Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Little Rock, Arkansas

4 March 2012

Mike Hall, Chairman presiding

Business meeting:

Election of new project leaders: David Shapiro-Ilan as the Vice Chair, Secretary: Don Johnson

2013 Meeting Site: Las Cruces, NM in conjunction with Western Pecan Growers Meeting

Comments: Admin. Advisor C. Watson: project update due in 2015; federal agricultural budget predicted to be flat perhaps decreased; consider applying for a 2013 award for best regional project, Dr. Watson will help put it together.

LSU situation from Rogers Leonard who is assistant experiment station director: discussed the plan for consolidation of facilities, one of which is the LSU Pecan Research Center due to budget constraints and imminent domain condemnation for new highway through current location grounds. Within next 7 years the Center is likely to close with faculty moved to other locations and new pecan research resources established. Some commentary on the need for continued investment in the program ensued.


Objective 1: Improved Monitoring and Forecasting Methods for Field Populations of Pecan Arthropods Objective

• TAMU: nut casebearer model is now a regional effort through pecan ipmPIPE. Nut casebearer has been shown to break diapause in response to host volatile chemicals at budbreak. Budbreak data (when shoot growth e 5cm) can be used as a start date for Ring emergence model for nut casebearer.
  
  Black-margined pecan aphids: use of water-sensitive cards showed that you can show differences among cultivars (Pawnee (least) vs Cheyenne (worst), others) in a 2 hour bioassay (Honekers M.S. thesis). Results indicate a genetic basis making the bioassay useful for selective breeding evaluations of cultivars.
  
  
• UGA: Pheromone work with tile-horned prionids is very positive using large panel traps. Adult captures are very high of males- buckets full of several species. Two main species in pecan are bad pests in GA in water stressed-low areas as well as trees with other stresses, ex. crown grow gall.
  
  Five states are going to monitor for brown marmarated stink bugs to determine presence. Ted Cottrell indicated that the Rescue stink bug trap did not allow capture of the other brown species due to heat buildup in the dome part.
  
  
• LSU: monitoring pecan phylloxera with sticky tape rings but tools looks to labor intensive for grower use.
  
  
  

Objective 2. Improved Control Systems for Pecan Arthropod Pests

• USDA-ARS: Pecan weevil control with microbials: Beauvaria is endemic in most of southeast and ground cover enhances persistence and efficacy. Looking at use of composted poultry manure applied with microbials to determine use. This doubled the amount of Beauveria. Also, are looking at development of tools for organic production for key pests such as bacterial products and Iseria.
  
  Bifenthrin has been determined to be best for stink bug control as well as for some other pests such as aphids and weevils. Residual lasts at least 10 days. Danitol is effective against brown stink bugs. Lorsban is not good against brown stink bugs. A comment on dimilin use indicated that black pecan aphids are increased significantly by its use, reasons unknown.
  
  
• TAMU: aphid insecticide tests were conducted with black margin aphid. A handout was provided on results with imidicloprid use. It worked well in some orchards but not others. There are about 20 of these neonic products available to producers. Need recommendations for their use in pecan. Data indicates that overuse develops resistant aphid strains relatively rapidly.
  
  
• NMSU: working on black margined aphid nutrition, population dynamics and genetics.

Objective 3. Integrate Pecan Arthropod Pest Control Methods with Pecan Production Methods

• TAMU: In Mexico it has been observed that nut casebearer infestations in late season may reach 60%.
  
  
• USDA-ARS: plant growth regulator work testing concentrations indicated very little if any side effects.

Objective 4. Develop real-time Decision Aids for Delivery on the Internet

• TAMU: ipmPIPE project. It is an extension website for technology transfer. However, underneath the extension portions are a number of databases that may be used for research in the form of informatics, etc., most of the pecan literature is being one. Also, the site is being used for teaching in IPM courses. It also has search engines for insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides with a label, MSDS form, etc. There is a resistance management discussion section for these tools and a budget tool for producer economic considerations in pecan production. Interactive tools have been (casebearer) or are being developed for use in the future by producers to enter realtime data for decision making as well as archival for future research purposes. By USDA NAS statistics there are ~20,000 U.S. pecan growers. The site is visited by about 10% of the growers. Future funding and ownership: funds have been applied for through the SCRI CAPS proposal for maintenance of the site over the next 5 years. Other funds are needed to continue new additions to the site. Other ipmPIPE sites do have chemical company logos that are paid for by commercial providers. Another idea was selling prescriptions to the site or placing a donate button on the site whereby anyone can contribute.

Project Related Publications 2010-2011: Note on publications: There are two major publications specifically targeted to pecan growers, Pecan South (published monthly) and Georgia, The Pecan Grower Magazine (published quarterly). In each of these issues at least two to five members of the regional project provide timely articles on pecan production including pest management issues.

Barbour, J. D., J. G. Millar, J. Rodstein, A. M. Ray, D. G. Alston, M. Rejzek, J. D. Dutcher and L. M. Hanks. 2011. Synthetic 3,5-Dimethyldodecanoic Acid serves as a general attractant for multiple species of Prionus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 104(3): 588-593 (2011: DOI: 10.1603/AN10182.

Behle, R. W., D. L. Compton, J. A. Kenar, and D. I. Shapiro-Ilan. 2011. Improving formulations for biopesticides: enhanced UV protection for beneficial microbes. J. ASTM Int. Vol. 8, No. 1. doi:10.1520/Jai102793.

Birt, A.G, A. Calixto, M. Tchakerian, A. Dean, R. N.Coulson, and M. K. Harris. 2011(in press). Harnessing Information Technology for Production Agriculture. Journal of Integrated Pest Management Issues Section.

Birt, A., A. Deep, R. N. Coulson, A. Calixto and M. Harris. 2010. Harnessing Information Technology (IT) for Use in Production Agriculture of Pecans Illustrated by a Case History of the Pecan Nut Casebearer Decision Window on the Pecan ipmPIPE Interactive Database Platform. Proceedings (Ed. Richard Hereema, Ext Pl. Sci. Dept. New Mexico State Univ.) of 6th Annual Meeting of Pecan Scientists, Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK. pp 16-25.

Bock, C., D. I. Shapiro-Ilan, T. Cottrell, M. Hotchkiss, and B. W. Wood. 2012. Options for pest and disease control in organic pecan. The Pecan Grower 23:32-46.

Calixto, A., A. Birt, N. Lee, A. Dean, B. Ree, and M. Harris. 2011. Pecan ipmPIPE: Harnessing the Internet for Stakeholders in Production Agriculture. J. of Integ. Pest Mgt. pp. F1-F6(6)

Calixto, A. and M. Harris in conjunction with CO-PI¼s* (listed below) also participating in the program. 2010. A Pecan ipmPIPE (Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education) Users Guide and report on http://pecan.ipmpipe.org/ for SEPGA. Proceedings (Ed. Katherine Stevenson) 103rd Ann. Conv. Southeast. Pecan Grow. Assoc., Sandestin, FL. pp 79-86.

Cottrell, T. E. and D.L. Horton. 2011. Trap capture of brown and dusky stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) as affected by pheromone dosage in dispensers and dispenser source. J. Entomol. Sci. 46: 135-147.

Cottrell, T. E., B. W. Wood and X. Ni. 2010. Application of plant growth regulators mitigates chlorotic foliar injury by the black pecan aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Pest Manag. Sci. 66: 1236-1242.

Cottrell, T.E. and E.W. Riddick. 2012. Limited transmission of the ectoparasitic fungus Hesperomyces virescens between lady beetles. Psyche vol. 2012, article ID 814378, 7 pp.

Dutcher, J. D., M. 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. Cianco & K. G. Mukerji (eds.) Integrated Management of Arthropod Pests and Insect Borne Diseases (Integrated Management of Plant Pests and Diseases vol. 5) Springer Publishers. Dordrecht. ISBN-10: 9048124638

Fu-Castillo, A. A., M. K. Harris, and I. Vargas-Arispuro. 2010. Activation of hibernating Acrobasis nuxvorella Neunzig Larvae as an Effect of Carya illinoinensis (Wang.) K. Koch Budbreak. Southwest. Entomol. 35(4): 551-6.

Hall, M. J. and K.S. Jackson. 2011. Control of hickory shuckworm in a commercial pecan orchard with selected insecticides, 2010. Arthropod Management Tests. doi: 10.4182/amt.2011.D19.

Hall, M. J. and K. S. Jackson. 2011. Two trials for control of hickory shuckworm in a commercial pecan orchard, 2010. Arthropod Management Tests. doi: 10.4182/amt2011.D20.

Hall, M. J. and K. S. Jackson. 2011. Hickory shuckworm: biology and control. Proceedings, Annual Meeting of the Western Pecan Growers Association. Vol. 45: 13-19.

Harris, M. K., A. I. Cognato and K. L. Hunt. 2010. DNA identification confirms pecan weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) infestation of Carpathian walnut. J. Econ. Entomol. 103: 1312-1314.

Hartfield, E. A., M. K. Harris and R. F. Medina. 2010. Searching for pheromone strains in the pecan nut casebearer. Entomol Expt et Appl. 137: 11-18.

Hudson, W. G., D. I. Shapiro-Ilan, W. A. Gardner, T. E. Cottrell and B. Behle. 2010. Biological control of pecan weevils in the Southeast: A sustainable approach. SARE Fact Sheet Publication.

Karar, H., M. G. Abbas and J. D. Dutcher. 2012. Pecan cultivar differences in aphid reproduction and abundance. Research Note. J. Entomol. Sci. 47: 1-6.

Kim, K.S., Z. Szendrei, C. Rodriquez-Saona, P.G. Mulder, and T.W. Sappington. 2009. Molecular diagnostic for boll weevil (Coleoptera:Curculionidae) based on amplification of three species-specific microsatellites. J. Econ. Entomol. 102: 759-766.

Knutson, A. E. and M. A. Muegge.2010. A degree-day model initiated by pheromone trap captures for managing pecan nut casebearer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in pecans. J. Econ. Entomol. 103:735-743.

Mbata, G. N. and D. I. Shapiro-Ilan. 2010. Compatibility of Heterorhabditis indica (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) and Hebrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) for biological control of Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Biol. Control 54:75-82.

Mulder, P. G., M. K. Harris, and R. A. Grantham. 2012. Biology and management of the pecan weevil, Coleoptera: Curculionidae. J. Integ. Pest Mgmt. 3(1): available at: http://dx.doI.org/10.1603/IPM10027.

Puckett, R. T. and M. K. Harris. 2010. Phorid Flies, Pseudacteon spp. (Diptera: Phoridae), Affect Forager Size Ratios of Red Imported Fire Ants Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Texas. Environ. Entomol. 39: 1593-1600.

Riddick, E. W. and T. E. Cottrell. 2010. Is the prevalence and intensity of the ectoparasitid fungus Hesperomyces virescens related to the abundance of entomophagous coccinellids? Bull. Insectology 63:71-78.

Seuhs, S. K., P. G. Mulder and J. P. Keys. 2009. Participant perceptions of the Oklahoma State University pecan management course and e-Learning approach. Amer. Entomol. Education Connection: 55 (2): 70-74.

Shapiro-Ilan, D. I. 2010. Improved biological control of pecan weevil through pre-emergence applications. The Pecan Grower Magazine. 21 (3):18-20.

Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., D. J. Bruck and L. A. Lacey. 2012. Principles of Epizootiology and Microbial Control. Pp 29-72, In: F. Vega and H. K. Kaya (Eds.) Insect Pathology (2nd Edition), Elsevier, San Diego.

Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., T. E. Cottrell and W. A. Gardner. 2010. Microbial Control of the Pecan Weevil. Proceedings of the 6th National Meeting of Pecan Scientists, Ardmore, Oklahoma, May 26-29, 2010, Pp. 26-35.

Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., T. E. Cottrell and B. W. Wood. 2011. Effects of combining microbial and chemical insecticides on mortality of the pecan weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The Pecan Grower Magazine 22 (4):14-22.

Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., T. E. Cottrell and B. W. Wood. 2011. Effects of combining microbial and chemical insecticides on mortality of the pecan weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 104:14-20.

Shapiro-Ilan, D. I. and W. A. Gardner. 2012. Improved Control of Curculio caryae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) through multi-stage pre-emergence applications of Steinernema carpocapsae. J. Entomol. Sci. In Press.

Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., W. A. Gardner, L. Wells and B. A. Wood. 2012. Cumulative impact of a clover cover crop on the persistence and efficacy of Beauveria bassiana in suppressing the pecan weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Environ. Entomol. In Press.

Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., G. N. Mbata and W. Hudson. 2010. Compatibility of beneficial nematodes and parasitic wasps for control of Indianmeal moth, a pest of stored pecans. The Pecan Grower Magazine 22 (2):10-17.

Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., G. N., Mbata, K. B. Nguyen, S. M. Peat, D. Blackburn and B. J. Adams. 2009. Characterization of biocontrol traits in the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis georgiana (Kesha strain), and phylogenetic analysis of the nematode's symbiotic bacteria. Biol. Control 51:377-387.

Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., C. C. Reilly and M. W. Hotchkiss. 2011. Comparative impact of artificial selection for fungicide resistance on Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium brunneum. Environ. Entomol. 40:59-65.

Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., C. C. Reilly and M. W. Hotchkiss. 2011.Making beneficial fungi resistant to fungicides. The Pecan Grower Magazine. 23 (2):16-23.

Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., T. E. Cottrell and B. W. Wood. 2011. Effects of combining microbial and chemical insecticides on mortality of the pecan weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 104: 14-20.

Shufran, A. A., P. G. Mulder, M. Payton, and K. A. Shufran. 2012. Determining host-suitability of pecan for insects. J. Econ. Entomol. submitted.

Shufran, A. A., P. G. Mulder, W. Ree and K. A. Shufran. 2012. Assessing insects at pecan storage facilities in Oklahoma and Texas. Environ. Entomol. Submitted.

Smith, M.W. and P.G. Mulder. 2009. Oviposition characteristics of pecan weevil, Curculio caryae. Southwestern Entomologist 34: 447-455.

Tillman, P. G., J. R. Aldrich, A. Khrimian and T. Cottrell. 2010. Pheromone attraction and cross-attraction of Nezara, Acrosternum, and Euschistus spp. stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in the field. Environ. Entomol. 39:610-617.

Yu, H., D. H. Gouge and D. I. Shapiro-Ilan. 2010. A novel strain of Steinernema riobrave (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) possesses superior virulence to subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). J. Nematol. 42:91-95.