scholarly journals Establishment of the predator Laricobius nigrinus, introduced as a biological control agent for hemlock woolly adelgid in Virginia, USA

BioControl ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie S. Jubb ◽  
Thomas J. McAvoy ◽  
Kari E. Stanley ◽  
Ariel R. Heminger ◽  
Scott M. Salom
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Laricobius Nigrinus

scholarly journals Establishment and Distribution of Laricobius spp. (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), a Predator of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, Within the Urban Environment in Two Localities in Southwest Virginia

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremiah R Foley ◽  
Thomas J McAvoy ◽  
Seth Dorman ◽  
Kyle Bekelja ◽  
Timothy J Kring ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Public Lands ◽  
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Adelges Tsugae ◽  
Eastern Hemlock ◽  
Laricobius Nigrinus ◽  
Additional Level

Abstract Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), Adelges tsugae Annand, is a highly destructive non-native pest lethal to eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière, and Carolina hemlock, T. caroliniana Engelmann. Fifty years following the first observation of HWA in eastern North America, a predatory beetle, Laricobius nigrinus Fender, was evaluated, approved, and released as a biological control agent. Efforts were made to mass rear L. nigrinus with the goal of redistributing the beetles on public lands, typically in forest ecosystems, as a secondary option to silvicultural and chemical controls. The majority of L. nigrinus releases has occurred on public lands. Herein, we report the observation of L. nigrinus within the urban environment outside of known release locations. Two towns, Blacksburg and Radford, were divided into 0.40 km2 grids. A total of 27 and 19 grids were randomly selected from each town, respectively. Hemlocks were present in 44 and 42% of the grids surveyed in Blacksburg and Radford, respectively. In Blacksburg and Radford, 86 and 100% of the grids with hemlocks were infested with HWA, and of those infested hemlocks, Laricobius spp. was present in 100 and 75% of grids, respectively. A total of 154 Laricobius spp. (98% L. nigrinus and 2% Laricobius rubidus) adults were collected between each town. While it is unclear the level of control L. nigrinus has on reducing HWA's impact, the establishment of this biological control agent in the urban environment is an additional level of predation, that would otherwise not be present, for homeowners with HWA-infested trees.

Seasonal abundance and synchrony between Laricobius nigrinus (Coleoptera: Derodontidae) and its prey, the hemlock woolly adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelgidae)

2003 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.M.G. Zilahi-Balogh ◽  
L.M. Humble ◽  
A.B. Lamb ◽  
S.M. Salom ◽  
L.T. Kok
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Seed Orchard ◽  
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Adelges Tsugae ◽  
Seasonal Abundance ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Laricobius Nigrinus

AbstractLaricobius nigrinus Fender, native to the Pacific Northwest, is being evaluated as a potential biological control agent of the hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand, in the eastern United States. Members of the genus Laricobius feed exclusively on adelgids. Adelges tsugae is found on hemlocks (Tsuga sp.) in North America and Asia, but is considered only a pest of eastern [Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière] and Carolina (Tsuga caroliniana Engelmann) hemlocks in eastern North America. This is the first detailed study of the life history of L. nigrinus and its interaction with A. tsugae. Results of a 2-year field study conducted in a seed orchard in British Columbia on the seasonal abundance of L. nigrinus and its prey, A. tsugae, revealed that (i) the sistens generation of A. tsugae matures 2-3 months earlier than previously reported in Virginia and Connecticut, (ii) no A. tsugae sexuparae were observed, which differs from findings in Virginia and Connecticut, (iii) L. nigrinus adults undergo an aestival diapause that coincides with diapausing first instar A. tsugae sistens, and (iv) oviposition and subsequent larval development of L. nigrinus coincides with oviposition by the A. tsugae sistens adults, indicating good synchrony between L. nigrinus and suitable prey stages of A. tsugae.

scholarly journals Seasonal Assessment of Supercooling Points for Two Introduced and One Native Laricobius spp. (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), Predators of Adelgidae

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 426
Author(s):  
Ashley Toland ◽  
Holly Wantuch ◽  
Donald Mullins ◽  
Thomas Kuhar ◽  
Scott Salom
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Biological Control ◽  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Adelges Tsugae ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Laricobius Nigrinus ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Cold Extremes

The hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand, is an invasive insect that threatens hemlock species in eastern North America. Several species from the genus Laricobius are predators of A. tsugae in its native areas of Asia and the western United States. Two Laricobius species have been released as biological control agents: Laricobius nigrinus Fender, and Laricobius osakensis Montgomery and Shiyake. Laricobius rubidus LeConte is an adelgid predator native to the Eastern United States, where it can feed and complete development on A. tsugae opportunistically. Laboratory assays were conducted to assess the cold hardiness of these three Laricobius species, including two distinct populations of L. osakensis, by measuring the supercooling points of each species from November 2016 through March 2017. This information may be useful for choosing the best-suited biological control agent for a particular region to control A. tsugae. There was a significant difference between the overall mean supercooling point of L. rubidus compared to the other Laricobius spp. There were also significant differences of supercooling points between L. rubidus and both strains of L. osakensis in January, and significant differences between L. rubidus and all other strains in February. L. rubidus appear better adapted to cold extremes in the eastern U.S. than imported Laricobius spp.

Confined field release of Laricobius nigrinus (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), a predator of the hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), in Virginia

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
A B Lamb ◽  
S M Salom ◽  
L T Kok ◽  
D L Mausel
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Release Site ◽  
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Adelges Tsugae ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Laricobius Nigrinus ◽  
Field Release

Laricobius nigrinus Fender is a specialist predator of the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), Adelges tsugae Annand (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), a lethal pest of hemlock (Tsuga spp.) in the eastern United States. A release was conducted in 2003 in Virginia to evaluate survival and oviposition of L. nigrinus adults, egg development in the field, and their impact on HWA density. In March, April, and May, groups of zero, one, two, or three L. nigrinus females were caged on 64 hemlock branches. After 10 days, half the branches were removed to determine L. nigrinus adult survival, total eggs laid, and oviposition location with respect to prey abundance. Beetles on branches remaining in the field were recovered and recaged on new branches every 10 days. The estimated 10 344 eggs laid on branches left in the field represent the first field release of L. nigrinus in the eastern United States. The density of L. nigrinus adults affected the total eggs laid per female and oviposition site selection. Branches caged with L. nigrinus had lower densities of HWA than branches without predators. Although F1 adults were not recovered from this release site in fall 2003, F2 adults were recovered in fall 2004. Laricobius nigrinus shows promise as a biological control agent for HWA in the eastern United States.

scholarly journals First Report on Establishment of Laricobius osakensis (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), a Biological Control Agent for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, Adelges tsugae (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), in the Eastern U.S.

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Toland ◽  
Carlyle Brewster ◽  
Katlin Mooneyham ◽  
Scott Salom
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Polar Vortex ◽  
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Adelges Tsugae ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Cold Temperatures ◽  
Eastern Usa

The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is an invasive insect species native to Japan causing significant hemlock mortality in the eastern United States. Laricobius spp. have been targeted as biological control agents because they are adelgid specialists. Laricobius osakensis Montgomery and Shiyake is native to the same region of Japan from which the strain of HWA found in the eastern United States originated. Studies in Japan found that it is phenologically synchronous with HWA. Following approval to release L. osakensis from quarantine in 2010, approximately 32,000 were released at a total of 61 sites starting in 2012. In winter of 2014 and 2015, periods of extreme cold temperatures throughout the eastern USA, as well as the polar vortex, resulted in extensive mortality to HWA, which likely delayed the establishment of L. osakensis. The ability of the beetle to survive and establish in the eastern United States is reported here. In the first year of this study (2015–2016), limited numbers of L. osakensis were recovered, as HWA populations were still rebounding. In the second year (2016–2017), 147 L. osakensis were collected at 5 of 9 sites sampled, coinciding with rebounding HWA populations. Larval recovery was much greater than adult recovery throughout the study. HWA density was directly correlated with warmer plant hardiness zones and recovery of Laricobius beetles was significantly correlated with HWA density. Our results suggest that L. osakensis is successfully establishing at several of the sampled release sites and that the best predictor of its presence at a site is the HWA density.

scholarly journals Host Range of Laricobius osakensis (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), a New Biological Control Agent of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelgidae)

2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 324-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. C. Vieira ◽  
T. J. Mcavoy ◽  
J. Chantos ◽  
A. B. Lamb ◽  
S. M. Salom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Host Range ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid ◽  
Control Agent

Comparison of two different box styles for mass rearing of Sasajiscymnus tsugae (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a biological control agent of hemlock woolly adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelgidae)

2005 ◽  
Vol 137 (5) ◽  
pp. 622-629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huge E. Conway ◽  
Karen B. Burton ◽  
Carolyn A. Hendrix ◽  
LayLa W. Burgess ◽  
Joseph D. Culin
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Adelges Tsugae ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Sasajiscymnus Tsugae ◽  
Time Required

AbstractThe hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), Adelges tsugae Annand, is the number one threat to hemlock (genus Tsuga Carr.; Pinaceae) forests in eastern North America. Sasajiscymnus tsugae (Sasaji et McClure), an introduced coccinellid from Japan, is a promising biological control agent for HWA. In mass rearing of S. tsugae, the main goals are to maximize adult beetle production, reduce the amount of human labor, and minimize production costs. Significantly higher adult S. tsugae production and survivorship from egg to adult were observed in a modified rearing box compared with a conventional rearing box. The 30 modified boxes produced 4400 more beetles than the 30 conventional boxes. Over time, egg to adult survivorship decreased because of larval cannibalism at densities above 1650 larvae per rearing box. Additionally, warmer weather conditions increased the number of insect and spider predators incidentally introduced via HWA-infested hemlock twigs. There was no significant difference in the time required to prepare modified and conventional boxes for initial introduction of eggs, but significantly less time was required to add water, honey, and HWA-infested twigs to the modified boxes. The additional cost and time required to add modifications to each box was compensated for by the increased number of adult S. tsugae produced and the time saved during the 35 days of scheduled maintenance as eggs hatched and larvae developed to adults.

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