Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The meeting commenced with introductions of participants. James Harwood provided a brief update on developments and outlined the agenda for the meeting. James thanked participants for the success associated with the previous meeting and the combined symposium and joint meeting with W2185 (Biological Control in Pest Management Systems of Plants) at the Sixth International IPM Symposium in Portland, OR. Additionally, James described the symposium associated with the current SEB-ESA meeting (Integration of Predators into Biological Control Programs) and encouraged attendance. 2. Confirmation of minutes The minutes from the 2009 meeting meeting were reviewed by those in attendance. A motion was made by Norm Leppla to receive the minutes. Seconded by Jim Cuda. Minutes were approved unanimously. 3. Election of officers A motion was made by James Harwood to nominate Carmen Greenwood as secretary-elect. Seconded by Jonathan Edelson. The motion was passed unanimously. 4. State reports State representatives/participants gave a brief verbal report highlighting the most important activities, and state reports were distributed, and discussed. An additional verbal report on mealybug predators in Brazil was provided by Mark Culik. 5. Information management All current reports have been amended, where necessary, to follow standardized format requirements. The issue of a website was again briefly discussed. Most agreed that a separate website would be difficult to maintain. The NIMSS website was identified as a central information source and it does provide information management and support pertaining to key aspects of information exchange. The system is password protected, but, e-documents (reports, minutes, publication lists) can be made available. Additionally, as mentioned by J. Edelson, the SR-IPM center could host reports. Jim Cuda suggested linking reports to the SEB website, updating participant lists, and mentioned that is important to include impacts/utility of findings for clientele. These options will be explored over the next year. 6. Encouraging wider participation As in previous meetings, discussion continued about the need for broader participation among states. Jonathan Edelson emphasized that S-1034 cannot be viewed as a group distributing information and exchanging ideas; there is a clear need to have active multi-state collaborations that address key needs within the region relevant to the scope of the project; there must be a pay-off associated with this group. Jonathan stated that participants need to regularly examine the need of the group. Norm Leppla, Jim Cuda, and Jerome Grant reiterated the need for increased collaboration. James Harwood mentioned that participants from all over the region were invited to this meeting, and some not normally present would present in the symposium, and that an annual symposium, associated with a larger meeting, appears to improve participation, and may indeed foster collaborative research. 7. New priorities Jonathan Edelson provided a detailed explanation of the new AFRI RFAs that were forthcoming, and the goals behind national priorities. He suggested that, if appropriate, that S1034 could position itself as a collaborative research group that pursues large, long-term funding to address priorities associated with biological control in the southern region. As in previous reports, priority areas for collaboration were identified by participants (in 2008; see below) and many in the region have worked cooperatively on some of these priorities, in particular those that are relevant to groups of states. It may not be appropriate for all state to be involved in all projects. At the current meeting, BC of Hemlock woolly adelgid (Jerome grant) was identified as a potential priority. Jim Cuda discussed cooperative work associated with Hygrophila, and that he and a team of regional collaborators were pursuing funding. By consensus, the group agreed that action must wait until new AFRI RFAs are released. 8. Venue, date and plans for next meeting It was agreed that the joint meeting with the Entomological Society of America Southeastern Branch meeting in Atlanta, GA was a success. However, the problem of holding the meeting in conjunction with the SEB was discussed because certain participants in S-1034 are outside this ESA region. All participants in attendance, however, agreed that for 2011, the meeting will be held again in conjunction with the SEB (March 19-22, 2011) at the Caribe Hilton Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico. A symposium on Biological Control of Weeds was discussed for this upcoming meeting, along with a field trip. 9. AOB No other business was discussed and the meeting was adjourned at 4:30 pm.

ARKANSAS Objective 2. Exploration, characterization and assessment of natural enemies for invasive species. Two biological control agents, the flower head weevil Larinus minutus and the root weevil Cyphocleonus achates, were determined to hold the greatest promise to provide spotted knapweed suppression in the southern Region, particularly Arkansas. Future redistribution of this species will be done by collection of adults. Objective 3. Implementation, evaluation, and enhancement of biological control. Establishment and spread of the flower head weevil Larinus minutus from release locations is being tracked. Further, the impact on local and regional spotted knapweed populations is under evaluated using traditional plant stand counts, photographic evidence and GIS tools at the landscape level. FLORIDA Objective 1. Characterize and evaluate the effect of established introduced natural enemies. SCAPTERISCUS MOLE CRICKETS. The introduced biological control agent Larra bicolor (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) has now been detected in 46 of Floridas 67 counties and continues to spread. It has been found capable of out-reproducing its pest mole cricket hosts. TROPICAL SODA APPLE BEETLE. The effect of herbivory by Gratiana boliviana Spaeth (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on the invasive weed, tropical soda apple (TSA, Solanum viarum Dunal, Solanaceae) was investigated using exclusion methods and by monitoring the density of G. boliviana and the weed at four locations over a period of 40 months. TSA plants protected by insecticide were taller, wider, and had greater canopy cover that unprotected plants, and plants in closed cages were taller and wider than those in open cages. Survival of plants was higher in plots protected with insecticide than in unprotected plots in both years of a two year study. Objective 2. Exploration, characterization and assessment of natural enemies for invasive species. SCAPTERISCUS MOLE CRICKETS. Basic laboratory research on a fourth biological control agent, Pheropsophus aequinoctialis (Coleoptera: Carabidae), of pest mole crickets is complete and published. RED PALM MITE. Phytoseiids from Mauritius and from Florida found associated with the red palm mite on coconut palms were colonized in quarantine in the University of Florida Department of Entomology and Nematology building. In addition, we developed a protocol that would allow us to extract DNA from single mites without destroying the specimens (which can be saved for vouchers). BROWN CITRUS APHID: Molecular methods were used to identify parasitoids from the brown citrus aphid from Dominica. The methods documented that the parasitoids Lysiphlebus testaceipes and Lipolexis oregmae were present throughout the citrus-growing areas of Dominica. MEXICAN BROMELIAD WEEVIL: Between September 2008 and August 2009, 337 female Lixadmontia franki flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) and a similar number of males were released at localities in central and southern Florida in trials against Mexican bromeliad weevil, Metamasius callizona. Routine monitoring at the sites failed to reveal progeny of the released flies. HYGROPHILA: We continued field surveys for natural enemies of hygrophila on the Indian subcontinent. Natural enemies found to infest hygrophila were collected using appropriate sampling methods. Hygrophila was found to be fairly common in Bangladesh. In several of the sites, the plant was infected with the very damaging aecial rust fungus Puccinia sp. The larva of Precis alamana L. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) and an unidentified larva (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) also were found feeding on hygrophila. In addition, 6 species of nematodes were extracted from the roots/rhizosphere of hygrophila. Unfortunately, despite extensive searching, no hygrophila populations were located in Punjab. BRAZILIAN PEPPERTREE: (A) Pseudophilothrips ichini Hood (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae). In May 2007, P. ichini was recommended for release in Florida by the federal interagency Technical Advisory Group for Biological Control Agents of Weeds (TAG). Since that time, we discovered there are pending taxonomic issues associated with P. ichini sensu lato, which appears to be a complex of genetically different taxa. Thrips collected ~500 miles north of the original Curitiba, Brazil source population performed better on Florida Brazilian peppertree plants, which are hybrids of two different Brazilian peppertree genotypes. After close examination of our collection records, we discovered that our host range testing actually was conducted with insects from a laboratory colony that contained individuals from several genetically different source populations, i.e. P. ichini s.l. Because P. ichini s.l. was found to be highly specific to Brazilian peppertree and its congener Schinus molle L., a new petition for field release was prepared and resubmitted to the TAG in July 2009. (B) Episimus unguiculus Clarke (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Fundamental host range testing in the UF/IFAS Entomology Department Containment laboratory (EDCL) and field host-use studies in Hawaii were completed with the leaflet rolling moth E. unguiculus, previously known as Episimus utilis Zimmerman. A petition to release this precedented biological control agent of Brazilian peppertree, which established in the USA (Hawaii), was prepared and submitted to the TAG in September 2009. HYDRILLA: Surveys were conducted at 144 locations in ten lakes in Kenya, Uganda and Burundi to locate populations of Hydrilla verticillata. The plant was found at several locations in the littoral zone of Lake Tanganyika in Burundi, and in 4 lakes in Uganda (Bunyonyi, Mutanda, Bisina and Kyoga). A high diversity of chironomid midges was found associated with hydrilla at all locations sampled. Microscopic inspection of hydrilla stems revealed that chironomid larvae were commonly found on stems, but there were no signs of boring in stems or growing tips, or other evidence of herbivory. Since we had not found insects associated with these damage symptoms, we tested the hypothesis that fish were feeding on hydrilla. Dissection and inspection of gut contents revealed the presence of hydrilla leaves in 4 species of cichlids. Objective 3. Implementation, evaluation, and enhancement of biological control. CACTUS MOTH: The entomopathogens, Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, tested against the cactus moth eggs did not infect the eggs. The chorion may serve as protective covering for the eggs that prevents infection. However, young larvae of C. cactorum were found to be a suitable host for both M. anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana. The fungus M. anisopliae was highly pathogenic to 1st instar larvae. In collaboration with T. Miller (Florida State Univ.), we studied the mutualism between two species of cactus and the naturally-occurring ant populations in two locations in Florida, and the effects of this mutualism on the cactus moth. TOBACCO THRIPS: Laboratory experiments demonstrated that parasitized thrips feed significantly less than unparasitized ones. This reduction in feeding led to a reduction in transmission of tomato spotted wilt virus by parasitized thrips compared with unparasitized ones. These results indicate how T. fuscum aids in regulating viruliferous thrips populations and demonstrate its potential as a biological control agent for tobacco thrips. GEORGIA Gardner: Release and establishment of phorid flies against red imported fire ants Releases of phorid parasitoids against imported fire ants in Georgia and neighboring states have resulted in establishment and spread of 2 species of the parasitoids in Georgia. Surveys in 2009 showed that Pseudacteon curvatis is established in 19 Georgia counties. At least one species of Pseudacteon is confirmed as established in 36 Georgia counties, and both species are confirmed in 12 counties. Braman: Testing insects from China as potential biological controls for chinese privet, Ligustrum sinense Studies were conducted on the biology and rearing of Argopistes tsekooni (Coleoptera) and Leptoypha hospita (Hemiptera). Host specificity tests for A. tsekooni and L. hospita were conducted in quarantine. Braman: Influence of Plant Parameters on Occurrence and Abundance of Arthropods in Residential Turfgrass The effects of warm-season turfgrass taxa, density, height and weed density on abundance of natural enemies, especially predatory Heteroptera, and their potential prey were evaluated in residential turf. Total predatory Heteroptera were most abundant in St. Augustinegrass and zoysiagrass and primarily included Anthocoridae, Lasiochilidae, Geocoridae, and Miridae. Anthocoridae and Lasiochilidae, often represented as generalist predators in other agro-ecosystems, were most common in St. Augustinegrass and their abundance correlated positively with species of Blissidae and Delphacidae, which are documented phytophagous pests in turfgrass. Chinch bugs were present in all turf taxa, but were 23 to 47 times more abundant in St. Augustinegrass. These differences in abundance could be in response to primary or alternate prey, or reflect the influence of turf micro-environmental characteristics. Braman: Predatory Potential of Geocoris spp. and Orius insidiosus (Say) on Fall Armyworm in Resistant and Susceptible Turf Predatory potential and performance of the heteropterans, Geocoris punctipes, G. uliginosus (Geocoridae), and Orius insidiosus (Anthocoridae), were evaluated using fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, as prey on different turfgrass taxa (resistant zoysiagrasses, Cavalier and Palisades, moderately resistant bermudagrass, TifSport, and susceptible seashore paspalum, Sea Isle 1) in laboratory and field studies. When background mortality was taken into account, in small arena trials in the laboratory, the greatest mortality by predators occurred on TifSport. Predator induced mortality among all trials was most consistent on a grass of intermediate resistance, TifSport bermudagrass. Braman: St. Augustinegrass Cultivar Influences on Southern Chinch Bug and Predator Populations Field and greenhouse studies were conducted in Georgia and South Carolina to determine the tolerance and antibiosis effects of 15 St. Augustinegrass genotypes against the southern chinch bug. Floratam and Floralawn cultivars were highly resistant to southern chinch bug populations in South Carolina and Georgia. The data suggested that the St. Augustinegrass cultivars exhibited different levels of tolerance to infestation by southern chinch bug. The results called into question the established treatment threshold of 20-25 chinch bugs 0.1 m-2, which does not consider the tolerance levels among St. Augustinegrass cultivars. Numbers of the predator Lasiochilus palidulus also varied by genotype and were least abundant in the resistant cultivars and most abundant in Winchester. Braman: Effects of fertilizer and low rates of insecticide on hemlock woolly adelgid to enhance predator retention Healthy hemlock trees, Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière, and adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand (Adelgidae) populations should allow retention and population growth of adelgid predators like Laricobius nigrinus Fender (Derodontidae) and Sasajiscymnus tsugae (Sasaji & McClure) (Coccinellidae). Fertilized trees had greater adelgid fecundity which was positively correlated with total foliar N in both winter generations. Trees treated with low rates of imidacloprid were healthier than untreated trees, but only trees treated with 10% of the recommended rate of imidacloprid had sufficient adelgids to possibly sustain predators over extended periods of time. Braman: Impact of Megacephala carolina on common turf grass pests influenced by turfgrass species Tiger beetles were evaluated in laboratory and field tests to define impact on fall armyworm and Japanese beetle. Adult predators significantly reduced numbers of fall armyworms in laboratory and field experiments. Ruberson: Parasitoids of stink bug nymphs and adults in Georgia We completed the third year of surveying for stink bug parasitoids in Georgia. Ruberson: Predation on stink bugs in the presence and absence of fire ants in cotton Fire ants appear to be one of the more significant predators of stink bug eggs, so we evaluated the impact of fire ant presence on stink bug egg loss. The Amdro treatments were moderately effective in suppressing fire ant populations, but overall ant activity was relatively low and localized compared to prior years. Low ant numbers and low activity values were reflected in overall predation of eggs supporting the notion that fire ants are important predators. Ant presence had no apparent effect on sucking predation. Egg loss was quite variable, but it is obvious that fire ants are the most important predators of stink bug eggs in cotton. Ruberson (with Dawn M. Olson, USDA-ARS): Predation on stink bug eggs in row crop systems Egg predation was high in peanuts (86%) and lower in soybeans (39%), Bt (34%) and RR cotton (7%). Most egg predation in Bt-cotton and peanuts was attributable to fire ants. Most predation in the soybeans and RR-cotton was attributable to tettigoniid grasshoppers. Parasitism was low overall but higher in soybeans (19%) than cotton (5%) and peanuts (2%). Most predation (P < 0.001) occurred at plot edges than plot centers in RR cotton (81%). No edge effects were found in soybean, Bt-cotton and peanuts. Most of the parasitism (P < 0.001) also occurred at plot centers than in plot edges in RR cotton (82%), Bt-cotton (68%) and soybean (68%). For RR-cotton, Bt-cotton, and peanuts there was always an inverse relationship between predation and parasitism within a replication (P < 0.001). No consistent pattern between predation and parasitism was found in soybean plots. Ruberson: Propagation and release of Aridelus rufotestaceus Aridelus rufotestaceus was propagated in the laboratory to produce wasps to supplement field populations. We released 150 on 22 August and 130 more on 12 September. In addition, 60 wasps were distributed to producers at the Cotton and Peanut Research Field Day (in Tifton) on 9 September. Ruberson: Life history of the stink bug parasitoid Aridelus rufotestaceus The prolonged development of A. rufotestaceus does, however, synchronize the wasp with the developmental pattern of its hosts so that the parasitoid females are emerging about the time that their hosts are in a stage susceptible for parasitism. Host range testing, revealed that the parasitoid is capable of successfully developing in the Southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula), brown stink bugs (Euschistus servus and E. quadrator), Green stink bug (Acrosternum hilare), and red-banded stink bug (Piezodorus guildinii. KENTUCKY Objective 3. Implementation, evaluation, and enhancement of biological control. YEARGAN We determined the coccinellid predators and hymenopteran parasitoids that attack the milkweed aphid, Aphis nerii, in Kentucky. Seven species of Coccinellidae were observed feeding on A. nerii in the field, including Harmonia axyridis and Cycloneda munda. Laboratory tests of development and survival of those two coccinellid species showed that each had poor larval survival regardless of milkweed host species on which the aphids had been reared. Several parasitoid species were reared from A. nerii, with Lysiphlebus testaceipes being predominant. We sampled populations of coccinellid predators in sweet corn before and after anthesis to determine if the relative abundance of H. axyridis had changed appreciably since the mid to late 1990s. In earlier studies in sweet corn at the same location, we had sampled coccinellid populations before the arrival (in 1993) of H. axyridis in central Kentucky and for four years afterwards. Our 2009 samples indicated that H. axyridis populations in sweet corn do not appear to have increased in sweet corn relative to those of C. maculata since the late 1990s. Coleomegilla maculata remains the dominant coccinellid species in Kentucky sweet corn, accounting for a majority of the adult, and virtually all of the larval, Coccinellidae in this crop. HARWOOD Development and optimization of molecular detection protocols for evaluation of biological control. Ongoing research seeks to develop molecular protocols to delineate trophic connectivity across systems. Recently designed molecular markers for >10 key pest and non-pest species with others in development. Non-target effect of transgenic plants. Despite the reported specificity of Bacillus thuringiensis proteins against target pests, a number of studies have indicated that the uptake of Bt-endotoxins from bioengineered crops could have negative effects on natural enemies. It is therefore essential to quantify exposure pathways in non-target arthropod food webs across multiple transgenic events. Adult ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) were collected from transgenic corn fields expressing lepidopteran-specific Cry1Ab, coleopteran-specific Cry3Bb1, and both Cry1Ab and Cry3Bb1 (stacked event), as well as a non-transgenic isoline. Carabid gut-contents were screened for Cry1Ab Bt-endotoxin and significant numbers of carabids tested positive for Cry1Ab from the lepidopteran-specific field. The highest proportion of Bt-endotoxin uptake was 4-6 weeks post-anthesis. Only one species, H. pensylvanicus, screened positive for Cry1Ab from the stacked line, despite similar expression of this endotoxin in plant tissue harvested from both lines. This difference in Cry1Ab uptake could be due to changes in the non-target food web or differential rates of Bt-endotoxin decay between genetic events. This study has quantified the differential uptake of Cry1Ab Bt-endotoxin by the carabid community across multiple transgenic events, thus forming the framework for future risk-assessment of transgenic crops. LOUISIANA Objective 1. Characterize and evaluate the effect of established introduced natural enemies. A statewide survey of the distribution of the red imported fire ant, RIFA, phorid parasitoids Pseudacteon tricuspis and P. curvatus was conducted in all 64 parishes from March to November. A total of 136 sites was sampled across the state for phorid flies. P. tricuspis was collected in 46 out of 64 parishes, approximately 86,900 sq k. It was absent in the northern tier of parishes and 5 parishes in south central part of state. Natchitoches Parish had the highest density of flies, 262/10 mounds. P. curvatus was found in 57 of 64 parishes, approximately 105,200 sq k. P. curvatus was also absent from 5 parishes in south central area of the state and also St. James and Assumption Parishes. Union Parish on the Louisiana and Arkansas border had the highest density of P. curvatus, 444/10 mounds. There were only 3 parishes, Vermilion, Acadia and Evangeline, where no flies were found. P. obtusus was released in Natchitoches Parish in April. The site was sampled on September 29, 2009 but no P. obtusus were collected. A three year study was initiated to evaluate the impact that the phorids are having on RIFA populations in Louisiana. Six improved pastures in Vermilion/ Acadia Parishes where there are no phorids and six pastures were selected in East Feliciana parish where both species occur. RIFA population size and phorid fly abundance will be measured in spring and fall in 2009-2011. No flies were collected in the phorid free area of the impact study in both spring and fall of 2009. In the phorid area in East Feliciana parish the average number of P. tricuspis collected in the spring and fall at 10 mounds per site was 3.6 and 26.5, respectively. For P. curvatus, 24.3 and 60.0 were captured in the spring and fall, respectively. In both phorid present and absent areas, the Harlans population index increased from spring to fall but the increase was greater in the phorid area. Objective 3. Implementation, evaluation, and enhancement of biological control. A third species of phorid, P. obtusus, was released in April in an improved pasture in Natchitoches Parish where P. tricuspis and P. curvatus are already established The site was sampled on September 29, 2009 but no P. obtusus were collected. The site of a second year of an exclusion experiment to assess the impact of the RIFA on the Florida salvinia weevil, Cyrtobagous salviniae, introduced to control common salvinia, Salvinia minima, was moved from Vacherie to a pond heavily infested with common salvinia near Tunica. The impact of RIFA on Florida salvinia weevil populations was studied in a replicated field exclusion experiment with a moat of open water maintained by an outer 1.5 sq m PVC quadrat surrounding an inner 1 sq m PVC quadrat. 150 weevils were introduced into the center of each inner quadrat and allowed to establish for 2 months. In September the difference in populations between treatments was significant (p=0.016) with an average of 3.25 weevils per 0.1 sq m of salvinia in plots with RIFA and 9.0 weevils per 0.1 sq m in RIFA exclusion plots. In November the mean number of weevils in plots with RIFA was 5.25 and in plots without RIFA 7.5 per 0.1 sq m of salvinia but the difference was not significant (p=0.396). A year-long study was initiated in Gramercy to determine the biodiversity of arthropods associated with common salvinia and their possible effects on biological control efforts. Population dynamics of the Brazilian strain of Cyrtobagous salviniae was monitored at a field weevil nursery in a 2.5 ha pond in Gheens on a weekly basis from Oct. 25 to Aug. 17. The Brazilian salvinia weevils female reproductive system was characterized by dissection of over 500 individuals. The Brazilian salvinia weevil population per kg of giant salvinia at Gheens was low in winter averaging 2.53 in January, 3.83 in Feb., 6.24 in March and 1.25 in April. The population grew rapidly to 14.52 in May and then climbed to 40.43 in June. Damage was apparent at this point and by the end of August it was difficult to find any salvinia. Detailed description of the 2 nonparous and 3 parous stages of female Brazilian salvinia weevil reproductive system was made. Measurements of over 400 Brazilian weevils found length of female was 2.76 mm and male was 2.6 mm but it is not a reliable method of differentiating sexes because of overlap in size distributions. Dissection is only reliable method of sex determination. OKLAHOMA Objective 3. Implementation, evaluation, and enhancement of biological control. Giles: Continued evaluation of cereal aphid + parasitoid Glance n Go sampling and management Plan. Completed multiyear study evaluating conservation of aphid natural enemies in relay-intercropping systems in the Southern Plains. Greenwood: Completed 2-year study describing the impact of no-till in continuous wheat and wheat rotational systems on Entomopathogenic nematode abundance and activity. Objective 4. Evaluate the benefits and risks of introduced and indigenous natural enemies. Giles: Field and laboratory studies are continuing to examine intraguild dynamics among aphid parasitoids and Coccinellidae predators (native versus exotic) in winter wheat agroecosystems. Tennessee Objective 1. Characterize and evaluate the effect of established introduced natural enemies. The establishment of two introduced predators (Sasajiscymnus tsugae [Coleoptera: Coccinellidae; from Japan] and Laricobius nigrinus [Coleoptera: Derodontidae; from the Pacific Northwest]) released against hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), on eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was assessed. Sasajiscymnus tsugae (about 390,000 adults) and L. nigrinus, (ca. 6,600 adults) were released at 166 and 26 sites, respectively, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from 2002-2008. Beat-sheet sampling for four man-hours was conducted on accessible hemlock trees at each of 33 S. tsugae and 10 L. nigrinus release sties. S. tsugae adults (n=78) and S. tsugae larvae (n=145) were recovered from seven (22%) of the 33 S. tsugae sites surveyed. Of the 10 L. nigrinus release sites surveyed, adult L. nigrinus (n=18) were recovered from three sites (30%). This study provides documentation of establishment of S. tsugae and L. nigrinus in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (part of the Appalachian Mountains) in the eastern United States. Most S. tsugae were recovered from older release sites (2002; seven years after release), suggesting that S. tsugae may require a longer time period to establish and to reach measurable levels. Predatory beetles were recovered throughout the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, indicating habitats for establishment are present across a wide range of sites. A study was continued to determine the natural enemies of elongate hemlock scale, Fiorinia externa, on eastern hemlock in the southern Appalachians. Limited releases of the parasitoid Pseudacteon curvatus (a phorid fly know as the decapitating fly) were made in several counties in Tennessee in 2002 and 2003, but this parasitoid still continues to be found in 40+ counties, mainly along the southern border of Tennessee. Objective 2. Exploration, characterization and assessment of natural enemies for invasive species. A project was conducted to assess the use of large, whole-tree canopy enclosures (e.g., cages) to enhance understanding of the survival and establishment of introduced biological control agents against the hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand, on eastern hemlock, and to assess the impact of these agents on population densities of this serious invasive pest. This project focuses on the use of large (ca. 9 m [30 ft]) screened cages to assess the successful field application (survival, establishment, and reproduction; impact on tree health) of three introduced biological control agents (Sasajiscymnus tsugae, Laricobius nigrinus, and Scymnus sinuanodulus; one species/cage) of hemlock woolly adelgid. This study was conducted at Blackberry Farm near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee. Tree growth parameters, aldegid population characteristics, and predator incidence, density, etc. were assessed inside each cage every one to three months. Uncaged and caged (no beetles) trees (control) also were monitored and compared to beetle release trees. Two of the three predator species (S. tsugae and L. nigrinus) established in the field cages and were documented at the F2 generation  similar densities of each predator were found: 87 S. tsugae and 96 L. nigrinus. Sasajiscymnus tsugae were collected in February, March, June, and July, while L. nigrinus were collected in February and March. Trees caged with either of these predator species had lower numbers of adelgids after the first year of the study than caged and uncaged control trees. Additionally, in post study assessments, L. nigrinus was collected in emergence cages (showing continued survival from previous year) and has been collected on HWA-infested trees in and near the study site. S. sinuanodulus failed to establish on caged trees, as none was collected in beat-sheet sampling past the first generation. Objective 3. Implementation, evaluation, and enhancement of biological control. In 2009, the Lindsay Young Beneficial Insects Laboratory at the University of Tennessee reared four species of predatory beetles (Sasajiscymnus tsugae, Laricobius nigrinus, Scymnus sinuanodulus, and Scymnus coniferarum). Three (Sasajiscymnus tsugae, Laricobius nigrinus, and Scymnus sinuanodulus) of these species were reared for field release and one (Scymnus coniferarum) was reared for laboratory evaluation. During 2009, 400,984 eggs of S. tsugae were harvested, resulting in the production of 166,252 adults. Of these, 117,046 were released in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee State Parks, or on Tennessee Wildlife Management Areas. Adult mortality was greater this year than in past years, with as many as 25% of beetles within a rearing box dying during the 2-week holding period between emergence and release. During 2009, 21,858 mature larvae were reared from 575 wild-caught adult Laricobius nigrinus from the Seattle area. Low survival was a problem in 2009 with only 16.4% of mature larvae surviving to adult emergence. About 1,000 additional adults were received from Seattle. Of these lab-reared and field-collected L. nigrinus, 3,050 adults were released in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee State Parks, and in Tennessee Wildlife Management Areas. Scymnus sinuanodulus was difficult to rear in the laboratory, and only 53 adults were released in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A colony of Scymnus coniferarum was established using 20 adults collected near Seattle. Efforts are underway to develop rearing methodologies to enable the production of large numbers of adults for field release. The current colony of S. tsugae has been reared in laboratories for many generations; thus, new genetic stock was introduced from Japan in 2009. Comparisons of biology and rearing success between the lab-reared and wild colony of Sasajiscymnus tsugae are underway. Objective 4. Evaluate the benefits and risks of introduced and indigenous natural enemies. A study to assess the benefits and risks of a biological control program using two introduced weevil species against musk thistle, Carduus nutans, was completed. This study assessed non-target impacts (20 years after the initial release) and evaluated the use of GPS as a tool to predict non-target feeding activity and impacts. Several decades ago, two weevil species, Rhinocyllus conicus and Trichosirocalus horridus, were introduced from Europe into North America as biological control agents of the exotic weed species Carduus nutans L. Research estimated phenological synchrony of the eight thistle species in Tennessee with R. conicus and and T. horridus, investigated naturally-occurring populations of the five native Cirsium thistle species for non-target activity by R. conicus and T. horridus, quantified the impacts to plants of each thistle species to feeding of R. conicus and T. horridus, and identified potential areas of non-target feeding by the weevils using spatial analysis. Phenologies of two native species, C. carolinianum and C. horridulum, were synchronous with R. conicus reproduction, and all eight thistle species were phenologically synchronous with the reproduction of T. horridus. No non-target activity by R. conicus was observed in naturally-occurring populations of Cirsium thistles. In caged plant studies, however, larvae of R. conicus completed development in heads of C. carolinianum and C. horridulum and reduced seed numbers of both native species. Adult T. horridus were documented for the first time on the native species C. carolinianum, C. horridulum, and C. muticum. Basal meristems of all eight thistle species exposed to T. horridus were damaged at varying levels in caged plant studies, but no other impacts to plants were observed. Spatial analyses showed associations between Mahalanobis distance values and plant counts of Carduus nutans and Cirsium carolinianum in predicted habitats, and the occurrence of Carduus nutans was associated with the occurrence of both weevil species in these habitats. About 12% of the total study area consisted of habitats where C. nutans and Cirsium carolinianum overlap. The potential exists for these weevils to utilize native Cirsium species found in Tennessee as plant hosts.

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