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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Lauderdale, Florida » Invasive Plant Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #392498
Research Project: Development and Implementation of Biological Control Programs for Natural Area Weeds in the Southeastern United States

Location: Invasive Plant Research Laboratory

Title: Temperature-dependent Development, Survival, and Oviposition of Laricobius osakensis (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), a Specialist Predator of Adelges tsugae (Hemiptera: Adelgidae)

Author
item Foley Iv, Jeremiah
item MCAVOY, THOMAS - Virginia Tech
item SAINT-AMANT, REMI - Canadian Forest Service
item REGNIERE, JACQUES - Canadian Forest Service
item BIGGS, ABBY - Virginia Tech
item WRIGHT, ERIKA - Virginia Tech
item MAYFIELD, ALBERT - Us Forest Service (FS)
item BREWSTER, CARLYLE - Clemson University
item SALOM, SCOTT - Virginia Tech

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/31/2022
Publication Date: 7/15/2022
Citation: Foley Iv, J.R., Mcavoy, T., Saint-Amant, R., Regniere, J., Biggs, A., Wright, E., Mayfield, A., Brewster, C., Salom, S. 2022. Temperature-dependent Development, Survival, and Oviposition of Laricobius osakensis (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), a Specialist Predator of Adelges tsugae (Hemiptera: Adelgidae). Environmental Entomology. 51(4):688–699. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvac047.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvac047

Interpretive Summary: Laricobius osakensis is a biological control agent against a highly invasive insect known as the hemlock woolly adelgid. Laricobius osakensis was approved for release in 2010 and subsequently has been mass produced by a handful of governmental and academic agencies. One of the strongest driving factors in predicting an agent’s distribution is its upper and lower developmental thresholds. Additionally, the number of eggs laid as a function of temperature is also valuable information and aids in the overall mass production of these agents. Laricobius osakensis did not complete development at the two lower limits tested (5 and 8°C) and did at the highest limit of 22°C. Additionally, the 10 and 15°C were optimal for egg laying. Properly identifying Laricobius osakensis thermal requirements will optimize larval sampling proficiency for land managers when trying to determine if this agent has colonized new areas and aid in predicting the full range at which this species can establish and persist.

Technical Abstract: A predator, Laricobius osakensis, is being mass-produced and released for the biological control of the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). To better understand and predict the seasonality of this predator in North America, the development and reproduction of L. osakensis were evaluated at constant temperatures ranging from 5 to 22°C. The predicted seasonal biology was compared with data from field collections. L. osakensis did not complete development from egg to adult at the two lowest temperatures tested, 5 and 8°C, but did so at the highest temperature of 22°C. Theminimum development thresholds were estimated for eggs (4.2°C), 1st (1.8°C), 2nd (5.5°C), 3rd(4.6°C) and 4th instar (4.1°C), prepupa (3.6°C) and pupa (7.5°C). Oviposition rates were significantly greater at 5 and 10°C than at 20 and 25°C. Head capsule width significantly increased for each of the four larval instars with a mean of 0.19, 0.26, 0.35, and 0.44 mm, respectively. Laboratory and field data were used to develop a phenology forecasting model to predict the occurrence of all developmental stages of L. osakensis. This model will allow land managers to more accurately predict the optimal timing for L. osakensis larval sampling throughout its established range.