Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The group decided to retain Richard Casagrande as chair for another year with Roy Van Driesche assuming this responsibility at the next meeting. Scott Salom assumed the role of secretary at this meeting and immediately began taking minutes. The secretary will rotate into the chair-elect position at the time the chair-elect becomes chair. Two-yr terms for all officers.

Ann Hajek and Judy Hough-Goldstein volunteered to form and serve on the Rewrite Committee for NE-1032. This project expires on 9/30, 2013.

The regional project meets annually. It was decided that it would meet every two years at the USDA Interagency Research Forum on Invasive Species. In alternate years, the meeting venue will rotate among different meetings and locations, with the goal of trying to meet with the S.E. regional biological control project, the Western regional biological control project, and the Entomological Society of America Annual Eastern Branch Meeting.

Robert Nowierski, in his capacity as NE1032 NIFA representative, provided some updates and insights from Washington DC as did Mike Hoffman, administrative advisor to the project.

They stated that the multistate function of our working group is coordinating, and this needs to show up in our annual reports. NERA has up to $10,000 in planning grants and some ideas regarding preparation of proposals were discussed. Michael Hoffman suggested the need for an economic analysis of the benefits of biological control as something that could be coordinated by NE-1032. To do this, a resource economist would have to be identified and recruited for such an effort. Another suggestion was to link climate change with impacts of pests in agriculture and forestry.

In other business, Roy van Driesche proposed a way for assessing the potential for biological control of a full range of insect pests. Develop a website where a description of biological control for a pest can be reviewed by biocontrol specialists and conservation biologists. Such an approach would require: 1) development of the website and 2) list of people who would be notified when a submission is made and needed to be reviewed.

Individual states detailed reports can be found at: http://cris.nifa.usda.gov with an assisted search for active Hatch projects under NE-1032. What follows below is a brief summary of highlights of these programs organized under goals and objectives of the regional project.

Goal 1 (Conservation of existing natural enemies)

Objective 1. To conserve natural enemies in blueberry production.

Outcomes: In Maine, a flower mix was used to enhance natural enemies of onion thrips. Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) was heavily utilized by hover flies (5.3 adults per plant per minute of observation). However, there was no evidence of a subsequent numerical response by hover flies (as measured by hover fly larval density) on onions that were adjacent to the natural enemy nursery planting. (Frank Drummond, U. Maine)

Objective 2. To determine the distribution and impact of Cotesia rubecula.

Outcomes: In a 2011 cooperative survey of 25 states/provinces to determine the status of this new parasitoid on a large spatial scale we found that C. rubecula now extends in distributional belt north of 38 degrees latitude from New Brunswick to North Dakota. South of 38 degrees, C. glomerata (the old, less efficient parasitoid) remains common; north of this line it has nearly been replaced by C. rubecula. A cohort experiment was conducted in MA to quantify survival of the pest butterfly (Pieris rapae) in both the presence and absence of the parasitoid C. rubecula in the field. We found that survival of groups of larvae of P. rapae was low (<10%) in the presence of natural populations of C. rubecula and other natural enemies, and high (52-77%) when protected by sleeve cages from attack. Parasitism and other natural enemies reduced densities of 5th instars of P. rapae (the principal damaging stage) by 79-86%. (Efforts coordinated by R. Van Driesche (U. Mass.) with cooperators in 25 states/provinces.)

Objective 3. To examine the effects of exotic plants on ecosystem function. Nothing reported.

Goal 2 (Augmentation programs)

Objective 4. To release and evaluate augmentative biological control agents and educate the public about their role in pest management.

Outcomes: A total of 98,000 adult Pediobus foveolatus, an average of 4,644 per plot, were released into 26 nurse plots monitored during the 2011 soybean growing season. Additional soybean field releases totaling 408,000 parasites were made to keep pressure on the Mexican bean beetle population.

Trichogramma ostriniae was found to have no particular affinity for corn leaves that had previously experienced European corn borer egg masses or a commonly induced plant volatile, methyl salicylate. Thus Trichogramma orientation and host-finding may not be substantively mediated by induced plant volatiles. Cooperative research in Indiana and Nebraska found that when T. ostriniae wasps were introduced into field cages, western bean cutworm eggs were successfully parasitized in bean and corn canopies. This new knowledge shows that some level biological control of western bean cutworm in corn and beans may be possible. Feral Trichogramma collected Lepidoptera eggs from corn, where parasitoid releases had been conducted in central NY several years prior, showed no parasitism by T. ostriniae. This implies that successful overwintering and classical biological control of European corn borers is unlikely despite previous evidence of low levels of overwintering. (M. Hoffmann, Cornell)

Goal 3 (Classical Biological Control)

Objective 5. To develop a biological control program for exotic Phragmites australis.

Outcomes: We continued host range testing of candidate biocontrol agents in quarantine at URI and at CABI-Europe in Switzerland. Testing of Archanara geminipuncta is nearly completed. Blossey made substantial inputs to the National Parks Service program on Strategic Decision Making for management of P. australis and Casagrande addressed the role of biological control in this program. (Cornell U. and URI cooperating with CABI-Europe in Switzerland)

Objective 6. To develop a biological control program for swallow-worts in North America.

Outcomes: Foreign exploration for biocontrol agents continues through USDA-ARS along with plant demographic modeling. Host range studies are complete for Hypena opulenta and nearing completion for Abrostola clarissa and A. asclepiadis.

Milestone: A petition has been submitted to USDA for field release of H. opulenta in 2012. (URI, Milbrath USDA-ARS, and CABI-Europe working in collaboration).

Objective 7. To establish and evaluate herbivores released against mile-a-minute weed.

Outcomes: In a collaborative regional effort, 76,000 Rhinoncomimus latipes weevils were released in CT, DE, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, and WV. Spread is over 4 Km/yr from release sites. Since 2004, the Phillip Alampi Beneficial Insect Laboratory has released 160,538 R. latipes adults into 13 New Jersey counties including six new sites in 2011. In NJ weevils have been recovered at 100% of the release sites as well as at 113 dispersal/non-release sites. PABIL staff is working to increase storage and production of R. latipes. (Program directed by J. Hough-Goldstein- U. Del. working with cooperators in 10 states.)

Objective 8. To develop an effective biological control program for the emerald ash borer.

Outcomes: Studies continued in Michigan, where research plots were expanded from 6 to 12. In fall 2010, the population growth rate of EAB dropped from 17 in the previous generation (2008-2009) to 3.5, reducing this invasive destructive pest from an explosive species to an expanding species. Principal factors causing this drop were increased woodpecker predation and increased parasitism by native braconds in the genus Atanycolus. Also, all three introduced Chinese parasitoids were found to be firmly established and having some impact.

Milestone: Parasitoids (some native, some introduced) are now having an important, but not yet sufficient, impact on survival of EAB larvae. This pest is continues to spread to new states including NY, and releases of the exotic parasitoids have been made by APHIS and local cooperators in most infested areas. The system continues to change but biological control is becoming increasingly important in reducing the population growth of this pest, reducing pressure on ash stands in many areas. (Van Driesche  U. Mass. cooperating with APHIS)

Objective 9. To establish and evaluate natural enemies of the hemlock woolly adelgid.

Outcomes. Laricobius nigrinus has been released in 18 eastern states. Sleeve cage experiments with the inland and coastal races of L. nigrinus support the laboratory results that the inland race is better able to survive winter temperatures in New England.

Recoveries of L. nigrinus were made in fall 2010 and spring 2011 at some of the 42 release or control sites being tracked in 5 states to evaluate this predator but frequency and abundance of the predator did not increase noticeably, in part due to high adelgid winter mortality which made adelgids scarce in spring 2011.

As of 2011, the NJ Dept. of Agriculture has released 10,567 L. nigrinus beetles and adult beetles have been recovered for seven consecutive years in New Jersey. In 2011 155 larvae and 17 adult L. nigrinus were recovered in the spring with an additional 8 adults collected in fall 2011. This recovery is greater than all previous seasons combined.

Milestone: In addition to conducting post-release evaluation of L nigrinis, L. osakensis, another predator from Japan, was evaluated against hemlock woolly adelgid as was hybridization between these exotic and native Laricobius species. L. osakensis was cleared for field release and since it does not hybridize with other species, it will be released. (Collaborative research between Va. Tech., U. Mass, NJ Biological Control Laboratory, US Forest Service.)

Objective 10. To establish and evaluate natural enemies of the winter moth.

Outcomes: Monitoring of winter moths populations continues in southern New England. The tachinid parasitoid Cyzenis albicans was released in 6 sites in Massachusetts and one site in Rhode Island in 2011.

Milestone: Cyzenis albicans was found to be established in 5 sites from previous releases. (J. Elkinton & D. Mausel  U.Mass Cooperating with Heather Faubert  URI).

Objective 11. To distribute and evaluate Peristenus relictus, a parasitoid of the tarnished plant bug. Nothing reported.

Objective 12. To establish and evaluate biological control agents for garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata).

Outcomes: Monitoring of long-term plots in many states has shown garlic mustard populations to decline dramatically in less than a decade. Research continues on the nature of this decline and whether biocontrol of garlic mustard is actually needed. (B. Blossey - Cornell)

Objective 13. To investigate potential new biological control projects for the northeast.

Outcomes: Quarantine studies were conducted to assess potential risk of importing Eucryptorrhynchus brandti as a biological control agent for the tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima. Studies focused on biology and host range testing and investigated the potential for this same weevil to carry a naturally occurring pathogenic fungus to uninfested trees. Research results on the weevil and its potential with the fungus as biological control agents were presented at several regional and national meetings and written for a VA Dept. of Forestry Forest Health Newsletter.

Milestone: Very promising test results resulted in submission of a release petition for Eucryptorrhynchus brandti to USDA, APHIS in May 2011. (Va. Tech. working in cooperation with Penn. State University)

Alfalfa Snout Weevil: Forty five infested alfalfa fields in northern NY inoculated with persistent entomopathogenic nematodes between 2007 and 2009 were subjected to various crop rotations and then tested in 2011 to measure the impact of crop rotation on entomopathogenic nematode persistence. Results of the 4500 soil samples taken in 2011 show that entomopathogenic nematodes persist regardless of cropping system or rotation. This information will be shared stakeholders during 2012 spring field days. (Shields  Cornell)

Knotweed Biological Control. Anticipating the eventual release of a biological control agent from research underway by cooperators Fritzi Grevstad (Oregon) and Dick Shaw (CABI  Great Britain), a monitoring protocol was developed for Japanese/Giant/Bohemian knotweed. (Blossey  Cornell & Van Driesche - U. Mass.)

Goal 4 (Evaluation and Education)

Objective 14. To distribute information on the successful biological control of the birch leafminer throughout the northeastern states.

Outcomes: A chapter on biological control of birch leafminer was written by Casagrande for a book that Van Driesche is editing. A survey of entomologists indicates that as in the Northeastern States, the birch leafminer is apparently under complete biological control in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Minnesota. These states were encouraged to modify their Cooperative Extension recommendations to reflect this reality. (Casagrande-URI and Van Driesche  U. Mass. in cooperation with entomologists in 8 states.)

Objective 15. To provide web-based information for growers, landscape managers, educators, and students on biological control programs

Outcomes: On the website, Biological Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America, (http://www.biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/index.php), we added 8 units on specific biological control agents as well as a new section for students that contains hands-on learning games and other exercises to increase the understanding of biological control. (A. Sheldon  Cornell)

Objective 16. To publish the results of biological control research in refereed journals, books, and proceedings. (See Publications List)

Outcomes: A book is under development based on the Biocontrol for Nature meeting in Northampton in 2010. (Editors: Van Driesche  U. Mass, Blossey-Cornell, and others).

Four members of NE-1032 presented posters and/or spoke at the Thirteenth International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds in Hawaii in September, 2011.

Eight members of NE-1032 spoke at the 23rd USDA Interagency Research Forum on Invasive Species in Annapolis, MD

Cutting, K.J. 2011. An integrated approach to the restoration of areas invaded by mile-a-minute weed (Persicaria perfoliata) using biological control and herbaceous native seeding. M.S. Thesis, University of Delaware, Newark. 62 pp.

Cutting, K.J. 2011. An integrated approach to the restoration of areas invaded by mile-a-minute weed (Persicaria perfoliata) using biological control and herbaceous native seeding. M.S. Thesis, University of Delaware, Newark. 62 pp.

Davis, G. A., N. P. Havill, Z. N. Adelman, A. Caccone, L. T. Kok, S. M. Salom. 2011. DNA barcodes and molecular diagnostics to distinguish between an introduced and a native Laricobius (Coleoptera: Derodontidae) species in eastern North America. Biological Control. 58: 53-59.

Duan, Jian J., L. Bauer, M. Ulyshen, J. Gould, R. Van Driesche. 2010. Development of methods for the field evaluation of Oobius agrili (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in North America, a newly introduced egg parasitoid of the emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). Biological Control 56: 170 - 174.

Herrick, N. J., S. M. Salom, L. T. Kok, and T. J. McAvoy. 2011. Biology, development, and rearing of Eucryptorrynchus brandti (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in quarantine. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 104: 718 - 725.

Herrick, N. J., T. J. McAvoy, S. M. Salom, and L. T. Kok. 2011. Site characteristics of Leitneria floridana (Sapindales: Leitneriaceae) as it relates to a potential biological control effort for the invasive tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima. Phytroneuron. 2011-27: 1 -10.

Jandricic, S.E., Wraight, S.P., Bennett, K.C., and Sanderson, J.P. 2010. Developmental Times and Life Table Statistics of Aulacorthum solani (Hemiptera: Aphididae) at Six Constant Temperatures, with Recommendations on the Application of Temperature-Dependent Development Models. Environ. Entomol. 39(5): 1631-1642.

Lake, E.C. 2011. Biological control of mile-a-minute weed, Persicaria perfoliata, and integrating weed management techniques to restore invaded sites. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Delaware, Newark. 86 pp.

Lake, E.C., Hough-Goldstein, J., Shropshire, K.J., and DAmico, V. 2011. Establishment and dispersal of the biological control weevil Rhinoncomimus latipes on mile-a-minute weed, Persicaria perfoliata. Biological Control 58:294-301.

Loughner, R., Nyrop, J., Wentworth, K., Sanderson, J. 2011. Towards enhancing biocontrol of thrips: effects of supplemental pollen and fibers on foliar abundance of Amblyseius swirskii. Page 105-109 in IOBC/wprs Bulletin, Vol. 68 Working Group Integrated Control in Protected crops, Temperate Climate. Sutton Scotney, United Kingdom.

Mausel, D. L., R.G. Van Driesche and J.S. Elkinton 2011. Comparative cold tolerance and climate matching of coastal and inland Laricobius nigrinus (Coleoptera: Derodontidae) for biological control of hemlock woolly adelgid. Biological Control 58:96-102.

Mausel, D. L., S. M. Salom, and L. T. Kok. 2011. Visual ability and searching behavior of the adelgid predatory beetle, Laricobius nigrinus. J. Insect Sci. 11:111.

Mausel, D.L., R.G. Van Driesche, & J.S. Elkinton. 2011. Comparative cold tolerance and climate matching of coastal and inland Laricobius nigrinus (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), a biological control agent of hemlock woolly adelgid. Biological Control. 58: 96-102.

Mausel, D.L., R.G. Van Driesche, and J.S. Elkinton. 2010. Long-term Experimental Assessment of Laricobius nigrinus Impact in the Northeast U.S. Proceedings of the 5th Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Symposium, Asheville, NC.

Neumann, G. and E. J. Shields. 2011. Field Persistence of Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser (NY001), Steinernema feltiae Filipjev (Valko) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (Oswego) in Alfalfa Fields. The Great Lakes Entomologist 44: 42-52.

Paradis, A., J. Elkinton, R. Van Driesche, R. Hunkins, S. Lyon, G. Boetter. 2010. Growth and survival of the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae). Proceedings of the 20th USDA Interagency Research Forum on Invasive Species, Annapolis, MD.

Shelton. Natural Enemies: 2011. A Guide to Biological Control Agents in North America. http://www.biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/index.php

Shields, E. J. and A. M. Testa. 2011. Effects of Low Temperature Storage on Fecundity and Adult Mortality for the Alfalfa Snout Beetle, Otiorhynchus ligustici (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The Great Lakes Entomologist 44: 16- 26.

Vieira, L.C., T. J. McAvoy, J. Chantos, A. B. Lamb, S. M. Salom and L. T. Kok. 2011. Host range of Laricobius osakensis (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), a new biological control agent of hemlock woolly adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelgidae). Environ. Entomol. 40: 324-332.

Weed A.S., Casagrande R.A. 2011. Evaluation of Host Range and Larval Feeding Impact of Chrysolina aurichalcea asclepiadis (Villa): Considerations for Biological Control of Vincetoxicum in North America. Environmental Entomology. 40(6):1427-1436.

Weed, A.S. 2010. Biology and Ecology of European Natural Enemies of Swallow-Worts (Vincetoxicum) and the Potential for Biological Control. PhD dissertation, Dept. Plant Sciences, University of Rhode Island, 196 pp.

Weed, A.S., Casagrande, R.A. 2010. Biology and larval feeding impact of Hypena opulenta (Christoph) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): a potential biological control agent for Vincetoxicum nigrum and V. rossicum. Biological Control 53: 214-222.

Weed, A.S., Casagrande, R.A., A. Gassmann, and A. Leroux. 2011. Performance of potential European biological control agents of Vincetoxicum spp. with notes on their distribution. Journal of Applied Entomology. 135: 700-713.

Weed, A.S., Gassmann, A. Casagrande, R.A. 2011. Effects of leaf and root herbivory by potential insect biological control agents on the performance of invasive Vincetoxicum spp. Biological Control 56: 50-58.