Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit
Project Number: 8010-22000-031-068-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Apr 30, 2023
End Date: Dec 30, 2027
Objective:
This agreement will provide opportunities for collaborative research on classical biological control of invasive forest tree pests such as the emerald ash borer, Asian longhorned beetle, spotted lantern fly, and fall webworm via discovery of and exploration for natural enemies of these invasive or potentially invasive tree pests in both China and U.S.
Agreement objectives:
(1) Investigate natural enemies (primarily parasitoids) of invasive forest tree pests such as emerald ash borer, Asian longhorned beetle, Spotted lanternfly, and other potentially invasive insect pests of ecological and economic significance in the U.S. and/or China (e.g., Aromia bungi and Hyphantria cunea); (2) Inventory and collect natural enemies attacking the target pests; (3) assess role in population dynamics of the target pests and set priorities for importation and ship promising species to Newark or Beijing for further studies.
Approach:
Depending on the biology of targeted pest species, various life stages (egg, larvae, pupae and/or adults) of the target pests infesting their host plants will be collected in the fall, early spring or summer from natural forests and/or unmanaged woodlots in city or state parks. These insect life stages along with their host plant tissues will then be brought to the laboratory for microscopic examination and/or rearing to determine parasitism rates as well as species of the parasitoids reared from the target pest stages. Parasitoid species emerged from field-collected target pests infesting various host plant species and tissues will be identified or described in case of new species by authoritative taxonomists from USDA ARS and/or Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF). Upon identification or description of collected natural enemies (parasitoids), impact of these natural enemies on target pest populations dynamics and their host ranges will be further evaluated via both field survey in the pest's native habitats as well as laboratory testing in CAF and USDA ARS Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit (BIIRU) quarantine facilities. Once the target impact and host ranges of these natural enemies are assessed, we will set priorities for importation and establish Material Transfer Agreement for shipment of promising species to BIIRU (Newark, Delaware) or CAF (Beijing) for further studies.
