The Pennsylvania State University
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The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School College of Agricultural Sciences USING POPULATION STRUCTURE AND PHENOLOGY TO ADVANCE INSECT MANAGEMENT IN DIVERSIFIED VEGETABLE AGROECOSYSTEMS A Dissertation in Entomology by Amanda C. Bachmann 2012 Amanda C. Bachmann Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy December 2012 The dissertation of Amanda C. Bachmann was reviewed and approved* by the following: Shelby J. Fleischer Professor of Entomology Dissertation Advisor Chair of Committee Michael Saunders Professor of Entomology John Tooker Assistant Professor of Entomology Douglas Miller Associate Professor of Geography Andrew Michel Assistant Professor of Entomology The Ohio State University Special Member Gary Felton Department Head, Professor of Entomology *Signatures are on file in the Graduate School iii ABSTRACT Population structure and phenology can both be used to advance insect management in diverse vegetable agroecosystems. I describe the alate aphid species composition in Northeastern US processing snap beans and update the list of aphid species found in Pennsylvania. The alate aphid community in Pennsylvania snap bean fields is diverse and contains members that are efficient vectors of economically important plant viruses. One of these aphids, Aphis glycines, is largely present in the state as a result of migration and dispersal from areas with high densities of its overwintering host, Rhamnus cathartica. Using genetic tools and air-flow trajectory models to investigate the natal sources of A. glycines in Pennsylvania, I found A. glycines populations sampled in Pennsylvania had high levels of genotypic diversity. This is indicative of being sourced from many natal populations. They were also genetically similar to some populations in the Midwest. Matching A. glycines clones were found between PA, NY and VA indicating some level of long distance movement, which I attempted to model using air-flow trajectories. In addition to working with aphids, I set out to validate early season activity and growing season phenology models for three pests of cucurbits on land that is transitioning to organic production on research farms in Pennsylvania, Iowa and Kentucky. Modeling the phenology of the striped cucumber beetle and squash bug was challenging due to the fact that they overwinter as adults. I was able to demonstrate a successful early season activity monitoring tool, and used air- temperature degree-days from weather stations and development data from previous studies on both insects to estimate the number of field generations and discuss challenges for their control. I also described the phenology of the squash vine borer in geographic areas not represented in previous studies. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………………...…iii Table of Contents ………………………………………………………………………………iv List of Figures ………………………………………………………………………..…..…….vi List of Tables …………………………………………………………………………………..ix Acknowledgements …………………………………………………………………..….....…..xi Chapter 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1 Aphids .............................................................................................................................. 4 Aphids as vectors of plant viruses .................................................................................... 7 Aphids and snap beans ..................................................................................................... 8 Introduced species ............................................................................................................ 9 Insect movement .............................................................................................................. 10 Phenology and pest management ..................................................................................... 13 Dissertation Objectives .................................................................................................... 16 References ........................................................................................................................ 17 Chapter 2 Alate aphid species composition in Northeastern US processing snap beans and an update to historical lists ............................................................................................... 20 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 20 Methods ............................................................................................................................ 24 Slide mounting protocol ........................................................................................... 25 Results .............................................................................................................................. 25 Discussion ........................................................................................................................ 27 References ........................................................................................................................ 28 Figures and Tables ........................................................................................................... 31 Chapter 3 Estimating natal sources of Aphis glycines using molecular markers and airflow trajectories ........................................................................................................... 43 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 43 Aphis glycines life history ........................................................................................ 43 Factors limiting the range of Aphis glycines ............................................................ 44 Aphis glycines in Pennsylvania ................................................................................ 46 Soybean management ............................................................................................... 46 Aerobiology .............................................................................................................. 47 Molecular tools for population identification ........................................................... 49 Objectives ................................................................................................................. 50 Methods ............................................................................................................................ 50 Field collection ......................................................................................................... 50 Laboratory Methods ................................................................................................. 51 Statistical Methods ................................................................................................... 51 HYSPLIT methods ................................................................................................... 52 Results .............................................................................................................................. 53 Spatial ....................................................................................................................... 53 Temporal .................................................................................................................. 55 v Aerobiology .............................................................................................................. 56 Discussion ........................................................................................................................ 56 References ........................................................................................................................ 58 Figures and Tables ........................................................................................................... 62 Chapter 4 Speciation and population structure of Therioaphis trifolii .................................... 74 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 74 Methods ............................................................................................................................ 75 Results .............................................................................................................................. 75 Discussion ........................................................................................................................ 76 References ........................................................................................................................ 76 Figures and Tables ........................................................................................................... 78 Chapter 5 Phenology model validation of pests of cucurbits ................................................... 80 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 80 Methods ............................................................................................................................ 83 Early season activity................................................................................................. 83 In-season phenology ................................................................................................