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ARS Home » Plains Area » Brookings, South Dakota » Integrated Cropping Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #137807
Title: SURVEYS AND FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF HARMONIA AXYRIDIS AND OTHER COCCINELLIDAE (COLEOPTERA) IN EASTERN AND CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA

Author
item Hesler, Louis
item KIECKHEFER, ROBERT - USDA-ARS (RETIRED)
item CATANGUI, MICHAEL - SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Transactions of the American Entomological Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/18/2004
Publication Date: 4/1/2004
Citation: Hesler, L.S., Kieckhefer, R.W., Catangui, M.A. 2004. Surveys and field observations of harmonia axyridis and other coccinellidae (coleoptera) in eastern and central South Dakota. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 130(1): 113-133.

Interpretive Summary: Harmonia axyridis, a lady beetle native to Asia, was discovered in South Dakota in 1996, but its distribution and habitat use in the state was unknown. We sampled lady beetles from various habitats, including agricultural and natural areas, in eastern and central South Dakota in 2000 and 2001. Timed searches, sweepnets, blacklight traps, a flight-interception trap, and field observations of lady beetles were all used in our study. We sampled 2624 lady beetles, including H. axyridis, Coccinella septempunctata (a previously established, Eurasian lady beetle), and seven native species. Hippodamia tredecimpunctata tibialis, H. convergens, and H. axyridis were the three most abundant lady beetles. Harmonia axyridis was recorded from seven eastern counties, but we did not find it in central South Dakota. Adult H. axyridis were found in many habitats surveyed, but immature H. axyridis were found only on corn and ornamental plants. We observed adult H. axyridis preying upon soybean aphids on buckthorn in autumn 2001. Samples of H. axyridis included the first ebony morph collected from eastern North America. Timed searches, sampling autumnal aggregations, and blacklight traps are all potentially useful in studying H. axyridis in the field, whereas sweepnetting and Malaise trapping appear inefficient.

Technical Abstract: Harmonia axyridis, a coccinellid native to Asia, was discovered in South Dakota in 1996, but its distribution and habitat use in the state had remained undetermined. We sampled coccinellids from various habitats, including agricultural and natural areas, in eastern and central South Dakota in 2000 and 2001. Timed searches, sweepnets, blacklight traps and a Malaise trap were used for numerical sampling. We made additional field observations of coccinellids. We sampled 2624 coccinellids, including H. axyridis, Coccinella septempunctata (an established, Eurasian coccinellid), and seven native species (Brachiacantha ursina, Coleomegilla maculata lengi, Cycloneda munda, Hippodamia convergens, H. parenthesis, H. tredecimpunctata tibialis, and Hyperaspis undulata). Hippodamia tredecimpunctata tibialis, H. convergens, and H. axyridis, in order, were the most abundant coccinellids. Hippodamia convergens was the most abundant of eight species sampled by timed searches, and Coleomegilla maculata lengi was most abundant in sweepnet and Malaise trap samples. Hippodamia tredecimpunctata tibialis, H. convergens, and H. axyridis comprised over 99 percent of coccinellids sampled in blacklight traps. Harmonia axyridis was recorded from seven eastern counties, but we did not find it in central South Dakota. Adult H. axyridis were found in many habitats surveyed, and larvae were found on maize and ornamental plants. We observed adult H. axyridis preying upon Aphis glycines on buckthorn in autumn 2001. Samples of H. axyridis included the first ebony morph collected from eastern North America. Timed searches, sampling autumnal aggregations, and blacklight traps are all potentially useful in studying H. axyridis in the field, whereas sweepnetting and Malaise trapping appear inefficient.