Location: Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research
2017 Annual Report
Objectives
Objective 1: Improve the feasibility of using multi-tactic pest control strategies, especially through the improvement of biologically based control methods, for invasive weeds of the southern United States (e.g. tropical soda apple, air potato and Chinese tallow).
Sub-objective 1.A. Develop pre-release techniques that can be used to evaluate the impact of future biological control agents.
Sub-objective 1.B. Determine the role of North American native natural enemies attacking biological control agents on the agents’ population establishment and impact to the targeted weed.
Sub-objective 1.C. Determine release factors that increase successful establishment of weed biological control agents.
Objective 2: Develop biologically based pest control strategies (e.g., augmentative biological control, mating disruption, and push-pull companion plants) for insect pests of the southern United States (e.g., whiteflies, corn silk flies, and the Argentine cactus moth).
Sub-objective 2.A. Identify companion plants, commercial products and chemical compounds that i) repel whiteflies and determine their efficacy in limiting pest dispersal into crops (“push” factors), as well as ii) plants and products capable of attracting whiteflies into trap crops to facilitate control (“pull” factors).
Sub-objective 2.B. Evaluate companion or refuge plants that attract or maintain important whitefly predators.
Sub-objective 2.C. Develop an integrated cropping system combining “push-pull” crops or plant products with natural enemy refuges for sustainable biologically-based control of the whitefly.
Sub-objective 2.D. Identify parasitoids with potential as biological control agents for corn silk flies.
Sub-objective 2.E. Determine the Argentine field host range of the potential Argentine cactus moth biological control agent, Apanteles opuntiarum.
Sub-objective 2.F. Determine the effectiveness of a mating disruption technology as a sustainable management option for the cactus moth in commercial cactus production areas.
Sub-objective 2.G. Collect, identify, and distinguish between the complex of Harrisia cactus mealybugs (HCM), their plant hosts, and host specific parasitoids found in Argentina, Puerto Rico, other Caribbean Islands, and Florida.
Approach
Invasive insect pests and weeds are among the most serious problems facing agricultural and natural ecosystems throughout the United States. This project plan describes research to improve implementation of biologically based tactics for non-pesticide management of insect pests and weeds. The goals will be achieved through acquiring a better understanding of the pest species biology along with the interactions between host plants and natural enemies to support the development of optimized approaches, technologies and strategies for control of a variety of targets. One area of research will address improvement of techniques to enhance release success and increased efficiency of establishment and impact of biological control insect species against invasive weed species, specifically targeting the air potato and Chinese tallow. A second area of research focuses on the development of an integrated vegetable cropping system for control of whiteflies using a “push/pull” pest management approach. A vegetable crop system will be assessed using ‘push’ components consisting of naturally repellent plants or plant compounds, in conjunction with ‘pull’ components that consist of trap crops and refuge plants that naturally harbor whitefly predators. The potential use of parasitoids for reduction of the impact of corn silk flies on sweet corn will also be examined. A third area of emphasis is on the protection of U.S. native cacti from the invasive Argentine cactus moth and the Harissia cactus mealybug complex. Control of the Argentine cactus moth will be assessed through the use of a mating disrupting pheromone along with a potential exotic parasitoid. Control of the Harissia cactus mealybug complex will be based on developing an understanding of the species complex composition, alternative host plant reservoirs and potential parasitoids. The outcomes of this research project will improve the sustainability of agricultural production, reduce reliance on pesticides and reduce the environmental degradation caused by invasive pest insect and weed species.
Progress Report
The efforts of the Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research Unit resulted in significant progress towards the two objectives and the subobjectives of the project. Significant progress was made on Objective 1. We assessed use of non-native tree logs to produce edible and marketable mushrooms. A comparison was made between producing edible shiitake mushrooms on logs of native oak and logs of non-native invasive weed trees. The study demonstrated that invasive Chinese tallowtree was a feasible alternative log source for production of shiitake mushrooms on small farms. In collaboration with scientists in Argentina and at the Florida Department of Agriculture, continued assessment of an Argentine parasitoid wasp as a biological control agent against the invasive cactus moth was made. Improved rearing protocols were implemented in the Florida quarantine facility for increased wasp production. We also collaborated on developing protocols for the release and establishment of leaf-feeding beetles to control invasive air potato plant in Florida. The establishment of the beetles in north Florida is being assessed to extend the effective control and removal of the air potato plants from these regions.
Under Objective 2, progress was made on the assessment of using the “push-pull” strategy to control whiteflies on vegetable crops grown on organic and small farms. A cultural method that uses repellent plants or plants products may be an effective alternative to control whiteflies. These studies suggest mustard plant, mustard oil and garlic oil can be used as repellents in a “push” component of a “push-pull” management strategy to control these insect pests. We also determined optimal colors for attraction of two of the major corn silk-fly pest species. This information provides the basis for development of an effective visually-based trap system for surveillance and management of these pests of sweet corn.
Accomplishments
1. Logs of non-native invasive trees used for commercial mushroom production on small farms. Removal of invasive species, especially trees, is often time consuming and expensive. ARS researchers at Tallahassee, Florida, evaluated the potential of using non-native tree logs, common to the southern region of the USA, to produce edible and marketable mushrooms. Production of edible shiitake mushrooms was compared between logs of native oak versus non-native invasive weed trees. The studies demonstrated that Chinese tallowtree was a feasible alternative to native oak on small farms. Although overall yield on oak logs was higher, the weight of individual Chinese tallowtree mushrooms was significantly larger than oak-derived mushrooms. The utilization of edible mushroom fungi to recycle invasive non-native trees transforms a detrimental resource into a sustainable, income producing, natural resource for small farms.
2. Cultural control and push-pull strategy to diminish insect pests. A cultural method using repellent plants or products may control whiteflies on vegetables. ARS researchers at Tallahassee, Florida, studied the behavior of the whitefly to assess the impact of colors, plant oils and entire plants on repellant and attraction activities. Cucumber plants and the colors yellow and green were attractive to whiteflies but the addition of mustard odors eliminated attraction and at times repelled. Time allocation analysis showed attraction towards cucumber and hot pepper wax, as well as aversion to garlic oil and mustard oil. These studies suggest mustard plant, mustard oil and garlic oil for use as repellents in a “push” component of a “push-pull” management strategy to control the whitefly insect pests on vegetable crops grown on organic and small farms.
Review Publications
Kariuki, E., Hix, R., Hight, S.D., Reitz, S.R., Kairo, M.T. 2016. Influence of sun and shade conditions on Gratiana boliviana (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) abundance and feeding activity on tropical soda apple (Solanaceae) under field conditions. Florida Entomologist. 99(3):552-554. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.099.0334.
Lopez-Martinez, G., Carpenter, J.E., Hight, S.D., Hahn, D.A. 2016. Anoxia-conditioning hormesis alters the relationship between irradiation doses for survival and sterility in the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Florida Entomologist. 99(spl):95-104. doi:10.1653/024.099.spl13.
Wheeler, G.S., Dyer, K.G., Hight, S.D., Wright, S.A. 2017. Seasonal abundance of the adventive Chinese tallowtree herbivore Caloptilia triadicae and its parasitoids. Florida Entomologist. 100(1):52-56.
Hight, S.D., Horiuchi, I., Wikler, C., Pedrosa-Macedo, J.H. 2003. Biology, host specificity tests, and risk assessment of the sawfly Heteroperreyia hubrichi, a potential biological control agent of Schinus terebinthifolius in Hawaii. Biocontrol. 48(4):461-476.
Legaspi, J.C., Miller, N.W., Wolaver, D., Lambert, K., Muhammad, H., Zanuncio, J.C. 2016. Repellency of mustard (Brassica juncea) and arugula (Eruca sativa) plants, and plant oils against the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Subtropical Agriculture and Environments. 67:28-34.
Hallman, G.J., Legaspi, J.C., Darmawi 2016. Phytosanitary irradiation of Diatraea saccharalis, D. grandiosella, and Eoreuma loftini (Lepidoptera: Crambinae). Florida Entomologist. 99(2):182-185.
Legaspi, J.C., Amalin, D., Ward, R., Legaspi, B. 2016. Trichogramma spp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) as biological control agents in the Philippines: history and current practice. Book Chapter. In: Vison, S.B., Greenberg, S.M., Liu, T.X., Rao, A., Voloscluk, L.F., editors. Biological Control of Pests Using Trichogramma: Current Status and Perspectives. Yangling, China (PRC): Northwest A&F University Press. p. 430-454.
Cibrian-Tovar, J., Carpenter, J.E., Hight, S.D., Potter, T.L., Guillermo, L., Gonzalez, J.C. 2017. Reinvestigation of Cactoblastis Captorum (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE) sex pheromone for improved attractiveness and greater specificity. In: Shields, V., editor. Biological Control of Pest and Vector Insects. Rijeka, Croatia: INTECH. p. 119-131. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/66638.
