State Reports for 2003
| Kansas - project reports |
| 1) Project title: Evaluation of Metarhizium anisopliae and boric acid as control agents of stable fly larvae Investigators: Ludek Zurek and Alberto Broce, Department of Entomology, Kansas State University. Contact: Ludek Zurek (lzurek@ksu.edu) Project description: There are no effective methods for management of stable flies developing in pastures. The reduction or alteration of larval developmental habitats is the most efficient method for management of insect pests, including stable flies. We are evaluating the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae and boric acid dust, alone and in combination, as potential control agents of stable fly larvae. Preliminary bioassays using boric acid dust against stable fly larvae developing in an artificial medium showed a great potential for management of this insect pest. Adult emergence from treated media was only 0.001% in comparison to 98.2% adult emergence from control media. 2) Project title: Control of sawtoothed grain beetles (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) in stored oats using an entomopathogenic fungus in conjunction with seed resistance. Investigators: James E. Throne and Jeffrey C. Lord, USDA Grain Marketing & Production Research Center. Contact: James Throne (throne@gmprc.ksu.edu) Project description: We tested the hypothesis that the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana would be more efficacious on oat cultivars that prolonged the immature development period of the storage pest, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), the sawtoothed grain beetle. However, percentage reduction in progeny production was similar on whole Don and Paul oats treated with fungus, even though immature development time was longer on whole Don than on Paul oats. In our initial test at 10 mg of conidia/kg of oats, the number of beetle progeny produced was reduced by 38 to 67% in whole oats, and there was no effect of the fungus on insects developing on cracked oats. Therefore, we conducted two dose-response studies that showed that adding 150 mg of conidia/kg to cracked or whole Paul oats resulted in a 70 and 98% reduction, respectively, in number of progeny produced. No further reduction was obtained by adding 200 mg of conidia/kg of cracked or whole Paul oats. Presence of the fungus did not affect development time in any of our tests. A previous study showed that cleaned oats should limit insect population growth to allow long-term storage of oats without insect damage. However, the current study shows that if the oats are not cleaned, and not cleaning oats is the normal storage practice, then the fungus Beauveria bassiana could be used to help control sawtoothed grain beetles. 3) Project title: Nutritional ecology of ladybeetles in High Plains cereal crops. Investigators: J. P. Michaud and A. K. Grant, Dept. of Entomology, Kansas State University. Contact: J. P. Michaud (jpmi@ksu.edu) Project description: We have initiated a multi-year project to examine the nutritional ecology of three indigenous species of Coccinellidae of importance to biological control of cereal aphids in the High Plains: Hippodamia convergens, Coleomegilla maculata, and Cycloneda munda. Our initial approach focuses on identifying a ‘reference’ diet of high suitability for each species against which various natural prey diets (aphid species) can be compared pairwise in subsequent experiments. For example, C. maculata is unique in its capability to develop successfully on an exclusive diet of pollen, so an initial experiment with this species involves comparing larval development on diets comprised of various types of crop pollen (sunflower, sorghum, corn). Candidate prey species for nutritional evaluation include Schizaphis graminum, Diuraphis noxia, Rhopalosiphum padi, and Rhopalosiphum maidis. The indices of larval performance to be measured are 1) survival, 2) developmental time, 2) adult weight. Since previous work has revealed discrepancies in the suitability of a given prey for larvae versus adults, prey will also be evaluated for their relative suitability for female reproduction by comparing 1) daily fecundity and 2) fertility (percentage of eggs hatching). The results will assist us in understanding how populations of these ladybeetles are influenced by local availability of these aphid species in the agricultural landscape that is, in turn, driven by the temporal and spatial availability of their host plants. 4) Project title: Beneficial biological candidates for the management of soybean stem borer, Dectes texanus texanus LeConte. Investigators: Jawwad A. Qureshi and Lawrent L. Buschman, Dept. of Entomology, Kansas State University. Contact: Lawrent L. Buschman (lbuschma@oznet.ksu.edu) Project description: Objectives of this study were to survey soybean fields to collect soybean stem borer predators, parasites or pathogens, and to conduct field and laboratory experiments to evaluate effectiveness of predators (Orius, Geocoris and Nabidae) occurring in soybean fields. No parasites were found, and it is not known if recorded mortality of borers in the field can be attributed to predation or pathogens. Orius, Geocoris and Nabidae were found to feed on borer eggs in a laboratory setting. 5) Project title: Effect of Bt corn planted for corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) control on nontargets in the soil. Investigators: Mohammad A. Al-Deeb, Gerald E. Wilde, Dept. of Entomology, Kansas State University. Contact: Gerald E. Wilde (gwilde@oznet.ksu.edu) Project description: The effect of Cry3Bb1 toxins on soil-borne arthropods and nematodes from Bt corn planted against corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) were evaluated. Soil samples were taken in 2000 and 2001 from Bt corn and its non-Bt isoline. Numbers of soil mites, Collembola, and nematodes were similar in soil planted with the Bt corn and its isoline. 6) Project title: Biological control-based integrated crop management on greenhouse floricultural bedding plants. Investigators: George P. Opit, James R. Nechols, David C. Margolies, Kimberly A. Williams, Dept. of Entomology, Kansas State University, Division of Biology, Kansas State University. Contact: Jim Nechols (jnechols@oznet.ksu.edu) Project description: A presence-absence sampling plan was developed for the two-spotted mite on greenhouse ivy geraniums to help growers and scouts conveniently estimate pest populations. Relative to biological control, accurate estimates of the pest population will help determine numbers of the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis, that need to be released. Greenhouse experiments showed that predator:prey release ratios of 1:4 and 1:20 provide adequate and reasonably fast suppression of twospotted mite populations. Currently, we are using these data, and other inputs, to develop an economic analysis of the biological control program. 7) Project title: Evaluation of classical biological control of musk thistle in Kansas. Investigators: Lindsey R. Milbrath and James R. Nechols, Dept. of Entomology, Kansas State University. Contact: Jim Nechols (jnechols@oznet.ksu.edu) Project description: Field experiments showed that the head weevil, Rhinocyllus conicus, reduced seed production by about 45% compared to uninfested thistles. This leaves more than 50% of the thistle seeds, including those seeds produced in late summer after R. conicus larvae have ceased feeding in thistle heads. The rosette weevil, Trichosirocalus horridus, occasionally reaches high larval densities but does not have a direct deleterious effect on musk thistle. However, various forms of plant-mediated indirect competition combine to reduce R. conicus populations by 61%, thus making this seed-feeder less effective as a biological control agent. 8) Project title: Biological control of field bindweed. Investigators: James R. Nechols, Soledad C. Villamil, Ralph E. Charlton, Michael J. Horak, Wan Hong Cao, Department of Entomology, Kansas State University. Contact: Jim Nechols (jnechols@oznet.ksu.edu) Project description: Studies of two imported biological control agents for field bindweed, the eriophyiid gall mite, Aceria malherbae, and the noctuid moth, Tyta luctuosa, have shown that only the gall mite has established in Kansas. A small, but persistent, population of the gall mite reoccurs in Northeast Kansas annually but, thus far, does not appear to be having an impact, in part, because of seasonally late (June/July) infestation of the weed. An accumulation of field and laboratory data since 1993 strongly suggests that the defoliator, T. luctuosa, has little promise as a classical biological control agent of field bindweed. Among the factors used to make this evaluation were a limited potential for population development and poor seasonal synchrony with field bindweed, the latter resulting in large part from a high tendency for T. luctuosa to undergo diapause. Despite repeated releases of all life stages in multiple years during all seasons, there is no evidence that this moth has colonized in Kansas. 9) Project title: Spatial and physical factors affecting the biological control of Plodia interpunctella by Trichogramma spp. in retail environments. Investigators: Matt Grieshop, Paul Flinn, James Nechols, Dept. of Entomology, Kansas State University, USDA Grain Marketing & Production Research Center. Contact: Matt Grieshop (mgriesho@oznet.ksu.edu) Project description: The research focuses on the foraging capacity of several Trichogramma species for the eggs of Plodia interpunctella (Indian meal moth) in the spatial and structural context of retail environments. A combination of direct observations, mid-scale oviposition trials, room scale-simulated retail environments, and field trials are being used to address various questions, including: Which strains of Trichogramma are best suited for augmentative releases? And, how can Trichogramma be distributed spatially to improve pest management? 10) Project title: Systematics of native and exotic species of Eretmocerus. Investigators: Mike Rose and Greg Zolnerowich, Dept. of Entomology, Montana State University, Dept. of Entomology, Kansas State University. Contact: Greg Zolnerowich (gregz@ksu.edu) Project description: Identification of native and exotic species of Eretmocerus (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae) released against Bemisia in the United States, and a survey of Eretmocerus attacking whitefly in other genera. 11) Project title: Evolutionary relationships with Dacnusini (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) and a taxonomic revision of Chaenusa haliday. Investigators: Robert Kula and Greg Zolnerowich, Dept. of Entomology, Kansas State University. Contact: Bob Kula (rkula@oznet.ksu.edu) Project description: Phylogenetic relationships within the tribe Dacnusini (Braconidae), wasps that parasitize plant-mining flies such as Agromyzidae and Chloropidae, are being ascertained using molecular and morphological data. An unstable classification system, and poorly defined genera, have hindered the potential use of this group in biological control. In addition, the New World species of Chaenusa are being revised, which will result in an illustrated key to species. Back to top of web page |
| Kansas - publications and manuscripts |
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Al-Deeb, M. A. Transgenic corn for corn rootworm control: effect on corn rootworm biology and above and below ground nontarget organisms. Dissertation, Kansas State University, Manhattan. Cao, W. H., R. E. Charlton, J. R. Nechols and M. J. Horak. 2003. Sex pheromone of the noctuid moth, Tyta luctuosa (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a candidate biological control agent of field bindweed. Environ. Entomol. 32: 17-22. Milbrath, L. R. and J. R. Nechols. Indirect effect of early-season infestations of Trichosirocalus horridus on Rhinocyllus conicus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Biological Control. In Press. Milbrath, Lindsey Ryan. 2002. Within-and Between-Trophic Level Interactions Involving Imported Musk Thistle Weevils. Dissertation, Kansas State University, Manhattan. Opit, G. P., J. R. Nechols, and D. C. Margolies. 2003. Biological control of twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), using Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseidae) on ivy geranium: assessment of predator release ratios. Biological Control. In press. Opit, G. P., D. C. Margolies and J. R. Nechols. 2003. Within-plant distribution of twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), on ivy geranium: development of a presence-absence sampling plan. J. Econ. Entomol. 96: 482-488. Opit, G. P. 2003. Development of Biological Control of Twospotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Greenhouse Ivy Geranium, Pelargonium peltatum (L.) L’Her Ex Air., Using the Predatory Mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseidae). Dissertation, Kansas State University, Manhattan. Rose, M., and G. Zolnerowich. Eretmocerus picketti new species (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae), reared from Tetraleurodes acaciae (Quaintance) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). In Press. Villamil, S. C., J. R. Nechols and S. B. Ramaswamy. 2003. Effect of pre-adult and adult temperatures on oocyte development of the field bindweed moth, Tyta luctuosa (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J. Kans. Entomol. Soc. 76: 442-446. Villamil Soledad C. 2002. The Effect of Temperature on Aspects of the Reproductive Biology of the Field Bindweed Moth Tyta luctuosa (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). M.S. Thesis, Kansas State University, Manhattan. Zolnerowich, G., and M. Rose. Eretmocerus rui n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae), an exotic natural enemy of Bemisia (tabaci group) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) released in Florida. Submitted to Florida Entomologist. Back to top of web page View reports from other state |