Entomology Commons^™

First Record Of Paratelenomus Saccharalis (Dodd, 1914) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) A Natural Enemy Of The Invasive Species Brachyplatys Subaeneus (Westwood, 1837) (Heteroptera: Plataspidae) In Panama And The Neotropical Region, Jean Carlos Abrego, José A. Rivera, Carelos Vargas H., Annette Garrido, Julio Gutiérrez L., Miguel A. Osorio-Arenas, Pedro A. Arauz L., Luis A. Jaén, Rubén Collantes G., Alonso Santos-Murgas

Insecta Mundi

Paratelenomus saccharalis (Dodd) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) parasitizing Brachyplatys subaeneus (Westwood) eggs is reported for the first time for Panama. Brachyplatys subaeneus is an invasive species from Asia and is regarded as an important agricultural pest in the Americas.

The family Plataspidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) contains 66 genera and 606 species described (Rider et al. 2018), all distributed in the Old World, with the greatest diversity in Asia and Africa. Within this family, the genus Brachyplatys Boisduval, 1835 (Heteroptera: Plataspidae) has an Asian distribution with about 50 described species. The species Brachyplatys subaeneus (Westwood, 1837) is distributed in the Indo-Malay biogeographic region, being …

Prey Preference Of Chrysoperla Rufilabris (Burmeister) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) For Three Common Pest Species Of Greenhouse Crops, Caitlin Silva

All Theses

Chrysoperla rufilabris (Burmeister) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) larvae are voracious generalist predators and important biological control agents on greenhouse crops. This study investigated the prey preference of second-instar C. rufilabris for three common greenhouse pests, namely the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), the Madeira mealybug, Phenacoccus madeirensis Green (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), and the melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae). This study also investigated the influence of prey density ratios on the preference of C. rufilabris larvae for T. urticae and A. gossypii. Prey species preference was evaluated in no-choice, two-choice, and all-choice laboratory bioassays. In the no-choice bioassays, …

Susceptibility Of Pre-Adult Biological Stages Of Mythimna Separata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) To Three Entomopathogenic Fungi (Hypocreales), Melissa P. Montecalvo, Marcela M. Navasero

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Armyworms are polyphagous insect pests of agricultural crops. Their population is usually managed below threshold level using insecticides. However, a single control measure is insufficient to attain a sustainable pest management. Hence, this research was conducted to assess the three species of entomopathogenic fungi as potential biological control agents against Mythimna separata (Walker) or paddy armyworm. Dose mortality assays were conducted to determine the pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill., Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschn.) Sorokin, and Metarhizium rileyi (Farlow) Kepler, S.A. Rehner and Humber against various biological stages of M. separata including egg, 1^st to 6^th larval instars, prepupa, …

Transforming Entomology To Adapt To Global Concerns: 2021 Student Debates, Patricia Prade, Ramandeep Kaur Sandhi, Sarah Elzay, Katherine Arnold, Victoria Pickens, Andrew Freedman, Dashae Dillard, Sean Gresham, Ashley Morris, Daniela Pezzini, Seum O. Oladipupo, Elijah P. Carroll, Richard O. Murphy, Festus K. Ajibefun, Luis M. Mendez, Katherine Carroll, Jasleen Kaur, Lillie M. Rooney, Kendall Stacey, Yasmin Tavares, Jared E. Dyer, Na Xie, Jason Bielski, John Schepis, Kayleigh C. Hauri, John J. Ternest, Jacob Pecenka, Scott W. Gula, Natalie Constancio, Emily Rampone, Mario Luppino, Dowen Jocson, Stephen Onayemi, Emily Rendleman

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The 2021 Student Debates of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) were held at the Annual Meeting in Denver, CO. The event was organized by the Student Debates Subcommittee (SDS) of the Student Affairs Committee (SAC). The theme of the 2021 Student Debates was “Transforming Entomology to Adapt to Global Concerns”, with 3 topics. Each topic had an unbiased introduction and 2 teams. The debate topics were (i) Nonnative insect introduction is an ethical approach for counteracting proliferation and overpopulation of consumers, (ii) What is the best technology to control undesirable insect pests in urban and agricultural settings? and (iii) …

Role Of Parasitoids And Landscape Structure In Aphid Population Dynamics In Winter Canola, Norman C. Elliott, Kristopher L. Giles, Kristen A. Baum, Sarah Elzay, Georges F. Backoulou

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Three aphid species infest winter canola, Brassica napus L. fields in central Oklahoma and are serious pests: the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L., green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), and turnip aphid, Lipaphis pseudobrassicae (Davis). Mortality caused by parasitoids may be an important component of biological control of aphids in Oklahoma canola fields. Therefore, it is important to determine the effect of parasitoids on aphids in canola and the factors that affect it. We undertook a study during three consecutive growing seasons to: 1) estimate aphid suppression by parasitoids in each of 23 canola fields using cages that excluded natural …

Examination Of The Realized Host Range Of North American Lacebug (Gargaphia Arizonica Drake & Carvalho) And Texas False Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa Texana Schaeffer) As A Potential Biocontrol Agents For Silverleaf Nightshade (Solanum Elaeagnifoli Cav.), Samikshya Subedi

Theses and Dissertations

Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav.) is a perennial forb native to South Texas and Central and South America, but it has become a serious agricultural weed across the world. Because silverleaf nightshade (SLN) is difficult and expensive to manage using chemical and mechanical controls, there is growing attention and research focused on biological control options. In this project, we used both field and laboratory studies to examine the suitability of two North American insects, namely North American lacebug (Gargaphia arizonica Drake & Carvalho) and Texas false potato beetle (Leptinotarsa texana Schaeffer) as prospective biological control agents for …

Resource Amount And Discontinuity Influence Flight And Reproduction In Hippodamia Convergens (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Hannah E. Stowe, J. P. Michaud, Tania N. Kim

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Industrial-scale agriculture creates a mosaic of large monocultures in the landscape, where seasonal cropping cycles generate discontinuous resource availability for insect predators both spatially and temporally. In this environment, selection will favor predator movement and reproductive behaviors that optimize the location and effective utilization of resource (prey) pulses that are both patchy and ephemeral in nature. Using a model system to study predator movement and reproduction, we tested how discontinuous periods of food resource access that mimic fluctuating resource populations (aphids) would influence flight behavior and reproduction of a highly mobile predator, Hippodamia convergens (convergent lady beetle), and possibly modify …

Release Rates Of Typhlodromus Athiasae Porath And Swirski (Acari: Phytoseiidae) To Control The Two-Spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus Urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) On Apple Seedlings Under Greenhouse Conditions, معدلات إطلاق المفترس Typhlodromus Athiasae Porath And Swirski (Acari: Phytoseiidae) للسيطرة على الأكاروس الأحمر ذو البقعتين Tetranychus Urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) على غراس تفاح ضمن شروط البيوت البلاستيكية, Ibrahem Sakr, Majeda Mofleh, Abd-Ulnabi Basheer, Hamza Dahiah

Arab Journal of Arid Environments المجلة العربية للبيئات الجافة

A study was conducted at the Biological control studies and Research Centre -BCSRS (Damascus University /Syria) during 2013 - 2014. The effectiveness of the predatory mite Typhlodromus athiasae Porath and Swirski (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as a suppressive agent of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), was evaluated on apple seedlings at release rates 1:10, 1:20 1:40 predator:prey and no predaceous mites serving as control under greenhouse conditions. The ratio of 1:10 predator:prey reduced T. urticae populations significantly after one week of release with the highest density of T. athiasae occurring in 6th week, and kept them at low …

Regenerative Agriculture Effects On Invertebrate And Bird Communities And Insect-Provided Ecosystem Services, Alex Michels

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Conventional agricultural practices can have unintended consequences on the environment and wildlife. Insects and birds are declining at rapid rates around the world, and the current conventional agricultural paradigm is a major driver through habitat loss and the intensification of production. Invertebrates in agroecosystems provide services to both farmers and the rest of society. Regenerative systems may promote the functioning of an agroecosystem by influencing invertebrate abundance, diversity, and ecosystem services and mitigate bird and insect declines through conservation practices that increase soil health, reduce disturbances, and increase biological diversity. Here I address knowledge gaps of the effects of regenerative …

The Impact Of Beneficial Organisms In Corn Agroecosystems, Callie Rosalind Braley

Doctor of Plant Health Program: Dissertations and Student Research

Corn is one of the world’s, and Nebraska’s, most important crops. Millions of acres are planted to corn each year in the Cornhusker State. However, each year there are a plethora of arthropod, weed, and microorganism pests that rob farmers of reaching their maximum yield potential. There are many options available to manage these pests in corn agroecosystems, but one option is often underutilized: beneficial organisms. For each pest, there are a variety of natural enemies that can assist in mitigating the damage caused by pests.

Many beneficial organisms exist, and they can be grouped by the type of pest …

Revealing The Native Status Of Conyza Bonariensis: Specialization Of Insect Herbivores Associated With Conyza And Erigeron Spp. (Asteraceae) In Louisiana, Texas, And Mississippi, Carlos Wiggins

LSU Master's Theses

Flaxleaf fleabane [Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronquist] (Asterales: Asteraceae) is an annual herb which grows up to 1.0 m in height and is native to South America. Due to introduction and subsequent development of herbicide resistance, C. bonariensis has become a major agricultural weed in Australia. The purpose of this study was to catalog herbivorous insects associated with local populations of C. bonariensis in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi in order to establish comparisons with the Australian fauna and identify potential biological control agents. Leaves, roots, stems, and flowers of C. bonariensis were inspected for signs of insects and pathogens. Results …

Agricultural Natural Enemies Benefit Predominantly From Broader Scales Of Environmental Heterogeneity: A Quantitative Review, Aaron Iverson, Robyn Burnham, John Vandermeer

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Naturally occurring predator and parasitoid communities are well known to respond to multiple scales of environmental heterogeneity within and around agroecoystems, yet our understanding of which scales are most influential on different functional guilds of enemies is limited. Using vote-counting methodology, we synthesized the results from 40 empirical studies that observed how natural enemy richness, diversity, or parasitism rate is affected by environmental heterogeneity at a local scale (e.g. a focal field), an intermediate scale (e.g. habitat in immediate proximity of a focal field), and landscape scale (e.g. habitat within >200 m radius around focal field). Heterogeneity at all scales …

Multi-Year Biological Control Of Black Vine Weevil, Otiorhynchus Sulcatus, With Persistent Entomopathogenic Nematodes, Elson J. Shields, Antonio M. Testa

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Abstract:

The black vine weevil (BVW), Otiorhynchus sulcatus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), has a worldwide distribution and is a serious pest of many agricultural crops with a host plant species range of 140 plants. Common economic losses occur in small fruits, including strawberries, ornamental and nursery plants, caused primarily by the root feeding larvae resulting in reduced vigor and plant death.

The susceptibility of BVW to entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) is well established with numerous authors publishing papers using a wide array of EPN species from commercial sources and very high application rates for use as a biopesticide. The concept of using …

Technological Advances To Address Current Issues In Entomology: 2020 Student Debates, Lina Bernaola, Molly Darlington, Kadie Britt, Patricia Prade, Morgan Roth, Adrian Pekarcik, Michelle Boone, Dylan Ricke, Anh Tran, Joanie King, Kelly Carruthers, Morgan Thompson, John J. Ternest, Sarah E. Anderson, Scott W. Gula, Kayleigh C. Hauri, Jacob R. Pecenka, Sajjan Grover, Heena Puri, Surabhi Gupta Vakil

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The 2020 Student Debates of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) were live-streamed during the Virtual Annual Meeting to debate current, prominent entomological issues of interest to members. The Student Debates Subcommittee of the National ESA Student Affairs Committee coordinated the student efforts throughout the year and hosted the live event. This year, four unbiased introductory speakers provided background for each debate topic while four multi-university teams were each assigned a debate topic under the theme ‘Technological Advances to Address Current Issues in Entomology’. The two debate topics selected were as follows: 1) What is the best taxonomic approach to …

Metarhizium Anisopliae, Metarhizium Brunneum And Beauveria Bassiana Formulations For Biological Control Of Larval Winter Ticks, Dermacentor Albipictus, Cheryl Sullivan

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

There is a critical need to develop effective, high-quality, fungal-based biopesticides for use against ticks. Dermacentor albipictus Petch (Acari: Ixodidae), the winter tick, is a one-host tick. They commonly infest large ungulates, particularly moose, Alces alces L. (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) on which they cause significant physiological and metabolic stress on densely parasitized individuals. Heavily infested calves can be killed. Entomopathogenic fungi in the genera Metarhizium (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) and Beauveria (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) are promising tick biological control agents. The larval stage of D. albipictus aggregates on the ground in a prolonged, quiescent state during the summer and then quests for hosts in …

Impact Of Predators On Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) In The Eastern And Western United States, Ryan Crandall

Masters Theses

Hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae, native to Asia and the Pacific Northwest of North America (Pacific Northwest), has devastated eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) in a major portion of its range in the eastern U.S. After many years and much effort directed towards rearing and releasing biological control agents to manage HWA, one of these agents, Laricobius nigrinus, native to the Pacific Northwest, is now well-established in sites from the southern to the mid-Atlantic states of the eastern U.S. However, there have yet to be studies of its efficacy in lowering A. tsugae densities, and there has …

Insights From Population Genomics To Enhance And Sustain Biological Control Of Insect Pests, Arun Sethuraman, Fredric J. Janzen, David W. Weisrock, John J. Obrycki

Biology Faculty Publications

Biological control—the use of organisms (e.g., nematodes, arthropods, bacteria, fungi, viruses) for the suppression of insect pest species—is a well-established, ecologically sound and economically profitable tactic for crop protection. This approach has served as a sustainable solution for many insect pest problems for over a century in North America. However, all pest management tactics have associated risks. Specifically, the ecological non-target effects of biological control have been examined in numerous systems. In contrast, the need to understand the short- and long-term evolutionary consequences of human-mediated manipulation of biological control organisms for importation, augmentation and conservation biological control has only recently …

Arcola Malloi (Pastrana), The Alligatorweed Stemborer, A New Synonym Of Macrorrhinia Endonephele (Hampson) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Phycitinae), James E. Hayden, Jean-François Landry

Insecta Mundi

Arcola malloi (Pastrana, 1961) is a junior subjective synonym of Macrorrhinia endonephele (Hampson, 1918) syn. nov. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The species is a biological control agent introduced in United States and Australia to control alligatorweed, Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. (Amaranthaceae). The synonymy is recognized by comparison of type specimens, genitalic dissections, and DNA COI barcoding. Vogtia Pastrana, 1961 syn. nov. and Arcola Shaffer, 1995 syn. nov. are synonymized with Macrorrhinia Ragonot, 1887. Macror­rhinia megajuxta (Neunzig and Goodson, 1992) comb. nov. is transferred from Ocala Hulst, 1892. Lectotypes are designated for Divitiaca ochrella Barnes and McDunnough, 1913, and Divitiaca simulella Barnes and …

Parasitism Of Adult Pentatomidae By Tachinidae In Soybean In The North Central Region Of The United Statespheylan, Pheylan A. Anderson, Daniela T. Pezzini, Nádia M. Bueno, Christina D. Difonzo, Deborah L. Deborah, Thomas E. Hunt, Janet J. Knodel, Christian H. Krupke, Brian P. Mccornack, Christopher R. Philips, Adam J. Varenhorst, Robert J. Wright, Robert L. Koch

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are agricultural pests of increasing significance in the North Central Region of the United States, posing a threat to major crops such as soybean. Biological control can reduce the need for insecticides to manage these pests, but the parasitism of stink bugs byTachinidae (Diptera) is poorly characterized in this region. The objective of this study was to evaluate the rate of parasitism of stink bugs by tachinids over 2 yr from nine states across the North Central Region. Parasitism was assessed by quantifying tachinid eggs on the integument of stink bug adults. Parasitism rates (i.e., percent …

Identification And Characterization Of Epigenetic Regulators In The Yellow Fever Mosquito, Aedes Aegypti, Shankar C. R. R. Chereddy

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Due to the increased interactions between the sylvatic and urban cycles of Aedes aegypti life cycle, there has been an increase in the incidence of vector-borne diseases. The risk involved through the transmission of viruses like Dengue, Zika, Yellow-fever and Chikungunya calls for an effective control method for the deadly vector. The possibility of pesticide resistance and the costs involved in producing new pesticides have pushed Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) into prominence. However, current methods used to sterize insects for SIT are not highly efficient. This study tackles current issues in mosquito control by identifying and characterizing epigenetic regulators that …

Improving The Biological Control Of Persicaria Perfoliata (Polygonaceae) Using Rhinoncomimus Latipes Korotyaev (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Jaewon Kim

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Persicaria perfoliata (L.) H. Gross (Polygonaceae; Mile-a-minute weed) is a rapid-growing invasive vine introduced from eastern Asia to northeastern United States in the 1930s. This vine has been invaded in disturbed areas and reforestation sites in 15 states in the U.S. and forms dense, monocultural patches that may inhibit natural forest regeneration. To control this weed, a host-specific biocontrol agent, Rhinoncomimus latipes Korotyaev (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) has been released in the P. perfoliata invaded states in the U.S. during the past 15 years. Currently, R. latipes is released by hand to the invaded area where the presence of the weed is …

The Discovery Of Trissolcus Japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) In Michigan, Benjamin J. M. Jarrett, John Pote, Elijah Talamas, Larry Gut, Marianna Szucs

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is a pest of growing economic importance in the United States, the control of which currently relies on pesticide applications. Biological control could provide sustainable and long-term control but classical biological control agents have not yet been approved. Adventive populations of a potential biological control agents, the Samurai wasp, Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead), have been found in the United States, first in Maryland in 2014, expanding its range west to Ohio by 2017. Trissolcus japonicus is a highly effective parasitoid of H. halys eggs, but its redistribution and augmentative releases are restricted …

Dual Biological Control: Characterization Of Fungi And Bacteria To Control Granary Weevil And Fungal Pathogens Of Stored Grain, Gülçin Ercan

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cereals are main food sources for humans and animals. However, during storage, cereal grains can be infested by insects and fungi. One of the most important insect storage pests is Sitophilus granarius (L., Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Adults and larvae can cause serious grain losses. In addition to insect pests, fungal pathogens may also invade the grain and cause economic loss, including contamination with mycotoxins, which threaten mammal health by causing serious disease. The most common mycotoxigenic grain fungi are species that belong to the genera Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium. Currently, the most commonly used management strategies for insect and …

Korean Encyrtids (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) Associated With Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha), Soo-Jung Suh

Insecta Mundi

Scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) are sap-sucking plant parasites and economically important pests on agricultural and horticultural crops. Scale insects are often difficult to control since their body is protected by a wax cover. Parasitic wasps that live and develop in scale insects are important natural enemies and effective biological control agents of pest scale insects. Chalcid wasps of the family Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) comprise the largest group of parasitoids of scale insects, followed by the family Aphelinidae. Here, an updated list of all thirty-six species of encyrtids in twenty-three genera that have been identified or reported from South Korea is …

Green Lacewings And Water Sprays For Azalea Lace Bug Control, Jana C. Lee, Barry Finley, S. Michael Flores, Katerina Velasco Graham, J. Megan Woltz, Jessica S. Wong, Robin S. Rosetta

Faculty Scholarship

The azalea lace bug, Stephanitis pyrioides, is a serious pest of azaleas and rhododendrons which is often controlled by systemic insecticides. However, the efficacy of softer approaches such as biological control and water sprays against this pest on rhododendrons is unknown. Therefore, we tested the commercially available green lacewing predator, Chrysoperla rufilabris, and water sprays on lace bug infestation in one laboratory and four field trials. First, 2nd instar predator larvae were confirmed to consume lace bug nymphs and sometimes adults. Second, tapping predator larvae from hexcel units over dry leaves of potted rhododendrons and shaking loose eggs …

Impact Of Native Natural Enemies On Populations Of The Invasive Winter Moth (Operophtera Brumata L) In The Northeast United States, Hannah J. Broadley

Doctoral Dissertations

Invasive insects increasingly affect forested landscapes and have important ecological and economic impacts. My dissertation focuses on population dynamics of winter moth (Operophtera brumata L.), an invasive pest in the northeastern United States. Native to Europe, this is the species’ fourth accidental introduction to North America. The Elkinton lab established the biological control agent Cyzenis albicans across the range of winter moth in the northeastern U.S. Prior research indicates that C. albicans’ ability to control winter moth likely depends on additional mortality from native natural enemies. My dissertation research evaluates the identity and role of natural enemies already …

Crop Pests And Predators Exhibit Inconsistent Responses To Surrounding Landscape Composition, Daniel S. Karp, Julie A. Peterson, 155 Other Co-Authors

Faculty Publications: Department of Entomology

The idea that noncrop habitat enhances pest control and represents a win–win opportunity to conserve biodiversity and bolster yields has emerged as an agroecological paradigm. However, while noncrop habitat in landscapes surrounding farms sometimes benefits pest predators, natural enemy responses remain heterogeneous across studies and effects on pests are inconclusive. The observed heterogeneity in species responses to noncrop habitat may be biological in origin or could result from variation in how habitat and biocontrol are measured. Here, we use a pest-control database encompassing 132 studies and 6,759 sites worldwide to model natural enemy and pest abundances, predation rates, and crop …

Molecular Gut-Content Analysis Reveals High Frequency Of Helicoverpa Zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Consumption By Orius Insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) In Sweet Corn, Julie A. Peterson, E. C. Burkness, James D. Harwood, W. D. Hutchison

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Management of corn earworm Helicoverpa zea in sweet corn grown for processing can be challenging due to the lack of effective transgenic and chemical control options. However, biological control by generalist predators can provide a significant impact on pests in this cropping system. One of the most ubiquitous predators of H. zea and other lepidopterans is the insidious flower bug, Orius insidiosus. This small hemipteran has been observed as an important mortality agent of H. zea in several cropping systems, but the strength of the trophic connection between these species has not been documented in sweet corn. Molecular gut-content …

The First Record Of Ooencyrtus Nezarae (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) On Kudzu Bug (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) In North America, Blessing Ademokoya, Rammohan Balusu, Charles Ray, Jason Mottern, Henry Fadamiro

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Heteroptera: Plataspidae), is an invasive insect pest introduced from Asia in 2009 that poses a threat to soybeans (Glycine max [L.] Merr. [Fabales: Fabaceae]) and other legume crops in the United States. Initially discovered in Georgia, M. cribraria rapidly expanded across the southeast until 2014 when a significant decline in its population was observed across many locations. This notable decline in M. cribraria populations is attributed to the emergence of new parasitoids and pathogens in its new invasive range. So far, only a single egg parasitoid, Paratelenomus saccharalis (Dodd) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), is known …

Emerald Ash Borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) Host Expansion; Trading An Optimal Host For Enemy Free Space?, David G. Olson

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is an aggressive invader from Asia that has killed millions of trees in North America. Recently EAB has been documented developing in a novel host, white fringetree, Chionanthus virginicus. I evaluated larval performance in two common ash species and white fringetree by infesting excised bolts with emerald ash borer eggs. In addition I evaluated several plant characteristics to determine which most influence larval development. I also conducted choice and no choice assays using the classical biological control agent, Tetrastichus planipennisi (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), to assess its ability to locate larval EAB in …