Establishment, dispersal, and impact ofLaricobius osakensisMontgomery and Shiyake (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), as biological control agent of the hemlock woolly adelgid,Adelges tsugaeAnnand

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley A Toland
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid ◽  
Control Agent

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 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.

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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