S300: Mosquito and Agricultural Pest Management in Riceland Ecosystems

(Multistate Research Project)

Status: Inactive/Terminating

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[06/10/2002] [04/25/2003] [04/27/2004] [06/24/2005] [02/27/2006]

Date of Annual Report: 06/10/2002

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 02/24/2001 - 02/24/2001
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/2001 - 12/01/2001

Participants

Participants Attachment:

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Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

Objective 1: To determine the best chemicals to use in riceland systems in terms of their providing maximum control of rice pests (especially the rice water weevil) and riceland mosquitoes while causing the least amount of harm to non-target organisms. Research continued with the goals of optimizing the efficacy of diflubenzuron (Dimilin), lambda-cyhalothrin (Karate and Warrior), and fipronil (Icon seed treatment) for control of the primary rice plant pest (rice water weevil) and of other rice plant pests. Evaluation of experimental insecticides, that may provide cost-effective pest control with minimal effects on non-target organisms, was also conducted; zeta-cypermethrin (Fury, Mustang), V-10101, Messenger (harpin proteins) and thiamethoxam (Adage seed treatment) were studied. Integrating the management of rice plant arthropod pests with mosquito pests is a primary goal of this objective. Adage and Icon seed treatments were the most effective products for rice water weevil control in studies conducted in LA. Of the products applied to foliage, Dimilin was the most effective and Fury the least effective. Two applications of Karate and Fury were required to give long-lasting control. A pre-flood application of Karate was as effective as a single post-flood application of Karate in LA and CA studies. Similarly, a tank-mix of Karate and Dimilin was no more effective than applications of Karate or Dimilin alone in LA and CA studies. The residual activity of Fury was inferior to that of Karate in LA studies and the inverse was found in AR studies; studies in CA and TX identified no significant differences in rice water weevil control with these two products. V-10101 was only moderately effective at all locations and Messenger was ineffective for rice water weevil control. Additional studies were conducted with these products targeted against rice stink bug and Mexican rice borer; the latter pest is a relatively new pest into the TX system. Field studies were continued in AR to define the proper number and placement of the floating aquatic barrier trap for monitoring rice water weevil adults and in CA to determine the applicability of the trap to this production system. Benefits noted include assessment of adult levels within the 10 to 14 day application window required to determine need of insecticide application; however some problems also exist. Use of this trap will help better define the need for post-flood applications; these applications have the potential to most severely disrupt natural controls of blood-sucking arthropods. A. quadrimaculatus control with a granular, slow-release Bti formulation, LarvX Sgr was evaluated against VectoBac in AR. At 48 hours posttreatment, control of 2nd to 4th instar larvae was 87% and 86%, respectively, in the plots treated with the low rate of LarvX SG and the VectoBac standard. BASF AC 836 and 519 (chemical family Semicarbazones) were tested against Psorophora columbiae and Cx. salinarius larvae in laboratory and small riceplots in AR. The EC formulation provided excellent control for 5 days posttreatment. No other formulations were effective in the field. Two formulations (corncob, VBC-60021; and the effervescent pellet, VBC-60030 SK) were evaluated for initial and residual activity against laboratory-reared 3rd instar A. quadrimaculatus introduced to the tubs. At 2 days posttreatment, populations were reduced in VBC-treated tubs by 82%, while VBC-60030 SK provided poor control (14% larval reduction). Both formulations lost larvicidal activity at 5 days posttreatment (23% control by VBC-60021). This technology could have applications for management of rice plant pests as well as for mosquitoes in ricelands. Bacillus thuringiensis tenebrionsis (Btt), and other microbials, have activity against rice water weevil but consistency, residual, and product placement are challenges. Laboratory and semi-field evaluations in FL of the two granular formulation insect growth regulators, Altosid and Pyriproxyfen, were conducted against laboratory-reared Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. taeniorhynchus, A. quadrimaculatus, Cx. nigripalpus, and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Altosid XR-G resulted in variable levels (<39 - 100%) of inhibition of adult emergence in the six species monitored for six weeks posttreatment under both test conditions. Ae. taeniorhynchus was the most susceptible to Altosid and Cx. quinquefasciatus was the most tolerant as was Ae. albopictus. In contrast, Pyriproxyfen GR at comparable treatment rates to Altosid XR-G, gave very high levels (over 80 to 100% in most cases) of initial and long-term (residual) reductions of the tested species in the laboratory as well as outdoors in experimental tubs. In many species, pyriproxyfen induced complete inhibition of adult emergence for several weeks posttreatment even at the low rate. In CA, multi-year laboratory selection projects designed to delay the onset of resistance to the bacterial larvicide Bacillus sphaericus (Bs) and to test whether susceptibility can be restored in BS-resistant Cx. quinquefasciatus were carried out. Susceptible and resistant mosquito strains were selected with either Bs alone or the combination of Bs and the cytolytic toxin (Cyt 1A) from Bti. No changes of resistance levels have been detected in the susceptible series to date. TAES continued to conduct insecticide susceptibility monitoring tests on select populations of Cx. quinquefasciatus in the rice-producing region of southeast Texas. Populations of this species in Orange County, TX, continue to be susceptible to all commonly-used mosquito adulticides due to the insecticide resistance management program that was implemented several years ago. An elevation in tolerance to malathion in a select population of Cx. quinquefasciatus in Galveston County, TX, was detected during 2001; and it has been recommended that an insecticide resistance management program be. A garlic-based mosquito repellent formulation designed to protect outside premises from mosquito attack was tested in two urban/suburban settings; no effect on mosquito activity was seen. Objective 2: To determine the best nonchemical tactics to use in riceland systems to manage problems with rice pests, weeds, and mosquitoes. Susceptibility of common rice varieties to key arthropod pests was evaluated. The resistance to rice water weevil of approximately 100 lines of rice from various geographic sources was compared in a field study in LA. Although larval densities differed significantly among lines, no highly resistant lines were found. Several other cultural control measures for rice plant pests were evaluated including the effects of delayed flooding, early planting, shallow flooding, and fertilization of rice fields. Young plants appear to be less tolerant of feeding by larvae than older plants, and feeding by large larvae appears to be more deleterious than feeding by smaller larvae. These results provide the biological rationale for the cultural practice of delayed flooding. The influence of planting date on yield loss from the rice water weevil was investigated in LA. Plots of rice planted in late March, before initial emergence of weevils, had lower densities of rice water weevil larvae approximately 3 weeks after flooding than did rice planted one month later. The impact of rates of N fertilization on the ability of rice to tolerate feeding by the RWW was investigated in experiments replicated in LA, TX, and AR. Higher rates of N fertilization were associated with higher densities of weevil larvae; however, yield losses were not reduced by higher rates of fertilization. Biological control using mosquitofish , reduction of surface coverage by emergent vegetation, and both temporal and spatial changes in water quality affected mosquito (Culex spp.) populations at a constructed treatment wetland in southern CA. As compared to a previous design in which 80% of the wetland surface was covered by emergent vegetation and mosquitofish were absent from the wetland ecosystem, host-seeking adult mosquito populations were reduced up to 50-60 fold during the third year after reducing vegetated coverage of the wetland surface to 50% and adding mosquitofish. Ammonium nitrogen additions to constructed treatment wetland research cells in CA did not sustain mosquito production and failed to produce a significant increase of mosquito abundance as compared to control research cells. Objective 3: To develop a database on the bionomics of rice pests, riceland mosquitoes and beneficial aquatic fauna coming to associate with harvested rice fields flooded during the winter. The effects of rice straw management and winter flooding of rice fields on populations of mosquitoes, and other aquatic invertebrates including predators were evaluated for the third year with the plots under the same management regime. Rice straw burning is being phased out in CA to improve air quality, and more farmers are now either discing straw into fields and/or flooding fields in winter to decompose straw and attract waterfowl. In both 1999 and 2000, Cx. tarsalis larvae were much more abundant in winter-flooded fields where rice straw was not burned. Winter flooding also benefited most other aquatic invertebrates, including predators of mosquitoes, however the additional predators did not yield adequate natural mosquito control. Populations of rice plant pests were also monitored during the rice growing season in plots that had been winter-flooded vs. no flood during the winter. Consistent with past years, rice water weevil larval populations were nearly twice as prevalent in the non-flooded as in the winter-flooded areas. Objective 4: To update and refine existing databases on the local distribution, genetic relationships and disease vector potential of mosquito species occurring in rice-producing areas of the U.S. Investigations are ongoing to study biology, ecology and pathogen compatibilities of A. quadrimaculatus and Cx. salinarius in IL and AR. A cooperative Arbovirus Surveillance Program to monitor mosquitoes and birds for arbovirus activity was established in AR. Multi-county collections of mosquitoes were tested for eastern equine encephalitis and west Nile virus (WNV). Dead birds were tested for WNV. Mosquitoes were collected bimonthly from 19; of the 14,560 mosquitoes (425 pools) tested, none were virus-positive. Dead birds (265 specimens in 23 species) from 62 counties were tested for WNV. Four blue jays in 3 counties were WNV positive. These infections are the first reported cases of WNV in AR. Twenty three species records from 7 counties were established including 5 new counties for Ae. albopictus. Initial laboratory studies in IL have provided results that indicated the reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of St. Louis encephalitis virus was valid for the detection of SLE and WNV in both immature and adult stages. Spatial and temporal distributions of chironomid larvae were examined monthly for two years in Lakes Dora, Yale, and Wauberg in FL. In Lake Dora, G. paripes larvae comprised only 7.6% of total chiromid larvae during both years of the study; Tanytarsini predominated forming 74.3% of total midge larvae collected in this lake. In constrast in Lake Yale, G. paripes formed 25.4% of total annual collection. Developmental requirements of G. paripes were studied and the developmental zero growth was estimated at 9 degrees C. Degree-day requirement for G. paripes development from egg to adult was estimated at 717 degree-days above 9 degrees C. TAES initiated research on the effects of different temperatures and humidity levels on the survivorship of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus eggs. Laboratory colonies of these two species were established using wild-caught specimens from the Galveston, TX area.

Publications

Ali, A. R. J. Lobinske, R. J. Leckel, Jr., & D. S. Emminger. 2001. Efficacy of STRIKE (s-methoprene) pellets against pestiferous Chironomidae (Diptera) in marked plots in Lake Monroe, central Florida. The Abstract Book, 67th Annual Meeting of the American Mosquito Control Association, Dallas, Texas, 26 p. Ali, A., Rui-De Xue, & D. R.. Barnard. 2001. Laboratory and field evaluation of insect repellents as oviposition deterrents and as larvicides of mosquitoes. Program and Abstracts Book, 3RD International Congress of Vector Ecology, Barcelona, Spain, pp. 65- 66. Bernhardt, J.L. 2000. Stink bugs. Rice Journal. 103:14-15. Bernhardt, J.L. & D.T. Johnson. 2001. Verification of a monitoring program for rice water weevil adults. Pages 99-105, In Ark. Rice Research Studies 2000. Ark. Agric. Exp. Stn. Res. Series 485. Bernhardt, J.L. 2000. Why do some rice varieties have more rice stink bug damage than others?. Proc. 28th Rice Technical Working Group. Louisiana Agric. Exp. Stn., Crowley, LA. Pp. 78 (abstract) Bernhardt, J.L. 2000. Rice Insects. Pages, 101-112, In Rice Production Handbook. Univ. of Ark. Coop. Ext. Ser. MP 192. Little Rock, AR. Bernhardt, J.L. & K.A.K. Moldenhauer. 2000. Screening for susceptibility to discolored kernels: Results from the Arkansas rice performance tests. Pp.136-146. In, Ark. Rice Res. Studies 1999. Ark. Agric. Exp. Stn. Res. Series 476. Dennett, J.A., Lampman, R.L., Novak, R.J. & Meisch, M.V. 2000. Evaluation of methylated soy oil and water-based formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis and golden Bear Oil (GB-1111) against Anopheles quadrimaculatus larvae on small rice plots. J. American Mosquito Control Association, 16: 342-345. Dennett, J. A., C.L. Meek, & M.V. Meisch. 2001. Efficacy of VectoLexrWDG against Anopheles quadrimaculatus and Psorophora columbiae larvae in Arkansas and Mississippi rice. J. Amer. Mosquito Control Assn. 17: 231-238. Dennett, J. A. & M.V. Meisch. 2001. An aquatic light trap designed for live capture of predatory Tropisternum sp. (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) larvae in Arkansas rice fields. J. Amer. Mosquito Control Assn. 17: 268-272. Dritz, D.A., S.P. Lawler, J. Albertson, W. Hamersky & J. R. Rusmisel. In press. The impact of Bti on the survival of the endangered tadpole shrimp Lepidurus packardi. Proceedings of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California. Ghonaim, M. F., & A. Ali. 2001. An annotated checklist of Ceratopogonidae (Diptera) of Egypt. The Abstract Book, 67th Annual Meeting of the American Mosquito Control Association, Dallas, Texas, 25 p. Ghonaim, M. F., & A. Ali. 2001. A review of the genus Forcipomyia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Egypt with a description of a new species. The Abstract Book, 67th Annual Meeting of the American Mosquito Control Association, Dallas, Texas, 25 pp. Ghonaim, M. F., H. H. Fadl, A. A. Ibrahim, & A. Ali. 2001. An annotated checklist of the Ceratopogonidae (Diptera) of Egypt. Oriental Insects 35: 247 ?258. Ghonaim, M. F., A. A. Ibrahim, & A. Ali. 2001. A review of the genus Forcipomyia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Egypt with description of a new species. Oriental Insects 35: 39-47. Godfrey, L. D., T. D. Cuneo, &C. L. Alexander. 2000. Refined understanding of rice water weevil biology to optimize management efficacy. 28th Rice Technical Working Group Report. p. 72. Godfrey, L. D., R. R. Lewis, & E. T. Blanco. 2001. Can in-field monitoring be used to improve rice water weevil management? Calif. Rice Experiment Station Field Day Report. pp 19-20. Godfrey, L. D., R. R. Lewis, & C. J. Yip. 2001. Status report on post-flood Rice water weevil control tools - Year 1. Calif. Rice Experiment Station Field Day Report. pp 33-36. Godfrey, L. D., T. D. Cuneo, & R. R. Lewis. 2000. Annual report comprehensive research on rice, RP-3. pp. 117-144. Godfrey, L. D., T. D. Cuneo, & R. R. Lewis. 2000. 31st Annual report to the California rice growers. Protection of rice from invertebrate pests. pp 27-29. Hix, R.L., D.T. Johnson, & J.L. Bernhardt. 2001. Trapping adult rice water weevils, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) with aquatic barrier traps. Eviron. Entomol. 30:770-775. Hix, R.L., J.L. Bernhardt, & D.T. Johnson. 2000. Monitoring adult rice water weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) with an aquatic barrier trap. Proc. 28th Rice Technical Working Group. Louisiana Agric. Exp. Stn., Crowley, LA. Pp.87. (abstract) Jensen, T., Lampman, R.L., Smaleka, M.C. & Novak, R.J. 2000. Field evaluation of the relative efficacy of commercially available anti-mosquito products in the midwestern United States. J. American Mosquito Control Association, 16: 148-152. Keiper, J. B., J. Jiannino, M. Sanford, & W. E. Walton. 2001. Biology and immature stages of Typopsilopa nigra (Williston) (Diptera: Ephydridae), a secondary consumer of damaged stems of wetland monocots. Proc. of the Entomol. Soc. Wash. 103: 89-97. Knight, R. L., W. E. Walton, G. O‘Meara, W. K. Reisen, & R. Wass. 2000. Design strategies for effective mosquito control in constructed treatment wetlands. pp. 425-440. 7th International Conference on Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control. Vol. 1, Univ. of Florida and International Water Assoc. Lampman, R. L., Eckenbach, U., Seigler, D. & Novak, R.J. 2000. Laboratory evaluations of methylated soy oil and monoterpenes as mosquito larvicides. J. Amer. Mosquito Control Assn, 16: 153-157. Lawler, S. P., D. A. Dritz, D. Brown, K. Knerl, & D. Lemanager. 2000. Effects of rice straw management on the dynamics of mosquito populations: a food web study. Mosquito Control Research Annual Report 2000: 41-45. Univ. of California and Div. of Agric. and Nat. Res. McCauley, G.N., & M.O. Way. 2001. Drain and harvest time affects rice grain drying and milling quality. Field Crops Research. in press. Novak, R.J. & Lampman, R.L. 2001. Public health pesticides. In: Handbook of Pesticide Toxicology, ED. Krieger, Academic press, NY, 181-201pp. Olson, J.K. (Ed.) 2001. Assassin Bugs and Kissing Bugs, Bed Bugs, Lice and Mosquitoes, pp. 3-5, 5-6, 8-9, and 12-15, respectively, In: Gold, R.E. and S.C. Jones (Eds.) Handbook of Household & Structural Insect Pests. Entomol. Soc. Amer.: Lanham, MD. Olson, J.K. (ED.) 2001. Proceedings of the 44th Annual Meeting of the Texas Mosquito Control Association, Austin, TX. Tex. Mosq. Control Assoc., Huntsville, TX. 32 p. Primus, T., D. Kohler, M. Avery, P. Bollich, M. Way, & J. Johnston. Novel field sampling procedure for the determination of methiocarb residues on surface waters from rice fields. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. in press. Reagan, T.E., & M.O. Way, 2001. Mexican rice borer threat. Louisiana Agriculture. 44(4): 17. Walton, W. E. 2001. Effects of Triops newberryi (Notostraca: Triopsidae) on aquatic insect communities in ponds in the Colorado Desert of southern California. Israel Journal of Zoology 47(4): In press. Way, M.O., A.M. McClung, & J. Vawter. 2001. Control of Mexican rice borer with Icon 6.2FS, 1998. Arthropod Management Tests. 26: F85. Way, M.O., T.E. Reagan, & F.R. Posey. 2001. Mexican rice borer in sugarcane and rice: significance to Louisiana and Texas industries. Sugar Journal. 64(1): 27-28. (abstract). Way, M.O., R.G. Wallace, & G.N. McCauley. 2001. Control of rice water weevil in a delayed flood regime using Icon 6.2FS applied to dry or pregerminated seed followed by water-planting, 1999. Arthropod Management Tests. 26: F87. Way, M.O., R.G. Wallace, & G.N. McCauley. 2001. Integrated pest management of rice insects in the southern United States with emphasis on the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Proceedings 4th Asia Pacific Conference of Entomology. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. August 14-17, 2001. pg. 96 (abstract). Way, M.O., R.G. Wallace, M.S. Nunez, A. Dalrymple, V.B. Langston, B. Minton, T. Mize, B. Odle, & G. Schwarzlose. 2001. Insect control in rice. Texas Plant Protection Conference. Corpus Christi, TX. December 3-5, 2001. 13: 15-16. (abstract). Way, M.O. & R.G. Wallace. 2001. Evaluation of Fury and Karate for control of rice stink bug, 1998. Arthropod Management Tests. 26: F86. Way, M.O. 2001. Efficacy of Icon 6.2FS for rice water weevil control in tilled and conservation-tilled re-planted rice. Proceedings Annual National Conservation Tillage Cotton and Rice Conference. Houston, TX. Jan. 30-31, 2001. pp. 49-50. (abstract). Wirth, M. C., A. Delicluse, & W. E. Walton. 2001. Lack of cross-resistance to Cry19A from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. jegathesan in Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) resistant to Cry toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis. Applied and Environ. Micro. 67: 1956-1958. Wirth, M. C., A. Delicluse, & W. E. Walton. 2001. Cyt1Ab1 and Cyt2Ba1 from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. medellin and B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis synergize Bacillus sphaericus against Aedes aegypti and resistant Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae). Appl. Environ. Micro. 67: 3280-3284. Xue, Rui-De, D. R. Barnard, & A. Ali. 2001. Laboratory and field evaluation of insects repellents as oviposition deterrents against the mosquito Aedes albopictus. Med. Vet. Entomol. 15: 126-131. Xue, Rui-De, D. R. Barnard,& A. Ali. 2001. Laboratory and field evaluation of insect repellents as larvicides against the mosquitoes Aedes albopictus and Anopheles albimanus. Med. Vet. Entomol. 15: 374-380.

Impact Statements

Research conducted in 2001 resulted in significant progress in understanding the biology and ecology of mosquitoes and crop production insects associated with the rice agroecosystem and other wetlands.
Rice entomologists are striving to derive improved management schemes for key rice plant pests that stress the use of reduced risk insecticides, more judicious use of insecticides, cultural control measures and/or biological control measures.
Research results on improved rice arthropod pest management will reduce costs of production for growers, protect the environment, along with the most important benefit of conserving natural enemies of mosquitoes and mitigating mosquito production from ricelands.
Improved protection of human and animal health will be realized through these research efforts as will as improved rapport with populated areas, i.e., urban zones, due to the lower levels of pestiferous mosquitoes.
Results were disseminated to producers via extension meetings and publications and mosquito entomologists continued to provide updated research results and management guidelines to clientele including mosquito control districts, farmers and government health officials.
New pests continue to plague entomologists working in riceland ecosystems such as the Mexican rice borer, which is a potentially important rice plant pest, and the West Nile Virus (a mosquito borne disease), which was found in the core of the rice production area in 2001 (Arkansas). These spread and potential impacts of these new pests was evaluated.

Date of Annual Report: 04/25/2003

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 02/24/2003 - 02/25/2003
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/2002 - 12/01/2002

Participants

John Bernhardt, University of Arkansas, Stuttgart, AR; Max Meisch, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; Larry D. Godfrey, University of California, Davis, CA; Sharon P. Lawler, University of California, Davis, CA; William E. Walton, University of California, Riverside, CA; Arshad Ali, University of Florida, Apopka, FL; Robert Novak, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL; Bill Rice USDA/ARS, Crowley, LA; Dennis Ring, LSU Ag Center, Baton Rouge, LA; Mike Stout, LSU Ag Center, Baton Rouge, LA; Jim Robbins, Mississippi State University, Stoneville, MS; Mike Boyd, University of Missouri, Portageville, MO; Jim Olson, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; M. O. Way, Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Beaumont, TX; Fred W. Knapp, Administrative Advisor, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture; and Hendrick Rick' Meyer, CSREES Representative, USDA, Washington, DC.

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes of the S-300 Cooperative Regional Project

Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis

23 February 2003

Submitted by Mike Stout, S-300 Secretary, 2003

The meeting was called to order at approximately 8:50 a.m. by Chair John Bernhardt. Members in attendance were John Bernhardt and Max Meisch (University of Arkansas), Larry Godfrey and Sharon Lawler (University of California, Davis), M.O. Way (Texas A&M University), Mike Stout and Mike Perich (Louisiana State University), Herb Bolton (CSREES, USDA), and Fred Knapp (Administrative Advisor, University of Kentucky). Alan Inman (Merced County Mosquito Abatement District), Deborah Dritz (UC Davis), and Al Grigarick (emeritus, UC Davis) were introduced as guests. Chair Bernhardt expressed the gratitude of the S-300 Project to the Local Arrangements Committee, Sharon Lawler and Larry Godfrey.

2004 Meeting Site: The first order of business was the selection of the location for the 2004 meeting of the S-300 meeting. After discussion of possible meeting dates and times, M.O. Way motioned that the meeting be held on February 29th, 2004 in New Orleans, immediately before with the 2004 Rice Technical Working Group meeting in New Orleans (2/29/04-3/3/04). Stout seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. Stout was charged with arranging for the use of a meeting room at the RTWG site.

Initial comments by Dr. Knapp (Administrative Advisor): Dr. Knapp reminded S-300 members that the current S-300 project expires in 2005. He mentioned the possibility of extending the current project for 1-2 years, but stated that doing so requires proper justification. He recommended that the progress of the project be evaluated by S-300 members during the next year and discussed at next year‘s meeting.

Comments by Dr. Bolton (USDA): Dr. Bolton stated first that Rick Meyer could not attend the meeting due to recent surgery, but expects to be present at the 2004 meeting. Dr. Bolton then briefly discussed the USDA budget. The USDA, like all U.S. government agencies, is currently operating without a budget for the 2003 fiscal year. The overall USDA-CSREES budget is not expected to increase. However, there will be a $45 million increase in the USDA-NRI budget in the coming year, an increase offset by a corresponding decrease in funding for the USDA-IFAS program. The NSF budget is expected increase significantly. Dr. Meisch asked Dr. Bolton about a special grant program on pesticide application technology. Dr. Bolton replied that the USDA does not administer special grants of this sort, then reported on a $15 million Department of Defense (Pest Management Board) grant program involving new pesticides and new approaches for protecting U.S. armed forces from vector-borne diseases. Dr. Bolton promised to alert appropriate S-300 members of this funding opportunity when he learned more details. Dr. Bolton next discussed the release of over $43 million in funds by the USDA as part of the homeland security effort. Money is being made available to establish a network of diagnostic laboratories for plant and anmila diseases, with the purpose of rapidly identifying and monitoring plant and animal pathogens that constitute threats to U.S. Agriculture.

Dr. Bolton announced that the USDA-CSREES web page will be revised in the near future, and that the application process for some USDA programs will soon be handled electronically. He stated that the CSREES Pest Managers e-Mail Distribution List has been improved and updated, and encouraged S-300 members to contact Rahele Maclin (rmaclin@reeusda.gov) if they are interested in adding their name to the list or making a change to their current listing. Dr. Bolton reminded S-300 members of the upcoming 4th National Integrated Pest Management Symposium, April 8-10, 2003, at the Westin Hotel in Indianapolis, IN. This meeting was started several years ago partly in response to criticisms made in a GAO audit, that reductions in pesticide use in U.S. agriculture were not occurring despite an increase in adoption of IPM programs.

Dr. Bolton alerted S-300 members to a new website developed by the USDA‘s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The site contains data on chemical use in U.S. crops. Users of this data base can search agricultural chemical used data by crop, year, region, or active ingredient. The site can be accessed at http://www.usda.gov/nass. Dr. Bolton also mentioned the availability of crop profiles on the cooperative web site for the regional Pest Management Centers (http://www.pmcenters.org).

Further comments from Dr. Knapp: Dr. Knapp again urged S-300 members to review the progress of the project and determine which objectives of the proposal have been met and which remain to be met. He advised members to try and complete the objectives of the project as set forth in the current proposal.

Dr. Knapp reminded S-300 members of the importance of impact statements in CRIS reports and similar reports. He stated that impacts must be tangible and not merely summaries of research accomplishments. Dr. Bolton reminded S-300 members that CRIS reports are available to the public. A discussion ensued on the difficulty in estimating economic impacts. Dr. Bolton recommended that members consult the USDA web page (www.reeusda.gov) and click on the "eanswers" icon for examples of impact statements.

Dr. Knapp stated that the deadline for submission of meeting minutes and the Annual Report for the S-300 project is 60 days from the meeting date.

State reports: State reports were presented and discussed by the group. Copies of reports are available to interested parties. The following individuals submitted oral and written reports.

California: Dr. Godfrey, Dr. Lawler

Texas: Dr. Way

Arkansas: Dr. Bernhardt, Dr. Meisch

Louisiana: Dr. Stout, Dr. Perich

Written reports were also submitted by Drs. Novak (University of Illinois) and Walton (UC Riverside) and briefly discussed.

Final business items, Dr. Bernhardt, Chair: Dr. Bernhardt asked Drs. Stout and Godfrey to add impact statements and lists of publications to their reports. Dr. Perich was instructed to send a report to Dr. Bernhardt. Dr. Godfrey pointed out the need to elect a secretary for next year‘s meeting (to assume Chair duties in 2005). Dr. Perich was selected as secretary for the 2004 meeting.

It was proposed that the S-300 project conduct a symposium on the integration of management practices for mosquitoes and agricultural pests in rice fields similar to the one conducted at the 2002 RTWG meeting in Little Rock. Several potential venues for this symposium were discussed, and it was ultimately decided that talks be presented at next year‘s Rice Technical Working Group meeting in New Orleans. It was decided that the following talks be given:

1) Update on West Nile virus - Mike Perich

2) Integration of management practices and non-target effects of rice insecticides in California - Sharon Lawler

3) Integration of management practices/non-target effects, mid-South - undecided

Dr. Way proposed that members of the S-300 project who conducted research on insecticidal control of the rice water weevil in rice seek a nomination for the RTWG Distinguished Rice Research and/or Education Award. Dr. Way stated that data generated by these scientists benefited U.S. rice producers because these data were used to justify the registration of several insecticides currently used to manage the rice water weevil. Dr. Stout volunteered to ask Dr. J. Musick (LSU Rice Research Station) to nominate these scientists for this award.

Dr. Bernhardt again thanked the Local Arrangements Committee, Drs. Lawler and Godfrey. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:30 p.m.

Accomplishments

Objective 1: In AR, Bernhardt found that Mustang Max gave control of rice water weevils (RWW) equivalent to another adulticide, KarateZ and a larvicide, Icon seed treatment. Cruiser at the highest rate tested gave control of RWW similar to that of the lowest rate of Icon. KarateZ applied at 14, 10, 6, 2, and 1 days before flood gave improved residual control (>50%) the closer the application was to the flood date. Field tests with Icon demonstrated excellent control of grape colaspis at the lowest labeled rate. In AR, Meisch found that three semicarbazone formulations gave greater than 90% mortality of P. columbiae larvae but only after 48 hours. Efficacy declined between 24 hours and 5 days and no activity was found after 5 days. Also, aerial ULV assessment of Anvil against A. quadrimaculatus adults gave 91% control. Pyganic (unsynergized pyrethrum for organic crops) did not give adequate control of A. quadrimaculatus. Using KarateZ to control RWW, populations of non-target beneficials such as Tropisternus lateralis and Notonecta indica would be negatively impacted, while A. quadrimaculatus would proliferate. Icon had better control of A. quadrimaculatus and was less harmful to both T. lateralis and N. indica. In CA, Godfrey found that Warrior applied to soil preflood or after flood and before seeding provided effective control of RWW. Zeta-cypermethrin, XDE 225, and Icon were very effective against RWW. Cruiser as a soil treatment was effective in 2001, but as a seed treatment in 2002 Cruiser performed poorly. Large scale tests with zeta-cypermethrin, Dimilin, Warrior and Warrior + Dimilin were all effective at RWW control. Again in 2002, RWW adult trapping using an aquatic barrier trap developed by Arkansas showed promise in predicting larval densities; in small plot tests traps collected from 4 to 6% of known numbers of adults; and, there is a high degree of independence between trap captures and flight incidence as measured by a light trap. In CA, Lawler tested the impact of Warrior on non-target organisms. No mosquitofish or predatory insects survived direct exposure to Warrior. Most fish added 7 days after spray survived, but there was a trend toward lower numbers in the treated plots. Insect populations remained low in treated plots for at least 4 weeks and sentinel C. tarsalis mosquitoes died in treated plots for at least 3 weeks. However, mosquito survival was also poor in untreated plots. Also in CA, Walton continued laboratory selection experiments designed to delay the onset of resistance to Bacillus sphaericus (BS) and to test whether susceptibility can be restored in BS resistant C. quinquefasciatus and tests for interactions among microbial toxins from B. thuringiensis (BT) with BS. Data suggested that there may be limited advantage associated with the incorporation of Cyt1A into BS resistant management programs. In FL, Ali found the laboratory and outdoor effectiveness and residual activity of the insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen were superior to the IGR s-methoprene against some mosquitoes. In LA, Stout showed that Icon, KarateZ, Mustang Max, and Fury controlled RWW; Fury was effective as KarateZ for controlling RWW while Cruiser seed treatment performed similarly to Icon seed treatment. The efficacy of Icon was markedly lower in water-seeded, pinpoint flooded system than in drill-seeded rice. KarateZ, Fury, Mustang Max, and methyl parathion (MP) controlled rice stink bug (RSB) but with little residual activity. Malathion and MP at a reduced rate did not give adequate control. Liberty, a rice herbicide, was found to have no insecticide properties on RWW and adults fed equally on treated leaves and on non-treated Liberty-Link rice. In TX, Way found that the best time to apply Fury for RWW control is as close to flood as possible. Experimental GF-317 for RWW was more effective applied immediately before than 4 days after flood at rates 1/10 the standard rate of KarateZ. Mustang Max applied 1 day before or 3 days after flood was not as effective at controlling RWW as KarateZ, Icon, or Dimilin. Also, Gaucho seed treatments did not perform as well as Icon. For RSB control Fury, KarateZ, Mustang Max, and GF-317 in the laboratory all exhibited excellent direct contact activity, but none gave more than 1 day of residual activity. In field tests, KarateZ gave between 4 to 8 days of residual control of RSB nymphs and 2 to 4 days residual control of RSB adults. The addition of Quadris to KarateZ improved residual control and head rice yield, and decreased pecky rice by 1.8%. KarateZ applied during early boot gave control of Mexican rice borers and sugarcane borers. In TX, Olson continued to conduct insecticide susceptibility monitoring tests on select populations of Culex quinquefasciatus in the rice producing region of southeast TX. He recommended that a resistance management plan for C. quinquefasciatus in Orange County, Texas be continued because an elevated tolerance to malathion was observed again during 2002. Objective 2: In AR, Bernhardt found that rice varieties Bengal, Cocodrie and Francis were more susceptible to RWW infestation than Ahrent; early and late rice planting dates had high RWW infestations; delay of permanent flood by 10 and 20 days decreased RWW larval infestations by 57 and 50%, respectively. Cocodrie was more susceptible to rice stalk borer (RSBR) than Ahrent and Francis, but all three were more susceptible than Bengal; rice varieties planted at a later date had 10 to 30 times more RSBR damage than rice planted earlier. In a nine-variety host plant resistance study, Godfrey found larval RWW populations were highest in M-205, M-401, and M-202; but only M-205 and M-202 had yield losses. Overall, the medium grains appeared to be fairly tolerant of RWW feeding, but supported higher larval numbers. In LA, Stout found that previously observed differences in RWW resistance of Cocodrie, Bengal, and Jefferson to be consistent among years; increases in N fertilization were associated with increases in densities of RWW larvae; higher rates of N did not ameliorate yield losses from RWW; rice lines found to possess low to moderate levels of resistance to RWW were evaluated in greenhouse tests where several showed resistance to RWW egg-laying; draining and drying did not effectively reduce RWW larvae; a two-week delay in flood resulted in plants that were much more tolerant to RWW feeding than rice flooded at an earlier stage; depth of flood did not influence densities of RWW in field tests; and contrary to previous data, early planted rice did not escape damaging infestations of RWW in LA. In Texas, Way found that increased preflood N did not increase or decrease RWW populations, but did increase yield of main and ratoon rice (548 and 188 lb/acre, respectively); RWW populations were highest on the earliest planting date and treatment with insecticides gave the greatest benefit in yield to main and ratoon rice (Icon gave the highest return at $129.13/acre); Priscilla, Lemont, Saber, and Cocodrie were most susceptible while XL7 and XL8 were least susceptible to a combination of Mexican rice borer and sugarcane borer; across 10 rice varieties, average yield loss to stem borers was 1246 lb/acre on the main crop and 166 lb/acre on the ratoon crop. Objective 3: In CA, Godfrey continued a 40 year program of monitoring adult RWW flights with UV light traps. Monitoring RWW flights is important in determining the levels and interval of peak flight activity and to compare RWW trends over years. Studies designed to investigate how long during the season RWW control is needed were impacted by unwanted seed midge infestation. In CA, Walton found that compared to a control wetland with ambient levels of ammonium nitrogen a wetland with 75 times more ammonium nitrogen sustained mosquito populations for an additional week after flooding; mosquito larvae had larger headwidths; adults emerged 5 days sooner; and overall mosquito production was larger than a previous study where wetlands were enriched with urea. In LA, Stout found that the presence of barnyardgrass (BYG) had little impact on RWW infestation in north LA. RSB populations were higher when BYG heads emerged at the same time as rice but did not have the same impact when BYG heads emerged later than rice. The presence of BYG interfered with rice and reduced yield, increased RSB populations, but did not reduce milling quality. Two major periods of flight activity of RWW adults were identified using UV and incandescent light traps. In FL, Ali continued ecological and laboratory studies on Glyptotendipes paripes and Chronomus carssicaudatus. Results were: water depth, sediment dry weight, and presence/absence of sand, muck or vegetation were responsible for larval distribution in lakes of G. paripes; head capsule width used for instar differentiation; cephalolabial length in 4th instar larvae was best indicator of sex differentiation of both species; temperature and development models were established; and gut contents of Bluegill indicated indiscriminate feeding on chironomid larvae. Nuisance occurrence of chironomids could be averted by the placement of lighted barges located away from waterfront areas. Objective 4: In IL, Novak‘s primarily focused on the impact of the West Nile virus (WNV) on public and animal health. A summary follows: the main risk factor in transmission is having an abundance of insect vectors and reservoir hosts in close proximity to humans; in north IL (Cook Co.) 60% of mosquito pools tested positive for WNV and is comparable to epicenters in New York in 1999 and 2000 outbreaks; for Cook Co. in August there were more than one infected mosquito per 36-42 collected; 12 species of mosquitoes tested positive for WNV with Culex spp. the most frequent regardless of a latitudinal gradient for non-Culex infected mosquitoes; presence of WNV RNA does not mean a species is a vector, but provides the basis for narrowing the search for bridge vectors; there is evidence in multiple species for vertical transmission such as from mother to offspring, between developmental stages, or between sexes during mating - male mosquitoes were found positive for WNV; Anopheles and Aedes spp. need study for possible bridge species; atypical vertebrate hosts (squirrel, wolf, and dog) and insects (parasitic flies and non-bird feeding mosquitoes) were detected reflecting the magnitude of the epizootic; most early aspects of the WNV transmission cycle, including meteorological factors, remain unknown, making predictions and abatement difficult. Results of the WNV in IL were 738 clinical cases (estimated 30 to 150 asymptomatic cases for every one clinical case) including 48 deaths; reports of major declines in crow, chickadee, and other bird populations; infection confirmed in 513 birds, 528 mosquito pools, and 1059 horses. In TX, Olson continued research on the effects of different temperatures and humidity levels on the survivorship of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus eggs. Preliminary results confirm reports that Ae. aegypti eggs tend to better tolerate higher temperatures (30oC) and lower humidities ( 40%) than do those of Ae. albopictus. All other research was suspended in favor of TAES participation in the survey and monitoring for the West Nile Virus (WNV) which hit Texas during 2002. The State Health Department summarization of the survey and monitoring results indicated that mosquitoes in 9 of the 17 counties, considered to be part of the rice belt along the upper gulf coast of southeast Texas, were confirmed to carry the WNV during 2002. In this region of Texas, 231 birds, 106 humans, 96 pools of mosquitoes, and 96 horses were confirmed positive for WNV. The mosquito species found infected with the virus included Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex erraticus and Ae. albopictus.

Publications

Arkansas Crockett, R. J., J. A. Dennett, J., C. M. Hamm, R. D. Nunez, and M. Meisch. 2002. Efficacy of Biomist 30:30 and Aqua Reslin against Anopheles quadrimaculatus in Arkansas. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 18: 23-25. Crockett, R. J. 2002. Arbovirus surveillance and control of Arkansas mosquitoes. M. S. Thesis. Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. Bernhardt, J. L. and D. T. Johnson. 2002. Verification of a Monitoring Program for Rice Water Weevil Adults. Pages 117-122. In B.R. Wells Rice Research Studies, 2001. Ark. Agric. Exp. Stn. Res. Series 495. Bernhardt, J. L., K.A.K. Moldenhauer, and J. W. Gibbons. 2002. Screening Rice Lines for Susceptibility to Rice Stink Bug: Results from the Arkansas Rice Performance Tests. Pages 123-132. In B.R. Wells Rice Research Studies, 2001. Ark. Agric. Exp. Stn. Res. Series 495. Rashid, T., D. T. Johnson and J. L. Bernhardt. 2002. Comparison of different sampling techniques for Oebalus pugnax (F.) in rice. Pages 133-137. In B.R. Wells Rice Research Studies 2001, Ark. Agric. Exp. Stn. Res. Series 495. Rashid, T., D. T. Johnson and J. L. Bernhardt. 2002. Interaction of rice variety, heading period and Oebalus pugnax (F.) density on rice yield in Arkansas. Proceedings 29th Rice Tech. Working Group. Page 91. Rashid, T., D. T. Johnson and J. L. Bernhardt. 2002. Comparison of different sampling techniques for Oebalus pugnax (F.) in rice. Proceedings 29th Rice Tech. Working Group. Page 86. Rashid, T., D. T. Johnson and J. L. Bernhardt. 2002. Development of Oebalus pugnax (F.) from egg to adult at different temperatures in laboratory. Proceedings 29th Rice Tech. Working Group. Page 95. Bernhardt, J.L. and T.L. Richards. 2002. Field Tolerance of Selected Rice Varieties To Rice Water Weevil Infestation and Damage. Proceedings 29th Rice Tech. Working Group. Page 95. Stout, M.J., J.L. Bernhardt, M. Boyd, L.D. Godfrey, J.T. Robbins and M.O. Way. 2002. Overview of integrated management programs for arthropod pests of rice. Proceedings 29th Rice Technical Working Group. 29:79. California Godfrey, L. D., and R. R. Lewis. 2002. Management of Rice Water Weevil with Insecticides. Calif. Rice Experiment Station Field Day Report. pp 34-36. Godfrey, L. D. and R. R. Lewis. 2002. Monitoring Rice Water Weevil adult populations to Improve Management. Calif. Rice Experiment Station Field Day Report. pp 9-11. Godfrey, L. D., R. R. Lewis, E. Blanco, and C. Yip. 2001. Annual report comprehensive research on rice, RP-3. pp. 93-121. Godfrey, L. D. 2001. 33st Annual report to the California rice growers. Protection of rice from invertebrate pests. pp 29-32. Stout, M.J., J.L. Bernhardt, M. Boyd, L.D. Godfrey, J.T. Robbins and M.O. Way. 2002. Overview of integrated management programs for arthropod pests of rice. Proceedings 29th Rice Technical Working Group. 29:79. Lawler, S.P., D. A. Dritz, R. McBride, D. Lemenager and M. Kimball. 2001. Effects of rice straw management on the dynamics of mosquito populations: a food web study. Mosquito Control Research Annual Report 2001. University of California DANR. Miles, A. K., S. P. Lawler, D. A. Dritz and S. Spring. 2002. Effects of mosquito larvicide on mallard ducklings and prey. Wildlife Society Bulletin 30:675-682. Submitted: Lawler, S.P., D.A. Dritz and L. D. Godfrey. Effects of the agricultural insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior) on mosquitofish and beneficial insects. J. American Mosquito Control Association. Walton, W. E. 2002. Multipurpose constructed treatment wetlands in the arid southwestern United States: Are the benefits worth the risk: pp. 115-123. IN: J. Pries (ed.) Constructed Wetlands for Water Quality Improvement, CH2MHill Canada Limited, Pandora Press, Waterloo, ON. Keiper, J. B., D. L. Deonier, J. Jiannino, M. Sanford, and W. E. Walton. 2002. Biology, immature stages, and redescriptions of Hydrellia personata Deonier (Diptera: Ephydridae), a Lemna miner. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 104:458-467. Thullen, J. S., J. J. Satoris, and W. E. Walton. 2002. Effects of vegetation management in constructed wetland treatment cells on water quality and mosquito production. Ecol. Engin. 18:441-457. Keiper, J. B., W. E. Walton, and B. A. Foote. 2002. Biology and ecology of higher Diptera from freshwater wetlands. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 47: 207-232. Walton, W. E., G. Peck, and K. Chan. 2002. Factors regulating mosquito production at a renovated constructed treatment wetland. Mos. Control Res. Ann. Rept. 2001. Univ. of Calif., Div. of Agric. & Nat. Res., Berkeley, CA. Pp. 41-45 Wirth, M. C., W. E. Walton, and B. A. Federici. 2002. Evaluation of alternative resistance management strategies for Bacillus sphaericus. Mos. Control Res. Ann. Rept. 2001. Univ. of Calif., Div. of Agric. & Nat. Res., Berkeley, CA. Pp. 23-24. Federici, B. A., H-W. Park, A. Delicluse, D. K. Bideshi, B. Ge, J. J. Johnson, M. C. Wirth, and W. E. Walton. 2002. Optimization of recombinant BTI/BS mosquito larvicides. Mos. Control Res. Ann. Rept. 2001. Univ. of Calif., Div. of Agric. & Nat. Res., Berkeley, CA. Pp. 20-22. Florida Stevens, M. M., Ali, A., S. Helliwell, J. J. Schiller, and S. Hanson. 2002. Comparison of two bioassay techniques for assessing the acute toxicity of pesticides to chironomid larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae). J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 18: 119-125. Ali, A., J. Fouz, and R. J. Lobinske. 2002. Spatio-temporal effects of selected physico-chemical variables of water, algae and sediment chemistry on the larval community of nuisance Chironomidae (Diptera) in a natural and a man-made lake in central Florida. Hydrobiologia. 470: 181-193. Lobinske, R. J., C. E. Cichra, and A. Ali. 2002. Predation by bluegilli (Lepomis macrochirus) on larval Chironomidae (Diptera) in relation to midge standing crop in two central Florida lakes. Fla. Entomol. 85: 372-375. Nayar, J. K., A. Ali, and M. Zaim. 2002. Effectiveness and residual activity comparison of granular formulations of insect growth regulators pyriproxyfen and s-methoprene against Florida mosquitoes and outdoor conditions. J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 18:196-201. Frouz, J. A., A. Ali, and R. J. Lobinske. 2002. Influence of temperature on development rate, wing length, and larval head capsule size of pestiferous midge Chironomus crassicaudatus (Diptera: Chironomidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 95:699-705. Frouz, J. A., A. Ali., and R. J. Lobinske. 2002. Suitability of morphological parameters for instar determination of pestiferous midges Chironomus crassicaudatus and Glyptotendipes paripes (Diptera: Chironomidae) under laboratory conditions. J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 18:222-227. Lobinske, R.J., A. Ali, and J. Frouz. 2002. Laboratory estimation of degree-day development requirements of Glyptotendipes paripes (Diptera: Chironomidae). Environ. Entomol. 31: 608-611. Lobinske, R.J., A. Ali, and J. Frouz. 2002. Ecological studies of spatial and temporal distributions of larval Chironomidae (Diptera) with emphasis on Glyptotendipes paripes (Diptera: Chironomidae) in three central Florida lakes. Environ. Entomol. 31: 637-647. Ali, A. and R. J. Lobinske. 2002. A field study concerning phototaxis of nuisance adult Chironomidae (Diptera) for population management purposes. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil (in press). Illinois Louisiana Stout, M.J., M.R. Riggio, L. Zou, and R. Roberts. Flooding influences ovipositional and feeding behavior of the rice water weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). J. Econom. Entomol. 95: 715-721. Stout, M.J., W.C. Rice, and D.R. Ring. 2002. The influence of plant age on tolerance of rice to injury by the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Bull Entomol. Res. 92: 177-184. Patel, D.T. M.J. Stout, and J.R. Fuxa. 2002. Efficacy of Beauveria bassiana and chemical insecticide against the rice stink bug. Annual Research Report, Rice Research Station, LSU AgCenter 93: 510-514. Stout, M.J., J.L. Bernhardt, M. Boyd, L.D. Godfrey, J.T. Robbins and M.O. Way. 2002. Overview of integrated management programs for arthropod pests of rice. Proceedings 29th Rice Technical Working Group. 29:79. Texas Jackman, J. A. and J. K. Olson. 2002. Mosquitoes and the Diseases They Transmit. Tex. Coop. Ext. Bull. No. 6119. TAMU Agric. Communications: Texas A&M Univ. - College Station, TX. 8 pp. Jackman, J. A. and J. K. Olson. 2002. Mosquito Control Around the Home. Tex. Coop. Ext. Leaflet No. 1744 (Engl. & Spanish versions). TAMU Agric. Communications: Texas A&M Univ. - College Station, TX. 4 pp. Stevenson, D. E. and J. K. Olson. 2002. Public Health Related Pest Control: Vector Control and Domestic Rodent Control. Tex. Coop. Ext. Bull. No. 5071. TAMU Agric. Communications: Texas A&M Univ. - College Station, TX. 127 pp. Chenault, E. A. (Writer) and J. K. Olson (Contact). June, 2002. News Release: "West Nile Virus". TAMU Agric. Communications: Texas A&M Univ. - College Station, TX. Chenault, E. A. (Writer) and J. K. Olson (Contact). July, 2002. News Release: "Hot Season for Mosquito-borne Diseases". TAMU Agric. Communications: Texas A&M Univ. - College Station, TX. Chenault, E. A. (Writer) and J. K. Olson (Contact). October, 2002. News Release: "West Nile Virus Could Still Be A Concern". TAMU Agric. Communications: Texas A&M Univ. - College Station, TX. Olson, J. K. (Ed.). 2002. Proceedings of the 45th Annual Meeting of the Texas Mosquito Control Association/South Central Regional Mosquito Control Conference. Tex. Mosq. Control Assoc: Huntsville, TX. 33 pp. McCauley, G.N. and M.O. Way. 2002. Drain and harvest timing effects on rice grain drying and milling quality. Field Crops Research. 74:163-172. Way, M.O. 2002. Rice arthropod pests and their management in the United States. In: Rice: Origin, History, Technology, and Production. eds. C. Wayne Smith and Robert H. Dilday. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Hoboken, New Jersey. pp. 437-456. Way, M.O., R.G. Wallace, M.S. Nunez, G.N. McCauley and V.B. Langston. 2002. Evaluation of novel insecticides for rice water weevil control, 2001. Arthropod Management Tests. 27:F83. Way, M.O., R.G. Wallace, M.S. Nunez and G.N. McCauley. 2002. Timing of Karate Z for rice water weevil control, 2001. Arthropod Management Tests. 27:F84. Way, M.O., R.G. Wallace, M.S. Nunez and G.N. McCauley. 2002. Evaluation of Icon 6.2FS, Karate Z and Dimilin 2L for rice water weevil control, 2001. Arthropod Management Tests. 27:F85. Way, M.O., R.G. Wallace, M.S. Nunez and G.N. McCauley. 2002. Evaluation of seed treatments for rice water weevil control, 2001. Arthropod Management Tests. 27:F86. Way, M.O., R.G. Wallace, M.S. Nunez and G.N. McCauley. 2002. Control of rice water weevil in a stale or tilled seedbed. Proceedings Conservation Tillage Cotton and Rice Conference. 5:45-48. (and presentation Jan. 24-25. Tunica, MS) Way, M.O. 2002. Evaluation of Icon 6.2FS Under Reduced Seeding Rates. Texas Rice. vol. II, no. 1. p. 3. Way, M.O. 2002. Pest of the Month: Channeled Apple Snail. Texas Rice. vol. II, no. 1. p. 12. Way, M.O. 2002. Stem Borer Research; Icon 6.2FS vs Sharpshooters and Evaluating New Chemistry for Rice Water Weevil, Rice Stink Bug and Stem Borers. Texas Rice. vol. II, no. 4. pp. III-IV. Way, M.O. 2002. IPM-FYI. Rice Journal. 105(5):12-13. Way, M.O. 2002. Entomology Updates. In Rice Production Update. vol. 15, no. 4 (April). Way, M.O. 2002. Rice Production Update. In Rice Production Update. vol. 15, no. 5 (June). Way, M.O. 2002. Insect Management Alternatives. Rice Production Guidelines. D-1253. pp. 29-42. Way, M.O., T.E. Reagan, R.G. Wallace, M.S. Nunez, L.J. Vawter, G.N. McCauley, V.B. Langston and K. Buchert. 2002. Recent stem borer research in Texas rice. Proceedings 29th Rice Technical Working Group. 29:91 Stout, M.J., J.L. Bernhardt, M. Boyd, L.D. Godfrey, J.T. Robbins and M.O. Way. 2002. Overview of integrated management programs for arthropod pests of rice. Proceedings 29th Rice Technical Working Group. 29:79. McCauley, G.N., F.T. Turner and M.O. Way. 2002. Relationship of yield components to main and ratoon crop yield in large plot field test. Proceedings 29th Rice Technical Working Group. 29:136. Jund, M., G.N. McCauley, M.O. Way, J. Vawter and F.T. Turner. 2002. Summary of semi-dwarf ratoon rice management research in Texas. Proceedings 29th Rice Technical Working Group. 29:137. Way, M.O., J. Grichar, J.J. Heitholt, T. Isakeit and G.N. McCauley. 2002. Response of ESPS soybeans to irrigation, diseases and insects. Texas Plant Protection Conference. 14:28. M. O. Way Contrituted to: Roberts, Amy. 2002. Don‘t Bug Me. Rice Farming. vol. 36, no. 5 (April issue) pp. 8-9. Rood, Mary Ann. 2002. Blackbird Control. Rice Journal. vol. 105, no. 3 (March issue). pp. 10-11. Rood, Mary Ann. 2002. Weevil Wars. Rice Journal. vol. 105, no. 5 (May issue). pp. 14-15. Pace, Joel. 2002. Mexican Rice Borer - a Growing Threat to Rice and Sugarcane. Texas Rice. vol. II, no. 7. pp. 3-4. Cockrell, J. 2002. Farming Rice. Texas Rice. vol. II, no. 7. p. 3.

Impact Statements

In 2002, S-300 participants continued to add new knowledge about pestiferous insects associated with artifical and natural wetlands.
The knowledge gained is being used to develop more effective, safe, and afforable management of these insect pests.

Date of Annual Report: 04/27/2004

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 02/29/2004 - 02/29/2004
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/2003 - 01/01/2004

Participants

Stout, Michael, Chair (mstout@agctr.lsu.edu) - Louisiana State University;Boyd, Michael, Secretary and Chair-Elect (boydm@missouri.edu) - University of Missouri Delta Center;Berhardt, John (jbernhar@uark.edu) - University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center;Castro, Boris (bcastro@agctr.lsu.edu) - Louisiana State University;Meisch, Max (Meisch@uark.edu) - University of Arkansas;Godfrey, Larry (ldgodfrey@ucdavis.edu) - University of California-Davis;Robbins, Jim (jrobbins@drec.msstate.edu) - Mississippi State University;Way, Mo (moway@aesrg.tamu.edu) - Texas A&M;Meyer, Rick (hmeyer@reeusda.gov) - USDA/CSREES;Johnson, Donn - University of Arkansas;Tindall, Kelly - Louisiana State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

Objective 1: To determine the best chemicals to use in riceland systems in terms of their providing maximum control of rice pests and riceland mosquitoes while causing the least amount of harm to non-target organisms.Representatives from AR, CA, FL, LA, MS, MO, and TX conducted research to fulfill this objective.Management of the rice water weevil with insecticides: In AR, a comparison of gamma-cyhalothrin (Dow AgroSciences), an unregistered pyrethroid insecticide, with insecticides currently registered against the rice water weevil (Karate®, Syngenta Crop Protection; Mustang Max®, FMC Corporation; Icon®, Bayer Cropscience AG) showed that all insecticides tested reduced populations of weevil larvae by at least 70% four weeks after flooding. No significant differences were found among grain yields for any treatment. In CA, zeta-cypermethrin, Dimilin® (Crompton Corporation), Warrior® (Syngenta Crop Protection), Icon®, and gamma-cyhalothrin Provided greater than 90% control of weevils. Two formulations of thiomethoxam also provided some control of weevils. Pre-flood applications of Warrior were as efficacious as post-flood applications of Warrior in large field plots provided that applications were made within a day of flooding. The effects of pre-flood Warrior applications on non-target organisms were investigated, but the results are not yet available. Tests of insecticides against the rice water weevil in LA confirmed the efficacies of Karate®, Icon®, Mustang Max®, and gamma-cyhalothrin. In a drill-seeded comparison of unregistered seed treatments (all Syngenta Crop Protection products), the compound A14006B gave control of larvae similar to the control given by Icon®, whereas thiomethoxam provided less control, and a Karate® seed treatment provided very little control. In MS, several field and small-plot tests were conducted to compare the cost-effectiveness of Dimilin®, Karate®, and Mustang Max® against the rice water weevil. All treatments effectively controlled weevils. Tests of insecticides against the rice water weevil in MO showed. In TX, thiomethoxam and two other insecticides applied as seed treatments performed well against the water weevil. A planting date study showed that all registered insecticides applied at the proper rates and timings were effective against the water weevil. Some phytotoxicity was observed when Mustang-Max and Stam were tank-mixed.Floating aquatic barrier traps were tested as a monitoring tool for rice water weevil adults in an effort to optimize timing of post-flood insecticide applications against weevils. Bernhardt and Cooperative Extension personnel used the traps in rice fields in nine AR counties and found the traps to be useful for determining the need for insecticide applications. Godfrey in CA also tested the traps in large fields and small plots. A tentative threshold for post-flood insecticide applications was determined. The efficiency of trap capture was determined in small-plot studies. Limited research on the use of floating traps was also conducted in LA and TX. Light trap captures over 14 years were used to develop a degree-day model to predict emergence of rice water weevil adults from overwintering in Crowley, LA.Management of other rice pests with insecticides: Project scientists from the southern rice-growing states tested a variety of insecticides against the rice stink bug. Mustang Max®, Karate®, and gamma-cyhalothrin provided essentially equivalent control of stink bugs in small-plot tests in LA. Novaluron (Crompton Corporation) did not effectively control stink bugs in a small-plot test. Field demonstration plots in LA confirmed the efficacy of currently-registered insecticides for the rice stink bug. In MS, single applications of Karate® and Mustang Max® at the milk stage of grain development were shown to be cost effective. Methyl parathion, Karate®, and Mustang Max® provided good control of stink bugs in separate experiments. IN TX, a contact study showed that Mustang Max®, Karate®, and Orthene 90S provided good initial control of stink bugs, but only Orthene gave significant residual control. Novaluron gave unsatisfactory control of stink bugs. A graduate student supervised by Way (TX) began research into improving the current sweep-net method for sampling rice stink bugs in rice fields.Stem borers were added to the Karate® label in winter 2003. An insecticide study in TX demonstrated that two applications of Karate® at panicle differentiation (PD) to PD + 7 and late boot gave good control of stem borers. In LA, pre-boot applications of pyrethroids controlled stem borers.Insecticidal and chemical control of mosquitoes: Sixteen commercial insect repellents were evaluated in FL as spray formulations for adult knockdown and mortality of female Aedes aegypti, Ae. Albopictus, and Anopheles quadrimaculatus. Fifteen of the sixteen compounds tested caused 100% mortality of at lest two of the mosquito species after 24 h. Twelve of eighteen experimental skin repellents showed significant activities; these same compounds showed significant larvacidal activity. In CA, Lawler conducted a field study on the effects of Warrior on mosquitoes and beneficial predators. Applications of Warrior to fields controlled non-resistant Culex pipiens mosquitoes for 18 d, but a resistant strain of this mosquito species was not affected. Populations of predatory arthropods partially recovered by three weeks. Strong potential for selection of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes was found. Also in CA (Walton), long-term selection studies involving the evolution of resistance to toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis isrealensis and Bacillus sphaericus were completed. The inference from these studies is that improved bacterial insecticides, with lower risk for resistance development and enhanced toxicity, could be produced by incorporating the toxin Cyt1Aa into transgenic bacteria. Olson (TX) continued to conduct insecticide susceptibility monitoring on select populations of Culex quinquefasciatus. All populations were highly susceptible to resmethrin and permethrin, and most were adequately susceptible to malathion and naled. A proprietary IGR was shown to be effective against three mosquito species. In AR, a series of aerial optimization experiments were conducted in large fields to test the effectiveness of different active ingredients, formulations, and droplet sizes. Four insect growth regulator formulations (Aquaprene) were evaluated in small plots of rice. Excellent control was obtained, but only the pellet formulation provided acceptable control 14 days post-treatment.A small-plot experiment was conducted in LA to investigate interactions between control measures taken for pest and mosquito control in rice. Populations of mosquito larvae were low in April and May, when control measures for the rice water weevil weretypically taken. High populations of mosquitoes in rice fields coincided with movement of rice stink bugs into rice at the heading stage (July/August). Preliminary results suggested that measures taken specifically to control mosquito larvae in rice (applications of BT or methoprene) have little effect on rice water weevils or rice stink bugs.Objective 2: To determine the best non-chemical tactics to use in riceland systems to manage problems with rice pests, weeds, and mosquitoes.Non-chemical control of rice pests: Evaluation of existing commercial varieties and/or other rice genotypes for resistance to rice water weevils, rice stink bugs, and rice stem borers was conducted in AR, CA, LA, and TX. In LA, the resistance to infestation and tolerance of 19 genotypes of rice to the rice water weevil were evaluated, and a breeding program for weevil resistance was initiated. In TX, screenings of commercial varieties for resistance to the rice water weevil and to stem borers (Mexican rice borer and sugarcane borer) were performed. In CA, selected varieties were compared with respect to their susceptibility and response to the rice water weevil. Varieties were screened for tolerance and susceptibility to weevils, stink bugs, and stem borers on three planting dates in AR. In all plant resistance studies, significant differences among varieties in resistance to one or more pests were found.Early planting as a management strategy for the rice water weevil was investigated in AR, LA, and TX. Early planting was associated with higher yields and reduced weevil problems in all three states. Mid-season applications of nitorgen did not alleviate weevil damage in AR, although weevil populations were low. In LA, rice plants were found to be susceptible to oviposition and larval infestation throughout the seedling and vegetative stages, and plants in the early reproductive phases were also susceptible. Peak susceptibility was found in the tillering phase of development. Seasonal flight activity of weevils was monitored in CA, LA, and AR.An experiment to test the effects of timing of flooding and different levels of fertilizer applications on mosquito populations was conducted in CA (Lawler). Very few mosquitoes were present in the field used for this study, rendering the results inconclusive.In MO, Boyd cooperated with the MU Delta Center plant pathologist (Dr. Allen Wrather) on some preliminary research for an aerial surveillance project. The intent of the project was to determine if any interactions of nitrogen fertility with plant development and pest pressure can be detected with aerial surveillance of the plots. There was a poor correlation of variable nitrogen rates with rice water weevil larval counts in the research plots for 2003.Novak (IL) initiated a study in Kenya to develop and implement new microbial pesticides that will work in conjunction with natural regulatory organisms to manage immature populations of Anopheles and thus reduce the impact of malaria.Objective 3: To develop a database on the bionomics of rice pests, riceland mosquitoes, and beneficial aquatic fauna associated with harvested rice fields flooded during the winter.No work was conducted on this objective in 2003.Objective 4. To update and refine existing databases on the local distribution, genetic relationships and disease vector potential of mosquito species occurring in rice-producing areas of the U.S.An assessment of the effects of temperature and humidity on Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus eggs was continued in TX. Ae. aegypti were more tolerant of dessication. A study of distribution patterns of the An. quadrimaculatus species complex in TX was initiated. An. quadrimaculatus (species A) was found to be most wide-spread in occurrence. Mosquitoes in 7 of the 17 counties considered to be part of the Texas rice belt were confirmed to be carrying Wes Nile virus during 2003.In AR, mosquitoes were collected at sites where horses had tested positive for West Nile Virus. All mosquito samples were negative for the virus.The temporal pattern of abundance of mosquito species in a riverine wetland in southern CA was similar to that observed in CA rice fields. Mosquito populations were affected by presence of vegetation, by measures taken for vegetation management, and by timing of flooding. In FL, the bionomics of benthic macroinvertebtrates was studied in Lake Jesup. Distribution patterns in relation to substrate type, organic carbon content, and other environmental factors were investigated.

Publications

Bernhardt, J. L. and T. L. Richards. 2003. Screening rice lines for susceptibility to rice water weevil. Pages 185-190. In B. R. Wells Rice Research Studies, 2002. Ark. Agric. Exp. Stn. Res. Series 504.Bernhardt, J. L., K. A. K. Moldenhauer, and J. W. Gibbons. 2003. Screening rice lines for susceptibility to rice stink bug: Results from the Arkansas Rice Performance Tests. Pages 177-184. In B. R. Wells Rice Research Studies, 2002, Ark. Agric. Exp. Stn. Res. Series 504. Castro, B. A. and M. J. Stout. 2003. Evaluation of selected insecticides and a tank-mixture for management of rice stink bug and reduction of pecky rice, 2002. Arthropod Management Tests 28: (F84). Davis, C. T., D. W. C. Beasley, H. Guzman, P. Raj, M. D. Anton, R. J. Novak, T. R. Unnasch, R. B. Tesh, and A. D. T. Barrett. 2003. Genetic variation among temporally and geographically distinct West Nile Virus isolates, Untied States, 2001, 2002. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 9: 1423-1429. Dennett, James A., John L. Bernhardt and Max V. Meisch. 2003. Effects of fipronil and lambda - cyhalothrim against Anopheles quadrimaculatus (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae and non-target aquatic mosquito predators in Arkansas small riceplots. Journal of American Mosquito Control Assn. 19 (1) 23:25. Gerberg, E. J., Novak, R. J. 2002. Insect repellents and mosquito bites. New England Journal Medicine 347, 1719-1720. Godfrey, L. D. and R. R. Lewis. 2003. Development of a Refined Understanding of Rice Water Weevil Biology to Optimize Management Efficacy. Proc. 3rd International Temperate Rice Conference, 12 pages. Godfrey, L. D., R. R. Lewis, K. C. Windbiel. 2003. Management of Rice Water Weevil through cost-effective and environmentally acceptable means. Calif. Rice Experiment Station Field Day Report. pp 30-31.Godfrey, L. D. and R. R. Lewis. 2003. Research advances on rice anthropoid pest biology and management. Calif. Rice Experiment Station Field Day Report. pp 15-17. Godfrey, L. D. and R. R. Lewis. 2002. Annual report comprehensive research on rice, RP-3. pp. 105-132. Godfrey, L. D. 2002. 34th Annual report to the California rice growers. Protection of rice from invertebrate pests. pp. 30-33. Gu, Weidong, R. Lampman and R. J. Novak. 2003. Problems in Estimating Mosquito Infection Rates using Minimum Infection Rate. J. Medical Entomology, 40:595-596. Hix, R., D. T. Johnson, and J. L. Bernhardt. 2003. Antennal sensory structures of Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Coleoptera:Curculionidae) with notes on aquatic adaptations. Coleopterists Bull. 57(1): 85-94. Heinz-Taheny, K. M., J. J. Andrews, M. J. Kinsel, A. P. Pessier, M. E. Pinkerton, K. Y. Lemberger, R. J. Novak, G. Dizikes, N. Komar, E. Edwards. 2003. West Nile virus Infection in Free-ranging Squirrels in Illinois. J. Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. In Press. Keiper, J. B., J. A. Jiannino, M. R. Sanford, and W. E. Walton. 2003. Effect of vegetation management on the abundance of mosquitoes at a constructed treatment wetland in southern California. Proceedings of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association California 70: 35.Kent, Rebecca, Laurie D. Lacer and M. V. Meisch. 2003. Initiating Arbovirus Surveillance in Arkansas in 2001 Journal of Medical Entomology. 40(2):223-229. Lampman, Richard, Nina Krasavin, Patrick Halbig, Adam Ringia, Marshall Van de Wyngaerde, Hyun-Young Koo, and Robert Novak. 2003. West Nile Virus in Illinois. Illinois Natural History Survey Reports, Winter 2003, No. 374, p. 1 and p. 8. Lampman, Richard and Robert Novak. 2002. West Nile virus: Why Illinois? Illinois Mosquito and Vector Control Association Newsletter, Spring 2002. 12(1): 3. Lampman, Richard, Patrick Halbig, Nina Krasavin, Marshall Van de Wyngaerde, and Robert Novak. 2003. Mosquito species in Illinois positive for West Nile virus-RNA during the 2002 Outbreak. J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. In Press.Lawler, S. P., D. A. Dritz and L. D. Godfrey. 2004. Effects of the agricultural insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior?) on mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). J. Am. Mosq. Control. Assoc. 19:430-432. Leyse, K. E., S. P. Lawler and T. Strange. In press. Effects of an alien fish, Gambusia affinis, on an endemic California fairy shrimp, Linderiella occidentalis: implications for conservation of diversity in fishless waters. Biological Conservation. Lichtensteiger, Carol A., Kathleen Heinz-Taheny, Tanasa S. Osborne, Robert J. Novak, Beth A. Lewis, and Margaret L. Firth. 2003. Fatal West Nile Virus Encephalitis and Myocarditisin Two Canids (Wolf and Dog). Emerging Infectious Diseases, 9:1303-1306. Marra, Peter F., Sean Griffing, A. Marm Kilpatrick, Carolee Caffrey, Robert McLean, Christopher Brand, Alan P. Dupuis, Laura Kramer and, Robert Novak. 2004. West Nile Virus and Wildlife. Bioscience, In Press. Mejia-Ford, O. I., M. O. Way and J. K. Olson. 2003. Comparative biology of chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus leucopterus (Say) [Hemiptera: Lygaeidae], in rice and sorghum. Southwestern Entomologist. (accepted). Novak, Robert J. and Richard L. Lampman. 2003. West Nile Virus: An IPM Challenge in Illinois. Proc. Illinois Crop Protection Tech. Conf., 2003. Urbana, IL, Univ. IL, Jan. 7-8. pp 37-43.Novak, R. J., J. Shililu, G. Tewolde, E. Brantly, J. Githurie, C. Mbogo, J. Beier, and R. Lampman. 2002. Efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis var. isrealensis, Bacillus sphaericus and temephos for managing Anopheles larvae in Eritrea. Proc. Third International Conference biopesticides, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 2002. pp. 102-111. Rashid, T., D. T. Johnson, and J. L. Bernhardt. 2003. Feeding preference, fecundity, and egg hatch of rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on artificial diet, rice, and alternate host grasses. Pages 191-199. In B. R. Wells Rice Research Studies 2002, Ark. Agric. Exp. Stn. Res. Series 504. Reagan, T. E., F. P. F. Reay-Jones, B. L. Legendre, M. Sétamou, and M. O. Way. 2003. Resistance to the Mexican rice borer among Louisiana and Texas sugarcane varieties. In Sugarcane Research Annual Progress Report. Louisiana Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA. pp. 102-103. Reagan, T. E., M. O. Way, F. P. F. Reay-Jones, and F. R. Posey. 2003. Monitoring the movement of the Mexican rice borer toward sugarcane and rice in the upper Texas rice belt and western Louisiana. In Sugarcane Research Annual Progress Report. Louisiana Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA. pp. 99-101. Reay-Jones, F. P. F., M. O. Way, M. Sétamou, B. L. Legendre and T. E. Reagan. 2003. Resistance to the Mexican rice borer (Lepidoptera:Crambidae) among Louisiana and Texas sugarcane cultivars. J. Econ. Entomol. 96:1929-1934. Sanford, M. R., J. B. Keiper and W. E. Walton. 2003. The relationship of drying period for harvested wetland vegetation to the abundance of mosquitoes and other invertebrates. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 19: 361-366. Shang, H. W., M. J. Stout, Z. T. Zhang, R. C. Pousson, and Q. R. Chu. 2002. Reproductive biology and survival of rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Ann. Res. Rpt., Rice Res. Stn., LSU Agricultural Center 94: 474-479. Shililu, J., Tewolde Ghebremeskel, S. Mengistu, H. Fekadu, M. Zeron, C. Mbogo, J. Githure, E. Brantly, R. J. Novak and J. C. Beier. 2003. High seasonal variation in entomologic inoculation rates in Eritrea, a semi-arid region of unstable malaria in Africa. American J. tropical Medicine Hygiene, 69: 607-613. Shililu, Josephat, Tewolde Ghebremeskel, Fessahaye Seulu, Solomon Mengistu, Helen Fekadu, Mehari Zerom, Asmelash G. E., David Sintasath, Gustavo Bretas, Charles Mbogo, John Githure, Eugene Brantly, Robert Novak and John C. Beier. 2003. Larval Habitat Diversity and Ecology of Anopheline Larvae in Eritrea. J. Medical Entomology, 40:921-929. Shililu, Josephat, Tewolde Ghebremeskel, E. Brantly, J. I. Githure, C. M. Mbogo, J. C. Beier, R. Fusco and R. J. Novak. 2003. Efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis israeliensis, Bacillus sphaericus and temephos for managing Anopheles larvae in Eritrea. J. American Mosquito Control Assoc, 19:251-258.Shililu, Josephat, Tewolde Ghebremeskel, Solomon Mengistu, Helen Fekadu, Mehari Zerom, Charles Mbogo, John Githure, Eugene Brantly, Weidong Gu, Robert Novak and John C. Beier. 2003. Distribution of anopheline mosquitoes in Eritrea. Am. J. Tropical Medicine Hygiene, 69:295-302.Shililu, J., Tewolde Ghebremeskel, S. Mengistu, H. Fekadu, M. Zeron, C. Mbogo, J. Githure, E. Brantly, J. C. Beier and R. J. Novak. 2003. Seasonal distribution, resting behavior, and host-feeding patterns of Anopheles mosquitoes at eight villages in Eritrea. J. American Mosquito Control Association, In Press. Stout, M. J. and M. R. Riggio. 2003. Variation in susceptibility of rice lines to infestation by the rice water weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology 19: 205-216. Stout, M. J., R. Pousson, and B. A. Castro. 2002. Comparison of insecticides for control of the rice water weevil. Ann. Res. Rpt., Rice Res. Stn., LSU Agricultural Center 94: 468-469.Stout, M. J., R. C. Pousson, and B. A. Castro. 2002. Methyl parathion rate study. Ann. Res. Rpt., Rice Res. Stn., LSU Agricultural Center 94: 470-471.Stout, M. J. and R. C. Pousson. 2002. Timing of Karate applications for control of the rice water weevil. Ann. Res. Rpt., Rice Res. Stn., LSU Agricultural Center 94: 472-473. Stout, M. J. and R. C. Pousson. 2002. Comparative effectiveness of Icon in drill- and water-seeded cultural systems. Ann. Res. Rpt., Rice Res. Stn., LSU Agricultural Center 94: 464-465. Stout, M. J. and R. C. Pousson. 2002. Timing of karate applications for control of the rice water weevil. Ann. Res. Rpt., Rice Res. Stn., LSU Agricultural Center (in press). Tindall, K. V. and M. J. Stout. 2002. Comparison of Karate and Fury for control of the rice stinkbug in North Louisiana. Ann. Res. Rpt., Rice Res. Stn., LSU Agricultural Center 94: 462-463. Tindall, K. V. and M. J. Stout. 2003. Use of common weeds of rice as hosts for the rice water weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Environmental Entomology 32: 1227-1233.Vodkin, M. H., Krasavin, N. M., Borrageiro, L. A. and Novak, R. J. 2002. Comparison of commercial Dot Blot Elisa to the RT-PCR for detecting St. Louis Encephalitis virus. Annals Medical Entomology, 10: 14-20.Vodkin, M. H., R. J. Novak, and G. L. McLaughlin, 2003. 30. Database searches with multiple oligopeptides containing ambiguous residues. In, BioComputing: Computer Tools for Biologists, Stuart M. Brown, Ed., BioTechniques Press, Eaton Publishing, Westborough, MA pp. 245-249.Walton, W. E. 2003. Managing mosquitoes at surface-flow constructed treatment wetlands. Publ. No. 8117. Univ. of Calif. Div. Agric. & Nat. Resources IPM Program, Davis. 11 pp.Way, M. O., R. G. Wallace, M. S. Nunez, L. J. Vawter, G. N. McCauley, V. B. Langston. 2003. Insecticide screening for rice water weevil, 2002. Arthropod Management Tests. 28:F89.Way, M. O., R. G. Wallace, M. S. Nunez, L. J. Vawter, G. N. McCauley, V. B. Langston. 2003. Evaluation of novel insecticides for rice water weevil control, 2001. Arthropod Management Tests. 28:F90.Way, M. O., R. G. Wallace, M. S. Nunez, H. B. Harper, G. N. McCauley. 2003. Timing of Fury application for rice water weevil control, 2002. Arthropod Management Tests. 28:F91.Way, M. O., R. G. Wallace, M. S. Nunez, G. N. McCauley. 2003. Evaluation of rice insecticides labeled for rice water weevil control, 2002. Arthropod Management Tests. 28:F92.Way, M. O., R. G. Wallace, M. S. Nunez and G. N. McCauley. 2003. Comparison of rice water weevil damage in a stale or conventional seedbed. Proceedings Conservation Tillage Cotton and Rice Conference. 6:49.Way, M. O. and R. G. Wallace. 2002. Update on new management tools for the rice water weevil. Proceedings of the Second Temperate Rice Conference. Eds. J. E. Hill and B. Hardy. Los Banos (Philippines). IRRI. pp. 365-368.Way, M. O., R. G. Wallace, M. S. Nunez and C. D. Tribble. 2003. 2001 Entomology Research BeaumontCenter. 163 pp. (also on Beaumont Center website).Way, M. O., B. M. Drees and J. K. Olson. 2003. Insect Management Alternatives. In: 2003 Rice Production Guidelines. B-6131. pp. 31-44.Way, M. O. 2003. Rice Water Weevil. Texas Rice. vol. III, no. 1. pp. 11-12. (March issue).Way. M. O. 2003. Rice Water Weevil Control. Rice Production Update. vol. 16, no. 1. pp. 1-2. Feb. 3.Way, M.O. 2003. Rice Insect Control Update. Rice Production Update. vol. 16, no. 2. p. 1. Mar. 17.Way, M. O. 2003. Rice Insect Control Update. Rice Production Update. vol. 16, no. 3. p. 3. May 1.Way, M. O. 2003. Special Bulletin Rice Insect Control Update. Rice Production Update. vol. 16, no. 3a. p. 1. May 12.Way, M. O. 2003. Rice Insect Control Update. Rice Production Update. vol. 16, no. 4. pp. 2-3.Way, M. O. 2003. Entomology Research and Extension Program. Texas Rice. vol. III, no. 4. p. 11.(June issue).White, W. H., D. Adamski, J. Brown, T. E. Reagan, J. A. Villanueva-Jimenez, M. M. Lopez and M. O. Way. 2003. Survey results for the sugarcane pest, Blastobasis graminea (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae), in Texas and Louisiana. Southwestern Entomologist. (accepted).Wirth, M. C., W. E. Walton and A. Delécluse. 2003. Deletion of the Cry11A or the Cyt1A toxin from BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS subsp. ISRAELENSIS: effect on toxicity against resistant CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS (Diptera: Culicidae). Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 82: 133-135.Workman, P. W. and W. E. Walton. 2003. Larval behavior of four CULEX (Diptera: Culicidae) associated with treatment wetlands in the southwestern United States. Journal of Vector Ecology 28(2): 213-228.Yaremych, S. A., R. E. Warner, M. T. Van de Wyngaerde, A. M. Ringia, R. Lampman and R. J. Novak, 2003. West Nile Virus in American Crows. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 9: 1319-1321.Yaremych, S. A., R. E. Warner, P. C. Mankin, J. D. Brawn, A. J. Raim, R. J. Novak. 2003. West Nile virus causes high mortality in a free-ranging population of American Crows. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 10 (4), 6 pp.Zou, L., M. J. Stout, and D. R. Ring. Density-yield relationships for rice water weevil Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus on rice for different varieties and under different water management regimes. In press, Crop Protection.Zou, L., M..J. Stout, and R. Dunand 2004. Effects of feeding by the rice water weevil on the growth and yield components of rice. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 6: 1-7.Zhang, Z. T., M. J. Stout, R. Pousson, and H. Shang. 2002. Attraction of both sexes to each other in the rice water weevil Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus. Ann. Res. Rpt., Rice Res. Stn., LSU Agricultural Center 94: 480-482.Zou, L. and M. J. Stout. 2002. Yields of two rice varieties differing in tolerance to the rice water weevil under a reduced-insecticide regime. Ann. Res. Rpt., Rice Res. Stn., LSU Agricultural Center 94: 466-467.

Impact Statements

The rice entomologists that participate in the S00 project are the only U.S. scientists that provide unbiased evaluations of insecticides for management of important rice pests. The impending removal of Icon® from the domestic rice market highlights the fact that management programs for insect pests of rice are currently in a state of flux and hence, the need for unbiased evaluations of control tactics is paramount.
Project scientists realize the importance of the natural control of riceland mosquitoes and rice pests given by natural enemies and of the need for deploying insecticides in a way that minimizes the risk of the development of insecticide resistance. The research conducted by project scientists on insecticide resistance and non-target effects of insecticides reflects this realization.
Although the judicious use of insecticides remains a key element in the management programs for both rice pests and riceland mosquitoes, all project scientists are striving to develop and implement management programs that rely less on insecticides and more on alternative management strategies. Investigation of early planting for management of the rice water weevil is an example of this type of research.
Together, the activities of S300 project members result in the development of more cost-effective programs for management of important rice pests and, simultaneously, in the development of sustainable management programs for mosquitoes associated with rice fields, many of which are vectors of important diseases of man, livestock, and wildlife. Benefits of project activities include improved protection of human and animal health and increased profitability of rice production.

Date of Annual Report: 06/24/2005

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 03/06/2005 - 03/06/2005
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/2004 - 12/01/2004

Participants

In attendance were John Bernhardt, Donn Johnson and Max Meisch (AR), Larry Godfrey and Sharon Lawler (CA), Boris Castro, T.E. Reagan and Mike Stout (LA), Michael L. Boyd (MO), Jim Robbins (MS), Mark Nunez, and Mo Way (TX), Richard Jones (Experiment Station Administrative Advisor), Meg Allen (USDA-ARS BCPRU).

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 02/27/2006

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 02/26/2006 - 02/26/2006
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2005 - 09/01/2006

Participants

In attendance were Max Meisch and John Bernhardt (AR), Sharon Lawler and Larry
Godfrey (CA), Boris Castro and Mike Stout (LA), Jim Robbins (MS), Jimmy K. Olson, M.O. Way, Luis Espino, and Francis Reay-Jones (TX), and Roger Crickenberger (Experiment Station Administrative Advisor).

Brief Summary of Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chair M.O. Way. The participants
introduced themselves. As our new administrative advisor, Dr. Crickenberger introduced himself and gave the group a brief background summary. Chairman Way apologized profusely to Dr. Crickenberger for some lapses of protocol. As he explained on bended knees, previous chairman Michael Boyd unexpected left his position at the University of Missouri without preparing a report for activities in 2004. A report for activities in 2004 will be prepared by John Bernhardt and a report for activities in 2005 will be prepared by M.O. Way.

Selection of Officers: The second item of business was the selection of chairman for the next meeting. John Bernhardt will assume the chair.

2007 Meeting Site: The group discussed a site for the 2007 meeting. The site chosen was the Holiday Inn Express in Arlington, TX. A tentative date of Sunday February 11, 2007 was also chosen.

Roger Crickenberger had a few comments about proposed funding changes. In the new federal budget the USDA portion has again become a target for changes. A large portion of formula funds may be moved to competitive funds. Experiment station directors are opposed to reallocation of funds in this manner. Following our advisors comments, participants presented state reports.

Arkansas, Max Meisch:

(a) no mortality of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes was noted after adults fed on Japanese quail that had been fed seed treated with spinosad; (b) undiluted sumethrin in a cold aerosol generator was significantly more effective in controlling adult Anopheles quadrimaculatus than were oil-dilute formulations thereby reducing costs and mixing errors for mosquito abatement programs; (c) by increasing droplet size without increasing the application rate, a natural pyrethrin (PyGanic) gave very good initial knockdown at 1 hour post-treatment,
but at 24 hours recovery reduced the overall effect below acceptable levels.

Arkansas, John Bernhardt:

(a) a procedural problem may have been the cause of poor performance of etofenprox against rice water weevils (RWW) in a small plot test; (b) application of etofenprox 7 days after flood gave better control than did an application at 3 days after flood and the former would allow monitoring of RWW adults to assess population levels; (c) in a seed treatment test, fipronil gave
better control of RWW than did A14006 and thiamethoxam (Cruiser); (d) clothianidin (Poncho) gave excellent control of grape colaspis; (e) acephate (Orthene) and methyl parathion had excellent initial knockdown of rice stink bugs (RSB), but methyl parathion had very little residual activity whereas acephate had activity up to 7 days after treatment; (f) a 7 day after flood
62 application of lambda-cyhalothrin (Karate Z) effectively controlled RWW and reduced nontarget beneficial predators for 3 to 4 days before some recovery was noted.

California, Sharon Lawler:

(a) a three-year project on how rice straw and winter flooding showed that mosquito populations increased in response to one-site decomposition of rice straw, even though beneficial predators also became more abundant; (b) from the same study, draining fields for herbicide applications may lead to unusually dense mosquito populations upon re-flooding; (c) completed an on-line extension publication Managing mosquitoes on the farm that addresses how to
manage mosquitoes in many agricultural settings; (d) lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior) was found to impact mosquitoes and beneficial predators; (e) a second year of research was completed on how ultra-low volume pesticide fogs for mosquito control affect the invertebrates of seasonal wetlands.

California, Larry Godfrey:

(a) etofenprox and indoxacarb only at the higher rate when applied at the 3-leaf stage
provided very effective control of RWW, but both were ineffective when applied preflood; (b)
dinotefuron was less effective than the previously mentioned insecticides; (c) an experimental
V10170 provided nearly 100% control of RWW at the rates and application timings tested; (d) a
granular formulation of azadirachtin (Neemazal) gave ineffective RWW control; (e) a liquid
formulation of azadirachtin (Aza-Direct) gave moderate control; (f) greenhouse tests confirmed
results of field tests with Neemazal and Aza-Direct; (g) the mode of action of azadirachtin on
RWW is sterilization of females by feeding on treated foliage; (h) pyrethroids Warrior, Proaxis
and Mustang applied 4 days before flood provided good control of RWW; (i) preflood
applications of Warrior had minimal effects on aquatic invertebrates, while postflood
applications of five insecticides had detrimental effects on aquatic insects for 2 to 3 weeks after
application then the populations recovered; (j) a mid-July application of Warrior as a
representative insecticide that would be applied against armyworms was quite damaging to
aquatic insect populations; (k) when compared to other years RWW flights in 2005 were found
to be delayed because of the cool wet spring; (l) there were significantly more RWW larvae in
M-206 and M-205 than in Calhikiri-201; (m) the impact of tillage practices and rice production
methods on RWW were compared and larval populations were significantly higher in the
delayed spring till water-seeded treatment than in the stale seedbed no-till drill-seeded treatment;
(n) armyworms had higher populations in plots with no weed control when compared to plots
with few weeds, grasses or broadleaf weeds alone; (o) pheromone traps monitored population
changes in armyworms but did not appear to forewarn of armyworm infestations.

Louisiana, Boris Castro:

(a) a survey of 15 parishes did not yield any specimens of the panicle rice mite,
Steneotarsonemus spinki; (b) a survey of 15 parishes yielded several specimens of dephacids
which were sent to the Plant Pest Quarantine to identify for Tagosodes orizicolus; (c) a survey of
15 parishes yielded 45 vials containing fly specimens which were sent to the USDA, ARS,
Systematic Entomology Laboratory to identify for South American rice miner, Hydrellia wirthi;
(d) H. wirthi was collected in 8 parishes and caused localized economic losses in 5 parishes in
SW Louisiana; (e) no preference for a rice variety was noted; (f) 2 parishes in NE Louisiana did
not have economic damage; (g) in a demonstration trial with three locations, lambda-cyhalothrin
(Karate Z) impregnated on urea fertilizer had larval densities of RWW comparable to densities in
rice treated with a foliar application of Karate Z.

Louisiana, Mike Stout:

Louisiana submitted a section to the EPA for use of granular formulations of carbofuran
and etofenprox for control of RWW. With the loss of fipronil seed treatment for RWW and the
reliance on foliar pyrethroids for RWW control, rice growers have experienced more drift
problems from rice into ponds for crawfish production. Granular formulations have a tendency
to drift less. Other research: (a) several seed treatments gave good to excellent control of RWW
in drill-seeded rice tests; (b) a numbered compound as a seed treatment also controlled RWW in
a water-seeded test; (c) split applications of dinotefuran provided excellent control of RWW; (d)
a single application of dinotefuran at 21 days post-flood controlled larvae indicating activity on
larvae; (e) lambda-cyhalothrin and zeta-cypermethrin impregnated on fertilizer applied preflood
and 1, 2 and 6 days postflood gave only adequate control of RWW in an early season test; (f) a
late season of the same insecticides and rates failed to control weevils; (g) a procedural problem
may have been the cause of poor performance of etofenprox in a small plot test; (h) 3 large plot
sites gave control of 31 to 43% of RWW with etofenprox; (i) the relationship between densities
of adult RWW and densities of larvae was evaluated in the greenhouse; (j) control of Culex
quinquefasciatus larvae assessed by using floating cages with larvae was better with lambdacyhalothrin
than with WS-BTI or BTI (Aquabac); (k) adult C. quinquefasciatus placed on leaves
from lambda-cyhalothrin treated plots had higher mortality than adults on leaves from untreated
plants; (l) laboratory evaluations of WS-BTI gave efficacy similar to that of commercial BT
products; (m) planting rice before April in SW Louisiana escaped heavy infestations by RWW;
(n) several lines from a group of breeding lines when assessed for RWW resistance were found
to have greater tolerance than others in laboratory and field tests.

Mississippi, Jim Robbins:

(a) several tests were impacted by the heavy wind and rain of the two hurricanes; (b)
pyrethroids and methyl parathion were tested for control of RSB and gamma-cyhalothrin
(Prolex) at one gallon to 85 acres gave control comparable to lambda-cyhalothrin (Karate Z) at
one gallon to 66 acres; (c) test fields with a new seed treatment with a fungicide and an
insecticide had higher yields than fields with foliar treatments for RWW and RSB and the
highest yield was where both a seed treatment and foliar applications were used. A grant preproposal
for monitoring mosquito species, population levels, presence of West Nile virus, and
biocontrol options in the Stoneville, MS area was being developed by researchers. Any advice
and participation in identifying species of mosquitoes was solicited. The grant may be expanded
to other states in the future.

Texas, J. Olson:

(a) in 2005, increased levels of tolerance to insecticides were detected in adult Culex
quinquefasciatus populations; (b) insecticide resistance management strategies were
recommended in two locations of Jefferson Co. for high tolerance to malathion, in several
locations in Harris Co. for high tolerance to resmethrin and sumithrin, and for a continuation in
Orange Co. where no tolerances were detected; (c) only two species of the Anopheles
quadrimaculatus complex, A. quadrimaculatus and A. smaragdinus, were confirmed to be in TX;
(d) A. smaragdinus was confined to woody wetland areas of east and southeast TX and A.
quadrimaculatus was the most widely distributed; (e) Aedes albopictus dominates and outcompetes
Aedes aegypti in moist areas (east TX), but Ae. aegypti competes better in dry areas
(west TX); (f) a survey was conducted in neighborhoods of Bryan and Houston to assess what
citizens are doing to protect themselves from mosquitoes and West Nile virus and to assess the
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effectiveness of public information programs designed to inform people how to protect
themselves; (g) mosquito control recommendations were made on the basis of a continuing
survey in Brazos Co. where 14 samples of Culex quinquefasciatus adults, many bird blood
samples, one horse and three humans were found positive for West Nile virus.

Texas, M. Way:

(a) a regional section 18 for acephate in rice for RSB control was submitted to the EPA;
(b) in a seed treatment test for RWW, Cruiser gave the best control (95%) compared to A14006
and Icon and Cruiser had a 1133 lb/acre yield increase over the untreated; (c) Aza-Direct and
Neemazal applied before flood gave 35 and 32% control, respectively, of RWW; (d) etofenprox
applied 2 days after flood gave excellent control of RWW and a yield increase of 602 lb/acre
over the untreated; (e) etofenprox applied immediately before flood gave excellent control (97%)
of RWW and 1081 lb/acre yield increase over the untreated; (f) two applications gammacyhalothrin
gave 94% control of whiteheads caused mainly by the Mexican rice borer and gave a
1819 lb/acre yield increase over the untreated; (g) one application of acephate at PD reduced
whiteheads by 38%; (h) RiceTec hybrids had 5 to10 times fewer whiteheads caused by the
sugarcane borer and the Mexican rice borer than two conventional check lines; (i) in a planting
date study, the latest planted rice had more damaged from rice borers than did the earliest or
middle dates; (j) Mexican rice borers were found in pheromone traps in Jefferson Co. near the
eastern edge of the TX rice area and near the western border of LA; (k) a new method of RSB
sampling using a sweep stick was developed and tested; (l) a survey in all rice areas in TX
produced evidence of the South American rice miner, but no fields were judged to have
economic losses.

Following state reports, the group had a lively discussion on the future direction of the S-300 project. The group was somewhat split on the direction for the new project. Most of the discussion was centered on a general procedure for evaluation of the impact of chemicals used for rice water weevil control, stem borers and rice stink bugs on non-target organisms, especially
beneficial predators of mosquitoes. A brief comment introduced the idea of retaining all four objectives from the existing project. Most participants agreed.

Finally, the participants thanked S. Lawler for coordinating the project proposal development committee.

The meeting was adjourned near 5:30 pm on February 26, 2006.
Respectfully submitted by S-300 2006 Secretary, John Bernhardt.