November 2016 OBCL Newsletter Issue 1 Overseas Biological Control Laboratories Edited by Lincoln Smith U.S.D.A, Agricultural Research Service [email protected]

The European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL) is based in Montpellier, In This Issue France, and has a satellite laboratory in Thessaloniki, Greece. It has a permanent staff Introduction ...... 1 of 1 American and 7 foreign scientists, 8 Australian Biological Control Laboratory -ABCL ...... 1 technicians and 5 administration/ support. Staff Changes at ABCL ...... 1 Contact: Lincoln Smith, Stem-borers for Old World Climbing Fern ...... 2 The origins of monoecious hydrilla introductions ...... 2 [email protected] . European Biological Control Laboratory - EBCL ...... 3 The Foundation for the Study of Invasive Staff Changes at EBCL ...... 3 Species (FuEDEI) is based in Hurlingham, Bagrada bug egg parasitoids ...... 4 Argentina and is operated as a nonprofit Olive fruit fly biological control ...... 4 research organization. Contact: Guillermo Visiting ARS scientist - Biological control of grasses ...... 4 Cabrera Walsh, [email protected] . Origin of wheat stem sawfly ...... 5 Giant reed ...... 5 The Sino-American Biocontrol Laboratory French broom ...... 5 (SABL) is based in Beijing, China. Contact: Grassmapper website ...... 6 Liu Chenxi, [email protected] . Identification of mosquitoes and sandflies ...... 6

Foundation for the Study of Invasive Species - FuEDEI ...... 6 Invasive ants ...... 6 Australian Biological Control Brazilian pepper tree ...... 7 Laboratory -ABCL Recent Publications by EBCL ...... 7 Staff Changes at ABCL

by Matthew Purcell, Raghu Sathyamurthy ABCL is embedded with the CSIRO Introduction Biocontrol Team, and staff are shared across Welcome to the first issue of the OBCL biological control projects. Recently there Newsletter. OBCL is a group of overseas was an injection of funding into weed laboratories that support the domestic research biological control research in Australia carried out by ARS with the aim of “finding through an AUD 6.2 million grant to the Rural Industries Research and Development solutions to agricultural problems that affect Corporation (RIRDC) to find new ways of Americans every day from field to table”. controlling weeds that impact agricultural The Australian Biological Control profitability. Significant amounts of these Laboratory (ABCL) is based in Brisbane, funds have been directed to CSIRO for Australia. The facility is run through a Specific biological control research. Cooperative Agreement between USDA-ARS With additional financial support from ABCL, four new staff have been recruited in and Australia’s Federal research body, CSIRO. Brisbane. Michelle Rafter (research scientist), This has been a long term relationship Kumaran Nagalingam (postdoc), Christine originating in 1985. Contact: Matthew Purcell, Goosem and Tim Vance (technical officers) [email protected] . will join long term staff members Matthew Purcell (Director of ABCL), Raghu Sathya- murthy, Jeff Makinson, Ryan Zonneveld, Brad Brown, Gio Fichera, Andy White and Nadia Querengasser who currently make up the weed biocontrol team in Brisbane.

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north Queensland, Australia. This is a remote area only accessible by four wheel drive outside the monsoon season. The larva of the are very destructive especially when they penetrate the stem above the rhizome, killing the plant above the point of entry. One larvae can inflict more damage than hundreds New staff at ABCL: Kumaran Nagalingam, Tim Vance, Michelle Rafter and Christine of defoliating moth larvae. Being an Goosem. Australian native species, this moth can be evaluated outside of the restrictions of This is a significant increase in research quarantine which isn’t currently possible for capacity which will bolster the ability of the borers found elsewhere in Asia. A similar ABCL to conduct exploration for weed targets species in the Siamusotima has been and evaluation of biological control agents in collected and shipped from Hong Kong by Australia, Asia and the Pacific for use in the ABCL staff directly to the USDA ARS United States. Invasive Plant Research Laboratory in Fort Currently ABCL targets include the Lauderdale, Florida, for further evaluation. climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum, downy rose myrtle, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata, ear leaf Acacia, Acacia auriculiformis, melaleuca, Melaleuca quinquenervia, Australian Pine, Casuarina spp. and Chinese tallow, Triadica sebiferum. The CSIRO Biocontrol Team targets include sowthistle, Sonchus oleraceus and four other agricultural weeds.

Stem-borers for Old World Climbing Fern by Matthew Purcell, Jeff Makinson, Ryan Zonnveld, Bradley Brown

Old World climbing fern (Lygodium An undescribed species of stem-borer microphyllum) is native to tropical regions of attack-ing the climbing fern, Lygodium Africa, Australia, Asia and the Pacific and is microphyllum, on Cape York, Queensland, arguably Florida’s worst weed. The perennial Australia. fern climbs vegetation and chokes out tree islands and cypress domes in wetland systems that comprise the Greater Everglades Region. The origins of monoecious hydrilla To date, three biological control agents including an Eriophyidae mite and two introductions defoliating , have been by Matthew Purcell introduced into Florida but only the mite, Hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata, is a serious Floracarus perrepae, and the moth invasive alien aquatic weed across the US Neomusotima conspurcatalis, have established which includes two genetically distinct in Florida, but better control and more agents biotypes: monecious and dioecious. Several are required. Four stem-boring Musotiminae agents have been released but only a leaf moth species occur throughout the native mining fly, Hydrellia pakistanae, established, range in Australia and Asia but these have and it has minimal impact on hydrilla, proven difficult to rear and colonize. particularly the dioecious biotype. This ABCL is currently focusing on an has less impact on monoecious hydrilla, undescribed species found in a very restricted possibly due to the inability of this insect to region on the Cape York Peninsula in far overwinter on this biotype which thrives in cooler climates. Monoecious hydrilla is

OBCL Newsletter, November 2016 Page 3 spreading north in the US and has the assimilis), volatile odors of target (hoary cress potential to invade the Great Lakes. [Lepidium draba]) and nontarget host plants, The geographic origin of the monoecious and their taxonomic phylogeny, in biotype introduced to the US was thought to collaboration with CABI and Neuchatel be Korea. ABCL staff in conjunction with University. Gaylord has also been collecting staff at the US Army Corps of Engineers biological control agents of the olive psyllid ERDC have surveyed hydrilla in the Republic (Euphyllura olivina) and giant reed (Arundo of Korea (ROK) and northern China since donax) to send to U.S. cooperators. 2013, and several sites have been located in A new permanent technician (Michail both countries which contain the US Miaoulis) was hired to assist Alexandra monoecious biotype. ABCL has been Chaskopoulou in Thessaloniki, Greece, who collaborating with the Chinese Academy of conducts research on integrated management Sciences and Henan University in China, as of mosquitoes and sandflies. A new well as Korea University in ROK to survey permanent technician (Ludovic Maanagardoo) these sites for herbivores that could be used as was hired to assist Mélanie Tannières, who biological control agents of monoecious conducts microbiological research at EBCL in hydrilla in the USA. It is possible that France. Hydrellia flies adapted to the US monoecious biotype have greater potential to control it, Temporary scientists working at EBCL during which should be evaluated. 2016 include: Brian G. Rector (USDA-ARS, Rector, Reno, Nevada), conducting foreign exploration for eriophyid mites attacking medusahead, cheat grass, and red brome. Dorothy Maquire (postdoc at Boise State U., Idaho), working on habitat niche modeling of Ventenata grass. Floriane Chardonnet (EBCL, France), working on biology and rearing of Psyttalia ponerophaga for biological

Dr Hong and Dr Mo from Korea University control of olive fly. surveying hydrilla in the Republic of Korea Francesca Marini (BBCA, Italy), studying with Nathan Harms of the US Army Corps biology and rearing of Psyttalia of Engineers. ERDC. lounsburyi for biological control of olive fly. Ioannis Giantsis (American Farm School, European Biological Control Greece), working on molecular genetics of mosquitoes and sandflies. Laboratory - EBCL Matthew Augé (BBCA, Italy), working on Staff Changes at EBCL biological control of leafy spurge. Steve Novak (Professor, Boise State U.), by Lincoln Smith working on genetics of Ventenata, In 2016 EBCL hired a new Quarantine Medusahead and cheatgrass Officer/Research Entomologist, Gaylord Vincent Lesieur (SupAgro, France), Desurmont. He has a strong background in working on molecular genetics of wheat chemical ecology and has begun working on stem sawfly and whitetop root weevil, a studies of host searching behavior of a psyllid prospective agent of hoary cress. (Arytinnis hakani) that attacks French broom

(Genista monspessulana). He is also analyzing the relationship between host specificity of a weevil (Ceutorhynchus

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Bagrada bug egg parasitoids Olive fruit fly biological control by Lincoln Smith, Marie-Claude Bon, René Sforza by Lincoln Smith and Marie-Claude Bon Bagrada bug (Bagrada hilaris) first appeared in The olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) is an California in 2008 and is spreading across the alien species that first appeared in California southern U.S. and Mexico. It attacks many crop in 1998. It directly damages olive fruit, species, but is especially damaging to cole crops causing major losses in coastal areas, (broccoli, cabbage, mustards, etc.). The native especially for organic producers. EBCL range is considered to include South Africa, previously collected several species of eastern Africa, and the Indian subcontinent. parasitoids, of which two have been permitted Genetic analysis conducted at EBCL for release in the U.S. During the past four indicates that individuals from North America years EBCL has mass-reared the parasitic are most closely related to those from wasp Psyttalia lounsburyi and shipped them to Pakistan. Bagrada bugs from South Africa are collaborators in California for field release to more distantly related. help control the olive fruit fly. The wasp Cooperators at CABI-Pakistan collected two cannot be mass-reared in California because species of parasitoids that attacked Bagrada bug the host insect is not available all year and the eggs exposed in the field and shipped them to factitious host, medfly, used in mass-rearing is EBCL to establish colonies inside our quarantine prohibited in California. During the past year laboratory. The species have been tentatively EBCL mass-reared 206,000 wasps and identified as Trissolcus hyalinipennis and Gryon shipped them to collaborators in California nr. gonikopalense (Playgastridae) by Elijah (CDFA, U.C. Berkeley) for field release. This Talamas (USDA-ARS-SEL). We found that both biological control agent is now becoming species of parasitoids successfully parasitize and widely established and is beginning to attack complete development on fresh Bagrada bug eggs the target pest at high rates. originating from California and South Africa. These preliminary results indicate that both these parasitoid species have the potential to attack Bagrada bug from the USA, and thus warrant further study of their host specificity and potential to control the pest under natural conditions. Both parasitoid species have been sent to ARS cooperators in Stoneville, MS (W. Jones) and Albany, CA (B. Hogg) to conduct host specificity tests. We plan to continue exploration for potential biological control agents in Africa and Pakistan.

Arnaud Blanchet mass rearing the olvie fruit fly parasitoid, Psyttalia lounsburyi, for release in California.

Visiting ARS scientist - Biological control of grasses by Brian Rector and Lincoln Smith EBCL is testing a new strategy to facilitate

CABI staff collecting parasitized eggs of short-term overseas research by ARS scientists. Bagrada bug in Pakistan. This year we supported travel and living expenses for an entomologist (B.G. Rector, Reno, NV) to conduct foreign exploration for

OBCL Newsletter, November 2016 Page 5 eriophyid mites attacking invasive grasses EBCL has supported exploration and (medusahead, cheat grass, red brome). Dr. evaluation of the host specificity of to Rector spent six months in Europe, travelled to biologically control this weed. During the nine countries, and successfully found mites on past year, we collected thousands of natural medusahead and cheat grass. He also enemies (the scale insect [Rizaspidiotus collaborated with acarologists in Italy, Bulgaria, donacis] and the leafmining midge Serbia and Poland, to work on genetic and [Cryptonevra] sp.) in Spain, Italy and Crete morphological characterization of the mites, and shipped them to collaborators in Texas some of which are believed to be undescribed (ARS, Edinburg, TX) for field release and species, and to develop methods to rear them in laboratory studies, respectively. The scale and the laboratory. Eriophyid mites are often highly a previously released gall wasp (Tetramesa host specific, and these species will be romana) are reportedly beginning to reduce interesting to evaluate as prospective biological the impact of this weed in the Rio Grande control agents. valley.

Origin of wheat stem sawfly by Marie-Claude Bon Wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus) is an important pest of wheat in the Northern Plains, causing stems to break before the grain can be harvested. It has long been suspected that this species was introduced from Asia, which is critical to know in order to direct where to search for prospective biological control agents. Molecular genetic techniques (sequencing CO1 and 16S, and microsatellites) were used to determine that North American wheat stem sawflies are distantly related to species found in Asia, and thus are not an invasive alien species. Arundo armored scale (R. donacis), left, attacks the base of the plant, and the leaf- Furthermore, results suggest that recent mining fly (Cryptonevra sp.), right, outbreaks in Colorado are caused by local damages stem tips. adaptation of the pest, and that there are three genetically distinct clusters of populations of the pest in the USA. These clusters may respond French broom differently to control tactics, which should be by René Sforza studied. Biological control efforts should focus French broom (Genista monspessulana) is on the conservation, and possibly augmentation, an invasive shrub in the Pacific Western U.S. of indigenous biological control agents rather EBCL, in conjunction with CSIRO-Europe, is than exploration for agents in Asia. studying the life history traits and host

specificity of a weevil, Lepidapion Giant reed argentatum, which is native to Southwestern by Javid Kashefi, Gaylord Desurmont and Lincoln Europe. The weevil reproduces by either Smith feeding on developing seeds or by galling Giant reed (Arundo donax) has invaded branch stems. Adult weevils from emerging waterways and riparian habitats in many parts pods are in reproductive diapause (univoltine), of the semiarid west, obstructing water flow, whereas those from stem galls can reproduce reducing biodiversity, and interfering with immediately (multivoltine). This weevil is security along the Mexican border. The currently undergoing host specificity testing invasive population originated from the on brooms, lupines and other close relatives. western Mediterranean. Live weevils were shipped to an ARS

OBCL Newsletter, November 2016 Page 6 cooperator in California (P.J. Moran, USDA- ARS, Albany, CA) to study diapausing Foundation for the Study of behavior and evaluate specificity on other Invasive Species - FuEDEI endemic Californian lupines. Invasive ants by Luis Calcaterra, Nadia Jiménez, Andrés Grassmapper website Sánchez Restrepo by René Sforza and Dorothy Maguire The behavior of ants that become invaders Invasive alien grasses can reduce forage can be better understood by comparing and biodiversity of rangelands, but they are ecological dominance among ants in both not easy to identify, and mapping information native and introduced communities. Several is needed to help guide management prominent invasive ant species occur naturally decisions. Scientists at EBCL, Boise State in Argentina, such as black imported fire ant University in Idaho, and the Biotechnology Solenopsis richteri and Argentine ant and Biological Control Agency in Rome, Italy Linepithema humile. These two species are have created a new website, ecologically co-dominant in northeastern www.grassmapper.org. The site provides Buenos Aires, with S. richteri being basic biological information of three invasive numerically the most abundant ant and L. grass species (ventenata, medusahead, and humile being the best at recruiting to new food cheatgrass). An interactive map of the sources. However, these ants co-exist with occurrence of ventenata grass is available, and many other species of ants, including several will soon be accompanied by the other two that are also invasive. Competition may not species. The site was developed to aid be the primary factor in structuring these scientists, land managers, and especially the communities, reducing the impact of species general public to identify, and report the with high competitive abilities. presence of these invasive grass species. Little fire ants (LFA, Wasmannia auropunctata). Life history and biology of the LFA within its native range showed that it was Identification of mosquitoes and widespread at the southernmost limit of its sandflies native distribution mainly in anthropic by Alexandra Chaskopoulou and Ioannis Giantsis habitats. The social organization was mainly Mosquitoes and sandflies are important supercolonial in all habitat types. The pests and vectors of disease of humans and reproductive system was mainly clonal in domestic , but it is extremely difficult anthropic habitats, mixed in partially disturbed to identify species of adults and often sites and floodplains, and sexual in natural impossible for larvae. Scientists at the EBCL sites. LFA had a lower competitive ability Laboratory in Thessaloniki Greece developed than expected, indicating that interspecific a new technique, called Mild-Vectolysis, competition is not the most important factor which permits extracting DNA from mosquito associated with its success. Natural expansion or sandfly specimens without damaging their to higher latitudes of South America probably external morphological characters. DNA preadapted the species to colder and seasonal barcoding (CO1) correctly identified all three climates, key to its establishment in the mosquito and six sandfly species analyzed. Mediterranean region. This provides a relatively fast and cheap Leaf-cutter ants (LCA, Atta and method to identify specimens that can be Acromyrmex spp.). LCA are one of the most retained for morphological study or preserved important pests in the Neotropics, from as museum vouchers. This technique will be Argentina to southern US (Texas and useful to researchers and pest managers who Louisiana). LCA species are being surveyed need to know what species they are targeting in vineyards and willow forestations in so that they can use appropriate techniques Argentina to understand the phylogenetic and strategies to manage them. relationships and phylogeographic history of

OBCL Newsletter, November 2016 Page 7 the most detrimental species in relation to genitalia dissections of Paectes specimens their geographical distribution. Additionally, indicate that there are new Paectes species in nest density, foraging activity, and diet are Argentina that deserve further host specificity being studied in the field in order to estimate evaluation (Figure 1). The defoliating the magnitude of their impact on vegetation, sawfly, Heteroperreyia especially on cultivated plants. hubrichi (Hymenoptera: Pergidae) (Figure 2), Imported Fire ants (IFA, Solenopsis has been intensively studied as a prospective spp.). The native populations of the South biocontrol agent for BP. However, possible American fire ants often decrease over a toxicity of the larvae to nontarget predators period of several years in a pattern consistent has delayed issuing a permit for this species. with disease outbreaks. Interestingly, Thus, additional toxicity studies are underway this pattern of population collapse is not to determine the existence of toxic peptides in observed in the US, where populations of this species, and to estimate the realistic introduced fire ants rarely or never decline. magnitude of the hazard. The lack of natural enemies, such as pathogens, in the introduced area is the most likely cause of this pattern. The objective of Recent Publications by EBCL this project is to find additional pathogens of fire ants using a method of etiologic Augé, M., Bon, M-C., Hardion, L., Le Bourgeois, T., Sforza, R.F.H. 2016. Genetic exploration. characterization of a red color morph of Susceptibility to ionizing radiation of Euphorbia esula subsp. esula queens of the red fire ant Solenopsis invicta (Euphorbiaceae) in the floodplains of Saône was studied to determine a dose that prevents (Eastern France). Botany. 10.1139/cjb-2016- reproduction. Results are consistent with 0067. previous findings for three other invasive ants Bon, M., Hoelmer, K.A., Pickett, C.H., Kirk, A., that are hitchhiker pests on fresh horticultural He, Y., Mahmood, R., Daane, K.M. 2015. commodities. A radiation dose of 150 Gy Populations of Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: (also used for control tephritid fruit flies) is Tephritidae) and its parasitoids in proposed as a phytosanitary treatment to Himalayan Asia. Annals of the prevent reproduction in ants. Entomological Society of America. 109:81-91. Tawny Crazy Ant (TCA, Nylanderia doi: 10.1093/aesa/sav114. fulva). Little is known about the geographical Brabbs, T., Collins, D., Herard, F., Maspero, M., distribution of the source population Eyre, D. 2015. Prospects for the use of introduced in the US. Consequently, we biological control agents against cannot be predict the potential area of Anoplophora in Europe. Pest Management expansion in regions where this pest ant has Science. 71:7-14. been or could be introduced in the future. We Cameron, M., Acosta-Serrano, A., Bern, C., believe that the invasion may have originated Boelaert, M., Den Boer, M., Chapman, L., from the Rio Paraná basin. Thus, studies will Chaskopoulou, A., Coleman, M., Croft, S., be mostly initiated in that region. Courtney, O. et al. 2016. Understanding the transmission dynamics of Leishmania donovani to provide robust evidence for Brazilian pepper tree interventions to eliminate visceral by Fernando Mc Kay leishmaniasis in Bihar, India. Parasites & Testing prospective biocontrol agents and Vectors. 9:25 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016- searching for new ones in Argentina and 1309-8. Brazil continues to be our top priorities for the Brazilian pepper (BP, Schinus terebinthifolius) project. Recent surveys revealed the presence of cryptic species among the leaf feeding moth, Paectes sp. (: ). Preliminary results of male and female

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Chaskopoulou A., Giantisi I.A., Demir S., Bon Kim, M-S., Lee, H-L., Ku, D-S., Hérard, F., M.C. 2016. Species composition, activity Gould, J.R., Williams, D.W., Kim, I-K., Hong, patterns and blood meal analysis of sand fly K-J. 2016. Discovery of Spathius ibarakius populations (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the Belokobylskij et Maeto (Hymenoptera: metropolitan region of Thessaloniki, an Braconidae) as a larval ectoparasitoid of endemic focus of canine leishmaniasis. Acta citrus longhorned beetle in Korea. Korean J. Tropica. 158:170-176. Appl. Entomol. 55(3): 285-291. De Biase, A., Colonelli, E., Belvedere, S., La Lesieur, V., Jeanneau, M., Martin, J., Bon, M. Marca, A., Cristofaro, M., Smith, L. 2016. 2016. Development and characterization of Genetic and morphological studies of 11 microsatellite markers in the root-gall- Trichosirocalus species introduced to North forming weevil, Ceutorhynchus assimilis America, Australia and New Zealand for (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Applied the biological control of thistles. Bulletin of Entomology and Zoology. 51:495–500. Entomological Research. 106(1): 99-113. Roy, L., Bon, M.C., Cesarini, C., Serin, J. and doi:10.1017/S000748531500084X. Bonato, O., 2016. Pinpointing the level of Deletre, E., Schatz, B., Bourguet, D., Chandre, F., isolation between two cryptic species Williams Iii, L.H., Ratnadass, A., Martin, T. sharing the same microhabitat: a case study 2016. Prospects for repellent in pest with a scarabaeid species complex. control: current developments and future Zoologica Scripta 45:(4):407-420. challenges. Chemoecology. 26:1-16. Saadat, D., Seraj, A., Goldansaz, S., Williams III, Giantsis I.A., Chaskopoulou A., Bon M.C. 2016. L.H. 2016. Factors affecting reproductive Mild-Vectolysis: A Nondestructive DNA success and life history parameters of Extraction Method for Vouchering Sand Bracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Flies and Mosquitoes. Journal of Medical Braconidae) from three host-associated Entomology. 53(3):692-695. populations. Biological Control. 96: 86-92. Hongsheng, P., Yanhui, L., Chunli, X., Huihui, G., Uludag, A., Gbehounou, G., Kashefi, J., Xiaoming, C., Xiaoling, S., Yongjun, Z., Bouhache, M., Bon, M., Bell, C., Lagopodi, Williams, L., Wyckhuys, K.A., Kongming, W. A.L.2016. Management of Solanum 2015. Volatile fragrances associated with elaeagnifolium in the Mediterranean Basin. flowers mediate the host plant alternation European Plant Protection Organization of a polyphagous mirid bug. Scientific Bulletin. 46:139-147. Reports. 14805; doi: 10.1038/srep14805. Von Virag, A., Bon, M., Closca, C., Diaconu, A., Jacquet S., Garros C., ... Chaskopoulou A., ... et al. Haye, T., Weiss, R., Muller-Scharer, H.,Hinz, 2015. Colonization of the Mediterranean H. 2016. Phenology and temperature- basin by the vector biting midge species dependent development of Ceutorhynchus Culicoides imicola: an old story. Molecular assimilis, a potential biological control Ecology. 24(22):5707-5725. agent for Lepidium draba. Journal of Applied Entomology. DOI:10.1111/jen.12322.

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