Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Las Cruces, NM, March 30, 2010 Ted Cottrell called the meeting to order. The first order of business was the election of a new secretary for the coming year and determination of the site for the 2011 meeting. Bill Ree was elected secretary. The next meeting of the S-1017 Multi-State Research Project will be held in conjunction with the SE Pecan Growers Association annual meeting in Biloxi, MS. The group was then updated on the status of the revised project. As of the meeting two reviews had come in. One reviewer approved the project without revision, while the second reviewer approved the project with revisions to be made. Some concerns were expressed about lack of specificity with some of the objectives, the planned budget, and linkage between research-extension. Reviewers concerns will be taken into account during the final revision. There was some concern about the lack of input in the project from some of the participating states. There was some brief discussion as to who could or couldnt be an official member of the project. Since Alabama had no one officially on the project, Bill Goff suggested that Alan Burnie be considered. There needs to be further discussion on this topic. Discussion of Project by Objectives: Objective 1: Improved Systems to Monitor Pecan Arthropod Pests Hall: Noted that phylloxera emergence studies were concluded in Foreman, AR. In 2007 and 2009, the first phylloxerans were trapped during the last week of February, prior to bud opening. Nymphs did not appear on buds until shedding of the outer bud scale occurred. Emergence lasted for approximately 60 days. New locations to be used in 2010 were near Monroe, LA, Melrose, LA, and Shreveport, LA. Dutcher: Discussed the use of pheromone (pheromone provided by Dr. Jocelyn Miller) traps for monitoring prionus root borer. Pheremones were used in conjunction with pitfall traps. Noted that there are three species of prionus root borer and they were successful in trapping two of the species found in Georgia. Period of adult activity was from 26-May to 17- Jul. They are currently investigating the idea of mass trapping as a control measure. Harris: Used water sensitive cards and USDA proprietary software to determine gallons of honeydew produced per acre by the yellow pecan aphid complex. Comapred other cultivars to Cheyenne to determine level of susceptibility. Could be a technique for monitoring yellow aphids. Compared differences between Mexican and American strains of pecan nut casebearer (PNC). Genetic differences were noted between Mexican strain of PNC caught in Texas and those caught in Mexico. Discussed possible shifts in genetics based on geography. Harris: Discussed PNC work in Mexico looking at shoot damage, nut damage, and shuck damage. Observed a fourth generation in Mexico that infests the shucks but does not penetrate the shell. Harris: Updated the group on pecan IPM-PIPE. He handed out a brochure that explained pecan IPM-PIPE as it currently stands and talked about what is on the website (e.g. the new list of currently registered insecticides for use on pecan), and the potential to add additional deliverables (i.e. fungicide application information, phylloxera emergence information, information on pesticide resistance, etc.) to the site. Currently, there are 128 producers reporting real-time data. Objective 2: Improved control systems for pecan arthropod pests Ree: Discussed the Multi-State Field Evaluation of Insecticides Used in Pecan Orchards for Management of the Kernel Feeding Hemipterans, Nezara viridula, Euschistus servus, and Leptoglossus phyllopus. The objectives of the study are to evaluate the efficacy of insecticides labeled for control of these three species, determine the residual effectiveness of five commonly used pecan insecticides against these three species, determine efficacy of four classes of insecticides, and determine if any observed difference from field tests is due to regional tolerances based on vial tests. In addition to B. Ree, T. Cottrell, M. Hall, and R. Luttrell (Arkansas, University of Arkansas) are also collaborating in these trials. Ree noted problems in finding adequate numbers of each species to work with. Ree reported only on trials using brown stink bug, Euschistus servus, and indicated that only bifenthrin (Brigade) at mid- to high-rates controlled brown stink bug. Hall: Brigade and Warrior worked on southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula, in trials in LA. Cottrell: Stated that insecticide assays demonstrated that many products that include stink bugs as target pests have low efficacy against the brown stink bug. Of the tested products, only the product containing bifenthrin (Brigade) resulted in substantial stink bug mortality at least through 7 days after application in the field. Dutcher: Working on an assay, using clip cages attached to leaves, to measure aphid growth rates to determine time needed to double size of population. Cottrell: field trials testing plant growth regulators against the black pecan aphid (BPA) showed that the combination of Prestige+ProGibb did reduce black pecan aphid damage under orchard conditions. He noted that BPA nymphs took 2-3 days to establish a chlorotic lesion to feed on. Observed that BPA adults were found primarily on top of leaves while nymphs could be found on top and bottom. Yellow aphids found on bottom. This could effect how BPA are preyed upon as lacewings and ladybugs were observed primarily on the bottom of leaves. Ree: Asked the group if anyone has encountered possible resistance in aphids to products containing imidacloprid. He expressed an interest in looking at resistance levels (no-use to high-use rates) of pecan aphids to imidacloprid across the pecan belt, and asked if there was an interest among the group in pursuing this. Objective 3: Development of Biological Control Systems for Pecan Arthropod Pests Shapiro-Ilan: A number of successful efficacy trials indicate substantial potential for microbial control agents for pecan weevil suppression. In a pecan orchard, multiple applications of S. carpocapsae made to the pecan weevil, Curculio caryae, during the insects 2-year life cycle in the soil, reduced the pests survival to less than 1% (81% control relative to the untreated plots); additionally, research indicated that standard chemical insecticides used for pecan weevil, such as carbaryl, may act synergistically with enomopathogenic nematodes or fungi. Cottrell: An ectoparasitic fungus, Hesperomyces virescens, was sampled on lady beetles collected from various habitats, including pecan. The exotic, Harmonia axyridis, and the native Olla v-nigrum were the predominant hosts of this fungus. The convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens, was seldom infested. The exotic, Coccinella septumpunctata, along with the native species, Coleomegilla maculata, Cycloneda munda, Scymnus loewii, and Scymnus soccer, were never found with the fungus.

Behle, R.W., Compton, D.L., Lazlo, J.A., Shapiro-Ilan, D.I., Oil-based formulations for UV protection of Beauveria bassiana conidia. J. Econ. Entomol. In Press. Accepted 6-25-2009. Cottrell, T. E. and D. I. Shapiro-Ilan. Naturally occurring pathogens and invasive insects, In A.E. Hajek, T.R. Glare and M. OCallaghan (eds.) Use of Microbes for Control and Eradication of Invasive Arthropods. Springer Science+Business Media B. V. pp. 19-32. 2009. Dutcher, J. D., G. Esendugue Fonsah and W. G. Hudson. 2009. Integration of bifenazate and western predatory mite (Acari: Phytoseiidae) for control of pecan leaf scorch mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) in pecan orchards. J. Entomol. Sci. 44(2): 98-110. Williams, R. N., D. S. Fickle, P. S. Grewel and J. Dutcher. 2010. Field efficacy against the grape root borer, Vitacea polistiformis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) and persistence of Heterorhabditis zealandica and H. bacteriophora (Nematoda: Heterorhabditidae) in vineyards. Biological Control (in press) doi: 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2009.11.004. Dutcher, J. D., L. Wells, T. B. Brenneman and M. G. Patterson. 2010. Integration of insect and mite, disease, and weed management to improve pecan production. IN A. Ciancio and K. G. Mukerji (eds.) Integrated Pest and Disease Management vol. 5. Springer Publishers. Dordrecht, The Netherlands. (Invited Book Chapter, accepted March 2009, in press). Dutcher, J. D. 2009. Matching the reproductive capacity of the pest to the efficacy of the pest control method. The Pecan Grower 20(3): 24-27. Dutcher, J. D. 2009. Tips for insect control in 2009. The Pecan Grower 20(4): 50-51. Dutcher, J. D. 2010. Hickory shuckworm control with insecticide sprays, 2007-2009. Arthropod Management Tests 35 (D): (in press). Dutcher, J. D. and W. G. Hudson. 2010. Pecan leaf scorch mite control with miticides, 2009. Arthropod Management Tests 35(D): (in press). Dutcher, J. D., Haider Karar and Ghulam Abbas. 2010. Efficacy of two insecticides for control of foliage-feeding aphids of pecan. Arthropod Management Tests (in press). Dutcher, J. D. and W. G. Hudson. 2009. Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Pecans. Research Report. 17 p. Hall, M. J. and K. S. Burnham. 2009. Control of hickory shuckworm in a commercial pecan orchard with selected insecticides, 2008. Arthropod Management Tests 2009, vol. 34. D14. Hall, M. J. and K. S. Burnham. 2009. Control of pecan nut casebearer in a commercial pecan orchard with selected insecticides, 2008. Arthropod Management Tests 2009, vol. 34. D15. Hudson, W. G., D. I. Shapiro-Ilan, W. A. Gardner, T. E. Cottrell and R. W. Behle. Integrating biological control into pecan weevil management: a sustainable approach. Web publication soon to be available at Agricultural Innovations: (www.sare.org/publications/factsheet). 2009. In press. (Extension publication) Ni, X., K. Da, G. D. Buntin, T. E. Cottrell, P. G. Tillman, D. M. Olson, R. Powell, Jr., R. D. Lee, J. P. Wilson and B. T. Scully. 2010. Economic injury Level of Brown Stink Bug (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) damage on Bt-corn ears. J. Econ. Entomol. In press Riddick, E. W., T. E. Cottrell and K. A. Kidd. 2009. Natural enemies of the Coccinellidae: Parasites, pathogens, and parasitoids. Biol. Cont. 51: 306 Riddick, E. W. and T. E. Cottrell. 2010. Is the prevalence and intensity of the ectoparasitic fungus Hesperomyces virescens related to the abundance of entomophagous coccinellids? Bull. Insectology. In press Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., W. A. Gardner, T. E. Cottrell, J. Leland, and R. W. Behle. 2009. Mortality and mycosis of adult Curculio caryae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) following application of Metarhizium anisopliae: Laboratory and field trials. Journal of Entomological Science. 44, 24-36. Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., T. E. Cottrell, W. A. Gardner, R. W. Behle, B. Ree, and M. Harris. 2009. Efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi in suppressing pecan weevil, Curculio caryae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in commercial pecan orchards. Southwestern Entomologist. 34: 111-120. Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., Reilly, C. C, and Hotchkiss, M. W. 2008. Testing the potential to suppress pecan diseases using byproducts from bacteria. Pecan Grower 19 (3): 20-25. Shapiro-Ilan, D. I. and Nyczepir, A. P. 2008. Using good nematodes to kill bad nematodes: Applications of entomopathogenic nematodes for control of the pecan root-knot nematode. Pecan Grower 20 (1): 36-39. Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., T. E. Cottrell, M. A. Jackson, and B. W. Wood. 2009. The ability of insect-killing fungi to kill pecan aphids under laboratory conditions. The Pecan Grower. 20(3): 18-21. Shapiro-Ilan, D.I., Gardner, W.A., Cottrell, T.E., Behle, R.W., Hudson, W.G., and Wood, B.W. 2009. A comparison of application methods for suppressing the pecan weevil using beneficial fungi Pecan Grower 21(1): 20-24. Shapiro-Ilan, D.I., Cottrell, T.E., Reilly, C., Hotchkiss, M., and Wood, B. 2009. Alternative Pest Control Research. 2009 Proceedings of the Southeastern Pecan Growers Association. 102: 50-61. Tillman, P. G., J. R. Aldrich, A. Khrimian and T. E. Cottrell. 2010. Pheromone attraction and cross-attraction of Nezara, Acrosternum, and Euschistus spp. stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in the field. Environ. Entomol. In press. Y. Chen, X. Ni, T. E. Cottrell, B. W. Wood, and G. D. Buntin. 2009. Black Pecan Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Feeding Affects Oxidase and Hydrolase Activities in Pecan Leaves. J. Econ. Entomol. 102: 1262-1269.