Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

1. Approval of 2005 minutes 2. Steve Yaninek reported to the group regarding the approval of the NCERA-125 until 2011, commenting that the reviewers were very positive. However, there was one issue in that the team does not supply a measures of impact. Yaninek indicated that at the midterm review we will need to indicate substantial impacts. This does not involve new impacts but a better documentation of on-going impacts and accomplishments. The group discussed what would constitute an impact and how these can be measured. 3. George Hiempel reported about the 2006 symposium of the International Organization of Biological Control at the National Entomological Society of America. The topic was Best Practices in Classical Biological Control and included five speakers from both University and Federal labs in the U.S. as well as Dr. Barratt from New Zealand. Awards were presented to students from Michigan State University (Aljeandro Costamagna) and Iowa State University (Nicholas Schmidt). 4. Hiempel also reported on the current status of permits for release of imported parasitoids for management of the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines). This included a discussion about the different organizations that are responsible for granting permission, or at least reviewing the application. All were surprised to learn of NAPPOs (North American Plant Protection Organization) role as an obligatory, outside reviewer of applications for USDA-APHIS. 5. Luis Canas opened the discussion regarding the 2007 meeting. The Mexican Biological Control Institute has suggested that the a joint meeting be held in Monterrey Mexico. The group supported the joint meeting and are waiting for confirmation of dates and locations before going forward with further plans. At the meeting the proposed dates were 5-9 November, 2007. Other organizations to be in attendance will include the IOBC and the Western Regional Project (W-1185), Biological Control of Arthropods in Pest Management Systems of Plants. NCERA-125 will 1, facilitate communication between various BC groups, 2, develop an NCERA_125 sponspered symposia with emeberships presentations, 3, develop a possible training course or student workshop interaction. 6. A report was read regarding the Midwest Biological Control Institute, hosted and organized by Jonathon Lundgren. Participants included 12 students from 7 states. A proposed course on Insect Pathology hosted by Lee Solter of the Illinois Natural History survey was approve for next year. The date for the 2007 class was tentatively set for late June to early July. 7. Bob ONeil and George Hiempel reported on the symposium hosted by NCERA-125 at the 2006 North Central Branch (NCB)of the Entomological Society of America meeting. The topic was the soybean aphid (Ecology and Management of the Soybean Aphid) with over 100 in attendance for seven talks. 8. Discussion followed about a biological control focused symposium at the 2007 NCB meeting in Winnipeg Canada. 9. In the afternoon a longer discussion focused on documenting impacts. Following discussion of what constitutes an impact, a breakout session had eight groups form to develop ways to measure impacts along NCERA-125 objectives. This included: a. Education and outreach: Accomplishments of this objective include hosting the MBCI, Soybean aphid distance education course, website, NCB symposium and facilitation of international collaboration and communication. b. Purple Loosestrife: Accomplishments for this group include surveying land managers regarding the impact of the Purple Loosestrife Project. c. Soybean aphid: Documentation of insecticide use in each year since its arrival with information of natural enemy contribution to limit soybean aphid outbreaks and thus reduce need for insecticides. Measurement of impacts to include citation measurement for articles featured in the special 2004 issue of the Annals of the Entomological Society of America. d. Japanese beetles: Ben Puttler indicate he would provide data regarding the establishment of biological control agents for Japanese beetle control within the Midwest. e. Garlic Mustard. Several testable hypotheses were developed with a model whose creation was facilitated by collaboration of NCERA-125 members. This resulted in saving significant money in eliminating the testing of potential classical BC candidates. f. Reduce pesticide usage g. Ecosystem value/function/service: Doug Landis suggested the use of surveymonkey website or other such tool to indicate value of BC to land managers for conservation. h. Regulatory issues and communication. Hiempel and others will continue to provide leadership to improve integration of regional groups for improved awareness and practice of BC. Standing committees were formed for each of these groups with the duty to report back at each meeting on the progress made towards each objective and efforts to measure impacts from reaching these objectives The rest of the meeting was devoted to state reports of ongoing research and extension activities related to BC.

In 2006 two significant accomplishments were achieved by participants within the NCERA-125. 1. NCERA-125 hosted the symposium, Ecology and Management of the Soybean Aphid at the North Central Branch of the Entomological Society of America meeting (Bloomington, IL. 29 March 2006). This topic was discussed by seven researchers who presented thier results to over 100 in attendance. Those in attendance included regional entomologist, IPM specialist, and agribusiness representatives. 2.NCERA-125 hosted the 2006 version of the Midwest Biological Control Institute at the Oak Lake Field Station in South Dakota during 25-28 June. The course was hosted and organized by Dr. Jonathon Lundgren. Participants included 12 students from 7 states. A proposed course on Insect Pathology hosted by Lee Solter of the Illinois Natural History survey was approve for next year. The date for the 2007 class was tentatively set for late June to early July.

North Dakota Extension Majumdar, A., M. A. Boetel, and R. J. Dregseth. 2006. Survey, isolation, and screening for native pathogens of sugarbeet root maggot (Diptera: Ulidiidae) in the Red River Valley. Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. North Dakota State University Coop. Ext. Serv. 36: 228-231. Olson, D. and R. Hanson. 2006. Biological of leafy spurge biological control agents. In Biology and biological control of leafy spurge. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. USDA Forest Servide. Majumdar, A., M. A. Boetel, S. T. Jaronski, R. J. Dregseth, and A. J. Schroeder. 2006. Cereal cover crops and a microbial insecticide for integrated control sugarbeet root maggot (Diptera: Ulidiidae). Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. North Dakota State University Coop. Ext. Serv. 36: 222-227. Peer reviewed Roehrdanz, R., D. Olson, R. Bourchier, S. Sears, A. Cortilet, and G. Fauske. 2006. Mitochondrial DNA diversity and Wolbachia infection in the flea beetle Aphthona nigriscutis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) an introduced biocontrol agent for leafy spurge. Biological Control 37:1-8. Nebraska Extension N/A Thesis/Dissertation Alexander P. Cunningham. 2006. Predacious Coccinellidae in Alfalfa, M.S. Thesis, Advisors: S. D. Danielson and J. R. Brandle. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Peer reviewed Angel-Sahagún CA, Lezama-Gutiérrez R, Molina-Ochoa J, Galindo-Velasco E, López-Edwards M, Rebolledo-Domínguez O, Cruz-Vázquez C, Reyes-Velázquez WP, Skoda SR, Foster JE. 2006. Susceptibility of biological stages of the horn fly, Haematobia irritans, to entomopathogenic fungi (Hyphomycetes). 8pp. Journal of Insect Science 5:50, available online: insectscience.org/5.50 Kriz, James C., Stephen D. Danielson, James R. Brandle, and Erin E. Blankenship. 2006. Relative Abundance of Exotic and Native Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) in Southeast Nebraska Alfalfa. J. Entomol. Sci. 41(1): 84-86. Kriz, J. C., S. D. Danielson, J. R. Brandle, and E. E. Blankenship.2006. Effects of aphid abundance and surrounding vegetation on the encounter rate of Coccinellidae, Chrysopidae, and Nabidae in alfalfa. J. Entomol. Sci. 41: 211-220. Minnesota Extension Newman, R.M., E. M. Gross, W. Wimmer and P. Sprick. 2006. Life history and developmental performance of the Eurasian milfoil weevil, Eubrychius velutus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 60(2): 170-176. Newman, R.M., P. Sprick, E. M. Gross, and W. Wimmer. 2006. An illustrated life history of the Eurasian milfoil weevil, Eubrychius velutus (Beck, 1817) in Germany (Curculionidae: Ceutorhynchinae: Phytobiini) - SNUDEBILLER 7, Studies on taxonomy, biology and ecology of Curculionoidea, Mönchengladbach: CURCULIO-Institute. Peer reviewed Roley, S.S. and R.M. Newman. 2006. Developmental performance of the milfoil weevil, Euhrychiopsis lecontei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on northern watermilfoil, Eurasian watermilfoil, and hybrid (northern x Eurasian) watermilfoil. Environmental Entomology 35(1): 121-126. http://hermia.esa.catchword.org/vl=14125878/cl=14/nw=1/rpsv/cw/esa/0046225x/v35n1/s14/p121 Ward, D.M. and R.M. Newman. 2006. Fish predation on Eurasian watermilfoil herbivores and indirect effects on macrophytes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries andAquatic Sciences 63(5): 1049-1057. http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/cgibin/rp/rp2_abst_e?cjfas_f06-010_63_ns_nf_cjfas5-06 Illinois Extension Birken, E. M., and R. A. Cloyd. 2006. Feeding behavior of the rove beetle, Atheta coriaria (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) under laboratory conditions. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin 29: 201-206. Peer reviewed Tooker, J. F., M. Hauser, & L. M. Hanks. 2006. Floral host plants of Syrphidae and Tachinidae (Diptera) of central Illinois. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 99: 96-112. van Klinken, R.D. and Raghu, S. 2006. A scientific approach to agent selection. Aust. J. Entomol. 45: 253258. Vavra, J., Hylis, M., Vossbrinck, C.R., Pilarska, D.K., Linde, A., Weiser, J. McManus, M.L., Hoch, G., and Solter, L.F. 2006. Vairimorpha disparis n.comb. (Microsporidia: Burenellidae): A redescription of the Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) microsporidium, Thelohania disparis Timofejeva 1956. J. Eukaryotic Microbiol. 53(4): 292-304. Solter, L.F. 2006. Transmission as a predictor of ecological host specificity with a focus on vertical transmission of microsporidia. J. Invertebr. Pathol. 92: 132-140. Tooker, J. F., & L. M. Hanks. 2006. Tritrophic interactions and reproductive fitness of the prairie perennial Silphium laciniatum Gillette (Asteraceae). Environ. Entomol. 35: 537-545. Rebek, E. J., C. S. Sadof, & L. M. Hanks. 2006. Influence of floral resource plants on control of an armored scale pest by the parasitoid Encarsia citrina (Craw.) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). Biol. Control 37: 320-328. Schwab, L.K. and Raghu, S. (2006). Nutrient composition of soil and plant may predict the distribution and abundance of specialist insect herbivores: implications for agent selection in weed biological control. Aust. J. Entomol. 45: 345348. Raghu, S. and van Klinken, R.D. 2006. Refining the ecological basis for agent selection in weed biological control. Aust. J. Entomol. 45: 251252. Raghu, S., Dhileepan, K. and Treviño, M. 2006. Response of an invasive liana to simulated herbivory: Implications for its biological control. Acta Oecologica 29: 335345. Raghu, S., Dhileepan, K. and Wilson, J. 2006. Refining the process of agent selection through understanding plant demography and plant response to herbivory. Aust. J. Entomol. 45: 308316. Hylis M., Pilarska, D.K., Oborník, M., Vávra, J., Solter, L.F., Weiser, J. Linde, A., and McManus, M.L. 2006. Nosema chrysorrhoeae n. sp. (Microsporidia), isolated from browntail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea L.) (Lepidoptera, Lymantriidae) in Bulgaria: Characterization and phylogenetic relationships. J. Invertebr. Pathol. 91, 105-114. Fallon, D.J., Solter, L.F., Bauer, L.S., Miller, D.L., Cate, J.R., and McManus, M.L. 2006. Effect of entomopathogenic nematodes on Plectrodera scalator (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). J. Invertebr. Pathol. 92, 55-57 Dhileepan, K., Treviño, M. and Raghu, S. 2006. Temporal patterns in incidence and abundance of Aconophora compressa (Hemiptera: Membracidae), a biological control agent for Lantana camara, on target and nontarget plants. Environ. Entomol. 35: 10011012. Cervantes, D. E., L. M. Hanks, E. S. Lacey, & J. D. Barbour. 2006. First documentation of a volatile sex pheromone in a longhorned beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) of the primitive subfamily Prioninae. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 99: 718-722. Cloyd, R. A., and A. Dickinson. 2006. Effect of insecticides on mealybug destroyer (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and parasitoid Leptomastix dactylopii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), natural enemies of citrus mealybug (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 99(5): 1596-1604. Cloyd, R. A., C. L. Galle, and S. R. Keith. 2006. Compatibility of three miticides with the predatory mites Neoseiulus californicus McGregor and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae). HortScience 41(3): 707-710. Dhileepan, K., Senaratne, K.A.D.W. and Raghu, S. 2006. A systematic approach to biological control agent exploration and prioritisation for prickly acacia (Acacia nilotica ssp. indica). Aust. J. Entomol. 45: 303307. Kentucky Extension Harwood, J.D., C. Ricci, R. Romani & J. J. Obrycki. 2006. Historic prevalence of a laboulbenialean fungus infecting introduced coccinellids in the United States. Antenna, Bulletin of the Royal Entomological Society 30: 74-79. Peer reviewed Harwood, J.D., A. Samson & J.J. Obrycki. 2006. No evidence for the uptake of Cry1AB Bt-endotoxins by the general predator Sciaites subterraneus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in laboratory and field experiments. Biocontrol Sci. & Tech. 16: 377-388. Harwood, J.D. & J.J. Obrycki. 2006. The detection and decay of Cry1Ab Btendotoxins within non-target slugs, Deroceras reticulatum (Muller) (Mollusca: Pulmonata), following consumption of transgenic corn. Biocontrol Sci. & Tech. 16:77-88 Prevalence and association of the laboulbenialean fungus Hesperomyces virescens (Laboulbeniales: Laboulbeniaceae) on coccinellid hosts (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Kentucky, USA. European Journal of Entomology 103: 799-804. Indiana Extension N/A Peer reviewed Desneux, N., H. J. S. Yoo, and R. J. ONeil. 2006. Suppression of population growth of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, by predators: the identification of a key predator, and the effects of prey dispersion, predator abundance and temperature. Env. Entomol. 35: 1342-1309. Iowa Extension NA Thesis/Dissertation Schmidt, N.P. 2006. Sampling and management of aphidophagous natural enemies in Iowa soybean. MS. Thesis, Department of Entomology, Iowa State Univ., Ames. 86 pp. Peer reviewed Isaacs, R. Mason, K.S., Brewer, M., Noma, T. and O'Neal, M.E. 2006. Does implementation of a selective blueberry insect control program enhance biological control? IOBC wprs Bulletin 29 (10), 7-12. Schmidt, N.P., M.E. ONeal, and J.W. Singer. Alfalfa living mulch advances biological control of soybean aphid. Environ. Entomol. Accepted August 2006. Michigan Extension Marino, P.C, D.A. Landis, B.A. Hawkins. 2006. Conserving parasitoid assemblages of North American pest Lepidoptera: what alternate host food plant relationships tell us about agricultural landscapes. Biological Control. 37: 173- 85. Gardiner, M., C. DiFionzo, M. Brewer, T. Noma. 2006. Identifying natural enemies in field crops. MSU Extension Bulletin E-2949. 46pp. http://www.ipm.msu.edu/pubsnatural.htm Thesis/Dissertation Evans, J.A. 2006. Impacts of herbivores and plant communities on establishment and spread of Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) in Michigan. MS. Thesis, Department of Entomology, Michigan State Univ., East Lansing. 204 pp. Fiedler, A.K. 2006. Evaluation of Michigan native plants to provide resources for natural enemy arthropods. MS. Thesis, Department of Entomology, Michigan State Univ., East Lansing. 155 pp. Costamagna, A.C. 2006. Do varying natural enemy assemblages impact Aphis glycines population dynamics? Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Entomology, Michigan State Univ., East Lansing. 189 pp. Peer reviewed Brewer, M.J., T. Noma, and N.C. Elliott. 2005. Hymenopteran parasitoids and dipteran predators of the invasive aphid Diuraphis noxia after enemy introductions: temporal variation and implication for future aphid invasions. Biol. Control, 33: 315-323. Costamagna, A.C., and D.A. Landis. 2006. Predators exert top-down control of soybean aphid across a gradient of agricultural management systems. Ecol. Applic. 16: 1619-28.