Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Title: Recent advances in biological control of plants and arthropods

Date: Tuesday, March 19^th 

Time: 2:00-5:00PM

2:00PM – Welcoming remarks – Adam Dale, President

2:05PM – Classical biological control in Tennessee: Looking back to the future

Jerome Grant, University of Tennessee

2:18PM – Developing ways to be more proactive with reactive control strategies

Carey Minteer, University of Florida

2:31PM – Field validation of sorghum aphid natural enemy thresholds: summation of type I and type II error rates

Kristopher Giles, Oklahoma State University

2:44PM – Fortuitous biocontrol: what we know about the Roseau cane scale parasitoid complex in Louisiana

Tanner Sparks and Rodrigo Diaz, Louisiana State University

2:57PM – Revealing parasitoid-aphid food webs in pecans for building future biological control programs

Pedro Felipe Toledo and Jason Schmidt, University of Georgia

3:10PM – Interactions between multiple biocontrol agents used to control the invasive plant, air potato

Philip Hahn, University of Florida

3:23PM – Opportunities for using real-time satellite monitoring to improve the impact of weed biological control

Rodrigo Diaz, Louisiana State University

3:36 – 3:51PM – Group discussion of biological control topics presented and discussed thus far

3:51PM – European pepper moth plant preferences and insecticide susceptibility

Steve Frank, NC State University

4:04PM – Trichopoda pennipes host preference and suitability when reared on species of pentatomids and coreids

Norm Leppla, University of Florida

4:17PM – Exploring conservation biological control in urban lawns: opportunities and limitations

Adam Dale, University of Florida

4:30PM – Development of conservation and augmentatitve biological control tools for management of chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, in strawberry

Sriyanka Lahiri, University of Florida

4:43PM – Occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi in soil collected from citrus groves with and without cover crops: a baseline analysis

Pasco Avery, University of Florida

4:56PM – Concluding discussion, identification of incoming officers, and planning for next year’s meeting in Baton Rouge, LA.

Nicole Quinn will move into the acting President role

Sriyanka Lahiri volunteered to serve as the new Secretary

5:15PM – Meeting concluded

FLORIDA

NAME OF REPRESENTATIVE:  Adam Dale             

AES (STATE): Florida                                                      

LABORATORY NAME OR LOCATION: University of Florida, UF/IFAS Mid-Florida REC, UF/IFAS Tropical REC, UF/IFAS Indian River REC, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast REC

PHONE: 352-273-3976                                                

E-MAIL:  agdale@ufl.edu                                           

 OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Carey Minteer, Norm Leppla, Sriyanka Lahiri, Phil Hahn, Lance Osborne, Pasco Avery, Nicole Quinn

ACCOMPLISHMENTS (by Objective)

1. To discover, assess, and release new biological control agents

• Earleaf acacia is a fast-growing, evergreen tree from Australia that was purposefully introduced into the United States as an ornamental plant at the turn of the 20th century. The first note of the potential weedy nature of this species was in 1976. Since that time, earleaf acacia has become more prevalent and more of an issue in Florida. Multiple sources list this species as high risk for invasive potential, and there is a lack of long-term control options outside of chemical basal bark and "cut and spray" treatments. This makes earleaf acacia a good candidate for biological control. Currently, 114 arthropod species that feed on earleaf acacia in its native range have been found. Several of those arthropods have the potential to be host specific and damaging to the weed. Two of these arthropods, Calomela intemerata and Trichilogaster nov., are now in quarantine in the University of Florida’s Biological Control Research and Containment Laboratory (BCRCL). Host range and biology tests for C. intemerata are nearing completion and a petition for release is being drafted. Host range and biology tests for Trichilogaster sp. nov. are underway.
• Brazilian peppertree: Pseudophilothrips ichini (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), a biological control agent for the invasive Brazilian peppertree is being mass-reared and released into the invaded range in Florida. Members of this working group reared and released over 211,000 ichini in Florida over the last fiscal year.
• Nipaecococcus viridis: We conducted a literature review of viridis and its natural enemies and identified several regions in which foreign exploration for classical biological control agents could be conducted. This work is planned for late summer or early fall 2024.
• Bulimulus bonariensis: We discovered a new, undescribed species of parasitic mite in wild bonariensis.
• Many of the thrips’ problems we have in foliage plant production in Florida greenhouses are the result of 3 primary species: Echinothrips americanus, Scirtothrips dorsalis, and most recently, the invasive Thrips parvispinus. Recent studies using the large predatory thrips Franklinothrips vespiformis native to Florida have shown very promising results for americanus control in greenhouses. This predator also is effective in managing whiteflies and spider mites in the crop. Studies have shown the addition of supplemental food, such as decapsulated brine shrimp eggs, to the crop can promote the persistence of F. vespiformisduring periods when prey are absent. This species can also be maintained on banker plants containing an alternative prey and studies are currently being conducted on the best practices for a banker plant system. During the summer of 2023, we released this predatory thrips in a gardenia landscape that was heavily infested with an established population of T. parvispinus. Four releases were made: May 3, May 25, June 30 and July 7 in the residential landscape on Palm Beach Island.  Control was great, hedges that had not had flowers for two years made a comeback and began to bloom, however, recovery was short-lived when we ran out of predators from our lab colony.  Our studies have shown the addition of supplemental food, such as decapsulated brine shrimp eggs, to the crop can promote the persistence of F. vespiformis during periods when prey are absent and we would like to investigate this in the landscape.
• Finished laboratory trials to determine the functional response of the pantropical predatory thrips (Franklinothrips vespiformis)on whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) to assess its impact as a predator of whiteflies. Our results showed that vespiformis was a very effective predator, with adults consuming up to 110 eggs and 30 nymphs per day. This work has been published.

2. To characterize and evaluate the impact of native and introduced biocontrol agents

• Releases of Pseudophilothrips ichini (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) began in July 2019 to control the invasive Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia). In areas with heavy thrips pressure, we have seen a dramatic decline in health of Brazilian peppertree plants along with an influx of secondary plant pests (aphids and fungal pathogens) that are further weakening the plants. Areas with fewer ichini present are currently being augmented with additional releases. Studies collecting quantifiable data on impact are underway but have not shown any reduction in plant growth metrics to date. Augmentative releases of P. ichini are occurring in these areas as well.
• Air potato- We investigated synergistic interactions between two classical biological control agents introduced to control the invasive plant air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera): a leaf-feeding beetle Liliocerus cheni and a bulbil-feeder egena. To address this objective, we used controlled feeding experiments to manipulate saponin (i.e., diosgenin) in artificial diet to examine beetle performance in response to varying saponin concentrations. We found that L. cheni feed more vigorously on the diets with intermediate to high concentration of saponins, suggesting the saponins act as a feeding stimulant. For L. egena, they follow a similar pattern although not as strongly as L. cheni. We also have established 80 air potato in the greenhouse and applied four treatments: 1) damaged by L. cheni, 2) sprayed with Jasmonic acid, 3) sprayed with Salicylic acid, 4) control. We harvested bulbils from these plants and used them in feeding experiments with L. egena. Liliocerus egena feed equally on bulbils from all treatments. Importantly, they were not affected by bulbils that grew on plants previously damaged by the leaf-feed L. cheni. These results demonstrate that the two beetles will act additively, and not interfere with each other, to provide effective control of air potato.
• One lab study was conducted by a PhD student to assess the potential of Orius as a biocontrol agent of Scirtothrips dorsalisHood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). To evaluate feeding rate on S. dorsalis and impact on the oviposition of Orius spp., strawberry leaf discs were used in petri-dish arena. Studies will be repeated twice as part of the PhD student’s dissertation.
• Nipaecoccus viridis: We have begun rearing viridis and one of its parasitoids, Anagyrus dactylopii, in our quarantine laboratory.
• Bulimulus bonariensis: We initiated a field study of bonariensis in which we will determine the natural enemy complex of B. bonariensis in Florida citrus via camera traps, pitfall traps, and gut content analysis. This will provide the first description of the trophic ecology of B. bonariensis and associated organisms. We collected our first round of preliminary data in Fall 2023.
• Two greenhouse trials arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four treatments and 4 replications were conducted to determine the effectiveness of pallidus beetle to control Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 populations applied either directly to poinsettia or by a papaya banker plant system compared to the insecticide grower standard at the high (first greenhouse trial) and low rate (second greenhouse trial) and the untreated control. Preventative fungicide for powdery mildew was applied to the banker plants prior to infestation with papaya whitefly and the predatory beetle.  No powdery mildew was detected on the banker plants in either trial.  Adult pest whitefly populations in the untreated control in both trials reached 525 per leaf and resulted in plant death.  Insecticide control was excellent for the duration (13 weeks) of trial one at the high rate and control broke starting in week 7 of the second trial at the low insecticide rate. Both beetle treatments provided significantly better control of all stages of the pest whitefly compared to the untreated control and were not significantly different from the insecticide treatment for most weekly evaluations.  Beetles from the papaya banker plant dispersed readily to the cash crop and provided better control of Bemisia overtime compared to direct release.  This is being repeated currently.

3. To develop augmentation and conservation biological control tactics

• Trichopoda pennipes DNA. We were the first to describe the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes and associated host preference of Trichopoda pennipes, a parasitoid of Nezara viridula. Trichopoda pennipes is a tachinid parasitoid of several significant heteropteran agricultural pests, including the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula, and leaffooted bug, Leptoglossus phyllopus. To be used successfully as a biological control agent, the fly must selectively parasitize the target host species. Differences in the host preference of pennipes were assessed by assembling the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of 38 flies reared from field-collected N. viridula and L. phyllopus. The mitochondrial genomes of the flies were sequenced and compared to identify possible host-determined sibling species. There were no differences in the architecture of these genomes. Phylogenetic analyses using sequence information from 13 PCGs and the two rRNAs individually or as a combined dataset resolved the parasitoids into two distinct lineages: T. pennipes that parasitized both N. viridula and L. phyllopus, and others that parasitized only L. phyllopus.
• Stink bug rearing. The invasive stink bug, Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister), recently became established in the southwestern U.S. and has become a major pest of broccoli and other cole crops. Due to concerns about its possible establishment in Florida, a colony of this pest was maintained in quarantine to conduct research on its environmental requirements. The colony was reared reliably with approximately 300 adults per generation but began to decline in generation 16. Due to unknown causes, only about 73 females were recovered to mate and oviposit during the final 46 days. However, a corresponding decrease in the number of mated pairs did not reduce the yield of eggs, nymphs, and adults per day, rather the females were maintained for fewer than the normal 160 days per generation. Therefore, quality control procedures were implemented to increase the number of days the colony produced adults in subsequent generations. The goal of producing approximately 400 adults per generation was accomplished during 104, 160, and 156 days, respectively, in generations 17, 18, and 19. The purpose of this research was to develop quality control procedures for rearing B. hilaris, use the procedures to restore a colony in quarantine, and describe how quality control can be used to maintain small colonies of insects. Implementing quality control procedures when a colony is established can help to prevent its decline.

• Data from previous year’s field study was analyzed to conclude that strawberry plants adjacent to ornamental pepper had significantly lower Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood population compared to strawberry plants adjacent to sweet alyssum. Additionally, there was an effect of distance of strawberry plant from banker plants on damage from dorsalis. At a distance of 2.4 m, significantly less plant damage was visible due to both banker crops (ornamental pepper and sweet alyssum). At 3.7 m, lower damage was visible due to proximity to ornamental pepper only. No significant differences in plant damage index were visible due to banker crops compared to control plots beyond the 3.7 m distance. Plant damage was lowest in spinetoram treated plots, in this field experiment, and this rating was lower than those plants having access to banker crops.
• Potential of banker plants such as sweet alyssum, Mexican sunflower, and marigold for recruiting and conserving natural enemies of thrips pests was screened during strawberry field season 2023-2024. On the basis of sticky traps and visual sampling of flowers, both marigold and Mexican sunflower were found to host minute pirate bugs (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), and big-eyed bugs (Hemiptera: Geocoridae). The field study clearly showed that sweet alyssum hosted more aphid predators and parasitoids, than thrips predators. Later during strawberry season, sweet alyssum was found to be highly attractive to the adults and nymphs of green stink bug, Chinavia halaris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Therefore, for conservation biocontrol in strawberry targeting thrips pests, marigold or Mexican sunflower may be more useful banker crops.
• Bulimulus bonariensis: We surveyed a commercial citrus grove for bonariensis to examine the impact of irrigation and groundcover treatments on snail density and parasitic mite load.
• Finished conducting greenhouse studies using a acircula muhly grass banker plant system with the predatory beetle Diomus austrinus for managing pest populations of the highly invasive Madeira mealybug (Phenacoccus madeirensis) on Coleus as the ornamental cash crop. While control is eventually achieved over many weeks, it was determined that this release strategy was not a viable economic management option for Madeira mealybug. Crop damage thresholds reached unacceptable levels before beetles could reduce mealybug populations. Diomus appears to prefer mealybug eggs so need something that would attack later stages. Alternative options are being considered for the next agreement, such as adding mealybug parasitoids in conjunction with the predatory beetles.
• Finished conducting laboratory trials comparing the suitability of a diet of decapsulated cysts of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana to larvae of Echinothrips americanus for development and reproduction of Franklinothrips vespiformis. The effects of alternate diet on predation of americanus larvae was also examined. Data collection is complete, and analysis is underway. Preliminary data analyses suggest that egg to adult development is similar between diets, but adult longevity is significantly longer in individuals fed on Artemia cysts (45 vs 38 days). The presence of Artemia cysts also significantly reduced predation of E. americanus larvae (12 vs 7 larvae/day).

4. To develop integrated pest management programs that have a biological control component.

• Brazilian peppertree: We have investigated appropriate methods for integrating biological control of Brazilian peppertree (Pseudophilothrips ichini) with chemical methods in the field. Conduct field studies to determine differences in control of the target weed among control methods used alone and in combination. Treatments included 1) chemical control alone, 2) biological control alone, 3) the combination of chemical control on female trees and biological control on male trees, and 4) no control. Post-spray surveys are continuing, with 4-month post-spray data completed in at two sites in Florida. So far, we have seen a reduction of Brazilian peppertrees in all herbicide and integrated plots. Pseudophilothrips ichini are regularly found across all thrips and integrated treatment plots, indicating that integration is likely not harmful for the insects. Final surveys of these plots will occur in FY 2025, to identify which treatments reduced Brazilian peppertree density the most. This longer time frame will allow for further action of the biological control agents and will account for any target plant regrowth after herbicide sprays.
• Two separate laboratory studies assessing the impact of commonly used fungicides and insecticides in strawberry fields on three species of predatory mites, Neoseiulus cucumeris Oudemans, Neoseiulus californicus McGregor, and Amblyseius swirskiiAthias-Henriot, was completed. The manuscripts were submitted to journals for publication. Two manuscripts are currently under review. These studies revealed that when feeding on twospotted spider mite pests of strawberry, exposure to all fungicides tested had an impact on the survival, feeding, and oviposition of the predators. Cyprodinil + fludioxonil had the highest impact on all three predators, while hydrogen peroxide + peroxyacetic acid had the least impact. In case of insecticides, spinetoram had the highest impact on survival of all predatory mites compared to all other insecticides while entomopathogen Cordycepsjavanica had the least impact on their survival. All predators consistently consumed low quantities of dorsalis, however, spinetoram drastically reduced prey consumption, while others like cyantraniliprole had minimal impact on prey consumption. There was no discernable variation in the oviposition rates among predators when exposed to insecticides.   
• Bulimulus bonariensis: preliminary data on the potential of commercially available materials as deterrents of bonariensis was conducted.
• Residential lawns – We evaluated warm-season turfgrass and turfgrass-alternative plant species for their conservation biological control value under reduced management inputs. We found that in the absence of pesticide inputs, warm-season turfgrass monocultures support active and diverse ground-dwelling natural enemy communities no different from turf-alternatives. However, flowering turfgrass alternatives, like Phyla nodiflora, supported significantly more predatory and parasitic organisms driven by the presence of floral resources. This work informs future research and application of flowering groundcovers as turfgrass alternatives that enhance conservation biological control in residential landscapes.  

UTILITY OF FINDINGS

• Trichopoda pennipes has considerable potential as an augmentative biological control agent, parasitizing insects from at least six true bug families: Coreidae, Largidae, Pentatomidae, Scutelleridae, Pyrrhocoridae, and Alydidae, with species from 15 genera. For unknown reasons, however, pennipes causes high levels of parasitism in some hosts, locations and cropping systems but not others. Therefore, we are conducting research to determine how to produce T. pennipes that can be used in augmentative biological control of specific pest stink bugs.
• Conservation biological control using entomopathogenic fungi for the suppression of invasive arthropods – Soil temperature was generally higher with conventional treatments in citrus groves (orange, lemon, and grapefruit) without cover crops; however, soil moisture varied per citrus grove type. The total number of fungal species identified in all the groves combined was 1172, and of those 136 (~12%) were beneficial species. Of the beneficial fungi, 2 species were from the order Entomophthorales and 134 from Hypocreales. Entomophthoralean species were only found in the conventional treatments, not the cover crops. Many of the beneficial fungi identified in these soil samples are agroecosystem service providers that function as natural bactericides/fungicides, nematicides, miticides, insecticides and/or endophytes.
• Ornamental pepper, marigold, and Mexican sunflower are emerging as useful banker crops for thrips management using conservation biological control in open-field strawberry production in FL.
• Ornamental pepper and sweet alyssum are effective in suppressing dorsalis feeding damage in strawberry within a distance of 2.4 m. This finding is useful in developing a plan for banker crop planting in the field.
• The incompatibility of certain fungicides and insecticides with three species of predatory mites will assist with a tailored approach of integrating biological and chemical control options for urticae and S. dorsalis management in strawberry.

WORK PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR (2023-2024)

• The research objectives for next year are: 1) design and test efficient and reliable systems for rearing the host pentatomids and coreids for producing host-specific pennipes lines, 2) determine the preference of T. pennipes for alternative pentatomid and coreid hosts and associated host suitability, and 3) establish and test colonies of T. pennipes that are effective against individual pentatomid and coreid pest species. Studies are needed on a range of these parasitoid-host relationships, including how genetic and phenotypic variation of the host affects parasitoid host selection and suitability. Research is also needed on rearing methods, host ranges, potential effectiveness, release strategies, and impact monitoring.
• A research project is being completed that addresses causes for parasitoids to induce high levels of parasitization in some hosts and locations and not others. Host selection experiments will determine if pennipes reared from sympatric N. viridula, Anasa tristis, or L. phyllopus prefer to parasitize the host from which they are recovered, and which hosts are most suitable for parasitoid development. We will assess host preference of the field-collected parental generation of T. pennipes from the three host species and their laboratory propagated first generation progeny by conducting choice tests. Establishing a means of predicting the host preference of field-collected and laboratory propagated biological control agents and their progeny is essential to designing agents that prefer the target pest.
• Brazilian peppertree: releases of ichini, impact and integration studies will continue. We will produce a model that will predict the areas most suitable for P. ichini establishment. This will better inform release site selection and allow for improved use of resources.
• Earleaf acacia: Host range and biology studies on Trichilogaster nov. will continue. A petition for release for C. intemerata will be submitted to the Technical Advisory Group on the Biological Control of Weeds.
• Waterhyacinth: We will investigate the use of drone-based remote sensing to quantify the impact of biological control agents in the field. These data will be used to prioritize areas in need of additional releases of the biological control agents.
• Air potato- We are continuing to evaluate potential interactions between cheni and L. egena. We will also use species distribution models to understand areas where biocontrol agents may be more or less successful based on the overlap of their distributions with the plant in the native range.
• Continue assessing the soil samples collected in each citrus grove type of on a biannual basis to determine if the beneficial fungi numbers and species changes over time. Also determine if soil moisture and temperature is affected by the presence of cover crops compared to conventional treatments over time.
• Repeat laboratory studies to assess the feeding and oviposition rate of Orius on invasive pest, chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis.
• Nipaecococcus viridis: Foreign exploration for natural enemies of Nipaecococcus viridis is tentatively planned for late summer or early fall 2024. We plan to evaluate factors affecting the performance of both host and parasitoids throughout the year.
• We intend to work with taxonomists to get the new mite species formally described. In the meantime, we plan to study the ecology of this new natural enemy in 2024
• Bulimulus bonariensis: Surveys of bonariensis to examine the impact of irrigation and groundcover treatments on snail density and parasitic mite load will be continued in 2024. Camera and pitfall trap work will continue.
• Future work will assess various release strategies for vespiformis for B. tabaci management and compare the use of F. vespiformis against chemical control and other commonly used biological control agents.
• Urban and residential landscapes – We plan to publish work showing the effects of low-input lawn management practices on predatory ground-dwelling arthropods as a conservation biological control strategy for urban landscapes. We plan to publish work on the conservation biological control value of turfgrass alternative plants, including Phyla nodiflora. Finally, we plan to publish work investigating the priorities and preferences of home residents regarding the use of landscape plants and designs that promote conservation biological control in residential landscapes.

LOUISIANA

NAME OF REPRESENTATIVE: Dr. Rodrigo Diaz                  

AES (STATE):  Louisiana                                                  

LABORATORY NAME OR LOCATION: Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803

PHONE: 225-578-1835                                                                     

E-MAIL: rdiaz@agcenter.lsu.edu                               

OTHER PARTICIPANTS: (Louisiana State University). Veronica Manrique (Southern University, Baton Rouge).

ACCOMPLISHMENTS (by Objective)

1. To discover, assess, and release new biological control agents

Giant salvinia: Efforts in 2023 were made to import a population of the salvinia weevil (Cyrtobagous salviniae) from Argentina.  Observations at the quarantine in LSU suggested potential incompatibilities of this population while exposed to giant salvinia, specifically lack immature development. The next steps will be to import this population again in 2024 and determine whether immatures (eggs, larvae) are present on salvinia using genetic techniques.

2. To characterize and evaluate the impact of native and introduced biocontrol agents

• Giant salvinia: During 2023, we changed our mass rearing operation of salvinia weevils. Mass rearing was conducted at the Reproductive Biology Center in St. Gabriel. In June 2023, a weevil harvest was organized for the public and in cooperation with several agencies. A total of 330 totes were harvested from both ponds. There were 29 participants from Ascension, Cameron, Iberville, Jefferson-Davis, St. Tammany, and Vermillion Parishes.

• Air potato: In collaboration with scientists from SE USA, we published two papers showing the establishment and impact of the air potato beetle (Lilioceris cheni) and the population genetics of colonies of the beetles used for releases.

• Chinese privet: A new set of primers were developed for the detection of the seed-feeding weevil, Ochyromera ligustri. This tool will be used to determine the impact of the weevil by detecting the DNA of the weevil rather than doing dissections.

3. To develop augmentation and conservation biological control tactics

• The LSU AgCenter website on Invasive Species was updated. The website contains biological control options for the management of several invasive weeds and insects common in Louisiana. https://www.lsuagcenter.com/invasivespecies

• Social Media: To inform the public about the biological control programs in Louisiana, the LSU and Southern University programs used social media including Facebook and Instagram. Please follow us at: https://www.instagram.com/lsubiocontrol/; and https://www.instagram.com/su_entomology_lab/

4. To develop integrated pest management programs that have a biological control component.

None. 

UTILITY OF FINDINGS

How to integrate control methods for giant salvinia?

The impact of the salvinia weevil was studied in Puerto Rico and coastal Louisiana. The findings from these studies demonstrated the great potential of biological control using the salvinia weevil in different aquatic ecosystems. Both studies show rapid and substantial reductions in salvinia coverage, leading to improved water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen levels and the recovery of submerged aquatic vegetation. Moreover, the Puerto Rico study highlighted the effectiveness of combining biological control with mechanical removal, achieving near-complete eradication over three years. The Louisiana study improved our understanding of the relationship between weevil density and coverage reduction in different habitat types. These findings offer resource managers an effective and sustainable tool for combating giant salvinia. The success in varied environments (tropical reservoir and coastal wetlands) suggests broad applicability of this approach. Furthermore, the predictive models developed in the Louisiana study can help managers estimate control timelines and optimize their strategies, potentially improving the cost-effectiveness and success rates of future giant salvinia infestations.

WORK PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR (2023-2024)

Specific objectives:

1) Identify populations of biological control agents suitable for the climate in Louisiana

Giant Salvinia: Efforts will be made to import the population of the salvinia weevil from Uruguay or Argentina in the Fall 2024.  

2. Release, monitor establishment, and evaluate biological control agents

Giant Salvinia: One of the major limitations of the program is not knowing where is salvinia and the weevil in the landscape. During 2024 and 2025, we will work with satellites and drone to develop a remote sensing model. This model will aid in the detection of plants using satellite images (Senitel-2). We will continue supporting the biological control programs of giant salvinia and waterlettuce (Pistia stratiotes) in Puerto Rico. In fall 2024, member of the LSU biocontrol lab will travel to Puerto Rico to survey the distribution of the biological control agents in different waterbodies. 

Biocontrol of Aquatic Weeds: In the summer of 2024 and during 2025, we will work improving the biological control of waterhyacinth, ludwigia, and alligator weed. Surveys will be conducted in Louisiana and nearby states for agents which could imported to California. Additionally, augmentation biological control is new area which has a tremendous opportunity in weed biological control. Experiments will be conducted to improve the release and establishment of mass-reared agents.

Chinese privet: In 2025, we will continue with the host range testing of the ligustrum weevil (Ochyromera ligustri) and conduct studies on field impact of Chinese privet.  

OKLAHOMA

NAME OF REPRESENTATIVE: Kristopher Giles                    

AES (STATE):  Oklahoma                                                       

LABORATORY NAME OR LOCATION: Oklahoma State University

PHONE:  405-744-6298                                            

FAX:   405-744-6039                       

E-MAIL: kris.giles@okstate.edu                                           

OTHER PARTICIPANTS:                 Tom Royer                

ACCOMPLISHMENTS (by Objective)

1. To discover, assess, and release new biological control agents

None.

2. To characterize and evaluate the impact of native and introduced biocontrol agents

Research focuses on natural enemies that attack insect pests, and describing aphid parasitism and predation in agricultural landscapes.  In 2023 and 2024, published results of a multi-year studies to examine aphid parasitism in agricultural landscapes.  Results indicated the dominance of Lysiphlebus testaceipes in winter wheat, the re-emergence of a native parasitoid Aphelinus nigritus on sorghum, and importance of Diaeretiella rapae on winter canola.  Studies were continued and completed to describe the latitudinal ecology of aphid parasitoids in the Southern Plains with an emphasis on describing competitive interactions, the presences of endosymbionts, and how diapause may influence effective parasitism. Studies were also completed validating natural enemy thresholds of sorghum aphid in sorghum and preliminary development of sampling plans for these natural enemies. 

Key Outcomes:  Based on studies completed in Oklahoma, crop diversity that includes summer crops at spatial scales of 1.5 km radius is more likely to support key parasitoid populations that prevent aphid outbreaks in winter crops, but species composition varies among habitats.  Incorporation of landscape metrics into predictions of biological control services and IPM programs for aphids is the long term goal requiring validation. Studies on competitive outcomes among aphid natural enemies indicate that Aphelinus nigritus is a superior competitor at small spatial scales, and Lysiphlebus testaceipes coexists because it avoids patches occupied by competitors. Preliminary analyses of spatial distribution of natural enemies in sorghum indicate that both predators and parasitoid sampling plans can be merged with those of sorghum aphid to allow for efficient use of validated natural enemy thresholds.

3. To develop augmentation and conservation biological control tactics

Research is focusing primarily on conservation of parasitoids and predators in field crops, and evaluation of predators in stored grain systems.  Studies describing pest suppression and conservation of natural enemies in landscapes with winter canola and wheat were published. 

Key Outcome:  Crop diversity in time and space in agricultural landscapes has a positive effect on aphid suppression by parasitoids, diversity of pollinators and services they provide.  Studies were also completed on predatory mites in stored grain systems and indicated their potential for augmentation programs.

4. To develop integrated pest management programs that have a biological control component.

None.

WORK PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR (2024-2025)

• Continued studies related to objectives 2 and 3.

• Studies describing competitive outcomes among aphid natural enemies will be completed.

• Complete studies describing life history traits of natural enemies in stored grain.

• Validation of natural enemy thresholds for SCA on sorghum, and integration of sampling approaches will be completed.

WEST VIRGINIA

NAME OF REPRESENTATIVE: Carlos Quesada

AES (STATE): West Virginia

LABORATORY NAME OR LOCATION: School of Agriculture and Food Systems  

PHONE: (304) 293-8835

EMAIL: carlos.quesada@mail.wvu.edu

ACCOMPLISHMENTS (by Objective)

1. To discover, assess, and release new biological control agents
2. To characterize and evaluate the impact of native and introduced biocontrol agents
3. To develop augmentation and conservation biological control tactics 

4. To develop integrated pest management programs that have a biological control component.

High tunnel insect exclusion screens. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of insect exclusion screens on insect pests and their biocontrol agents on vegetable crops in high tunnels. This study is being conducted on five commercial farms. We estimated the pests and their natural enemy abundance during the whole growing season in 2023 and 2024.

Insecticide excretion through honeydew. The first objective of this study was to determine the concentration of several insecticides (imidacloprid, chlorantraniliprole, and flupyradifurone) in honeydew excreted by aphids feeding on pepper plants. The second objective was to determine the impact of insecticide tainted honeydew on lacewing.

UTILITY OF FINDINGS

High tunnel insect exclusion screens. Several studies have reported the impacts of insect exclusion on insect pests. However, impact of screens on natural enemies has been poorly studied, our finding will provide insight into this mechanical control tactic on natural populations of parasitoids and predators.

Insecticide excretion through honeydew. Understanding the impact of insecticide applications on target pests and their natural enemies is important for integrated pest management programs. Our finding will provide information about the impact of insecticide tainted honeydew on lacewing.

WORK PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR (2024-2025)

We are done with data collection and will begin running statistical analysis soon. Three manuscripts are planned for next year.

Bogal, Mesfin, Shova Mishra, Kendal Stacey, Lillie Rooney, Paula…..Anthony Auletta, Norman Leppla, Peter DiGennaro. 2023. First description of the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes and associated host preference of Trichopoda pennipes, a parasitoid of Nezara viridula. Genes 14:1172. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14061172.

Ivey, Cleveland, B., Norman C. Leppla, Amanda C. Hodges, and Joe E. Eger. 2023. Quality control applications for recovering an inbred colony of Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). J. Insect Science. 23: 8; 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iead057.

Rooney, L. M. 2023. Host preference and suitability of Trichopoda pennipes (Diptera: Tachinidae) on Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), Anasa tristis (Hemiptera: Coreidae) and Leptoglossus phyllopus (Hemiptera: Coreidae) in North Central Florida. Thesis, University of Florida, 99 p.

Leppla, N. C., L. M. LeBeck, and M. W. Johnson. 2024. Status and Trends of Biological Control Research, Extension, and Education in the United States. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 117:1-9. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saae005.

Carruthers, K. A., J. Cuda, S. Enloe, E. Le Falchier, and C. R. Minteer. 2023. Direct toxicity and emigration: Evaluation of herbicide interactions with a biological control agent for Schinus terebinthifolia. BioControl 68: 565-578. DOI: 10.1007/s10526-023-10216-3

Griesheimer, J. L. G, A. M. Gaffke, C. R. Minteer, J. L. Mass, S. Hight, and X. Martini. 2023. Attraction of the air potato leaf beetle, Lilioceris cheni, (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) to leaf volatiles of the air potato, Dioscorea bulbifera, in a wind tunnel. Journal of Chemical Ecology DOI: 10.1007/s10886-023-01436-z.

Lieurance, D., S. Canavan, D. C. Behringer, A. E. Kendig, C. R. Minteer, L. S. Reisinger, C. M. Romagosa, S. L. Flory, J. L. Lockwood, P. J. Anderson, S. M. Baker, J. Bojko, K. E. Bowers, K. Canavan, K. Carruthers, W. M. Daniel, D. R. Gordon, J. E. Hill, J. G. Howeth, V. V. Iannone III, L. Jennings, L. A. Gettys, E. M. Kariuki, J. M. Kunzer, H. D. Laughinghouse, N. E. Mandrak, S. McCann, T. Morawo, C. R. Morningstar, M. Neilson, T. Petri, I. A. Pfingsten, R. N. Reed, L. J. Walters, and C. Wanamaker. 2023. Identifying invasive species threats, pathways, and impacts to improve biosecurity. Ecosphere 14, e4711. DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4711.

Manrique, V., E. Kraus, C. Schaffer, R. Diaz, C. Kelm, R. Poffenberger, E. Rohrig, R. Murray, A. David, M. Smith, E. Lake, C. R. Minteer, E. G. Le Falchier, J. Mass, and S. Hight. Assessing the status of biological control of air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) in Southeastern USA. Biocontrol Science and Technology 33(12): 1173-1185.

Wheeler, G. S., C. R. Minteer, E. Rohrig, S. Steininger, R. Nestle, D. Halbritter, J. Leidi, M. Rayamajhi, and E. Le Falchier. 2022. Release and persistence of the Brazilian peppertree biological control agent Pseudophilothrips ichini (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) in Florida. Florida Entomologist 105(3): 225-230. DOI: 10.1653/024.105.0308.

Sanderson, C.H., R. Zonneveld, M. C. Smith, C. R. Minteer, and M. F. Purcell. 2023. Life history of the leaf‐feeding beetle Calomela intemerata, a potential biocontrol agent against Acacia auriculiformis. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 171(12), pp.902-912.

Telmadarrehei T., A. L. Romero-Weaver, Y. Lee, and C. R. Minteer. 2024. The first complete mitogenome sequence of a biological control agent insect, Pseudophilothrips ichini (Hood). Florida Entomologist. 107(1):20240014.

Telmadarrehei T, Kariuki E. M., van Santen E., Le Falchier E. J., and C. R. Minteer. 2023. The effects of soil type and moisture on the survival of Pseudophilothrips ichini (Hood). Biocontrol Science and Technology. 33:314-26.

Calixto, E.S., J.L. Maron, and P.G. Hahn. Interactions between local and large-scale factors influence herbivory rates and seed loss. Ecology and Evolution 13: e10208.

Quinn, N. F., T. R. Petrice, J. M. Schmude, T. M. Poland, L. S. Bauer, C. E. Rutlege, R. G. Van Driesche, J. S. Elkinton, and J. J. Duan. 2023. Post-release assessment of Oobius agrili establishment and impacts in Michigan and the northeastern United States. Journal of Economic Entomology 116(4): 1165-1170. DOI: 10.1093/jee/toad120.

Olabiyi, David g, Eric Middleton, Muhammad Z Ahmed, Lance S Osborne, Cindy L

McKenzie, Lauren Diepenbrock. 2023. Hibiscus Mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)–Biology, Host Plants, Current Management Practices, and a Field Guide for North America, Journal of Integrated Pest Management. 14(1):3, 1-9, https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmac029

Vivek Kumar, Yingfang Xiao, Matthew A Borden, Muhammad Z Ahmed, Cindy L McKenzie, Lance S Osborne. 2023. Distribution of Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera:Thripidae) cryptic species complex in the United States and reproductive host assessment of its dominant member, Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 116, Issue 5, Pages 1715–1726, https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad138

Ahmed, M. Z., Dorado, C., von Ellenrieder, N., Quinn, N. F., Roda, A., Schoeller, E. N. p, McKenzie, C. L., Osborne, L. S., and Diepenbrock, L. M., 2023. Development of a species-level field diagnostic kit for Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead) (Hemiptera:Pseudococcidae), an invasive and regulatory pest in the United States. Journal of Applied Entomology, 147, 693-701, https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.13177

Bohat., A., Folorunso, E.A., Lencov., J., Osborne, L.S. and Mraz, J. 2023. Control of sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) using entomopathogenic fungi under optimal and suboptimal relative humidity conditions. Pest Manag Sci, 80: 1065-1075. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7837

Muhammad Z Ahmed, Cindy L McKenzie, Lance S Osborne, 2024. Arthropod and mollusk pests of hemp, Cannabis sativa (Rosales: Cannabaceae), and their indoor management plan in Florida, Journal of Integrated Pest Management, Volume 15, Issue 1, 2024, 1, https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmad028

Schoeller, E.N. p, McKenzie, C.L., Hogan, J. and Osborne, L.S., 2024. Functional Response of Franklinothrips vespiformis (Thysanoptera: Aeolothripidae) to Eggs and Nymphs of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)." Journal of Insect Science. 2024 Mar 1;24(2):3.

Manrique, V., Kraus, E., Schaffer, C., Diaz, R., Kelm, C., Poffenberger, R., Rohrig, E., Murray, R., David, A., Smith, M., Lake, E., Rayamajhi, M. B., Leidi, J., Dray Jr., F. A., Minteer, C. R., Le Falchier, E., Mass, J. and S. Hight. 2023. Assessing the status of biological control of air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) in the southeastern USA. Biocontrol Science and Technology 33: 1173–1185,  https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2023.2294207

Chura, M.  Healy, K., Diaz, R. and M. Kaller. 2023. Effects of species, sex, and diet on thermal tolerance of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae). Journal of Medical Entomology 60: 637–643, https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjad037

Madeira, P.T., Diaz, R., Dray, F.A., Rayamajhi, M.B.,Lake, E. and M. Smith. 2023. Population genetics comparison of Lilioceris cheni (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) colonies released onto Dioscorea bulbifera in Southeastern U.S.A. Biocontrol Science and Technology 33: 429-447.

Salgado, A.L., Glassmire, A.E., Sedio, B.E., Diaz, R., Stout, M.J., Cuda, J., Pyšek, P., Meyerson, L.A., and J.T. Cronin. 2023. Metabolomic evenness underlies intraspecific differences among lineages of wetland grass. Journal of Chemical Ecology 49: 437-450, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-023-01425-2.

Woodley, S.E., Wahl, C.F., Tryforos, A., and R. Diaz. 2023. Biological control of invasive floating fern leads to rapid recovery of ecological functions in coastal freshwater wetlands in Louisiana. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 61:42-54, https://doi.org/10.57257/JAPM-D-22-00011

Lee, H., Diaz, R., Johnston, J., Knight, I.A., Nyman, J.A. and J. T. Cronin. 2023. Vegetation restoration following dieback of Phragmites australis in the Mississippi River Delta, USA. Wetlands 43, 98, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-023-01746-8.

Garcia-Lopez, X., Ortiz-Zayas, J.R., Diaz, R., Castro-Jiménez, A. and C. Wahl. 2023. Limnological response of Las Curias reservoir, San Juan, Puerto Rico: Successful management of the invasive aquatic fern, Salvinia molesta. Water 15, 3966, https://doi.org/10.3390/w15223966.

Manrique, V., Kraus, E., Schaffer, C., Diaz, R., Kelm, C. Poffenberger, R., Rohrig, E., Murray, R., David, A., Smith, M.C., Lake, E, Rayamajhi, M.B., Leidi, J., Dray,A., Minteer, C.R., Le Falchier, E., Mass, J. and S. Hight. 2023. Assessing the status of biological control of air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) in the southeastern USA. Biocontrol Science and Technology 33: 1173-1185,  https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2023.2294207.

Wilson, C.J., Backe K.M., Just M.G., Lahr, E.C., Nagle, A.M., Long, L.C., Dale, A.G., and Frank, S.D. (2023) Tree species richness around urban red maples reduces pest density but does not enhance biological control. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2023.128093.

Mitchell, J.C., D’Amico, V., Trammel, T., and Frank, S. D. (2023) Nonnative plant invasion increases urban vegetation structure and influences arthropod communities.  Diversity and Distributions. doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13755.

Wilson, C.J. and Frank, S. D. (2023) Scale insects contribute to spider conservation in urban trees and shrubs. Journal of Insect Conservation. doi.org/10.1007/s10841-023-00471-1.

Wilson, C.J. and Frank, S. D. (2023) Urban tree pests can support biological control services in landscape shrubs. Biocontrol. doi.org/10.1007/s10526-023-10192-8.

Elliott, N. C., K. L. Giles, K. A. Baum, S. D. Elzay and G. F. Backoulou. 2023. Role of parasitoids and landscape structure in aphid population dynamics in winter canola. Biological Control. 186: 105330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2023.105330

Danso, J. K., G. P. Opit, C. L. Goad, B. H. Noden and K. L. Giles. 2023. Functional responses of predatory mites, Cheyletus eruditus (Schrank) and Cheyletus malaccensis Oudemans (Trombidiformes: Cheyletidae) to Liposcelis decolor (Pearman) (Psocodea: Liposcelididae). Journal of Stored Products Research. 103: 102025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2023.102141

Danso, J. K., G. P. Opit, K. L. Giles and B. H. Noden. 2023. Ecological Interactions of Predatory Mites, Cheyletus eruditus (Schrank) (Trombidiformes: Cheyletidae) and Cheyletus malaccensis Oudemans, and Prey, Liposcelis decolor (Pearman) (Psocodea: Liposcelididae), under Different Thermo-Hygrometric Regimes. Insects 14: 717. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14090717

Danso, J. K., G. P. Opit, K. L. Giles and B. H. Noden and. 2023. Numerical responses of the predatory mites, Cheyletus eruditus (Trombidiformes: Cheyletidae) and Cheyletus malaccensis, to Liposcelis decolor (Psocodea: Liposcelididae). J. Econ. Entomology. 116: 1447-1457. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad122

Elliott, N. C., K. L. Giles, K. A. Baum and S. D. Elzay. 2023. Quantitative Study of Aphid Natural Enemies in Central Oklahoma Canola Fields. Southwestern Entomologist. 47: 821-828. https://doi.org/10.3958/059.047.0403