay-Jones, Francis (freayjo@agcenter.lsu.edu), Clemson;
Michel, Andy (michel.70@osu.edu), OARDC Ohio State University;
Beuzelin, Julien (jbeuzelin@agcenter.lsu.edu), Louisiana State University AgCenter;
Barman, Apurba (apurbabarman@gmail.com), Purdue University

Brief Summary of Minutes

Annual Meeting of the Multi-State Regional Research Committee NC-205 Ecology and Management of European Corn Borer and Other Lepidopteran Pests of Corn

Jan. 23-24, 2013

Wyndham Riverfront Hotel
701 Convention Center Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70130
(866) 907-0611
www.wyndhamriverfront.com

Wednesday, January 23rd

1:30 - Welcome: Tom Hunt

Nomination committee: Established to select new secretary/chair-elect. Secretary will start at Jan. 2014 meeting and continue as secretary until assuming Chair role for five-year term following Tom Hunts term. Tom Sappington was nominated and accepted as secretary and chair-elect. Tom Hunt chairship ends 09/30/15 (assuming continued yearly election), new chair (Tom Sappington) will begin 10/01/15 as new NC-205 Chair.

Time and Place: Next annual meeting (with NCCC46 and joint meeting) will be January 27-30, 2014. Atlanta, GA. (David Buntin, local arrangements). NC-205 will be held the 27th-28, 2014.

International Working Group on Ostrinia (IWGO) with European scientists will be held separately, April, 2014 in Chicago (Dates to be determined).

Administrative Advisor Report (Steve Pueppke): NC205 is in mid-term review process in the 5-year cycle. NCRA administrative advisors will meet March 2013 to review the current project progress. Two things are required of NC205 very soon: 4-5 impact statements and reports of NC-205 leverage ( external funding and collaborations).

External funding leverage and collaboration report can be included with annual report from New Orleans meeting, due within 60 days of meeting.

Project re-write will be due 2014, with review in 2015.

Recap of Activities and Influence:
Iowa (Gassmann): Discussed rootworm issues with Iowa Corn Growers Association.

Wisconsin (Cullen): Invited presentations on IRM and NC205/NCCC46 joint projects (and NCRA Directors response) to ECOP/ESCOP National IPM Committee, Washington, DC, UW-Madison Evolution Seminar Series, and extension meetings fall 2012 and winter 2013 reaching 500+ ag professionals.

Michigan/Wisconsin (DiFonzo/Cullen): Handy Bt Trait Table utilized nationally.

Minnesota (Andow): Involved with radio interview and call-in Q&A with general public on transgenic crop regulation and safety, invited to present to Papal Council on Justice and Peace, Vatican City on biotechnology and the rural poor. Attended Malaysia conference (see UMN newsletter).

Texas (Porter/Bynum): Had discussions with TX corn promotion board. Amarillo is dividing line between corn and cotton refuge requirements. Refuge in strips 6-8 rows for CEW and FAW protection south of Amarillo in cotton region will be recommended . This is for pyramids only. Data suggests ¼ or less damage than youd expect in larger blocks, but it will drive resistance more quickly.

Nebraska (Siegfried): Worked with ABSTC on IRM monitoring. Attended conference in the Philippines to mark a decade of commercialization of Bt corn. Blair spoke on IRM and regulation topics.

Maryland (Divley): Worked with Syngenta on cross-pollination from Bt to refuge corn and impact on corn earworm. Had conversations with Monsanto on USDA BRAG project on aquatic risk assessment (Bt). Stream runoff risk negligible. Tissue analysis after harvest found long residual of Bt in plant tissues, very little residue in Cry1Ab, but up to 5 mos. in SmartStax as measured by ECB bioassay in 7 day assay. Presented brown marmorated stink bug in corn talks, honey bee and seed treatment talks, etc.

Delaware (Mason): Wilmington News Journal, article. Includes IRM and NC205 research in college course content.

USDA ARS, Ames, IA (Hellmich): presented non-target organism work and committee service with international audience. Organized ESA symposium on international GMO regulation. Gave invited presentation to China Agricultural University on Bt corn and ECB and CRW. Planning a workshop in Ames summer 2013 with 15 scientists from Africa field and lab tests on non-target organisms. Trying to influence regulatory policy in Africa and Asia.

USDA ARS, Ames, IA (Sappington): Organized a symposium at the international congress of entomology in South Korea. Gave invited talk to Chinese Academy of Sciences on Lepidoptera flight mill work.

New York: Elson Shields received IPM award, Eastern branch ESA.

North Dakota (Knodel): Pheromone trap network for ECB in non-Bt area of northern ND indicated of E and Z strains, majority are Z strains. Also trapped SW North Dakota and picked up ECB, surprised at seasonal numbers of 300-400 moths.

Pennsylvania (Tooker): True armyworm outbreak 2012 garnered media and PA Dept. of Ag. attention (first and second generations a problem). Brown marmorated stink bug was found in corn and garnered lots of media attention. Co-organized 2012 ESA symposium on IPM and transgenic crops and seed treatments. TAW mostly in small grains and hay.

Nebraska (Hunt): Western bean cutworm binomial sampling plan is available at the Apple App store (free).

Guelph, Canada (Smith): True armyworm outbreak in spring 2012 on small grains, but 2nd generation was suppressed by parasitism.

Ohio (Michel): Brown marmorated stink bug in corn. This was a year of miscellaneous odd pests. Suggestion for future NC205 (and NCCC46) project to incorporate non-lep pests like stink bugs in corn.

Louisiana (Huang): Invited to China to speak about transgenic crops in USA, gave ESA presentation on FAW in the south, resistance to Cry1F, and an EPA requested talk. There was internal EPA discussion/review of this work. Invited industry talks on FAW Cry1F resistance were given. Reported benefits of planting Bt corn to LA Corn Promotion Board. ECB not widespread in LA. Received two LSU awards.

NCR 327 Progress: (Mason) Requires $25-30K to complete publication. Working through ISU to publish with Erin Hodgon. Need to find funding up front, which is a challenge. Regional IPM Center contributions may be pursued. Another possibility is for NC-205 members (each experimental station) to put up about 2K each, with some possibility of return from sales profit. If/when money found, need text review again. Pat Porter offered to try iBooks Author, self-publishing e-book format, easier than In Design.

Tom Hunt (and Mason) will call S, NC, and E IPM Center Directors re: 205 publication support.

Invited presentations:
Holly Johnson (Mason Lab) - Presentation on FAW larval movement on Bt Corn
1. Determine diff. early and late instar movement and survival.
2. Characterize larval injury to plants.
A DuPont/Pioneer, Univ. of NE, Univ of Delaware, ISDA (Ames IA) collaboration (Hellmich, Mason, Hunt)
Results: Late instars were rarely recovered across entries. Greatest from pure-stand refuge, and clusters where they started on refuge. Most of larvae were recovered from center infested plant. Also see a dispersal from center refuge plant. Feeding damage combined (not early and late instars).
Conclusions (preliminary): Pure stand refuge had greater percent recovery on adjacent plants by late instars, fewer when Bt were central plants (Most from central egardless). Transgenic plants adjacent to the refuge had minor to no damage.

Fei Yang (PhD LSU, Huang Lab)- Presentation Effect of pollen contamination on larval survival, pupation, and plant injury on corn earworm in seed blends of Bt and non-Bt corn. 80% of kernels in non-Bt refuge were expressing Bt toxin. CEW does not have oviposition preference between Bt and non-Bt plants. No sig. diff in kernel damage between non-Bt and RIB non-Bt plants. No sig. diff kernel damage between pure non-Bt and RIB non-Bt plants (nor eggs/silk, larvae/ear, cm damage). Development of CEW on RIB non-Bt was delayed compared to that on pure non-Bt plants. Also did a field study with SmartStax and isoline.

Pat Porter - Compared FAW and CEW in refuge blends and to non-Bt corn 12 row away (strips). Seed blends had far fewer live larvae recovered from non-Bt ears, far less damage on non-Bt ears, significantly less tip damage (CEW+FAW), numerically less lower ear damage (FAW).

Are Yield Differences in Blends Only Due to Direct Insect Damage?
There is sig. damage in whorl stage corn, which disadvantages damaged plant (competition). Neighbors are most often undamaged Bt plants.

5:00 - Adjourn for day.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

8:00 - 2012 Annual meeting minutes were approved. Tom Hunt was nominated and elected to continue as Chair for 2013 on current project.

State Reports: State Reports and Discussion, by Objective: Research, extension, and outreach reports were presented by state representatives to NC-205. Discussion ranged over a variety of NC-205 objective-related topics.

Other Discussion: (Tooker) - Leland Glenna PSU, rural sociologist requested to survey members of the group (and NCCC-46) with respect to interaction with Industry. NCCC-46 asked that Leland write up a list of questions and objectives for March meeting. He takes a non-partisan approach, including industry biotech companies. NC205 committee is supportive of idea. Tom Hunt will send questions and reprints of previous articles to group.

Chuck Mason Introduced the idea of insect reserve (public variety of corn planted in each location) where you could go to find populations not affected by Bt proteins. Is there support from the group, does this make good scientific sense?

Galen Dively depends on what your objectives are. Non-Bt sweet corn gives you a good sweet corn resistance development screen. Think about it for this year, maybe revisit in the future.

3:00 ADJOURN 2013 NC-205 Annual Meeting.

Accomplishments

Nebraskas annual monitoring of ECB susceptibility sponsored by ABSTC has not indicated changes in susceptibility going on 18 years for Cry1Ab, Cry1F, 2Ab and 105 (SmartStax). Illinois Cooperative Ag Pest survey coordinator is monitoring BMSB interceptions. Nebraska has developed a WBC threshold (binomial sampling plan) App available at Apple store. Minnesota published an Environmental Entomology article on contamination and management of resistance evolution to high-dose transgenic insecticidal crops. Iowa has developed a method using Coates molecular markers to return to a pure Z strain colony in Iowa. This is an improvement over current methods, as you can check different life stages and both males and females with this technique. Nebraska is developing ECB first and second generation threshold decisions mobile apps. Michigan and Wisconsin published a Handy Bt Trait Table which is utilized nationally. A chapter R. Peshin, and D. Pimental (eds.), Integrated Pest Management Experiences with Implementation, Vol. 4, Springer (in press), Emerging issues in Integrated Pest Management implementation and adoption in the North Central USA, emphasized to the lay public, regulators, and scientists throughout the world that the source of problems with developing insect and weed resistance to transgenic corn are not due to the new technologies themselves, but to inadequate integration into an IPM framework. A High-throughput transcriptome sequencing for SNP and gene discovery in a moth (Environmental Entomology (2012) 41:997-1007) provides significant genetic resources for future research on western bean cutworm, and demonstrates the power of applying second-generation sequencing to previously under-studied species. The review Population genetics strategies to characterize long-distance dispersal of insects Kyung Seok Kim and Thomas W. Sappington illustrates the kinds and range of problems impacted by insect dispersal that can be addressed through application of population genetics strategies. A practical guide to Microsatellite data analysis for population genetics (Kyung Seok Kim and Thomas W. Sappington) was published that uses microsatellites in population genetics applications that will make it possible for both students and experienced scientists to analyze and apply their genotype data immediately to questions related to gene flow and population genetic structure. It provides links to freeware and details of pitfalls and other considerations in working with such data, that usually one must learn by trial-and-error. A trapping network for Western bean cutworm was established (WBC, http://thebugspot.org/WBC, Fig. 2A) in collaboration with Dr. Andy Michel from Ohio State University. In 2012 150 unique sites in Michigan were established. Volunteers entered trap counts at the web site www.msuent.com. At the end of each week, we mapped the trap catch, and made the data available on the web site and through the Fast Fonz Facts email newsletter. A keynote address to the 4th World Congress on Rural Life (Papal Consul on Justice and Peace) was presented at the Vatican using data from this project. Many additional invited presentations were made all on different topics using data from this project. For example, six were given at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Applied Entomology and Zoology, Tomio, Nara, Japan; University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota; Embrapa, Cenargen, Brasilia, DF, Brazil; and the International Conference on Modern Biotechnologies: Sustainable Innovation and Regulatory Needs, Penang, Malaysia. Hands-on trainings on corn insect pests were conducted at the 2012 Eastern Crop Scout School including use of pheromone traps (Iowa and New York lures) for monitoring for European corn borer populations in non-Bt field corn in north central and southwest North Dakota in 2012. A series of videos was developed on corn and soybean IPM in collaboration with the UW--Madison Integrated Pest and Crop Management program (IPCM). Available at: http://ipcm.wisc.edu/video/

Publications

Cheng, Y. X., L. Z. Luo, X. F. Jiang, and T. W. Sappington. 2012. Synchronized oviposition triggered by migratory flight intensifies larval outbreaks of beet webworm. PLoS ONE 7(2): e31562. Jiang, X., H. Zhai, L. Wang, L. Luo, T. W. Sappington, and L. Zhang. 2012. Cloning of the heat shock protein 90 and 70 genes from the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, and expression characteristics in relation to thermal stress and development. Cell Stress and Chaperones 17: 67-80. Hellmich, R. L. & Hellmich, K. A. (2012) Use and Impact of Bt Maize. Nature Education Knowledge 3(10):4. Miller, Nicholas J., Jing Sun, Thomas W Sappington. 2012. High-throughput transcriptome sequencing for SNP and gene discovery in a moth. Environmental Entomology 41:997-1007. Xie, Daosong, Lizhi Luo, Thomas W. Sappington, Xingfu Jiang, Lei Zhang. 2012. Comparison of Reproductive and Flight Capacity of Loxostege sticticalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), Developing From Diapause and Non-Diapause Larvae. Environmental Entomology 41:1199-1207. Romeis, J., et al. Deriving criteria to select arthropod species for laboratory tests to assess the ecological risks from cultivating arthropod-resistant genetically engineered crops. Chemosphere, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.09.035. Siegfried, B.D. and R.L. Hellmich. 2012. Understanding successful resistance management: The European corn borer and Bt corn in the United States. Special Issue of GM Crops and Foods 3: 184-193. Paula-Moraes, S. V., T. E. Hunt, R. J. Wright, G. L. Hein, and E. E. Blankenship. 2012. On-Plant Movement and Feeding of Western Bean Cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Early Instars on Corn. Environ. Entomol. 41(6): 1494-1500. Lindroth, E., T. E. Hunt, S. R. Skoda, M. D. Culy, D. Lee, and J. E. Foster. 2012. Population Genetics of the Western Bean Cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Across the United States. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 105(5): 685-692. Hein, G. L., K.L. Steffey, W.D. Hutchison, M.E. Rice, C.D. Pilcher, T.E. Hunt. 2012. Reply to Greenpeace Letter to the Editor Concerning Hutchison et al. (2011). J. Integ. Pest Mngmt. 3(3): 1-2. Yao, J., L. L. Buschman, B. Oppert, C. Khajuria, K. Y. Zhu. 2012. Characterization of cDNAs encoding serine proteases and their transcriptional responses to Cry1Ab protoxin in the gut of Ostrinia nubilalis larvae. PLoS ONE 7(8): e44090. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0044090 David S. Wangila, D.S., B.R. Leonard, Y. Bai, G.P. Head, and F. Huang. 2012. Larval survival and plant injury of Cry1Ab-susceptible, -resistant, and -heterozygous genotypes of the sugarcane borer on transgenic corn containing single or pyramided Bt genes. Crop Protect. 42:108-115. Yang, Y., Y.-C. Zhu, Y-C., J. Ottea1, C. Husseneder, B. R. Leonard, C. Abel, R, Luttrell, and F. Huang. 2012. Characterization and mRNA quantitative analyses of cDNAs encoding three trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like proteinases in Cry1Ab-susceptible and -resistant strains of sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis. Insect Science. DOI 10.1111/j.1744-7917.2012.01514.x Huang, F., M.N. Ghimire, B.R. Leonard, C.D. Daves, R. Levy, J. Baldwin. 2012. Extended monitoring of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab maize in Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). GM Crop. Food: Biotech. Agri. Food Chain. 3:245-254. Huang, F., M.N. Ghimire, B. R. Leonard, Y-C. Zhu, and G. Head.2012. Susceptibility of field populations of sugarcane borer from non-Bt and Bt maize plants to five individual Cry toxins. Ins. Sci. 19:570-578. Bai, Y., R.Yan, G. Ye, F. Huang, D.S. Wangila, J. Wang, and J. Cheng. 2012. Field response of aboveground non-target arthropod community to transgenic Bt-Cry1Ab rice plant residues in postharvest seasons. Transgenic Res. 21:10231032. Guo, Z., Y.C. Zhu, F. Huang, R. Luttrell, and R. Leonard. 2012. Microarray analysis of global gene regulation in the Cry1Ab-resistance and - susceptible strains of Diatraea saccharalis. Pest Manag Sci 2012; 68: 718730. Wang, C, G. Henderson, F. Huang, B. Gautam, and C. Zhu. 2012. Survival rate, food consumption, and tunneling of the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) feeding on Bt and non-Bt maize. Sociobiol. 59:1335-1350. Hu, Y. and D. A. Andow. 2011. Field observations of Ostrinia nubilalis eclosion and posteclosionn activity of females around their natal plants. Insect Science 18: 712-718. DOI 10.1111/j.1744-7917.2011.01408.x Glaum, P. R., A. R. Ives and D. A. Andow. 2012. Contamination and management of resistance evolution to high-dose transgenic insecticidal crops. Theoretical Ecology 5: 195-209. DOI 10.1007/s12080-010-0109-6 Andow, D. A. and G. L. Lövei. 2012. Cry toxins in transgenic plants have direct effects on natural enemies in the laboratory. Environmental Entomology 41(5): 1045-47. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/EN11238 Burkness, EC. & W.D. Hutchison. 2012. Bt Pollen Dispersal and Bt Kernel Mosaics: Integrity of Non-Bt Refugia for Lepidopteran resistance management in Maize. J. Econ. Entomol. 105(5): 1773-1780. White, J.A., E.C. Burkness, and W.D. Hutchison. 2012. Biased sex ratios, mating frequency and Nosema prevalence in European corn borer, at low population densities. J. of Applied Entomol. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2012.01738.x (in press): http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/%28ISSN%291439-0418/earlyview Bell, J.R., E.C. Burkness, A.E. Milne, D.W. Onstad, M. Abrahamson, K.L. Hamilton, and W.D. Hutchison. 2012. Putting the brakes on a cycle: bottom-up effects damp cycle amplitude. Ecology Letters 15: 310-318. Kang, J., D.W. Onstad, R.L. Hellmich, S.E. Moser, W.D. Hutchison & J.R. Prasifka. 2012. European corn borer model for studying the effect of non-transgenic corn ears fertilized by pollen of corn expressing Cry toxin. Environ. Entomol. 41(1): 200-211. Morey, A.C., W.D. Hutchison, R.C. Venette & E.C. Burkness. 2012. Cold hardiness of corn earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) pupae. Environ. Entomol. 41(1): 172-179. Dutra, C.C., R.L. Koch, E.C. Burkness, M. Meissle, J. Romeis, W.D. Hutchison and M.G. Fernandes. 2012. Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) exhibits no preference between Bt and non-Bt maize fed Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). PLoS One. 7(9): e44867. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0044867 Shelton, A. M., S. Naranjo, J. Romeis, and R. H. Hellmich. 2012. Errors in Logic and Statistics Plague a Meta-Analysis (response to Andow et al. 2012). Environ. Entomol. 41:1047-9. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/EN11238 Tian, J., H. L. Collins, J. Romeis, S. E. Naranjo, R. L. Hellmich and A. M. Shelton. 2012. Using field-evolved resistance to Cry1F maize in a lepidopteran pest to demonstrate no adverse effects of Cry1F on one of its major predators. Transgenic Research. 21:1303-1310. DOI 10.1007/s11248-012-9604-4. Paula-Moraes, Silvana V., Wayne J. Ohnesorg, Eric C. Burkness, Gary L. Hein, Thomas E. Hunt, Robert J. Wright and William D. Hutchison. 2012. Western Bean Cutworm Speed Scouting. Apple iPod Application, Apple, Inc. Paula-Moraes, Silvana V., Wayne J. Ohnesorg, Eric C. Burkness, Gary L. Hein, Thomas E. Hunt, Robert J. Wright and William D. Hutchison. 2012. Western Bean Cutworm Speed Scouting Spreadsheet EC1585. Dana, Logan A., Thomas E. Hunt. 2012. Control of Second Generation European Corn Borer, 2011. Arthropod Management Tests 2012, Vol. 37, Pg. F10.

Impact Statements

EPA, which must approve the conditions under which Bt hybrids are commercialized, relies on information from NC205 as a key input for decision support in controlling European corn borer. This research is used to support the need for mixed seed refuges, refuges outside of Bt corn fields, and has influenced EPA staff scientists to make more cautious recommendations to manage resistance in GM corn.
University, government, and industry scientists use data from NC205 as they develop models to predict rates of development and geographic spread of resistance of European corn borer to transgenic corn.
Two sampling tools, Western Bean Cutworm Speed Scouting (Apple iPod Application, Paula-Moraes et al. 2012), and Western Bean Cutworm Speed Scouting Spreadsheet EC1585 (downloadable spreadsheet, Paula-Moraes et al. 2012) reduce field sampling time and labor by 50% in comparison earlier protocols.
Handy Bt Trait Table (www.msuent.com, DiFonzo and Cullen) summarizes the currently available Bt traits and their spectrum of control and is being used widely from Texas and across the Corn Belt to assist farmers in hybrid selection.
Verbal and written communication of NC-205 data by committee members has influenced foreign researchers to alter the way they screen for resistance (India), to justify commercial use of Bt corn (Europe), and to intensify discussions to revise risk assessment methodologies (Japan).
NC205-based information on Bt resistance management of European corn borer is currently utilized by most of the major seed and biotechnology companies as background data to support registrations of transgenic corn hybrids.
Growers know whether or not to integrate biological control into sweet corn management plans thanks to ca. 50 NC205-based presentations on the economics of using Trichogramma ostriniae. Commercial sales of this biological control agent increased to approximately 1000 acre equivalents in 2010 alone.
Growers contemplating planting switchgrass, a native perennial prairie grass that harbors corn lepidoperan pests and is being developed for large scale planting as a biofuel feedstock, now have information on economically important insect species.

Date of Annual Report: 04/04/2013

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 03/12/2013 - 03/13/2013
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2012 - 03/01/2013

Participants

David Andow (University of Minnesota);
Theresa Bauer (University of Minnesota);
Tony Burd (Syngenta);
Matthew Carroll (Monsanto);
Brad Coates (USDA-ARS);
Nathan Fields (National Corn Growers Association);
Ron Flannagan (Monsanto);
Wade French (USDA-ARS, Brookings, SD);
Billy Fuller (South Dakota State University);
Aaron Gassmann (Iowa State University);
Laura Higgins (DuPont Pioneer);
Andrea Hitchon (University of Guelph, graduate student);
Erin Hodgson (Iowa State University);
Terry Hurley (University of Minnesota);
Chuck Mason (University of Delaware);
Bradley McManus (South Dakota State University);
Lance Meinke (University of Nebraska);
Paul Mitchell (University of Wisconsin);
Ken Ostlie (University of Minnesota);
Elizabeth Owens (DuPont Pioneer);
Isaac Oyediran (Syngenta);
Clinton Pilcher (DuPont Pioneer);
Dusty Post (Monsanto);
Steve Pueppke (Michigan State University) (Administrative Advisor);
Tom Sappington (USDA-ARS, Iowa);
Caydee Savinelli (Syngenta);
Blair Siegfried (University of Nebraska);
Jocelyn Smith (University of Guelph);
Bob Wright (University of Nebraska);
By phone: Alan Reynolds (EPA);
By phone: Christina DiFonzo (Michigan State University)

Brief Summary of Minutes

NCCC46/NC205 Interim Joint Meeting on IRM

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

Solicited and received detailed feedback from Committee participants, industry, EPA, and National Corn Growers Association representatives on the draft manuscript, "Early detection and remediation of resistance in corn rootworms to Bt corn," prepared by several members of NCCC46 and NC205, intended for peer-reviewed publication. Main topics included current regulations, definitions of unexpected damage and confirmed resistance, and recommended tactics for mitigation of western corn rootworm resistance to Bt corn.

Publications

Impact Statements

Corn growers in states on margins of Corn Belt are receiving a unified message from public-sector entomologists on importance of timely reporting of unexpected damage to Bt corn by western corn rootworm, and using crop rotation as the best agronomic method for slowing resistance development on their farms.

Date of Annual Report: 07/01/2014

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 01/27/2014 - 01/30/2014
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2012 - 11/01/2013

Participants

Sappington, Tom (Tom.Sappington@ars.usda.gov), ARS, Ames, IA;
Hunt, Tom (thunt2@unl.edu), Univ. of Nebraska, Concord NE;
Porter, Pat (p-porter@tamu.edu), Texas A&M;
Spencer, Joe (spencer1@illinois.edu), University of Illinois;
Hellmich, Rick (Richard.Helmich@ars.usda.gov), ARS, Ames, IA;
Mason, Chuck (mason@udel.edu), University of Delaware;
Fisher, Kelsey (kefisher@udel.edu), University of Delaware;
Johnson, Holly (hollylyn@udel.edu), University of Delaware;
Coates, Brad (Brad.Coats@ars.usda.gov), ARS, Ames, IA;
Huang, Fangneng (fhuang@agcenter.lsu.edu), LSU;
McCornack, Brian (mccornac@ksu.edu), Kansas State University;
Michel, Andy (michel.70@osu.edu;
Hitchon, Andrea (ahitchon@uoguelph.ca), University of Guelph, Canada;
Smith, Jocelyn (jsmith@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca), University of Guelph, Canada;
Difonzo, Chris (difonzo@msu.edu), MSU;
Pueppke, Steve (pueppke@msu.edu), Michigan State University;
Paula-Moraes, Silvana (silvana.moraes@embrapa.br), Embrapa Cerrados/BRAZIL;
Eduardo Pannuti, Luiz (luizpannuti@yahoo.com.br), University of Nebraska/UNESP, Brazil;
Bynum, Ed (ebynum@ag.tamu.edu), Texas A&M;
Buntin, David (gbuntin@uga.edu), University of Georgia;
Mitchell, Paul (pdmitchell@wisc.edu), University of Wisconsin;
Knodel, Janet (janet.knodel@ndsu.edu), North Dakota State University;
Tooker, John (tooker@psu.edu), Penn State;
Hurley, Terry (tmh@umn.edu). University of Minnesota;
Johnson, Wendy (wendyann@ksu.edu), Kansas State University;
Gassmann, Aaron (aaronjg@iastate.edu(, Iowa State University;

Brief Summary of Minutes

Annual Meeting of the Multi-State Regional Research Committee NC-205 Ecology and Management of European Corn Borer and Other Lepidopteran Pests of Corn

January 27-28, 2014

DoubleTree by Hilton
3342 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 231-1234

Monday, January 27, 2014

8:00 - Welcome and call to order: Tom Hunt

Confidentiality and the proper use of state report information was discussed. We often report preliminary or first year research data, research ideas, etc. which are not ready for distribution. In electronic age, things get shared easily. One should always get permission to use information presented at meeting or in reports.

Tom Sappington encouraged members to attend the International Working Group on Ostrinia (IWGO) and the NC205/Nccc46 joint meeting in Chicago during April.

Tom Hunt initiated discussion on holding an annual NC205 meeting in Brazil. Silvana Paula-Moraes (Embrapa, Brasilia, Brazil) is an official member and Dave Andow will be in Brazil for at least two years, so local arrangements and tours could be easily facilitated. Rick Hellmich noted it would be useful to see Helicoverpa armigera first hand, as we may see it in U.S. in future. Steve Pueppke was not sure procedures, but believed it would not be a problem. Committee officers will pursue idea for 2016 annual meeting.

Time and place committee was established (Ed Bynum and Pat Porter) and Texas was suggested for 2015 annual meeting.

Nominating committee was established (Chuck Mason and Rick Hellmich). Tom Hunt will Chair the 2015 annual meeting and turn the Chair over to Tom Sappington as current project ends September 30, 2015.

Administrative Advisor Report (Steve Pueppke): Need to make sure impact statements are in correct location on NIMSS. Tom Hunt will forward them to Steve. The new issues and objectives for the project re-write and renewal are due on September 15, 2014. Entire project is due by December 1, 2014. Should not be any problems with approval, but we need to decide what we want to do in the next project at this meeting.

Recap of Activities and Influence:

Sappington: Discussed IWGO.

Texas (Porter/Bynum): IRM compliance up to 20% now, apparently because industry has been
cracking down. A new chemistry is available to spray for caterpillars (phenoxifure) w/o flaring
spider mites. Ed is working w/ Pioneer, and Pat and Ed have been asked to present to their field
people. There is a resurgence of sugar cane aphid on sorghum; so bad it is clogging combines.
Currently an issue in southern TX and LA, but no reason it can't move north.

Nebraska (Hunt): Observed H. armigera in Brazil. It is a significant problem with many hosts,
including corn. Growers in Nebraska are wondering why refuge is still needed if Industry is
moving to RIBs. They believe trend is that RIB is the future for everything, and getting that
message from various sales personnel. There are more reports of less than expected control of
western bean cutworm on Cry1F corn.

Illinois (Spencer): There is very good refuge compliance, mainly because of RIB products. There
is much more chemical use in corn (soil and aerial), partly because of resurgence of CRW
problem in rotated corn.

Iowa (Hellmich/Coates): Conducted an environmental risk assessment workshop, which
Was attended by people from 8 countries. Conducted a 5-d workshop on identifying non-targets. Most scientists were regulators so they didn't have direct experience. It also had a field component including pit fall traps and processing captures.

Delaware (Mason): Teaches about 140 undergrads/year and he tries to incorporate information on IRM and transgenics. Uses ECB as a successful example. Emphasizes the importance of IRM to preserve the technology. Important to call it technology, because old term of pesticidal plant gives students the wrong idea about what is in the plant. Students have a significant interest in GMOs.

Louisiana (Huang): Corn earworm causing significant losses. Ear rot may or may not be included. Fall armyworm north of LA is highly resistant to Bt (confirmed).

Kansas (Johnson): Received grant through eIPM which involves a decision support system for wheat that includes variety selection (easier to do that with wheat than corn). Some thought that such a system would be good for corn.

Ohio (Michel): Made presentation on WBC in New Hampshire, and it is becoming a problem in Maine (mainly focused on sweetcorn). There is a lot of interest in GMO labeling, and Andy was asked to serve on a panel to be an expert on GMOs. This is growers’ way of pushing back against anti-GMOs. Food labeling might come up in Ohio. "Food Dialogues" is the name of the organization that has put things together.

Ontario (Smith): Most significant issue in Ontario now is neonicotinoids and bee mortality. In 2012 & 2013 there were a number of bee-kill incidents. Over 70% had neonic residues associated. Some calls for an outright ban, and neonics may be lost in 2014. Dust of neonics seems to be the cause. Bayer has a new replacement for talc, but it does not seem as good as company claims. Nevertheless, there is now a requirement that everyone use the Bayer product.

Brazil (Paula-Moraes): The is a big discussion in Brazil about IRM because currently there are no requirements. Brazil now has Bt soybeans as well as corn and cotton. Previously focus was on biodiversity questions. Growers are actually asking for regulations because they see the importance. Silvana trying to emphasize that regulation is not the only answer, and there is a need to have a different mind-set among growers.

Georgia (Buntin): Consultants are worried about possibility of H. armigera in the U.S. There is a lot of talk about transgenic soybeans. Fall armyworm outbreaks have growers starting to take refuge requirements more seriously. Bt11 sweetcorn has failed for corn earworm in mid-south.

Invited presentations:

Silvana Paula-Moraes, Helicoverpa armigera in Brazil: Collected adults with light traps, and also collected larvae. Used morphology and molecular analysis in identification (can differentiate from H. zea via aedeagus). Helicoverpa armigera was detected in cotton, corn and soybeans. Pathways into Brazil are not known, but literature cites eggs and neonates on ornamental plants, tomato fruits or cotton bolls, mint or basil. In the USA, it is reported that >4000 interceptions of larvae since 1985, and 20 interceptions in 2003. Adults are facultative migrants responding to environmental cues, with 250-1000 km migratory flights. Pupae undergo facultative diapause. To facilitate IPM and IRM development, work is needed on identification and differentiation of H. zea (molecular not practical over large areas; trying to create a larval key), ecology, behavior, survey and sampling, management decision making (EIL and ET), and how to manage. A research portfolio is being developed by Embrapa. Extension field days are needed to educate growers. Silvana's current research on H. armigera addresses the need to integrate information on it being a mobile pest interacting with a sequence of crops (dispersal and migration + polyphagy + several generations), region specific information related to the cropping system (are here wild hosts, trap crops), and trying to understand landscape effects and population source hosts.

Holly Johnson, Fall Armyworm Larval Movement and Survival Within Seed Blends: Not a big factor in block refuge, but important with an integrated refuge. Limited and/or late-instar exposure can promote resistance. Study was conducted in Delaware, Neb, & IA.

Pat Porter, RIB = Refuge in a Bag or Risk in a Bag: Examined and reported on cross pollination. Natural refuge would avoid much of this risk with no refuge in the crop itself and companies should take a hard look at this.

Jocelyn Smith, Western bean Cutworm Ontario Update 2013: The big network of WBC trapping will end this year. Major problem areas are in the sandy soils. Catch numbers high in some areas in both dry beans and corn, but don't have significant crop damage. Not sure why - natural refuge? Yield loss usually is not the issue, but rather mycotoxin introduction to the ears. WBC can increase mycotoxins, but sometimes mycotoxins are high in low-WBC pressure areas. Seeing significant damage in SmartStax RIB fields. Usually farmers won't spray for WBC because yield loss isn't that significant, but fusarium is an issue. Cry1F WBC tolerance to Cry1F is now being observed. Viptera works very well, but few use it.

LUNCH

1:30 - State Reports and Discussion, by State: Research, extension, and outreach reports were presented by state representatives to NC-205. Discussion ranged over a variety of NC-205 objective-related topics.

NC205 Project Rewrite: Discussed possible merger with NCCC46. Since we always meet together, and many members of both committees, we always discuss this at project renewal time. Plusses, minuses, logistics etc. were discussed (e.g. NC205 funded, NCCC46 not). Encouraged by Pueppke to do what makes the most strategic sense and details will sort out. Momentum in NC205 was to combine, but this needs to be discussed with NCCC46 and a formal vote taken by each committee (Appendix E members). Straw poll taken: 9 in favor; 1 opposed; 2 undecided. New title, etc. was discussed.

5:00 - Adjourn for the day

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Nominating Committee Report: Mason moves to elect current Chair (Tom Hunt) and current Secretary (Tom Sappington). Motion passed with no dissent.

Time and Place Report: Voted for San Antonio. Porter will take to NCCC46 for concurrence. Porte/Bynum will look for a mid-range hotel (e.g., $120 range). We will also want to start planning for a trip to Brazil in 2015.

Wisconson (Mitchell): Two presentations were made.
1) IPM Toolkit and UW Extension Mobile Apps. (http://ipcm.wisc.edu/apps/). IPM Toolkit is free with 4 features: news reader, video browser (YouTube channels), publication library (some in pdf, but moving toward ePubs), picture browser. Trying to get it to where users can localize the IPM Tool Kit to their state. Not every state will have compatible system. If you or someone in your state is interested, contact Roger Schmidt.
2) Measuring Agricultural Sustainability. Sustainability is no longer "Alternative Ag". All companies and commodity organizations use this term at least on paper. There are Ag sustainability problems (e.g. insect & weed resistance, soil erosion, dead zone in Gulf, pollinator problems and neonics, etc.). National Initiative for Sustainable Agriculture (NISA) opportunities require a practical ag sustainability program which engages farmers, is science based, cost effective, clearly focused, educational, harmonized whole-farm oriented, regionally appropriate, flexible, anonymous, enhances communication, and complementary with other programs. Growers are surveyed and representative group and local experts are tasked with preparing report on their regional "good management practices". It is communicated via a glossy 2-page summary, longer 6-page summary, 12-pager in the works, journal papers in progress. Most people/customers/retailers are happy with the 2-pager. The General Problem: How do you measure adoption conveniently when there are dozens to hundreds of practices?
Want to document improvement over time. Some practices involve tradeoffs, whereas some are complimentary. Main point: adoption data consists of many variables, some discrete, many correlated. Using data envelope analysis with principal components, which reduces the number of variables. Data envelope analysis (DEA); come up with a composite score (e.g., PC1 about % ac scouted, PC2 about irrigation practices, PC3 about weather station and soil moisture monitoring, etc.). DEA takes plots of PCs against each other and measures the "frontier" (highest scores) and index is the distance a farmer is from the frontier. End up with leaders and laggards for a given commodity. How do we help the Leaders to keep getting better? How do we help the Laggards to improve? Help set research and outreach priorities at the individual and industry level.

Continue State Reports and Discussion, by State: Research, extension, and outreach reports were presented by state representatives to NC-205. Discussion ranged over a variety of NC-205 objective-related topics.

Rewrite continued:Recap of idea of a committee merger. May not save the number of days for the meeting, but will make several things more efficient.

Starting draft of new title and objectives of "merged" committee:
Ecology and Management of Arthropods in Corn
1. Investigate the relationship between pest management technologies and the agricultural environment.
2. Investigate the ecology, biology, evolution, genetics, and behavior of corn arthropods.
3. Develop and assess IPM and IRM systems for the arthropod complex in corn.
4. Employ diverse delivery methods to disseminate information related to sustainable management of corn arthropod pests.

Hunt: Would like writing leaders per objective, preferably someone who is involved in those objectives. If NCCC46 agrees to merge, we may need to get co-leaders.

Volunteers:
Obj. 1 -- Rick Hellmich
Obj. 2 -- Tom Sappington and Chuck Mason
Obj. 3 -- Dave Buntin and Tom Hunt
Obj. 4 -- Janet Knodel and Brian McCornack and Pat Porter

Need to be sure to make these objectives multi-state in scope. Of course, objectives, title and such may be adjusted if merger approved.

Hunt: Is there a place on the NIMSS site where we could put documents that are committee member eyes only? Or links to layman type video explaining the group, etc.? Pueppke says this should be possible.

Other business:

Approval of the 2013 minutes: Mason moved they be accepted, Buntin seconded, minutes approved.

Porter: NC205/NCCC46 Image galleries.
NC205 gallery is more complete than NCCC46. The images are donated with the understanding that they can be used freely in Extension papers and publications. Each photo is tagged with the donator and you can contact them for permission to use if wanted/necessary. If anyone has photos they would like to donate, contact Pat.

Dates for next meeting: Recommend Jan 26-29, 2015. If committees not merged, 46 will go early in the week (even if vote to merge, merger will likely not happen until later than 2015 annual meeting).

Hellmich: Suggest going to 2 or 3 year terms for Chair (discuss with NCCC46).

Buntin: Move to adjourn, Porter seconded.

12:00 Noon: ADJOURN 2014 NC-205 Annual Meeting.

Accomplishments

Initial results from a collaborative project (Nebraska, Iowa USDA-ARS, Delaware, and Pioneer) examining fall armyworm movement on vegetative stage Bt and non-Bt corn indicate that although some larvae can move several plants away from initial infested plant, RIB refuge strategy should be adequate for IRM for this pest. Materials were developed and presented to farmers, consultants, and other Ag professionals on the importance of resistance management and IRM compliance at numerous Clinics, Conferences, newsletters, websites, and various radio and newspaper venues. These articles covered both transgenic corn and more traditional insecticides for corn insect pests. During 2012-2013, multiple field trials and laboratory assays demonstrated that the currently adopted RIB method is inappropriate for providing CEW refuge populations. The results suggest that the 95: 5% RIB can’t provide the expected refuge populations for resistance management in the areas where CEW can overwinter and is a major target of Bt corn, such as in the south region of the U.S. Michigan and Wisconsin published an updated Handy Bt Trait Table which is utilized nationally. IPM Toolkit and UW Extension Mobile Apps. (http://ipcm.wisc.edu/apps/). Jarvi, K., Hunt, T., Dana, L. A. Control of Rootworm Larvae with Insecticides in Corn, 2013. Arthropod Management Tests. Entomological Society of America. Wright, R., Hunt, T., Jarvi, K. (2013). Corn cutworms. (pp. 4). Lincoln NE: NebGuide G1153. UNL Extension. Hunt, T., Seymour, R., Hein, G. L., Wright, R., Paula-Moraes, S. (2013). Western Bean Cutworm Update. (pp. 26-30). Lincoln, NE: Western Bean Cutworm Update.. Proceedings of the 2013 Crop Production Clinics. Wright, R., Hunt, T., Seymour, R. (2013). Management of spider mites on corn and soybeans. (pp. 26-30). Lincoln, NE: Proceeding of 2013 Crop Production Clinics. UNL Extension. Roozeboom, K.L., D. R. Diaz, D. J. Jardine, R. J. Whitworth, C. R. Thompson. Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, Publication S54. Online at http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/bookstore/pubs/s54.pdf. Spider Mite Management in Corn - Ed Bynum, Texas A&M University, July 2013. http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/edcenter/seminars/corn/SpiderMites/ Corn Grain Loss to Fall Armyworm and its Associated Fungi, and Optimal Insecticide Spray Timing on the Texas Southern High Plains - Patrick Porter, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, July 2013. http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/edcenter/seminars/corn/FallArmyworm/ Management of Aflatoxin in Corn - Thomas Isakeit, Texas A&M University, October 2013. http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/edcenter/seminars/corn/Aflatoxin/

Publications

Palizada, S. A., Belay, D. K., Tiroesele, B., Mustafa, F., Ullah, M. I., Hunt, T., Molina-Ochoa, J., Skoda, S. R., Clark, P. T., Foster, J. E. (2013). Non Target Effect of Cry1 Ab and Cry Ab x Cry3 Bb1 Bt Transgenic Maize on Orius insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) Abundance. Entomology Ornithology Herpetology, 2, 107. Hanson, A. A., Paula-Moraes, S., Hunt, T., Hutchison, W. D. (2013). Supercooling Point of Western Bean Cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Collected in Eastern Nebraska. Great Lakes Entomologist, 46, 216-224. Paula-Moraes, S., Hunt, T., Wright, R., Hein, G. L., Blankenship, E. (2013). Western bean cutworm survival and the development of economic injury levels and economic thresholds in field corn. Journal of Economic Entomology, 106(3), 1274-1285. Petzold-Maxwell, Jennifer L. Blair D. Siegfried, Richard L. Hellmich, Craig A. Abel, Brad S. Coates, Terrence A. Spencer, and Aaron J. Gassmann. (in press). Effect of maize lines on fitness costs of Cry1F resistance in the European corn borer. J. Econ. Entomol. Velez, Ana Maria, Terence A. Spencer, Analiza P. Alves, André L. B. Crespo & Blair D. Siegfried. (in press). Fitness Costs of Cry1F Resistance in Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. J. Appl. Entomol. Véleza, A.M., T.A. Spencer, A.P. Alves, D. Moellenbeck, R.L. Meaghera, H. Chirakkala and B.D. Siegfried. 2013. Inheritance of Cry1F resistance, cross-resistance and frequency of resistant alleles in Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Bull Entomol Res. 103(6):700-13. Tan, S.Y.1, Cayabyab, B.F.2, Alcantara, E.P.3, Huang, F.4,He, K. L.5, Nickerson, K.6 and Siegfried, B.D. 2013. Comparative Binding of Ostrinia nubilalis, Ostrinia furnacalis and Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab and Cry1F Toxins. J. Invert. Pathol. 114: 234-40. Siegfried, Blair D., Murugesan Rangasamy, HaichuanWang, Terence Spencer, Chirakkal V Haridas, Brigitte Tenhumberg, Douglas V Sumerford and Nicholas P Storer. (in press). Estimating the frequency of Cry1F resistance in field populations of the European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Pest Manag. Sci. Jiang, Xing Fu, Jian Chen, Lei Zhang, Thomas W. Sappington, Li Zhi Luo. 2013. Increased Long-Flight Activity Triggered in Beet Armyworm by Larval Feeding on Diet Containing Cry1Ac Protoxin. PLoS ONE 8(5): e63554. Bowers, E., R. Hellmich, and G. Munkvold. 2013. Vip3Aa and Cry1Ab proteins in maize reduce Fusarium ear rot and fumonisins by deterring kernel injury from multiple Lepidopteran pests. World Mycotoxin Journal, 6 (2): 127-135. Carstens, Keri, Bonifacio Cayabyab, Adinda De Schrijver, Patricia G Gadaleta, Richard L Hellmich, Jörg Romeis, Nicholas Storer, Fernando H Valicente, and Michael Wach. 2014. Surrogate species selection for assessing potential adverse environmental impacts of genetically engineered insect-resistant plants on non-target organisms. GM Crops and Food: Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Chain 5:1, 1–5. Tian, Jun-Ce, Xiang-Ping Wang, Li-Ping Long, Jörg Romeis, Steven E. Naranjo, Richard L. Hellmich, Ping Wang, Elizabeth D. Earle, Anthony M. Shelton. 2013. Bt Crops Producing Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab and Cry1F Do Not Harm the Green Lacewing, Chrysoperla rufilabris. PLoS ONE 8(3): e60125. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0060125. Dyer, J.M., Sappington, T.W., Coates, B.S. 2013. Evaluation of tolerance to Bacillus thuringiensis toxins among western bean cutworm (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 106(6): 2467-2472. Kong, Hailong, Yunxia Cheng, Lizhi Luo, Thomas W. Sappington, Xingfu Jiang, and Lei Zhang. 2013. Density-dependent prophylaxis in crowded Beet Webworm, Loxostege sticticalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae to a parasitoid and a fungal pathogen. International Journal of Pest Management 59:174-179. Wang, Ling, Xingfu Jiang, Lizhi Luo, David Stanley, Thomas W. Sappington, and Lei Zhang. 2013. A cadherin-like protein influences Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab toxicity in the oriental armyworm, Mythimna separate. Environmental Microbiology Reports, 5: 438-443. Binning, Rachel R., Joel Coats, Xiaoxiao Kong, and Richard L. Hellmich. 2013. Susceptibility and Aversion of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Cry1F Bt Maize and Considerations for Insect Resistance Management. 2014. J. Econ. Entomol. 107(1): 000-000; DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/EC13352. Coates, Brad S., Douglas V. Sumerford , Richard L. Hellmich, Craig A. Abel. 2013. Unlinked genetic loci control the reduced transcription of aminopeptidase N 1 and 3 in the European corn borer and determine tolerance to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab toxin. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 43(12): 1152-1160. Coates , Brad S., Holly Johnson, Kyung-Seok Kim, Richard L. Hellmich, Craig A. Abel , Mason C, Thomas W. Sappington. 2013. Frequency of hybridization between Ostrinia nubilalis E-and Z-pheromone races in regions of sympatry within the United States. Ecology and Evolution 3(8): 2459-2470. Garczynski S, Coates BS, Unruh T, Schaeffer S, Jiwan D, Koepke T, Dhingra A. 2013. Application of Cydia pomonella expressed sequence tags: identification and expression of three general odorant binding proteins in codling moth. Insect Science 20(5): 559-574. Agunbiade TA, Coates BS, Kim KS, Forgacs D, Margam VM, Murdock LL, Ba M, Binso-Dabire CL, Baoua I, Ishiyaku MF, Manuele T, Pittendrich BR. 2012. The spatial genetic differentiation of the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata F. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) populations in West Africa. Bulletin of Entomological Research 102(5): 589-599. Kim, K. S., and T. W. Sappington. 2013. Microsatellite data analysis for population genetics. Pp. 271-295. In: S. K. Kantartzi (ed.), Microsatellites: Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, Humana Press, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, New York. Yang, F., J.A. Qureshi, B.R. Leonard, G.P. Head, Y. Niu, and F. Huang. 2013. Susceptibility of Louisiana and Florida populations of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to pyramided Bt corn containing Genuity®VT Double ProTM and SmartStaxTM traits. Florida Entomologist. 96:714-723. 4 Niu, Y., R.L. Meagher Jr, F. Yang, and F. Huang. 2013. Susceptibility of field populations of the fall armyworm (lepidopteran: Noctuidae) from Florida and Puerto Rico to purified Cry1F protein and corn leaf tissue containing single and pyramided Bt genes. Florida Entomologist. 96:701-713. Wangila, D.S., B.R. Leonard, M.N. Ghimire, Y. Bai, L. Zhang, Y. Yang, K.D. Emfinger, G.P. Head, F.Yang, Y. Niu, and F. Huang. 2013. Occurrence and larval movement of Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in seed mixes of non-Bt and Bt pyramid corn. Pest Manag. Sci. 69:1163-1172. Yang, Y., Y.-C. Zhu, Y-C., J. Ottea1, C. Husseneder, B. R. Leonard, C. Abel, R, Luttrell, and F. Huang. 2013. Characterization and mRNA quantitative analyses of cDNAs encoding three trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like proteinases in Cry1Ab-susceptible and -resistant strains of sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis. Insect Science. 20:485-496. Yang, F., F. Huang, J.A. Qureshi, B.R. Leonard, Y. Niu, L. Zhang, and D.S.Wangila. 2013. Susceptibility of Louisiana and Florida populations of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to transgenic Agrisure®VipteraTM 3111 maize. Crop Protect. 50:37-39. Zhang, L., F. Huang, B. R. Leonarda, M. Chen, T. Clark, Y. C. Zhu, D. S. Wangila, F. Yang, and Y. Niu. 2013. Susceptibility of Cry1Ab maize-resistant and –susceptible strains of sugarcane borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to four individual Cry proteins. J. Invertebr. Pathol. 112:267-272. Sek Yee Tan, S.Y, B. Cayabyab, E. Alcantara, F. Huang, K. He, K. Nickerson, B. Siegfried. 2013. Comparative binding of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab and Cry1F Toxins in Ostrinia nubilalis, Ostrinia furnacalis and Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). J. Invertebr. Pathol. 114: 234-240. David S. Wangila, D.S., B.R. Leonard, and F. Huang. 2013. Novel pyramided Bt corn is effective for controlling YieldGard-resistant sugarcane borer. Louis. Agr. 2013 Winter 12-13. Kerns, D.L, F. Huang, M.J. Hall, J.A. David, S. Brown, J. Beuzelin, T. Smith, D.R. Ring, D.P. Reed, A.L. Morgan, S.J. Johnson, and L. Foil. 2013. Louisiana Insect Pest Management Guide. LSU AgCenter. pp 38. Hanson, A.A., S. Paula-Moraes, T.E. Hunt, and W.D. Hutchison. 2013. Supercooling point of western bean cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) collected in eastern Nebraska. Great Lakes Entomologist 46(3&4): (in press). Shelton, A.M., D.L. Olmstead, E.C. Burkness, W.D. Hutchison, G. Dively, C. Welty and A.N. Sparks. 2013. Multi-state trials of Bt sweet corn varieties for control of the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 106: 2151-2159. Spencer, J.L., S.A. Hughson and E. Levine. 2014. Resistance to crop rotation. Chapter 7 (pages 233-278) in Insect Resistance Management: Biology, Economics and Prediction, 2nd Ed., D.W. Onstad, (ed.) Academic Press. Oxford, UK. 538 p. Spencer, J., D. Onstad, C. Krupke, S. Hughson, Z. Pan, B. Stanley, and L. Flexner. 2013.. Isolated females and limited males: evolution of insect resistance in structured landscapes. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 146:38-49. DOI: 10.1111/eea.12022. Zhu, K. Y., 2013. RNA interference: A powerful tool in entomological research and a novel approach for insect pest management. Insect Science 20: 1-?3.

Impact Statements

A southern region table of Bt corn products and traits that includes a consensus of efficacy was published and used by corn growers throughout the cotton growing region to aid in hybrid selection.
LSU-led research in Bt resistance management and Bt monitoring programs have generated significant impact in the mid-southern region by providing a safeguard for the long-term success of Bt corn technologies for managing lepidopteran pest. Since 1999, Bt corn has been successfully used for managing a complex of caterpillar pests in the mid-southern region. Both Bt and non-Bt growers have gained a considerable benefit from the successful planting of Bt corn with an estimate of a net-return of about $20 million annually in Louisiana alone.
ISU-led research has provided the first accurate estimation of field hybridization between pheromone strains, and developed a critical tool for population genetic studies of European corn borer. Estimates of gene flow between pheromone races are important to university, government, and industry scientists seeking to assess the potential for the spread of Bt resistance traits in European corn borer populations in the Eastern United States.
The article New Rearing Method May Help Control Western Bean Cutworm published by USDA describes the first successfully established western bean cutworm laboratory colony, and this new rearing procedure was used to obtain the first reported data regarding susceptibility to Cry toxins in dose-response bioassays. This research will enhance fundamental research and allow for infestation rates to be controlled in field evaluations of new control tactics.(http://entsoc.org/press-releases/new-rearing-method-may-help-control-western-bean-cutworm)

Date of Annual Report: 07/02/2014

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 04/14/2014 - 04/17/2014
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2014 - 11/01/2014

Participants

Sappington, Tom (Tom.Sappington@ars.usda.gov), ARS, Ames, IA;
Schaafsma, Art (aschaafs@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca), University of Guelph, Canada;
Hunt, Tom (thunt2@unl.edu), Univ. of Nebraska, Concord NE;
Spencer, Joe (spencer1@illinois.edu), University of Illinois;
Hellmich, Rick (Richard.Helmich@ars.usda.gov), ARS, Ames, IA;
Mason, Chuck (mason@udel.edu), University of Delaware;
Coates, Brad (Brad.Coats@ars.usda.gov), ARS, Ames, IA;
Michel, Andy (michel.70@osu.edu;
Smith, Jocelyn (jsmith@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca), University of Guelph, Canada;
Pueppke, Steve (pueppke@msu.edu), Michigan State University;
Paula-Moraes, Silvana (silvana.moraes@embrapa.br), Embrapa Cerrados/BRAZIL;
Mitchell, Paul (pdmitchell@wisc.edu), University of Wisconsin;
Hurley, Terry (tmh@umn.edu) University of Minnesota;
Gassmann, Aaron (aaronjg@iastate.edu(, Iowa State University;
Edwards, Richard (edwards@purdue.edu) Purdue Univ. – retired;
Ostlie, Ken (ostlie001@umn.edu) University of Minnesota;
Savinelli, Caydee (caydee.savinelli@syngenta.com) Syngenta;
Araba, MiLoud (miloud.araba@syngenta.com) Syngenta;
Oyediran, Issac (Isaac.oyediran@syngenta.com) Syngenta;
Narva, Ken (knarva@dow.com) Dow AgroSciences;
Kuhlmann, Uli (u.kuhlmann@cabi.org) CABI;
Toepfer, Stefan (s.toepfer@cabi.org) CABI;
Flannagan, Ron (ron.flannagan@monsanto.com) Monsanto;
Hibbard, Bruce (hibbardb@missouri.edu) USDA-ARS;
Wang Yangzhou (wang.yangzhou@1633.com) JAAS;
He, Kanglai (klhe@ippcaas.cn) IPP CAAS;
Lu, Xin (luxin58@163.com) JAAS;
Greenplate, John (john.t.greenplate@monsanto.com) Monsanto;
Zhang, Feng (f.zhang@cabi.org) CABI;
Lee, Yun Sun (?@snu.ac.kr) SNU;
Choi, Sung Kyoung (coisk@snu.ac.kr) SNU;
French, Wade (wade.french@ars.usda.gov) USAD-ARS;
Zukoff, Sarah (snzukoff@ksa.edu) KSU;
Koozer, Sandor (koozer.sandor@agrar.mya.hu) Hungary;
Beuzelin, Julien (jbeuzelin@agcenter.lsu.edu) LSU;
Kyung Seok, Kim (kyungkim@snu.ac.kr) SNU;
Pilcher, Clint (clint.pilcher@pioneer.com) DuPont Pioneer;
Sturtz, Fristine (Kristine.sturtz@pioneer.com) DuPont Pioneer;
Owens, Elizabeth (Elizabeth.owens@pioneer.com) Dupont Pioneer;
Striegel, Bill (bill.striegel@bayer.com) Bayer Crop Science;
Peterson, Julie (Julie.peterson@unl.edu) Univ. of Nebraska;
Rault, Leslie (leslie.c.rault@gmail.com) Univ. of Nebraska;
Velez, Ana Marie (avelezarano2@unl.edu) Univ. of Nebraska;
Lepping, Miles (mdlepping@dow.com) Dow AgroSciences;
Wang, Zhenying (wangzy61@163.com) IPP/CAAS;
Gray, Michael E. (megray@illinois.edu) Univ. of Illinois;
Wright, Bob (rwright2@unl.edu) Univ. of Nebraska;
Meinke, Lance (lmeinke1@unl.edu) Univ. of Nebraska;
Miller, Nick (nick.miller@unl.edu) Univ. of Nebraska;
Moar, William (william.moar@monsanto.com) Monsanto;
Thibord, Jean Baptiste (jbthibord@arvalisinstitutduvegetal.fr) ARVALIS France;
Li, Huarong (hli2@dow.com) Dow AgroSciences;
Tagu, Denis (denis.tagu@rennes.inra.fr) INRA Rennes France;
Liu, Sijun (sliu@iastate.edu) ISU

Brief Summary of Minutes

Special Interim Meeting: IWGO Joint Meeting of the Multi-State Regional Research Committee NC-205 & Multi-State Regional Research Sharing Committee NCCC46

April 17, 2014

Allerton Hotel
Chicago, IL

Meeting held in conjunction with the 25th International Working Group on Ostrinia Conference & 4th International Conference of Diabrotica Genetics. Specific NC205/NCCC46 portion held Thursday April 17, 2014.

8:15 Welcome, Background, and Introductions:
Tom Hunt, Univ. Nebraska, USA (Chair NC205);
Art Schaafsma, Univ. Guelph, Canada (Chair NCCC46);
Steve Pueppke, Michigan State Univ., USA (Administrative Advisor, NC205/NCCC46);

Discussed mechanism of merger of NC205/NCCC46;

9:00 Genomics and genetics research on Ostrinia;
Brad Coates, USDA-ARS, organizer/speaker: Detection of Ostrinia nubilalis pheromone race, voltinism and resistance phenotypes using new genetic methods;

Kevin Wanner, Montana State University, speaker: Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of sex pheromone detection by moths using Ostrinia as a model.

10:00 Break

10:30 Open discussion: Moving forward with Diabrotica-omics research;
Tom Sappington and Art Schaafsma, co-organizers: Bottlenecks, needs, ideas for progress on assembly, current and future relationships and roles among public-sector and private-sector scientists was discussed.

11:30 Research updates on neonicotinoid insecticides;
Paul Mitchell (Univ. Wisconsin) & Terry Hurley (Univ. Minnesota), co-organizers/speakers;
Paul Mitchell (Agricultural and Applied Economics, UW): Market level assessment of the economic value of neonicotinoid insecticides in the U.S.;
Terry Hurley (Applied Economics, UM): Assessing the non-pecuniary benefits of neonicotinoid insecticides for U.S. corn and soybeans

12:00 Lunch

1:00 Research updates on neonicotinoid insecticides (continued);
Ken Frost (Plant Pathology, Univ. of Wisconsin), speaker: A meta-analysis approach to estimating the yield effects of neonicotinoid insecticides;
Ander Huseth, speaker (Entomology, Cornell Univ. with Russell Groves, Entomology, Univ. of Wisconsin): Environmental fate of soil applied neonicotinoid insecticides in an irrigated potato agroecosystem;
Art Schaafsma, speaker (with Tracy Baute, OMAFC, and Victor Limay-Rios, Yingen Xue and Jocelyn Smith, Univ. Guelph, Canada: The hunt for real exposure at the North American hot-bed on the debate regarding neonic-use in field crops and their impact on pollinators - stakeholders, politics, economics, and science.

3:00 Discussion of submitting IWGO talks as refereed papers, possible location of next IWGO in China, final comments

3:15 Adjourn

Accomplishments

Working relationships were established or strengthened between International academic (non-U.S.), U.S. academic and governmental, and Industry participants. A framework for the merger of the USDA Multi-State Regional Committees NC205 and NCCC46 was presented.

Publications

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 02/19/2015

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 01/27/2015 - 01/29/2015
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2010 - 11/01/2015

Participants

Coates, Brad (Brad.Coats@ars.usda.gov), ARS, Ames, IA;
Difonzo, Chris (difonzo@msu.edu), Michigan State University;
Fisher, Kelsey (kefisher@udel.edu), University of Delaware;
Fuller, Billy (Billy.Fuller@sdstate.edu), South Dakota State University;
Gassmann, Aaron (aaronjg@iastate.edu), Iowa State University;
Hellmich, Richard (Richard.Helmich@ars.usda.gov), ARS, Ames, IA;
Huange, Fangneng (fhuang@agcenter.lsu.edu), LSU;
Hunt, Tom (thunt2@unle.du), University of Nebraska, Concord, NE;
Ingber, David (ingber@udel.edu), University of Delaware;
Mason, Chuck (mason@udel.edu), University of Delaware;
McCornack, Brian (mccornac@ksu.edu), Kansas State University;
Michel, Andy (michel.70@osu.edu), Ohio State;
Mitchell, Paul (pdmitchell@wisc.edu), University of Wisconsin;
Omoto, Celso (celso.omoto@usp.br), University of Sao Paulo;
Paula-Moraes, Silvana (silvana.moraes@embrapa.br), Embrapa-Brazil;
Porter, Pat (p-porter@tamu.edu), Texas A&M;
Reisig, Dominic (ddreisig@ncsu.edu), NorthCarolina State University;
Sappington, Tom (tom.sappington@ars.usda.gov), USDA-ARS, Ames, IA;
Smith, Jocelyn (jocelyn.smith@uoguelph.ca), University of Guelph;
Spencer, Joe (spencer1@illinois.edu), University of Illinois;
Tooker , John (tooker@psu.edu), Penn State;
Walker, Holly (hollylyn@udel.edu), University of Delaware;
White, Jen (jenawhite@uky.edu), University of Kentucky;
Wright, Bob (rwright2@unl.edu), University of Nebraska;
Zukoff, Sarah (snzukoff@ksu.edu), Kansas State;

Brief Summary of Minutes

MINUTES: 2015 Meeting of the Multi-State Regional Research Committee NC-205 Ecology and Management of European Corn Borer and Other Lepidopteran Pests of Corn

San Antonio, TX
January 28-29, 2015

Menger Hotel
204 Alamo Plaza
San Antonio, TX
78205
210-223-4361

Wednesday, January 28, 2015
1:35 - Meeting called to order by Chair, Tom Hunt (NE)

Local arrangements by Ed Bynum (TX) and Pat Porter (TX)

Brasilia was discussed as a possible location for next year will be decided by email vote of Appendix E members. Discussed the advantages of going to Brasilia. We have a precedent for meeting outside of the country. Cost for a flight is typically $1100-1600. Realize cost could be an issue for some. Video-conferencing may be a possibility. Because of the upcoming vote, no formal time/place committee was established. It was moved/2nd’d and affirmed that Sioux Falls, SD be accepted as fallback meeting location should Brasilia is not approved.

Tom Sappington (IA, ARS) presented and led discussion of the new project’s governance scheme. A modified scheme was adopted.

Recap of Activities and Influence:
John Tooker (PA) was invited to testify in front of PA state legislature to talk about science and use of GM crops for a GMO labeling hearing.

Andy Michel (OH) was invited to speak at the 2014 XXV Congresso Brasileiro de Entomologia, Sociedade Entomologia Do Brasil, in Goiania, Goias, Brazil and visit the university at Piracicaba, Brazil. Andy was asked to present two Science Café talks on GMOs in Ohio. Most GMO push-back is coming from anti-corporation sentiment, wanting labeling. Number one issue in Ohio on GMOs is labeling.

Brad Coates (IA, ARS) was invited to speak at the International Working Group on Ostrinia (IWGO). He is collaborating with Chinese scientists on Asian corn borer markers and gene flow.

Paul Mitchel (WI) is involved with more sustainability ventures with soybean soy commodity groups with goal of bringing IPM into the discussion.

Charles Mason (DE) would like to see reports to public. Only about 1% of undergraduate students he teaches are from a rural background. He regularly inserts pertinent Ag issues in his lectures. After discussion there was general agreement that this would be an important addition to our extension objectives.

Brian McCornack (KS) has been working with stakeholders by delivering extension information based on the MyFields project he reported on last year. Of 89 polled, most want corn info as most important and need help with selecting chemicals. This platform looks hopeful for promoting IPM through such a system. Farmers care about the plant’s health more than the insects per se. They would use extension information more if they can find it easier. Trying to find out more about what they will actually use. Brian is building MyFields with multiple states in mind, so welcomes inquiries. Right now there are about 300 iWheat users. He is still trying to sell the concept, and looks like it will be well-accepted.

Ed Bynum (TX) is yearly invited to attend and present at grower group meetings and the Crop Advisor Association meeting to give updates.

Pat Porter (TX) discussed popularity of the Texas Corn Seed Book. It recommends strip planting as refuge and provides information on variety trials.

Tom Hunt (NE) skyped Silvana Paula-Moraes from Brazil into Nebraska Independent Crop Consultants Association annual meeting for her to talk about western bean cutworm management. He was invited to present a discussion of the history and functioning of NC205 and they interface with EPA and other groups at the 2014 XXV Congresso Brasileiro de Entomologia, Sociedade Entomologia Do Brasil, in Goiania, Goias, Brazil.

Joe Spencer (IL) updated the Illinois Butterfly Book with a chapter on the effects of Bt on Lepidoptera. He leads an informal project where he provides Cecropia moth eggs and information on how to rear them. This provides an opportunity to answer public questions about “where have the moths gone”.

Tom Sappington (IA, ARS) reported that the International Working Group on Ostrinia (IWGO) met in Chicago in April with 103 in attendance. There was good representation of NC205 and NCCC46. He gave a couple of seminars on corn insect research at the Institute of Plant Protection in Beijing, and Nanjing Agricultural University and is working with a group of colleagues in Beijing on migratory pests, manuscript collaborations, experimental design, and interpretation of results.

Fangneng Huang (LA) went to China to give several talks (IPP) abouit IRM. There have been some media inquiries about armyworms.

Rick Hellmich (IA, ARS) was invited to speack at the 2014 XXV Congresso Brasileiro de Entomologia, Sociedade Entomologia Do Brasil, in Goiania, Goias, Brazil. He co-organized a symposium at the IWGO. He co-organized a symposium on IRM at a conference in South Africa that discussed African stem borer resistance to Bt corn. He presents a Monarch display each year at the IA State Fair provides ECB to high schools for demonstrations. He co-organized a meeting in Iowa on the decline of Monarchs which was well-attended, including corn and soybean producers.

Dominic Reisig (NC) has given many talks about IRM and seed treatments;. He is part of pilot program with Monsanto to try to boost refuge compliance. As part of this he conducted a clicker survey of growers about compliance and tracked an increase in compliance. He spoke at online forum to the National Academy of Sciences committee on why growers tend not to want to comply with IRM requirements.

Silvana Paula-Moraes (Brazil, Embrapa) reported that a technical group on IRM was formed in Brazil. They are just starting discussions on IRM and are beginning to bring different groups together to educate and discuss on how to improve the use of the technology.

Update on 327 publication:
Charles Mason (DE) reported that the NC205 European Corn Borer publication is “in press”. The authors have been working on it for quite a while, and the Bt portion was again updated, but not as robust because they felt that there is sufficient IRM information already widely available. He has an agreement with Iowa State to publish it, but contractual issues delayed publication. This will be a valuable publication as IPM comes back as an emphasis. Expectation is that it will be in print by mid-year. First run will be around 5-8,000 copies at about $6 each when purchased in bulk. There will also have an electronic version (can’t be duplicated) for sale, as well as the hardcopy.

Helicoverpa armigera Early Response discussion:
Celso Omoto (Brazil) reported H. armigera, very tolerant to pyrethroids with many resistance alleles accompanied introductions from Old World. He is concerned about hybrids of H. zea and H. armigera. This could be important because H. zea is well-adapted to New World conditions and could promote rapid adaptation if armigera arrives in the US and hybridizes. There were probably multiple introductions based on high genetic variation.

Pat Porter (TX) indicates they are setting up a southern monitoring program for H. armigera and now have molecular markers. No H. armigera were found in 2014.

Dominic Reisig (NC) wondered if feeding behavior is different between the two. Silvana Paula-Moraes (Brazil, Embrapa) reported that /i> H. zea moves a lot around the plant (cotton) when there are squares, but in corn they seem the same. Celso Omoto (Brazil) indicated that during outbreak in Brazil, 100% of Helicoverpa in corn was zea; lots of armigera on other crops. Recently more H. armigera on corn but still mostly zea. May have species displacement eventually.

Bad Coates (IA, ARS) wondered how high throughput is for the molecular screening. Pat Porter (TX) reported it is very high. There are two independent methods developed.

Invited Presentations:
Ed Bynum (TX) presented on strip refuges and seed blends: selection on FAW and CEW. Toxins are expressed in a good portion of ears (~50%) in refuge strip at 12 rows away from Bt corn. Dramatically reduces FAW numbers, which could make 4-6 row strip refuges commercially-viable alternatives to block refuge. Not a good IRM practice, but the priority now is to help the growers who have to plant a refuge.

Pat Porter (TX) presented on seed blends and implications for Lepidoptera feeding and RM. Companies are trying to get seed blends in the south, but he doesn’t think they’ll be able to do that. 95:5 Leptra seed blend trial in 2014 indicates a radically different pattern of feeding on seed blend ears vs non-Bt ears. Larvae feed on silks then become cob miners in Bt, which in part means they are receiving different nutrition. Seed blend ears can accelerate the rate of resistance evolution because >30% of ears in non-Bt plants have a single toxin + non-Bt kernels, which increases the dominance of resistance. CEW pupae are significantly larger from blend refuge ears vs block ears, and also slower development which could promote assortative mating. Seed blends are not neutral for resistance evolution, but will accelerate it. Vip3a is close to high dose for CEW and FAW, but by using seed blends it turns it into a low dose. Best answer is probably to rely on natural refuge – otherwise you get pollen contamination.

State Reports and Discussion, by State:
Research, extension, and outreach reports were presented by state representatives to NC-205. Discussion ranged over a variety of NC-205 objective-related topics.

5:00 - Adjourn for day.

Thursday, January 29, 2015
8:00 - Call to order

Nominating committee nominated Andy Michel (OH) as new Secretary for NC246. Elected by acclaim, no nays.

Announcements:
NE, DE have faculty positions open. IA has a postdoc position open. KY will soon have a position open.

Discussion of Lepidoptera problems w/ Bt resistance in tropics, especially South America:
Celso Omoto (Brazil) reported that selection pressure has been intense in Brazil. No IRM is mandated as it is considered the company’s responsibility to sustain the durability. The main problems are that refuge is too small (5 to 20%), compliance is low and most of the Bt toxins are not high-dose events to major target pests. No off-season in Brazil. Most intense selection pressure is in the center-pivot area. These are the insects that will colonize rest of the agricultural region during main growing season. An off-season is needed to help manage pests.

Dominic Reisig (NC) asked if there was any way to push refuge? Celso Omoto (Brazil) indicated Monsanto is pushing refuge for soybean because we have learned products won’t last based on Bt corn in Brazil. Reisig (NC) reported exact same situation in southern US. With Bt soybeans in southern U.S., there could create a big problem with cotton and maybe corn.

Dominic Reisig (NC) indicated there is no cross-resistance across CryA varieties found in NC FAWs so far. Celso Omoto (Brazil) noted they are seeing cross-resistance. Fangneng Huang (LA) reported that in cotton combining Cry1F and Cry1Ab is a bad idea, which leads to problems for Cry1F in corn, and probably cross-resistance. Celso Omoto (Brazil) indicated the same problem possible for Brazil.

Celso Omoto (Brazil) noted that there is a need to manage refuge size in a different way. Currently the growers are spraying the refuge, so that the numbers of moths coming from the refuge are very low, so it has been suggested to companies to keep sprays down to a maximum of twice per year against FAW – growers now are spraying 6-10 times.

Pat Porter (TX) asked what crops are grown under the pivots. Celso Omoto (Brazil) indicated corn, soybean, and dry beans. Pat Porter (TX) noted they do not really have any susceptible insects to preserve. Refuges may just be producing more resistant insects. Maybe they could use only Vip3A in the winter to knock the populations down. Celso Omoto (Brazil) replied that it is a good idea and they have thought about it, but Vip3A varieties are not well accepted by growers and IRM to preserve Vip3A is also very important. Refuge can still help with some of the events. Silvana Paula-Moraes (Brazil, Embrapa) indicated that considering the pest pressure it is difficult to get farmers to stop spraying the refuge. There is a very low tolerance for pests, and they cannot understand why growing pests is good - an education problem. Celso Omoto (Brazil) noted that now is time to revise the IRM recommendation because now we have H. armigera.

Dominic Reisig (NC) noted that we don’t have refuge requirements in cotton because of natural refuge, but it doesn’t make sense anymore because of the variety of new events. Most southern entomologists agree that corn should serve as the refuge for cotton. Fangneng Huang (LA) did not think we need Bt soybeans in U.S. Dominic Reisig (NC) indicated Vip is great and we really need it in cotton, so we should be looking to preserve it for the sake of cotton - and now it will be in soybeans too. Rick Hellmich (IA, ARS) asked if EPA knew this. Fangneng Huang (LA) noted that for all the varieties and companies, really only 3 toxins are available – CryAb (Cry1F), Cry1Ac, Vip.

Rick Hellmich (IA, ARS) suggested that maybe now is the time to consider that we can learn from past mistakes, and use the various crops as refuge for each other. Celso Omoto (Brazil) agreed, but growers want protection for all of their crops and we are losing everything (i.e. Bts, chemical insecticides) to resistance.

Pat Porter (TX) indicated that from an extension perspective trying to explain to growers how fast insect generations go is difficult. He has used the example: if translated to human generations, the number of generations that have gone by in Lepidoptera since Bt introductions is like humans since 970 AD. In Brazil, it’s like 3,500 BC. Presenting it in these terms gets their (the growers) attention.

Dominic Reisig (NC) noted that there are no easy answers. If there is a new toxin for corn, the attitude appears to be just add it to cotton whether needed or not. Ed Bynum (TX) said customers want everything that is in every company’s products, and companies are going to give them what they want.

Silvana Paula-Moraes (Brazil, Embrapa) noted that it is important to remember that it is not yet a big problem everywhere in Brazil, and there are different situations in different parts of the country.

Rick Hellmich (IA, ARS) asked “what are the back-up plans”? Pat Porter (TX) relied that nuclear option is diamide shanked into the soil – even at planting, it will kill worms in the ears.

Tom Hunt ended discussion with the thought that we should think about coordinating with the soybean group (S1055) since Bt soybeans are coming and will affect corn systems because of shared toxins. There are several NC205 members who are also S1055 members, and the idea will be put forward at the March 2015 meeting of S1055.

State Reports and Discussion, by State continued:
Research, extension, and outreach reports were presented by state representatives to NC-205. Discussion ranged over a variety of NC-205 objective-related topics.

Tom Hunt reminded all that this is the close of the last meeting of NC205 - an historic moment. Will hopefully become NC246 (combining with NCCC46) on October 1.

11:30 a.m. - Meeting Adjourned.

Accomplishments

The Hallmark publication of the committee, "NCR-327: European Corn Borer Ecology and Management", Mason et. al. (in press) will be published 2015 in hard copy and electronically. Over 40,000 copies of the last edition of this award winning publication (1998 Entomology Education Project Award presented by the Board of Certified Entomologists of Mid-America)were printed. Even though it was primarily intended for Extension and educational purposes, it has been widely used as a source of corn borer biology and management in the scientific community, being cited approximately 249 times. NC-205 members and collaborators documented that area-wide suppression of European corn borer is associated with the wide-spread use of Bt corn (Science article: Hutchison et al. 2010). Benefits are estimated at $3.2 billion for corn growers in IL, MN, and WS, with over $2.4 billion of this total as a benefit to non-Bt corn growers. Estimates for IA and NE are $3.6 billion, with $1.9 billion for non-Bt corn growers. These results affirm theoretical predictions of area-wide pest suppression and highlight the economic incentives for growers to maintain non-Bt corn refuge for sustainable insect resistance management. Two articles resulting from the joint NC205/NCCC46 Resistance Research and Outreach Coordination Operations Committee were produced: "Farmer Responses to Resistance Issues in Corn Rootworm to Bt Corn: Qualitative Analysis of Focus Groups", Hodgson et al. (in press in JOE) and "Early detection and remediation of resistance in corn rootworms to Bt corn" Andow et al. (prepared for JEE). This committee and its products were in response to the recent evolution of Diabrotica Bt resistance. Main topics included current regulations, definitions of unexpected damage and confirmed resistance, and recommended tactics for mitigation of western corn rootworm resistance to Bt corn. These publications are intended to act as a guide to aid future resistance management strategy development and farmer compliance to resistance management requirements. A western bean cutworm sampling tool, "Western Bean Cutworm Speed Scout", was developed and is available online and as an App available at Apple store. It was selected as a Top Mobile Apps for Agriculture 2014 by Ag Professional Magazine. A series of videos was developed on corn and soybean IPM in collaboration with the UW--Madison Integrated Pest and Crop Management program (IPCM). Available at: http://ipcm.wisc.edu/video/ Michigan and Wisconsin published a Handy Bt Trait Table which is utilized nationally. A southern region table of Bt corn products and traits that includes a consensus of efficacy was published and used by corn growers throughout the cotton growing region to aid in hybrid selection. Numerous NC-205 members organize symposia, present talks on IRM, and consult on IRM around the world (e.g. Japan, Philippines, Brazil, and Europe). For example, a roundtable 'IPM in the Age of Transgenic Crops: Are IPM and Transgenic Technology Compatible or in Conflict?' was organized at the XXIII Congresso Brasileiro de Entomologia, September 26-30, Natal, RN, Brasil (Co-organizers S. Paula-Moraes and T.E. Hunt. Also, a PI-E Section Symposium was conducted: Reaching out across the bag-tag: Overcoming diversity of industry, university, and government interests to embrace public-sector research on commercialized transgenic crops. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA, Dec. 12-15, 2010. Co-Organizers, T. W. Sappington and B. E. Hibbard. NC 205 met in conjunction with the International Working Group on Ostrinia Annual Meeting, April 12-17, 2014, Chicago, IL. Working relationships were established or strengthened between International academic (non-U.S.), U.S. academic and governmental, and Industry participants. Nebraska’s annual monitoring of ECB susceptibility sponsored by ABSTC has not indicated changes in susceptibility going on 20 years for Cry1Ab, Cry1F, 2Ab and 105 (SmartStax). A practical guide to Microsatellite data analysis for population genetics was published that uses microsatellites in population genetics applications that will make it possible for both students and experienced scientists to analyze and apply their genotype data immediately to questions related to gene flow and population genetic structure. It provides links to freeware and details of pitfalls and other considerations in working with such data, that usually one must learn by trial-and-error. A chapter R. Peshin, and D. Pimental (eds.), Integrated Pest Management Experiences with Implementation, Vol. 4, Springer, Emerging issues in Integrated Pest Management implementation and adoption in the North Central USA, emphasized to the lay public, regulators, and scientists throughout the world that the source of problems with developing insect and weed resistance to transgenic corn are not due to the new technologies themselves, but to inadequate integration into an IPM framework. A High-throughput transcriptome sequencing for SNP and gene discovery in a moth (Environmental Entomology (2012) 41:997-1007) provides significant genetic resources for future research on western bean cutworm, and demonstrates the power of applying second-generation sequencing to previously under-studied species. An O. nubilalis Z chromosome linkage map provides new tools for isolating quantitative trait loci (QTL) involved in sex-linked traits that drive speciation and it exposes genome rearrangements as a possible mechanism for differential gene regulation in Lepidoptera. A trapping network for Western bean cutworm was established (WBC, http://thebugspot.org/WBC) in collaboration with Ohio State University. In 2012 150 unique sites in Michigan were established. Volunteers entered trap counts at the web site www.msuent.com. At the end of each week, we mapped the trap catch, and made the data available on the web site and through the Fast Fonz Facts email newsletter. Field and laboratory studies were conducted to assess the intensity of Bt protein contamination in a seed mixed planting of 5% non-Bt and 95% Bt corn containing pyramided Bt traits (SmartStax) trait and the corresponding effect of the cross-pollination on survival, growth, and development of corn earworm. The results showed that the mixed planting of 5% nonBt and 95% Bt corn cannot provide an effective refuge for the corn earworm, an important above-ground ear-feeding pest. Cross-pollination in RIB caused a majority (> 90%) of refuge kernels to express ? one Bt protein. The contamination of Bt proteins in the refuge ears reduced neonate-to-adult survivorship of corn earworm to only 4.6%, a reduction of 88.1% relative to larvae feeding on ears of pure non-Bt maize plantings. In addition, the limited survivors on refuge ears had lower pupal mass and took longer to develop to adults. The results were published recently in PlosONE. Transgenic corn hybrids that express toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are highly effective against the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), and the closely related Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée). Results indicate that both of the Ostrinia corn borer species are similar in sensitivity to the Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1Ba and Cry1F toxins, thus suggesting shared toxin receptors and mechanisms of toxicity for the two species. Research suggests that O. nubilalis exhibits substantial gene flow over long distances and that the lack of genetic differentiation between populations across hundreds of kilometers is not simply due to migration-drift disequilibrium arising from a recent range expansion. Spatial analyses revealed a barrier to gene flow between Pennsylvania and the other sampled locations, along with an overall pattern of higher genetic divergence among locations in the eastern portion of the distribution compared to the western locations. It is likely that the synchrony of oviposition activity triggered by migratory flight in beet weborm is a common mechanism in other migratory insect species that promotes outbreak populations. The method for measuring this novel parameter (period of first oviposition) is an important new tool for other scientists studying migratory insects. Recommendations on experimental design for early-tier laboratory studies used in risk assessments to evaluate potential adverse impacts of arthropod-resistant genetically engineered (GE) plants on non-target arthropods (NTAs) were developed. Transgenic expression of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crystalline (Cry) toxins in crop plant tissues results in reduced insect feeding damage, but sustainability of this agricultural practice is threatened by resistance traits within target insect populations. Research indicates that gene regulatory pathways influence insecticide resistance traits. These findings are important in that gene-gene interactions are shown to be important in the manifestation of Bt resistance traits. Transposable elements (TEs) can affect the structure of genomes through their acquisition and transposition of novel DNA sequences. The preferential integration of Lep1 Helitrons in proximity to gene coding regions results in the creation of genetic novelty that is shown to impact gene structure and function through the introduction of novel exon sequence (exon shuffling). These findings are important in the understanding the structural requirements of genomic DNA sequences that are acquired and transposed by Helitron-like TEs. During 2012-2013, multiple field trials and laboratory assays demonstrated that the currently adopted RIB method is inappropriate for providing CEW refuge populations. The results suggest that the 95: 5% RIB can’t provide the expected refuge populations for resistance management in the areas where CEW can overwinter and is a major target of Bt corn, such as in the south region of the U.S. Vip3Aa and Cry1Ab proteins in maize reduce Fusarium ear rot and fumonisins by deterring kernel injury from multiple Lepidopteran pests. These results indicate that Cry1Ab x Vip3Aa maize hybrids are more likely to yield high quality, low-fumonisin grain compared to hybrids expressing only Cry1Ab or lacking insect resistance. This information is useful to scientists, growers and consumers interested in the benefits of Bt corn and reducing mycotoxin levels in corn. A Critical Assessment of the Effect of Cry Proteins on Beneficial Natural Enemies. These studies confirm that Cry proteins do not pose a hazard to non-target natural enemies and demonstrate the power of using resistant hosts when assessing the risk of genetically modified plants on non-target organisms. These results should be useful to governmental regulators, scientists interested in ecological risk assessment and others concerned about the risks of Bt transgenic crops. Susceptibility and Aversion of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Cry1F Bt Maize and Considerations for Insect Resistance Management. This study investigates the role of role of susceptibility and avoidance to Cry1F toxin for fall armyworm, which is important for determining an IRM strategy for this insect. This information is useful to all scientists interested in developing global IRM plans to safeguard the Bt maize technology. Haplotype profile comparisons between Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) populations from Mexico with those from Puerto Rico, South America, and the United States and their implications to migratory behavior. Fall armyworm migrate long distances each year, but genetic markers suggest little mixing between southeastern and south-central overwintering populations. This study shows that the markers are stable over time, which is important in mapping and predicting resistance to Bt corn that may spread out of Puerto Rico onto the mainland by migration. This information will be used by university, government, and industry scientists, as well as regulatory agencies throughout the Western Hemisphere. Effect of maize lines on larval fitness costs of Cry1F resistance in the European corn borer. Fitness costs associated with insect resistance are important to understand because, if they occur, they can delay the evolution of resistance. In this study, however, no fitness costs were detected for corn borers resistant to Cry1F Bt maize. This information is valuable to maize growers and scientists interested in delaying insect resistance to Bt maize. Laboratory results (Minn, Morey et al.) corroborated what is currently observed in the field as the overwintering range of H. zea in the eastern United States; approximately areas south of the 40th parallel. The research shows, however, that these areas are not lethal to overwintering pupae due to temperature extremes, but rather in the length of time spent at near zero temperatures. Yield loss from fall armyworm is significant and results from both direct damage and indirect damage caused by fungi. Yield loss to indirect damage exceeded that to direct damage (1.16:1). The amount of indirect damage seems to be not closely correlated with the amount of direct damage, and this will make it difficult to construct an economic threshold. Initial results from a collaborative project (Nebraska, Iowa USDA-ARS, Delaware, and Pioneer) examining fall armyworm movement on vegetative stage Bt and non-Bt corn indicate that although some larvae can move several plants away from initial infested plant, RIB refuge strategy should be adequate for IRM for this pest. An effective program that can detect rare resistance alleles in field populations of fall armyworm to Bt corn was developed. Together with our previously developed corn borer resistance monitoring program, a state-wide Bt resistance monitoring program were successfully implemented for the major targets of Bt corn. The program has played a safeguard role for the long-term success of Bt corn in LA. Since 2010, corn borer populations on corn, grain sorghum, and rice have been very low in LA. Analysis suggests that the considerable reduction of sugarcane borer populations on these crops is most likely a result of the successful use of transgenic Bt corn in the region. Since first being commercialized in 1996, transgenic Bt maize has gained widespread acceptance for managing maize stalk borer pests in the United States. Since 2004, a cooperative research program has been established to evaluate resistance risk of D. saccharalis to Bt maize in Louisiana. Field surveys have documented the overwintering, distribution, and population structures of maize stalk borer species in the state. Unlike any other regions of the United States where O. nubilalis/D. grandiosella are the major maize stalk boring pests, our survey showed that D. saccharalis is the dominant species in many areas of the mid-south region. A major Bt resistance allele was found in a 2004 field population of D. saccharalis in Louisiana. This was the first major resistance allele to commercial Bt maize discovered in any maize borer species worldwide. A D. saccharalis strain containing this major resistance allele has been established in the laboratory for future studies. Results from studies in Louisiana suggest that the resistance allele frequency in D. saccharalis to the three pyramided Bt maize technologies is low in the mid-southern region of the United States, which should meet the rare resistance assumption of the 'high dose/refuge' IRM strategy. The results of a 6-year study (LA Lead) suggest that there appears to be a high risk for development of Cry1Ab resistance in D. saccharalis if Cry1Ab maize continues to be widely used in the U.S. mid-south region. F2 screening results suggest that the resistance allele frequency in D. saccharalis to the three pyramided Bt maize technologies is low in the mid-southern region of the United States, which should meet the rare resistance assumption of the currently used IRM strategy for Bt maize. Multiple field studies were conducted to evaluate the performance of the 2nd generation Bt corn products for managing sugarcane borer and corn earworm in both pure stand and mixed plantings of Bt and non-Bt corn. The results showed that the 2nd generation Bt corn is equally very effective against the sugarcane borer and corn earworm in both pure stand and mixed plantings of Bt and non-Bt corn. To assist with commercial production of Trichogramma for biological control of Lepidopteran pests, a device was fabricated to assist with separating parasitized from unparasitized host eggs. Olfactometer studies showed that T. ostriniae was attracted to volatiles from corn leaf tissue taken from areas near to, but absent European corn borer egg masses. This suggests that induced plant volatiles may play a role in host finding. Results also indicate that humidity played a role in parasitoid responses; in our trials, lower humidity elicited an attractant response to host eggs; high humidity elicited an arrestant response. Trichogramma ostriniae readily parasitized western bean cutworm eggs under laboratory conditions suggesting that biological control with egg parasitoids may be a feasible. Because the cutworm eggs are relatively large, 3 to 6 adult T. ostriniae emerged per egg. Preliminary analysis of feral Trichogramma, collected from field sites where releases had occurred in previous years, showed T. ostriniae in 6 samples of 21 Ostrinia nubilalis egg masses collected. This reinforces that T. ostriniae may establish and provide some background classical biological control. Quiescence, but not diapause was not observed in T. ostriniae placed out of doors in fall 2009. Adult emergence from outdoor eggs was protracted for up to 6 weeks after placement under warm conditions. This implies that quiescence may suffice and that diapause may not be obligatory. Vacuum storage of host eggs resulted in substantial clumping, indicating that this is not a good method for prolonging the shelf life of factitious host eggs. When eggs were provided to Trichogramma in various spatial arrangements from single to highly clustered, there was no apparent difference in parasitism levels. This suggests that the standard method of sprinkling eggs onto a tray for parasitism is adequate and probably does not need modification to improve parasitism levels. MSU Field Crops Entomology Web site includes the following bulletins as pdfs: 15 on western bean cutworm, 1 on armyworms, 2 on corn transgenics. A Twitter feed is available - @AphidQueen and MSU Field Crops Entomology newsletters are distributed via an email list, the Fast Fonz Facts. The list includes approximately 300 agribusiness, commodity, grower, and extension contacts. Western bean cutworm spray recommendations have been made this way since 2009. Clemson outreach programs included presentations at field days for corn growers and at agent training sessions. Demonstration plots of Bt hybrids and non-Bt isolines at different planting dates were shown at the Pee Dee REC and Edisto REC field days. Publications included the corn insect management sections of the 2011 Clemson Extension Pest Management Handbook and Corn Production Guide, with print and online editions. Numerous other materials/products/programs were developed and presented to farmers, consultants, and other Ag professionals on the importance of resistance management and IRM compliance at numerous Clinics, Conferences, newsletters, websites, and various radio and newspaper venues. These articles covered both transgenic corn and more traditional insecticides for corn insect pests. The USDA Multi-State Regional Committees NC205 and NCCC46 submitted a proposal to merge and become a new NC committee, "Arthropod Pests of Corn".

Publications

Agunbiade TA, Coates BS, Datinon B, Djouaka R, Sun W, et al. (2014) Genetic Differentiation among Maruca vitrata F. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Populations on Cultivated Cowpea and Wild Host Plants: Implications for Insect Resistance Management and Biological Control Strategies. PLoS ONE 9(3): e92072. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0092072. Bermond, G., F. Cavigliasso, S. Mallez, J. Spencer and T. Guillemaud. 2014. Absence of an effect of admixture between two European invading outbreaks of a major corn pest in natura. PLoS ONE, 9(8):e106139. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0106139 Binning Rachel R., Joel Coats, Xiaoxiao Kong, and Richard L. Hellmich. 2014. Susceptibility and Aversion of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Cry1F Bt Maize and Considerations for Insect Resistance Management. Journal of Economic Entomology, 107(1):368-374. http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1603/EC13352 Binning, Joel Coats, Xiaoxiao Kong and Richard L Hellmich. 2014. Susceptibility to Bt proteins is not required for Agrotis ipsilon aversion to Bt maize. Pest Manag Sci. DOI 10.1002/ps.3901. Bowers, Erin,† Richard Hellmich, and Gary Munkvold. 2014. Comparison of Fumonisin Contamination Using HPLC and ELISA Methods in Bt and Near-Isogenic Maize Hybrids Infested with European Corn Borer or Western Bean Cutworm. J. Agric. Food Chem. (in press) Chu, C.-C., W. Sun, B. Pittendrigh, J.L. Spencer, and M.J. Seufferheld. 2014. Differential effects of RNAi treatments on field populations of the western corn rootworm. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology. 110:1-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2014.02.003. Article first published online 27 FEB 2014. Coates, Brad, S., and Craig A. Abel. 2014. The mitochondrial genome of the American lotus borer, Ostrinia penitalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Mitochondrial DNA, Early Online: 1–2. Hodgson, E. W., Wright, R., Gray, M., Hunt, T., Ostlie, K., Andow, D. A. (in press). Farmer responses to resistance issues in corn rootworm to Bt corn: qualitative analysis of focus groups. Journal of Extension. www.joe.org . Huang, F., J.A. Qureshi, R.L. Meagher Jr., D.D. Reisig, G.P. Head, D.A. Andow, X. Ni, D. Kerns, G.D. Buntin, Y. Niu, F. Yang, and V. Dangal. 2014. Cry1F resistance in fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda: single gene versus pyramided Bt maize. PLoS ONE 9(11): e112958. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0112958. Huang, F. 2015. Resistance management for Bt corn and above-ground lepidopteran targets in the United States: from single gene to pyramided traits. In “Bt resistance – mechanisms and strategies for preserving effectiveness”, ed by M. Soberon, Y. Gao and A. Bravo. CABI. 173-185. Hughson, S.A. and J.L. Spencer. 2015. Emergence and abundance of western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Bt cornfields with structured and seed blend refuges. J. of Economic Entomology. doi: 10.1093/jee/tou029. Article first published online: 21 JAN 2015. Kang, J., C.H. Krupke, A.F. Murphy, J.L. Spencer, M.E. Gray and D.W. Onstad. 2014. Modeling a western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), maturation delay and resistance evolution in Bt corn. Pest Management Science. 70(6):996-1007. doi: 10.1002/ps.3642. Article first published online 2 OCT 2013. Kang, J., F. Huang, and D. W. Onstad. 2014. Modeling evolution of resistance of sugarcane borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to transgenic Bt corn. Environ. Entomol. 43:1084-1104. Levy, R.C., G. M. Kozak, C. B. Wadsworth, B. S. Coates & E. B. Dopman. 2014. Explaining the sawtooth: latitudinal periodicity in a circadian gene correlates with shifts in generation number. J . Evol. Biol. 1-14. doi: 10.1111/jeb.12562 . Li, Jing, Brad S. Coates, Kyung Seok Kim, Denis Bourguet, Sergine Ponsard, Kanglai He, and Zhenying Wang. 2014. The Genetic Structure of Asian Corn Borer, Ostrinia furnacalis, Populations in China: Haplotype Variance in Northern Populations and Potential Impact on Management of Resistance to Transgenic MaizeJournal of Heredity, 1-14. doi:10.1093/jhered/esu036 . Niu, Y., F. Yang, V. Dangal, and F. Huang. 2014. Larval survival and plant injury of Cry1F-susceptible, -resistant, and -heterozygous fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on non-Bt and Bt corn containing single or pyramided genes. Crop Protection. 59:22-28. Palizada, S. A., Tiroesele, B., Kondidie, D. B., Ullah, M. I., Mustafa, F., Hunt, T., Clark, P. L., Molina-Ochoa, J., Skoda, S. R., Foster, J. E. 2014. Minute pirate bug (Orius insidiosus SAY) populations on transgenic and non-transgenic maize using different sampling techniques. Pakistan Entomologist, 36(1), 1-6. Petzhold-Maxwell, J., B.D. Siegfried, R.L. Hellmich, C.A. Abel, B.S. Coates, T.A. Spencer, and A.J. Gassmann. 2014. Efffect of maize lines on fitness costs of Cry1F resistance in the European corn borer. J. Econ. Entomol. 107: 764-772. Siegfried, B.D., M. Rangasamy, H. Wang, C.V. Haridas, B. Tenhumburg, D. Sumerford. 2014. Estimating the frequency of Cry1F resistance in field populations of the European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Pest Manag. Sci. 70: 725-33. Spencer, J.L., S.A. Hughson and E. Levine. 2014. Resistance to crop rotation. Chapter 7 (pages 233-278) in Insect Resistance Management: Biology, Economics and Prediction, 2nd Ed., D.W. Onstad, (ed.) Academic Press. Oxford, UK. 538 p. Steele LD, Muir WM, Seong KM, Valero MC, Rangesa M, et al. (2014) Genome-Wide Sequencing and an Open Reading Frame Analysis of ichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) Susceptible (91-C) and Resistant (91-R) Drosophila melanogaster Laboratory Populations. PLoS ONE 9(6): e98584. doi:10. 1371/journal.pone.0098584 Su, H-H, J. Tian, S. E. Narnajo, J. Romeis, R. L. Hellmich and A. M. Shelton. 2015. Bacillus thuringiensis plants expressing Cry1ac, Cry2Ab and Cry1F do not harm the assassin bug, Zelus renardii. J. Econ. Entomol. 139: 23-30. Tian, J-C., L-P. Long, X-P. Wang, S. Naranjo, J. Romeis, R. Hellmich, P. Wang, and A. M. Shelton. 2014. Using resistant prey demonstrates that Bt plants producing Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab and Cry1F have no negative effects on Geocoris punctipes and Orius insidiosus. Environ Entomol. 43: 242-251. Tinsley N.A., Estes R.E., Schrader P.M., and M.E. Gray. 2015. Evaluating multiple approaches for managing western corn rootworm larvae with seed blends. J. Appl. Entomol. 139: 76–86 (DOI: 10.1111/JEN.12134). Tinsley, N.A., J.L. Spencer, R.E. Estes, J.R. Prasifka, P.M. Schrader, B.W. French, and M.E. Gray. 2015. Larval mortality and development for rotation-resistant and rotation-susceptible populations of western corn rootworm on Bt corn. J. of Applied Entomology. 139:46-54. Article first published online 21 JUL 2014. doi: 10.1111/jen.12149. Velez, A.M., T.M. Spencer, A.P. Alves, A.L.B. Crespo, and B.D. Siegfried. 2014. Fitness costs of Cry1F resistance in fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. J. Appl. Entomol. 138: 315-325. Yang, F., D.L. Kerns, G.P. Head, B.R. Leonard, R. Levy, Y. Niu, and F. Huang. 2014.A challenge for the seed mixture refuge strategy in Bt maize: impact of cross-pollination on an ear-feeding pest, corn earworm. PLoS ONE 9(11): e112962. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0112962. Yang, F., D.L. Kerns, G. Head, G.H., B.R. Leonard, Y. Niu, and F. Huang. 2014. Occurrence, distribution, and ear damage of Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in mixed plantings of non-Bt and Bt corn containing Genuity® SmartStaxTM traits. Crop Protect. 55:127-132. Yang, F., D.L. Kerns, B.R. Leonard, I. Oyediran, T. Burd, Y. Niu, and F. Huang. 2015. Performance of Agrisure®VipteraTM 3111 corn against Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in seed mixed plantings. Crop Prot. 69: 77-82. Zhang, L., B.R. Leonard, M. Chen, T. Clark, A. Konasale, and F. Huang. 2014. Fitness and stability of Cry1Ab resistance in sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.). Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 117:26-32.

Impact Statements

EPA, which must approve the conditions under which Bt hybrids are commercialized, relies on information from NC205 as a key input for decision support in controlling European corn borer. This research is used to support the need for mixed seed refuges, refuges outside of Bt corn fields, and has influenced EPA staff scientists to make more cautious recommendations to manage resistance in GM corn.
University, government, and industry scientists use data from NC205 as they develop models to predict rates of development and geographic spread of resistance of European corn borer to transgenic corn.
Two sampling tools, ?Western Bean Cutworm Speed Scouting? (Apple iPod Application, Paula-Moraes et al. 2012), and ?Western Bean Cutworm Speed Scouting Spreadsheet EC1585 (downloadable spreadsheet, Paula-Moraes et al. 2012) reduce field sampling time and labor by 50% in comparison earlier protocols.
?Handy Bt Trait Table? (www.msuent.com, DiFonzo and Cullen) summarizes the currently available Bt traits and their spectrum of control and is being used widely from Texas and across the Corn Belt to assist farmers in hybrid selection.
Verbal and written communication of NC-205 data by committee members has influenced foreign researchers to alter the way they screen for resistance (India), to justify commercial use of Bt corn (Europe), and to intensify discussions to revise risk assessment methodologies (Japan).
NC205-based information on Bt resistance management of European corn borer is currently utilized by most of the major seed and biotechnology companies as background data to support registrations of transgenic corn hybrids.
Growers know whether or not to integrate biological control into sweet corn management plans thanks to ca. 50 NC205-based presentations on the economics of using Trichogramma ostriniae. Commercial sales of this biological control agent increased to approximately 1000 acre equivalents in 2010 alone.
The NC205/NCCC46 Resistance Research and Outreach Coordination Operations Sub-Committee actions helped drive rapid response to the corn rootworm resistance to Bt corn, as well as the formation of an EPA Resistance Detection Work Group and an ABSTC (industry consortium) Advisory Group. NC205 members are on both new committees.
The article New Rearing Method May Help Control Western Bean Cutworm published by USDA describes the first successfully established western bean cutworm laboratory colony, and this new rearing procedure was used to obtain the first reported data regarding susceptibility to Cry toxins in dose-response bioassays. This research will enhance fundamental research and allow for infestation rates to be controlled in field evaluations of new control tactics.
Growers contemplating planting switchgrass, a native perennial prairie grass that harbors corn lepidoperan pests and is being developed for large scale planting as a biofuel feedstock, now have information on economically important insect species.
Grant leveraged by NC205 participation: Siegfried, B., R. Hellmich, B. Coates, and A. Gassman. 2010-2013. $400,000. Estimating risk of Cry1F resistance in European corn borer. USDA NIFA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grant Program.
Grant leveraged by NC205 participation: Hellmich, R., Hunt, T., C. Mason. 2012-2014. $140,800. Pioneer FAW Larval Movement Study. Pioneer Hi-Bred.
Grant leveraged by NC205 participation: Hunt, T., B. Seigfried, M. Bernards, S. Wegulo, D. Lee, L. Meinke. 2009-2012. $283,989. An Interdisciplinary Framework for Pest Resistance Risk Assessment in Plant Production Systems. Nebraska Research Initiative.
Grant leveraged by NC205 participation: Tooker, JF, Miller, DA, Waldron, JK, Skinner, M. 2012-2014. $172,310. Developing an IPM program for western bean cutworm, a new corn and dry bean pest in the Northeast Region. Northeast Regional Integrated Pest Management Program.
Grant leveraged by NC205 participation: Sappington, T.W., Douglas V. Sumerford, Jarrad R. Prasifka, Jeffrey D. Bradshaw, Michael E. Gray. 2010-2011. $99,900. A Novel Method of Detecting and Assaying Genetic Variation in Lepidoptera. USDA-NIFA, AFRI, Tool-Development Grant.
Grant leveraged by NC205 participation: Shelton, Anthony M. 2011- 2013. $71,503. Improving Management and Profitability of Sweet Corn through Enhanced Insect Control. New York State Specialty Crops Block Grant.
Grant leveraged by NC205 participation: TM Hurley, PD Mitchell, G Shi, and M Livingston. 2014-2016. $478,599. Understanding How Market Structure Affects Pest Resistance to Enhance Sustainable Corn and Soybean Production. USDA/NIFA-AFRI.
Grant leveraged by NC205 participation: Golick, D., R. Wright, B. Siegfried, N. Miller, G. Hein, D. Lee, T. Hunt, L. Meinke. 2014-2017. $150,000. Educational Materials for Farmers. Monsanto Challenge Grant Program. $150,000,
Grant leveraged by NC205 participation: Peterson JA, JD Bradshaw, BD Siegfried & SN Zukoff. 2015-2018.?$150,000. Identifying Pest Management Solutions For Problematic Western Bean Cutworm Infestations. USDA NIFA-AFRI Critical Agricultural Research & Extension.
Grant leveraged by NC205 participation: Shelton, A. M. 2010-2013. $400,000. Using resistant insects to study non-target effects for Bt plants. USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Program.
Grant leveraged by NC205 participation: Sappington, et al. 2010-2011. %99,900. A novel method to detect and assay genetic variation in Lepidoptera. USDA-NIFA, AFRI, Mini-Tool Development Grant.
Numerous other grants relating to NC-205 activities at or below approximately $100,000 have been secured from various sources (e.g. State Commodity Boards/Associations) throughout the period of the current project.