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Commercially Available Biocontrol Agents

Commercially Available Biocontrol Agents

25th Year of Publication

Volume XXV, Number 7/8, July/August 2003 Commercially Available Biological Control Agents

By William Olkowski, Everett Photo courtesy of USDA Dietrick, Helga Olkowski and William Quarles

s environmental effects of chemical are A becoming better understood, there is increasing pressure to replace the more toxic materials. In some cases, biological controls can help reduce, or sometimes replace, these toxic chemicals. Biocontrols are especially useful for crop produc- tion in , and are well adapted to the needs of organic agri- culture. Biocontrols can be released in parks and landscapes to relieve pressures in municipal IPM pro- grams. Biocontrols also have a home in the backyard garden.

The beneficial and produced by the biological control A sp. is ovipositing inside the of a . The industry can be divided into two developing will prevent the pest caterpillar from developing. general groups: predators and para- sitoids. [Herbivorous biocon- also feed directly on the are more selective than predators trol agents that are collected and pest organism through wounds and generally feed only on one sold commercially, microbials, and made when they insert their , group, and often on only one devel- beneficial will be covered and so have two modes of killing opmental stage of the pest. For in future articles.] Predators such pests. example, Trichogramma miniwasps as the , Podisus The most widely produced para- only attack the eggs of and maculiventris, minute pirate bug, sitoids are various Trichogramma . Because they have a tristicolor, and the convergent species, which attack caterpillar more limited range of prey, and lady , , eggs. parasitoids such as concentrate on a target pest, para- directly attack and consume imma- species attack both the sitoids can in some cases be more ture and adult pest insects. late larval and pupal stages of the effective than predators. Parasitoids—usually tiny pest. parasitoids will lay eggs —are more indirect, as they in adults, and parasitoids attack lay their eggs on or inside the pest. the pupal stages. In This Issue When the eggs hatch, the pest Predators and parasitoids are Commercially Available is eaten by the larval para- often further differentiated by their Biological Control Agents 1 sitoids. Some parasitoids attack feeding habits. Many predators only the adult stage of the pest, feed on a broad spectrum of pests. Conference Notes 10 while others attack either the egg, For instance, lacewings eat caterpil- Calendar 17 larval, or pupal stage. Some adult lars, , and mites. Parasitoids Update

Laboratory cultures of both The IPM Practitioner is published ten times Target Pests per year by the Bio-Integral Resource pests and natural enemies must Center (BIRC), a non-profit corporation The biocontrol industry produces periodically be renewed in order to undertaking research and education in inte- predators and parasitoids for sup- grated pest management. avoid deterioration of the genetic pressing aphids, mites, , - stock. In addition, strict attention Managing Editor William Quarles tles, , and such must be paid to sanitation to pre- Contributing Editors Sheila Daar as cabbage looper, gypsy , dia- Tanya Drlik vent contamination of the various Laurie Swiadon mondback moth, pink bollworm, organisms used in mass-rearing Oriental fruit moth, and stored cultures. For example, if the Editor-at-Large Joel Grossman product moths. Parasitoids for parasitoid, Pauridia spp., Business Manager Jennifer Bates , leafminers, , contaminates the mealybug culture Artist Diane Kuhn , scales, , and other used as food for predatory lady bee- For media kits or other advertising informa- pest species are also available. tles, too few mealybugs will survive tion, contact Bill Quarles at 510/524-2567. A complete list of biocontrol to sustain the lady . organisms and their suppliers can Advisory Board George , Michigan State Univ.; Sterling be found in the publication, Distribution of Beneficials Bunnell, M.D., Berkeley, CA ; Momei Chen, Directory of Least-Toxic Jepson Herbarium, Univ. Calif., Berkeley; Products. This Directory is produced Natural enemies are generally Sharon Collman, Coop Extn., Wash. State each year by the Bio-Integral shipped directly from the insectary Univ.; Sheila Daar, Daar & Associates, for overnight delivery to the cus- Berkeley, CA; Walter Ebeling, UCLA, Emer.; Resource Center (BIRC). [To order Steve Frantz, NY State Dept. Health; Linda copies, contact BIRC, PO Box 7414, tomer or to a distributor who resells Gilkeson, Canadian Ministry of Envir., Berkeley, CA 94707; 510/524- them to clients. Live beneficial Victoria, BC; Joseph Hancock, Univ. Calif, insects are often packaged with an Berkeley; Helga Olkowski, Dietrick Inst., 2567, [email protected]]. Ventura, CA; William Olkowski, Dietrick Inst., alternate food source to insure the Ventura, CA; George Poinar, Oregon State Structure of the Industry beneficials do not starve should University, Corvallis, OR; Ron Prokopy, Univ. there be a delay in delivery or Massachusetts; Ramesh Chandra Saxena, In , beneficial ICIPE, Nairobi, Kenya; Ruth Troetschler, PTF release. The packaging also usually Press, Los Altos, CA; J.C. van Lenteren, insects and mites are raised by includes a cooling medium to pro- Agricultural University Wageningen, The about 30 relatively small independ- tect the beneficials against exces- Netherlands. ent companies and a division of the sive heat and to retard their devel- Manuscripts large corporation Syngenta. There is opment until released. The IPMP welcomes accounts of IPM for any pest situation. Write for details on format for an industry group called the Some kinds of parasitoids are manuscripts. Association of Natural Biocontrol sold as pupae glued on cards, Producers (ANBP) that represents which are hung on the foliage of the Citations The material here is protected by copyright, industrial interests and organizes crop. Other parasitoids are released and may not be reproduced in any form, meetings. In Europe, production as pupae mixed with sawdust that either written, electronic or otherwise without and distribution is dominated by written permission from BIRC. Contact is sprinkled into pots. William Quarles at 510/524-2567 for proper two large corporations: Koppert and Still others are released as adults. publication credits and acknowledgement. Biobest. These corporations have Mites are either released mixed Subscriptions/Memberships distributors throughout the world with bran, which is sprinkled into A subscription to the IPMP is one of the ben- (see the BIRC Directory). greenhouse pots or the mites are efits of membership in BIRC. We also answer distributed on infested leaves that pest management questions for our members and help them search for information. How Beneficials are placed in the crop canopy. Most Memberships are $60/yr (institutions/ are Reared larger predators such as predatory libraries/businesses); $35/yr (individuals). bugs are sold and released as lar- Canadian subscribers add $15 postage. All In North America, beneficial other foreign subscribers add $25 airmail vae or adults that are dispersed by postage. A Dual membership, which includes insects and mites are generally hand over the crop canopy (van a combined subscription to both the IPMP raised on live hosts. Thus, insec- and the Common Sense Pest Control Driesche et al. 2003). Lacewings are Quarterly, costs $85/yr (institutions); $55/yr taries first grow a culture of the tar- applied as larvae or as eggs, and a (individuals). Government purchase orders get pest or a suitable substitute, mechanical applicator has been accepted. Donations to BIRC are tax- then use this host culture to feed deductible. developed to apply lacewing eggs FEI# 94-2554036. beneficials. In order to rear the (see IPMP 22(4):1-5) host, it is often necessary to grow Change of Address When writing to request a change of address, the plant that the pest attacks. For Trichogramma for please send a copy of a recent address label. example, potatoes are used to feed the Caterpillars © 2003 BIRC, PO Box 7414, Berkeley, CA citrus mealybug, Pseudococcus citri, 94707; (510) 524-2567; FAX (510) 524-1758. which in turn is used to feed predato- Tiny parasitic wasps in the All rights reserved. ISSN #0738-968X ry lady beetles, Cryptolaemus mon- genus Trichogramma are the most trouzieri. Tobacco plants are used to widely studied biological control feed the whiteflies that are utilized by agents in the world. These para- parasitoids. sitoids attack the eggs of caterpillar

IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 2 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Update

not be released in areas where T. plat- much larger than the grain moth neri occurs naturally, and vice-versa. eggs used in North America and In general, Trichogramma designated Europe. for use in mass rearing systems should Moth cocoons are collected from be collected in the field from their ulti- field sites, and adult moths are mate hosts. In North America and allowed to emerge after a period in Europe, parasitoids are reared on eggs of cold storage. Large sterile moth the Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga eggs are taken from the unmated cerealella. A single Trichogramma females, dried, parasitized and wasp emerges from each host egg. placed in cold storage for later use. The moth itself is raised on wheat These rearing systems are briefly kernels. This mass production sys- reviewed in Olkowski and Zhang tem using an “unnatural” (facti- (1990). The large moth eggs used Tetrastichus galerucae attacks tious) host was developed by in can produce 250 or more eggs of the elm leaf beetle. Flanders in 1926 (Essig 1931). parasitoids from a single egg, but Improvements on this system are 60 to 80 Trichogramma per egg are reviewed by Morrison and King more typical. Trichogramma reared pests such as corn earworms, corn (1977). in large eggs from which multiple borers, budworms, fruit- parasitoids emerge are thought to worms, hornworms, riceworms, Today, ovipositing (egg-laying) Trichogramma females are placed be more robust and to have greater armyworms, and many others. host searching capabilities than On a worldwide basis, species in into a dimly-lit enclosure containing host eggs for a short time, and then those raised in the smaller grain the genus Trichogramma attack moth eggs that produce a single removed. Parasitized eggs are then more than 400 pest species in 203 parasitoid. However, there is not collected and distributed for release genera, 44 families and 7 orders yet a definitive study to verify any in crops, , gardens, and (Bao and Chen 1989). The genus differences. Chinese researchers ornamental landscapes. Some pro- Trichogramma is only one of 75 report high levels of by ducers recommend that adult genera in the hymenopteran family Trichogramma released in agricul- wasps be allowed to emerge in the with a total of tural crops. For example, up to container and feed on a solution of about 500 species. Given the 100% parasitization of first and sec- worldwide occurrence of this genus water before they are ond generation Oriental corn borer and its potential for development of released into a crop or garden. have been reported additional commercial species, it is (Zhang et al. 1978). surprising how little research atten- Trichogramma in China tion it has received. In China, three other hosts are Field Releases The most important work with used on a much larger scale to rear Trichogramma has occurred in the Field evaluations of the effective- Trichogramma. The major hosts ness of Trichogramma in the U.S. USSR and China, with , there are the oak silkworm, Mexico, Europe, and the U.S. lag- and Canada have centered on the Antheraea pernyi, and the eri - following species: ging behind. Taxonomic classifica- worm, Philosamia cynthia ricini. tion of the North American species The rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica, • T. minutum against the spruce is badly in need of revision. This Choristoneura fumifer- is used to a lesser degree. Eggs of budworm, effort is now underway under the ana, in the forests of , the oak and eri silkworms are direction of Dr. John Pinto at the Canada; University of at Riverside • T. platneri against the avocado (Pinto 1998). leafroller, Amorbia cuneana, on avocado in California; Three Common Species • T. pretiosum against the almond Cadra cautella The three common species are T. moth, , and Plodia inter- pretiosum, T. minutum, and T. plat- Indian-meal moth, punctella neri, and these are the major mass- , in stored peanuts; T. pretiosum Heliothis produced species in North America. • on spp. The latter two species may eventu- and in Arkansas ally be redescribed as a single and North Carolina, T. nubilale species. According to Pinto, T. minutum • against the European Ostrinia nubilalis and T. platneri are morphologically corn borer, , in identical, and mating crosses are not Delaware. all fertile, thus reducing their effec- A Trichogramma wasp probes a Project summaries and cited lit- tiveness as biological control agents. caterpillar egg. erature are reviewed in Olkowski This suggests that T. minutum should and Zhang (1990).

IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 3 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Update

In addition to Trichogramma, Filth Fly Parasitoids ed various species in the genera about 19 other parasitoid species Spalangia, Muscidifurax, Pachycre- Parasitoids of garbage and are commercially available for cater- poideus, and Tachinaephagus. manure-breeding flies are commer- These are all pupal parasitoids, pillar control, including Goniozus cially available. Many of these par- whose adult females lay eggs inside legneri for management of the navel asitoids only attack flies in a specif- fly pupae or prepupae. The adult orangeworm (BIRC 2003) (see IPMP ic family or genus, so a variety of female parasitoids obtain nourish- 24(1):1-4). parasitoids are often needed to solve problems involving several ment from oviposition wounds, Aphid Parasitoids groups of flies. The parasitoids are which also results in death of pest flies. Aphid parasitoids such as mass-reared on pupae of in plexiglass cages. Trays of 33,000 Aphidius colemani, Aphidius ervi Scale Parasitoids and Aphelinus abdominalis are sold pupae are exposed to egglaying par- to control aphids in greenhouse crops asitoids, then removed from cages Two major species of scale para- and shipped for release. Directions such as tomatoes, peppers, and sitoids in the family are for mass rearing house fly hosts are cucumbers. The usual targets are the commercially available at present: described by Morgan (1981). For Metaphycus helvolus Aphytis green peach aphid, ; and rearing the parasitoids, consult melinus. M. helvolus attacks the the potato aphid, Macrosyphum Morgan (1980). black scale, Saissetia oleae; citricola euphorbiae; and the melon aphid, The mass-production and scale, Coccus pseudomagnoliarum (= Aphis gossypii. release of fly parasitoids in poultry citricola); European fruit lecanium Aphidius parasitoids have also houses, dairy , feed scale, Lecanium tiliae; hemispherical been used to control grain aphids lots, and other operations scale, S. coffeae; and nigra scale, with good success (Pike et al. 1997; for control of the house fly, Musca Saissetia nigra. A. melinus attacks 1999). Aphidius spp. develop entire- domestica, and related manure- the California red scale, Aonidiella ly inside host aphids, which eventu- breeding fly species, is an excellent aurantii. Importation of these two ally become mummies when the example of an IPM program incor- parasitoids into North America was larvae pupate. When the adult porating biological control tactics. initiated by researchers in California emerges, it leaves a characteristic Dietrick (1981) reviews this subject, working on the black and red scale exit hole. The parasitoid is a good as does Olkowski (1985a). pests in citrus crops. These large, searcher, and can locate new aphid Patterson et al. (1981) describe a long term importation projects are colonies even when aphid popula- number of biocontrol-oriented IPM summarized by Clausen (1978 a,b). tions are low. The parasitoid is programs for flies. These programs shipped either as aphid mummies are based primarily on research by (pupae) or as newly emerged adults. Dr. Fred Legner and associates at If adults are ordered, better results the University of California at are obtained if some leaves are Riverside, who collected parasitoids from various continents, colonized placed in the wasp container for many species, developed mass-rear- about 30 minutes prior to introduc- ing systems, and field tested IPM tion. Adults should be released programs with cooperating . immediately by walking along plant There is also an excellent IPM pro- rows, allowing them to fly out of the gram for the house fly and the bit- container (IPM 2003). Nine species ing fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, of aphid parasitoids are currently described by Merritt et al. (1981). available (BIRC 2003). These IPM programs are operat- Aphytis chrysomphali attacks ed by pest control advisors whose red scale. services include regular monitoring of fly numbers and populations of beneficials, injury level assess- Efforts to import natural ene- ments, and treatment actions. mies of the black scale started as Treatments emphasize mod- early as 1891, and continued ification to create conditions favor- actively for over 75 years. A major able to indigenous natural enemies, step forward for control of black mass trapping adult flies, occasion- scale occurred when M. helvolus al selective use of (par- was imported from South Africa ticularly in bait stations), and and established in California in An aphid parasitoid attacks an releases of parasitoids. 1937. After successful colonization, aphid. Parasitoids used successfully M. helvolus was also found to attack against pest houseflies have includ- the citricola scale. Through the

IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 4 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Update combined action of the native in late larval and pupal-stage white- dens of Washington, D.C. resulted Metaphycus luteolus, and the introduced flies. Parasitized whiteflies turn in nearly complete elimination of M. helvolus, the citricola scale has ceased black and are highly visible. Some beetles on summer and fall beans to reach pestiferous levels. insectaries ship the black para- throughout the area. Only 50 wasps The red scale parasitoid, Aphytis sitized whitefly pupae directly on the can do the job in an average garden melinus, was imported from India tobacco leaves, while others deliver (Quarles 2001). and Pakistan, and has become the parasitoids on cardboard which The parasitoids Dacnusa sibirica established in Southern California. can be hung directly on plants and Diglyphus isaea are useful for It is currently released on many infested with whiteflies (Scopes and controlling leafminers and are avail- thousands of acres of citrus there, Pickford 1985). able from several producers. Several and has substantially reduced pes- E. formosa is most effective species of mealybug parasitoids are ticide use (Olkowski 1989). Details when released before pest numbers available, mostly from European for mass rearing the scale para- have reached high levels. This suppliers (BIRC 2003). sitoids and their hosts can be found parasitoid is now a key component both in Rose (1990) and Morrison of advanced greenhouse manage- Predatory Lady Beetles and King (1977). ment programs throughout the world. Many examples of their The mealybug destroyer, Crypto- Whitefly Parasitoids effectiveness are cited in Benuzzi laemus montrouzieri, the whitefly and Guidi, (1989); Bugiani (1988); predators, Delphastus pusillus and In 1992, only one whitefly para- Lupa (1987); Sell and Kuo-Sell D. catalinae, and the scale predator, sitoid was widely available commer- (1989); Yano (1988); and Lindorus lophanthae, are three lady cially. That was Encarsia formosa, Zabudskaya (1989). beetles available from a number of a highly effective host-feeding par- commercial insectaries. Stethorus asitoid of late larval and pupal punctillum is produced for stages of the greenhouse whitefly, control. Lady beetles sold for Trialeurodes vaporariorum, a major aphids include Coleomegilla macu- pest in greenhouses. This whitefly lata, Harmonia axyridis, and Adalia also attacks a wide range of agri- bipunctata. A new introduction in cultural and horticultural plants. 2003 is Pseudoscymnus tsugae for Additional species have become control of the wooly hemlock adel- available to combat the - gid, an aggressive pest in the resistant sweetpotato whitefly, Eastern US (BIRC 2003). Bemisia tabaci, and the silverleaf However, the most widely market- Bemisia argentifolii whitefly, . ed lady beetle in North America is the Parasitoids available include convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia Eretmocerus californicus or Encarsia formosa convergens. This general predator is Eretmocerous eremicus. primarily sold for control of aphids, E. formosa was imported from although this species also attacks North America into England during other soft-bodied insects such as the 1930s, where mass production Other Parasitoids scales and thrips, as well as pest systems were developed. However, A number of parasitoid species mites. These beetles are most effec- the “pesticide era” prevented the are available for beetle control. tive when pest populations are fairly technology from being used until Particularly useful is Pediobius fove- high due to their habit of “knocking the 1960s, when pesticide resist- olatus for control of the Mexican the top off” the pest population, then ance built up in whiteflies. This bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis. moving on to seek other plants loaded resistance stimulated reevaluation Like most parasitoids, it is extreme- of the biocontrol approach and ly specific, attacking only the pest with host insects. It is best to release improvements in rearing technolo- beetles and not beneficial ladybugs. gy. This history is reviewed up to It prefers to attack later larval the 1980s by Hussey (1985a). stages, reproduces every 2-3 weeks, Research groups in England led by and turns yellow bean beetle larvae Hussey and Scopes (1985), and in into brown mummies. Releases of the Netherlands led by van just 4000 wasps divided over 27 Lenteren (1986) and colleagues, sites in killed most of the were responsible for this develop- Mexican bean beetles in an entire ment. county! Whiteflies (Trialeurodes spp.) are The wasp can produce 10 gener- often reared on tobacco plants. ations a year in warm areas of the Encarsia miniwasps are introduced South, and pest populations are Convergent lady beetle, into cages containing the whitefly- suppressed for up to two years. Hippodamia convergens infested plants, where they lay eggs Late June releases in urban gar-

IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 5 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Update them during evening hours because Fly Factor they tend to be expensive. The bright sunlight can encourage flight. advantage is that they are mobile Today, convergent lady beetles The practice of collecting, storing and effective in seeking pests. are the most commonly sold preda- and distributing hibernating H. con- Genera available include Geocoris, tors in retail garden outlets. Un- vergens goes back to at least 1908 Orius, Podisus, Deraeocoris, fortunately, few of these beetles are (Carnes 1912). In fact, California Xylocoris Carcinops Atheta either insectary-reared or collected , , and . farmers at one time were able to post-hibernation—and thus most They are released for pest aphids, obtain free of charge up to 30,000 fly away when released. On the beetles, mites, thrips, caterpillars, lady beetles for every 10 acres of positive side, people who release flies, and gnats. Orius bugs crops by simply writing to the super- lady beetles generally refrain from especially have been successful in intendent of the state insectary. using pesticides. This restraint in controlling western thrips, turn, often permits survival of the Frankliniella occidentalis, in green- naturally occurring beneficials nec- house crops (Hsu and Quarles 1995). essary to control the pests that originally triggered the lady beetle Lacewings release. Thus, even if the beetles The two most commonly avail- fly away from the release site, other able species of lacewings are natural enemies often fill the niche. carnea and C. rufilabris. On the negative side, purchase It is the swift-walking larval stage of and release of lady beetles is often a these insects that is predacious. The consumer’s first contact with bio- mass production of Chrysoperla logical control. When they observe Larva of Hippodamia convergens carnea (= californica; = C. the beetles flying away, they may plorabunda) was first developed by decide biocontrol does not work and Finney (1948; 1950). Lacewing eggs be discouraged from trying other, from these cultures were field-tested less mobile biocontrol organisms. with promising results against Collections from Other questions concern levels of mealybugs, Pseudococcus maritimus, Hibernation damage during collection, storage on pears in California (Doutt and and sale, impacts of removing bee- While some contemporary insec- Hagen 1949). Two releases of 250 tles from their natural , and taries sell lady beetles reared on the lacewing eggs per tree during the possible introduction of lady beetle premises, or collected from agricultur- first mealybug generation produced natural enemies. al fields where they are actively feed- lacewing larvae that controlled ing, the primary sources of convergent mealybugs for two seasons (Doutt lady beetles are not insectaries. Most and Hagen 1950). After releases, commercially available convergent indigenous natural enemies, includ- lady beetles are marketed by entre- ing lacewings, provided long-term preneurs who collect them during suppression. winter while the beetles are still in This success stimulated world- hibernation in mountain areas. After wide research on C. carnea and collection, hibernating beetles are related species, particularly stored in refrigerated trailers until the because lacewings have a wide host onset of the spring and summer pest range. Almost any soft bodied season, when they are sold through insect, particularly aphids, mealy- ads in garden catalogs, or through bugs, immature scales, caterpillars, retail nurseries. and are attacked, as Marketing beetles collected from are pest mites. Lacewings will also hibernation has caused controversy consume insect and mite eggs. because releases may be largely inef- Lacewings today are sold primarily fective. DeBach and Hagen (1964) for aphid control, and few people reported that only 10% of lady bee- Minute pirate bug, know that they were originally pro- tles collected during hibernation Orius tristicolor duced for control of a mealybug. remain at release sites, even though ample food is present. This flight is Mass Production attributed to the fact that beetles collected during hibernation contain Predatory Bugs Mass production methods for stored body fat that must be flown In addition to lady beetles, a lacewings are reviewed by Morrison off before post-hibernation appetites number of predatory bug (Hetero- and King (1977). The cannibalistic can develop. When hungry, the bee- ptera) species are available. A disad- larvae are raised within individual tles are voracious predators. vantage of predatory bugs is that cells on pre-formed plastic or foam

IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 6 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Update cell packs. The larvae are fed eggs surfaces to pupate at ground level. of the Angoumois grain moth, Recent refinements in rearing Sitotroga cerealella, which can be involve use of potted plants in a frozen and stockpiled for later use. rack with a water collection system In his early work, Finney used lar- from which the floating larvae and vae of the potato tuber moth, pupae can be removed. After Phthorimaea operculella, as the food removal, the pupae are shipped by source. Small experimental cul- mail. tures can also be started by feeding mealybugs raised on sprouted The Mite Midge potatoes to the developing lacewing Midges for mite control are also larvae. After pupation, emerging commercially available. Larvae of lacewing adults are fed Food the mite midge, Feltiella acarisuga, Wheast®, a combination of sugar prey on pest mites. The predator and the yeast, Saccharomyces frag- can consume 80 or more mites per ilis, which is cultured on a whey day. It is a useful complementary substrate produced as a by-product Adult aphid midge, Aphidoletes predator to Phytoseiulus persimilis of the cheese industry (Hagen and aphidimyza (see below). P. persimilis has a low Tassan 1970).[Note: Wheast® is no dispersal rate, but the mite midge is longer available, but similar prod- highly mobile and seeks areas with ucts, Biodiet or Good Bug are sold. Olkowski and Zeigler (unpublished) high mite densities. Eggs and larval See BIRC’s 2003 Directory of Least- developed a mechanized rearing stages of pest mites are the pre- Toxic Pest Control Products.] unit which eliminates the need to ferred food (Quarles 1997). anesthetize adults in order to remove eggs. Stalked eggs pass Predaceous and through a comb-like edge as the Parasitic Mites paper on which they are laid is pulled from the rearing chamber. There are 29 mite families con- The edge prevents escape of adults. taining one or more species known This rearing technique uses eggs to prey on various pest insects and and larvae of the flour beetle mites (Gerson and Smiley 1990). Tribolium confusum, raised on Most of the commercially available wheat flour, as a food source for predacious mites are in the family lacewing larvae. . A discussion of Amblyseius cucumeris, the predatory Aphid Gall Midge mite in the family Phytoseiidae which is being used for control of Orange-colored larvae of the thrips in greenhouses is found else- aphid gall midge, Aphidoletes where (Hussey 1985b). aphidimyza, were first produced in The two-spotted , mass culture in Finland. Now 27 , and particular- companies produce or distribute ly other members of the family A larval lacewing, Chrysopa sp. this voracious aphid predator (BIRC Tetranychidae, are important world- 2003). The adults are fragile looking wide pests. Their major predators flies which hide beneath the leaves are other mites, especially members during the day. They are active at Lacewing eggs laid on sheets of of the family Phytoseiidae. There night, ovipositing their orange eggs paper are removed from the oviposi- have been at least 500 papers writ- on leaf surfaces within aphid tion chamber after adult lacewings ten about this family. The large colonies, or on the aphids them- are temporarily immobilized by text by Helle and Sabelis (1985) is selves. The larvae are capable of carbon dioxide or vacuum suction. an excellent starting point for infor- consuming aphids much larger A ball of nylon net, or a bleach mation on phytoseiids and other than themselves. They also para- solution, is used to separate eggs predators of spider mites. Included lyze large numbers of aphids, leav- from the silken stalks on which are numerous reviews showing ing them to die uneaten. In a large they are laid. The single eggs are effectiveness in many different then gathered together, measured public conservatory of plants, the crops. volumetrically, and sold for distri- aphid midge was found to be more bution by hand on tape or card- effective than lacewings for aphid board. Alternately, eggs are distrib- control (Olkowski et al. 1983). Phytoseiids uted by mechanical devices such as The predatory larvae are raised Over 1200 species of phytoseiids blowers. In experimental studies, on living aphids and jump from leaf have been described. There has been

IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 7 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Update a great deal of confusion regarding the talis is reviewed by Morrison and King vegetable crops, fruit and nut taxonomy of this family, which has (1977). Phytoseiulus persimilis is one orchards, and on ornamental made learning about the species diffi- of the most popular biocontrol agents, plants. Predatory mites are also cult for the non-specialist. This con- and it is produced or distributed by increasingly used in greenhouses fusion may have been largely resolved more than 100 companies (BIRC where has by Chant (1985). He includes a list of 2003). Predatory mites are reared on developed, and on indoor plants in synonyms which should help in flat pieces of waxed cardboard painted malls, hotels, and office buildings searching through earlier literature, black for easy visibility. The card- where pesticide use is unpopular. and a small key to the four genera of board squares are placed on a styro- importance for biological control of foam platform in a tray containing Conclusion pest spider mite species: Phytoseiulus soapy water used as a moat to pre- Biocontrol organisms produced (contains 4 species), Amblyseius (800 vent mites from leaving the cardboard by North American insectaries are species), Typhlodromus (275 species) rearing unit. The prey, generally two- beginning to move from a niche and Phytoseius (125 species). The spotted spider mites, Tetranychus industry into the mainstream. other six genera of phytoseiids which urticae, are delivered to the cardboard Driving this change is the expan- Chant recognizes have no known or on leaves, where they are consumed sion of organic and the potential value in the control of pests. by the predatory mites. Predators need to find alternatives for the Literature on one of the most reproduce on the cardboard. Then more toxic pesticides. Key to the important phytoseiids, Typhlodromus they are vacuumed up and placed in expansion of the industry is a bet- containers (usually with wheat bran) occidentalis, is particularly rife with ter understanding by the public of for shipment. confusion because the species has which organisms are available, and One insectary in California pro- unfortunately also been widely pub- how and when to use them. duces two-spotted spider mites as lished under the generic name of Hopefully, this article has shed prey on bean leaves, which are also Metaseiulus, and less frequently, some light on this subject. the means for delivery of predatory Euseius and Neoseiulus (Chant mites. Farmers simply pick up places the latter two genera in other William Olkowski and Helga their bags of predator-rich bean families). Thus, depending upon the Olkowski are BIRC Founders. They leaves, and distribute the leaves can be reached by writing BIRC, mite specialist, one will still see among their crops within an hour published literature on Amblyseius, PO Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 or two after acquisition. or by emailing [email protected]. Everett Euseius, Neoseiulus, or Typhlodro- Reviews citing field evaluations of Dietrick is the owner of Rincon- mus occidentalis and these names all the impact of predatory mites in dif- Vitova Insectaries, PO Box 1555, represent the same mite. ferent crops can be found in Hoy et Ventura, CA 93002; 800/248-2847, al. (1983), Helle and Sabelis (1985), email [email protected]. Phytoseiulus persimilis and Scopes (1985). Predatory mites William Quarles, Ph.D. is Managing Mass rearing of Phytoseiulus per- are used widely to control pest Editor of the IPM Practitioner, and similis and Typhlodromus occiden- mites in commercial and Executive Director of BIRC. References Bao, Jian-zhong and Chen, Xiu-hao. 1989. Research and applications of Trichogramma in China. Academic Books and Periodicals Press, Beijing. 220 pp. Benuzzi, M. and A. Guidi. 1989. Experiments in biological and integrated control in protected and field crops. (Esperienze applicative di lotta integrata e biologica nelle colture pro- tette e di pieno campo. Informatore-Agrario 55(Suppl. 35):53-58. BIRC. 2003. 2003 Directory of Least-Toxic Pest Control Products. Bio-Integral Resource Center, PO Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707; 510/524-2567, [email protected]. Bugiani, A. 1988. Integrated control in the greenhouse (in Italian). Colture-Protette 17(8):67-71. Carnes, E.K. 1912. Collecting ladybirds () by the ton. Calif. State Hort. Comm. Monthly Bull. 1:71-81. Chant, D.A. 1985. Systematics and taxonomy. Phytoseiulus persimilis predatory mite In: Helle and Sabilis, pp. 17-29. Clausen, C.P., ed. 1978a. Introduced Parasites

IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 8 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Update

and Predators of Pests and : Michigan: a question of effort. In: Patterson Control with Parasites and Predators. Plenum a World Review. Agriculture Handbook No. et al., pp. 44-51. Press, . 480 pp. 480. Department of Morgan, P.B. 1980. Mass culturing three Rose, M. 1990. Rearing and mass rearing. In: Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, species of microhymenopteran pupal para- Rosen, pp. 357-366. Washington, D.C. 545 pp. sites, Spalangia endius Walker, Muscidifurax Rosen, D. ed. 1990. Armoured Scale Insects, their Clausen, C.P. 1978b. Biological control of citrus raptor Girault and Sanders, and Biology, Natural Enemies and Control. Vol. A. insects. In: Reuther et al., pp. 276-320. Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani) Elsevier, Amsterdam. 383 pp. DeBach, P. and K.S. Hagen. 1964. Manipulation (: ). VIII. Renunion Scopes, N.E.A. 1985. Red spider mite and the of entomophagous species. In: DeBach and Nacional de Control Biologico. Tecomon, predator Phytoseiulus persimilis. In: Hussey Schlinger, pp. 429-458. Colima, Mexico. April 22-25, 1980. and Scopes, pp. 43-52. DeBach, P. and E.I. Schlinger. 1964. Biological Morgan, P.B. 1981. Mass production of Musca Scopes, N.E.A. and R. Pickford. 1985. Mass pro- Control of Insect Pests and Weeds. Chapman domestica. In: Patterson et al., pp. 189-191. duction of natural enemies. In: Hussey and and Hall Ltd., London. 844 pp. Morrison, R.K. and E.G. King. 1977. Mass pro- Scopes, pp. 197-209. Dietrick, E.J. 1981. Commercial production and duction of natural enemies. In: Ridgway and Sell, P. and H.L. Kuo-Sell. 1989. Well-tried and use of predators and parasites for fly control Vinson, pp. 183-217. new beneficial organisms. Practical knowl- programs. In: Patterson et al., pp. 192-200. Olkowski, W., S. Daar, and H. Olkowski. 1983. edge obtained in biological pest control in Doutt, R.L. and K.S. Hagen. 1949. Periodic colo- IPM for a conservatory and greenhouses. ornamental cultivation under glass and pos- nization of Chrysopa californica as a possible IPM Practitioner 5(8):4-6. sibilities for its development (in German). control of mealybugs. J. Econ. Entomol. Olkowski, W. 1985a. IPM programs for filth flies. Deutscher-Gartenbau. 43(42):2548-2553. 42:560. IPM Practitioner 7(6/7):1-8. van Lenteren, J.C. 1986. Parasitoids in the Doutt, R.L. and K.S. Hagen. 1950. Biological Olkowski, W. 1989. Biological control of pests greenhouse: successes with seasonal inocu- control measures applied against succeeds in large-scale agriculture. IPM lative releases. In: Waage and Greathead, Pseudococcus maritimus on pears. J. Econ. Practitioner 11(3):1-8. pp. 341-376. Entomol. 43:94-96. Olkowski, W. and A. Zhang. 1990. Trichogramma Van Driesche, R.G., M. Hoddle, S. Lyon, T. Essig, E.O. 1931. A History of . The —a modern day frontier in biological control. Smith and P. Lopes. 2003. Greenhouse proj- Macmillan Company, New York. 1029 pp. IPM Practitioner 12(5/6):1-15. ect: natural enemies for suppression of Finney, G.L. 1948. Culturing Chrysopa californi- Patterson, R.S., P.G. Koehler, P.B. Morgan and greenhouse pests. III. Buying and using nat- ca and obtaining eggs for field distribution. R.L. Harris. 1981. Status of Biological Control ural enemies in greenhouse floral crops. J. Econ. Entomol. 41:719-721. of Filth Flies. Proceedings of a workshop, www.umass.edu/umext/ipm/ Finney, G.L. 1950. Mass-culturing Chrysopa cali- February 4-5, 1981, University of Florida, Van Driesche, R.G. and T.S. Bellows, Jr. 1996. fornica to obtain eggs for field distribution. Gainesville. USDA, Insects Affecting Man Biological Control. Chapman and Hall, New J. Econ. Entomol. 43:97-100. and Animals Research Laboratory, P.O. Box York. 539 pp. Gerson, U. and R.L. Smiley. 1990. Acarine 14565, Gainesville, Fl. 32604. 212 pp. Waage, J. and D. Greathead. 1986. Insect Biocontrol Agents, an Illustrated Key and Pike, K.S., P. Stary, T. Miller, D. Allison, L. Parasitoids. Academic Press, New York. 389 Manual. Chapman and Hall, London. 174 Boydston and G. Graf. 1999. Host range and pp. pp. habitats of the aphid-parasitoid Diaeretiella Yano, E. 1988. The population dynamics of the Hagen, K.S. and R.L. Tassan. 1970. The influ- rapae (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) in greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporario- ence of Food Wheast® and related Washington State. Environ. Entomol. 28:61- rum Westwood) and the parasitoid Encarsia Saccharomyces fragilis yeast product on the 71. formosa Gahan. Bulletin of the National fecundity of Chrysopa carnea. Can. Entomol. Pike, K.S., P. Stary, T. Miller, D. Allison, L. Research Institute of Vegetables, 102:806-811. Boydston, G. Graf and R. Gillespie. 1997. Ornamental Plants and Tea. Part A, No. 2, Helle, W. and M.W. Sabelis. 1985. Spider Mites Small grain aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: 143-200. their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control. Aphelinidae and Aphidiidae) of Washington: Zabudskaya, I.A. 1989. Biological control of the Vol. 1B. Elsevier, Amsterdam. 458 pp. distribution, relative abundance, and sea- greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporario- Hoy, M.A. et al. 1983. Biological Control of Pests sonal occurrence; and key to known North rum (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae). Acta- by Mites. Publication No. 3304. Division of American species. Environ. Entomol. 26: Entomologica-Fennica. 53:73-76. Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1299-1311. Zhang, Zhili et al. 1978. Preliminary study on use University of California, Berkeley. Pinto, J.D. 1998. The role of taxonomy in of Trichogramma ostriniae to control corn borer. Hsu, C. and W. Quarles. 1995. Greenhouse IPM inundative release programs utilizing J. of Entomology 16(5):251-255 (in Chinese). for . IPM Practitioner Trichogramma. In: Hoddle, 17(4):1-11. M.S., ed. Innovation in Hussey, N.W. 1985a. Whitefly control by para- Biological Control Research, sites. In: Hussey and Scopes, pp. 104-115. Proceedings of the 1st Hussey, N.W. 1985b. Thrips and their natural California Conference on enemies. In: Hussey and Scopes, pp. 53-57. Biological Control, June 10- Hussey, N.W. and N. Scopes. 1985. Biological 11, 1998, Berkeley, Pest Control, the Glasshouse Experience. CA.pp.45-49. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. Quarles, W. 1997. Biocontrol of 240 pp. mites with midges. IPM IPM. 2003. IPM of Alaska, Rocco Moschetti, PO Practitioner 19(4):8-9. Box 875006, Wasilla, AK 99687; www.ipmo- Quarles, W. 2001. Beating the falaska.com . Kitchen Lupa, W. 1987. Possibilities of biological control Gardener 32(5/6):46. of the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes Reuther, W., E.C. Calavan and vaporariorum Westw.) on gerbera freesia and G.E. Carman. 1978. The other ornamentals grown in greenhouses (in Citrus Industry. Vol. IV. Polish). Materialy Sesji Instytutu Ochrony University of California, Roslin. 27(2):33-37. Berkeley. 362 pp. Merritt, R.W., E.F. Gersabeck and M.K. Kennedy. Ridgway, R.L. and S.B. Vinson. 1981. The contribution of Spalangia endius 1977. Biological Control by and Muscidifurax raptor to a stable fly man- Augmentation of Natural The parasitoid, Aphidius sp. agement program on Mackinac Island, Enemies, Insect and Mite

IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 9 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Conference Notes ESA 2002 Annual Meeting Highlights—Part 3

By Joel Grossman pianos and collections are wrapped Montferrier sur Lez, St Gely du in tarps for protection. In Southern Fesc, France), “the Formosan sub- These highlights from the California heat has been terranean , Coptotermes for- Entomological Society of America's adapted to large buildings, and is mosanus, is native to southern (ESA) annual meeting Nov. 17-20, considered a good choice for those China, and is believed to have 2002, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with chemical sensitivities. arrived in the United States on mili- were selected from among over 1,800 tary ships returning from the presentations. ESA's next annual Pacific theater after World War II.” meeting is October 26-30, 2003, in The first colonies were found in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information New Orleans and later Lake contact program chair Bob Wright Charles, LA; Galveston and (University of Nebraska, South Houston, TX; and Charleston, SC. Central Res. & Ext. Center, P.O. Box Its range in the United States is 66, Clay Center, NE 68933; phone expanding every year, and it has 402/762-4439; [email protected]) been detected in San Diego, CA. or the ESA (9301 Annapolis Rd., A winged termite Control and building repair costs Lanham, MD 20702; 301/731-4535; are over $1 billion per year. In New http://www.entsoc Orleans, where 30% of trees are South Florida, with its many infested, homeowners may spend Heat treatment is an alternative condos and other compartmental- several thousand dollars per year. to fumigation with toxic gases such ized buildings, is especially suited As lead agency in the National as methyl bromide and sulfuryl flu- for heat treatment, as treatment Formosan Subterranean Termite oride (Vikane). A whole structure can be limited to one unit. For attic Management Program, the USDA- can be treated for drywood treatments, mylar can be used to ARS European Biological Control in a few hours, whereas toxic gases seal the ducts and leave the rest of Lab is searching worldwide for nat- take a day or more, said Brian J. the house usable. Heat treatment is ural enemies. About 65,000 ter- Cabrera (Univ of Florida, 3205 compatible with current technolo- mites were collected from 250 local- College Ave, Ft. Lauderdale, FL). A gies. In fact, it is hard for most peo- ities in China, Malaysia, , heat treatment can be applied after ple to distinguish Terminex trucks and South Africa in 2001. “By sam- normal business hours or on non- carrying propane cylinders, tarps pling as many populations as possi- business days, and businesses can and burners for heat fumigation ble, the chances of finding effective avoid closing down and losing cus- from traditional chemical fumiga- natural enemies are corresponding- tomers. Heat can be used to spot tion trucks. Besides heavy equip- ly high,” said Mercadier. Termites treat inaccessible areas and target ment, heat fumigation requires have the ability to detect disease in specific parts of buildings and labor to monitor temperatures. Also sick or dead individuals. Collecting multiunit dwellings. In addition to residents must be evacuated for from termites themselves drywood termites, heat also kills several hours. might increase the probability of dust mites, bedbugs, cockroaches, Cabrera found that 60 minutes finding an agent that has the ability borers, fungi and . Heat, at 115°F (46°C) killed 95-100% of of to evade the detection barrier. however, does not leave a residual the drywood termite, Cryptotermes The most virulent fungal to prevent reinfestation. brevis; 4 minutes at 120°F (49°C) pathogens, mainly Beauveria, The heat feels like a dry sauna, killed them all. In contrast, Ebeling and Paecilomyces, are and no breathing apparatus is nec- found that 120°F (49°C) for 33 min- being produced and tested. The essary for pest control operators utes was needed for 100% mortality best will be selected for use in the (PCOs). Short exposures are okay, of the western drywood termite, U.S. Five isolates and but workers are advised not to stay Incisitermes minor. Terminex pro- parasitic flies attacking termites in too long in the heat. On the down- vides a margin of error, heating for China are also being evaluated. side, there is sometimes heat dam- 60 minutes at 130°F (54°C). age to thin plastics, refrigerator Microbial Termite Control magnets, items with glue, and heat Termite Natural Enemies Termites inhabit a dark, damp sensitive equipment. The heat out- According to Guy Mercadier habitat favorable to fungi such as put is about 150,000 BTU, and (ECBL, USDA-ARS, CS 90013 Metarhizium anisopliae, said Brian

IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 10 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Conference Notes

Forschler (Univ of Georgia, Athens, nematode attachment. Though he much more aggressive than those of GA), who tested M. anisopliae (Bio- did not observe grooming behavior, R. flavipes in all bioassays. Indeed, Blast™) against Reticulitermes Mankowski believes that soldiers R. flavipes workers and soldiers flavipes and R. virginicus. Though cannot groom themselves and that suffered more injury and higher M. anisopliae had an impact on ter- workers groom soldiers to remove mortality than C. formosanus work- mite populations, it did not affect nematodes. ers and soldiers. reproductives. Termites stayed away When C. formosanus workers from areas treated with M. anisopli- Fungi and Termites were tested against R. flavipes sol- ae for a few days or a week and did In laboratory studies the fungus diers, both had a similar degree of not recolonize the area. Results of Metarhizium anisopliae kills 100% injury and mortality. When soldiers monthly termite monitoring with of healthy termites, but field results were tested without workers, there Termatrol™ bait traps were consis- are less successful. One possibility was 100% R. flavipes injury in 144 tent with lab studies. Termites is disease-fighting social behaviors seconds. When no soldiers were stayed out of areas treated with M. within termite colonies. For exam- present, workers of both species anisopliae for a month. Though liq- ple, Zootermopsis augusticollis fought and suffered high injury and uid formulations of M. anisopliae did infected with fungus bangs its mortality rates. not have a major population impact, head, producing vibrations that act Margaret Schwinghammer (Univ Forschler said that it “may be useful as an alarm. of Missouri, 1-87 Ag Bldg, Columbia, if you want to chase termites away Susan Whitney (Univ of MO) is studying Reticulitermes nest from a spot for awhile.” Delaware, Townsend Hall room 254, evacuation behavior. Typically, when Entomogenous nematodes such Newark, DE) videotaped various a nest or food source is disturbed, as Steinernema carpocapsae and groups of Reticulitermes flavipes part of the colony abandons the site. Heterorhabditis indica can tunnel treated either with M. anisopliae This movement could have strong through soil searching for hosts, (Bio-Blast™) or plain talc, or left implications on the efficiency of ter- making them of interest for termite untreated. Each 10-minute segment mite baiting systems. The length of IPM. Mark Mankowski (Univ of of videotape had 1,200 frames, time the site remains unoccupied, at Manoa, 3050 Maile Way which meant analyzing tens of room 310, Honolulu, HI) compared the factors determining which alter- thousands of frames with 2-5 ter- the nematode susceptibility of work- native areas are preferred, and the mites per frame. Imaging software ers and soldiers of Coptotermes for- frequency of return to a disturbed created by Wayne Rasband of the mosanus and C. vastator, a species site are unclear. National Institutes of Health han- new to Hawaii. S. carpocapsae, pro- Colonies with 1% soldiers dled the problem of tracking indi- duced higher termite mortality in returned to the disturbed site with- vidual termites in the group and the laboratory than H. indica. In in 12 hours. Colonies with 3% tabulating the behavior on each mortality experiments (0-320 nema- soldiers returned within two days. videotape frame. todes/termite), more nematodes Those with a 5% soldier population The analysis showed that ter- were needed to kill workers than did not relocate when disturbed. mites interact more when the fun- soldiers. Temperature is also a factor, with a gus is present. The overall interac- When nematodes were confined slower response at 16°C (61°F) than tion rate increases uniformly when with C. formosanus for four days, at 21 or 27°C (70 or 81°F). a termite in the group is infected, there was significantly higher sol- but the number of interactions with dier mor- Western the infected termite does not tality change. Termites can also recognize Subterranean Termite when sol- the difference between a termite According to K. Haagsma (Univ diers were exposed to fungus and one exposed alone, of California, Riverside, CA), 57% of to talc. compared termite service calls in San Diego, to when CA involve the western subter- soldiers Termite Wars ranean termite, Reticulitermes hes- were with Xing Hu (Auburn Univ, Auburn, perus, a mainly coastal species workers. AL) talked about interactions found from Baja California to Exudates between termite species. Workers British Columbia, Canada. In barri- covering and soldiers of Formosan subter- er trials, imidacloprid (Premise) termite ranean termite, Coptotermes for- placed between the soil and struc- soldiers mosanus, and eastern subterranean tures provided greater than expect- will be termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, col- ed R. hesperus mortality, suggesting Soldier of investigat- lected in Alabama “demonstrated an areawide effect. For example, Coptotermes ed to see if ferocious agonistic behavior” when 500 ppm of imidacloprid provided formosanus they play placed together. Both soldiers and 100% mortality after 14 days, ver- a role in workers of C. formosanus were sus an expected 40%; 100 ppm pro-

IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 11 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Conference Notes vided 82% mortality, not the number of termites in the expected 5%; 50 ppm caused 38% whole area, making it harder mortality, instead of no effect. to find termites and reduc- Haagsma investigated whether ing wood consumption. R. hesperus could pick up imidaclo- prid from the barrier and transfer it Areawide IPM in U.S. from termite to termite by contact, Areawide termite control trophallaxis or other means. Using is being used in some parts radioactive imidacloprid to monitor of Mississippi. According to transfer from termite to termite, M. Guadalupoe Rojas Haagsma found that 10% of the (USDA-ARS, FSTRU, 1100 material picked up was transferred Robert E. Lee Blvd, New to other termites. Sealing termite Orleans, LA), “house by mouthparts with superglue had lit- house treatment of subter- tle effect, indicating that trophallax- A termite soldier and worker is was not a major means of ranean termites is not an spreading imidacloprid, and thus it efficient control method.” does not work like a bait. Most like- The experimental areas in Picayne and Poplarville consisted of installed to measure foraging activi- ly, imidacloprid is spread among ty. Data from both methods “show termites by contact. Imidacloprid blocks of homes where sticky traps had found swarming Formosan that areawide management reduced depresses termite movement; termite activity in the 15-block exposed termites are not very subterranean termites during 2000- area.” In 2002, the treated area was ambulatory; and there is probably 2001 seasons. Following the area- expanded to another 15 city blocks. an attrition effect over time that wide concept, 150 Exterra under- nullifies the excess mortality obser- ground stations were installed 15 ft vation. (4.6 m) apart from each other. Subterranean Formosan and Reticulitermes Termite Baits Areawide Baiting in Chile populations in the test area were Since termites avoid areas con- exposed to four active ingredients: According to James Smith taining dead termites, effective baits diflubenzuron; diflubenzuron and have to be slow acting and non- (Controles Integrados S.A, the fungus Bio-Blast™; Bio-Blast Venezuela 0675, Recoleta, Santiago, repellent (see IPMP 25(1/2):1-12). alone; and the IGR chlorfluazuron. But the effective dose can vary Chile), an areawide baiting All the tested treatments suppressed approach to management of subter- widely among termite species, said the termites. Chlorfluazuron ranean termite, Reticulitermes san- Erin Monteagudo (Univ of Florida, required less active ingredient and tonenesis or R. flavipes, is being Ft. Lauderdale Res & Educ Center, took half the time of other actives. successfully implemented in a six 3205 College Ave, Ft. Lauderdale, According to Dennis Ring block area of Santiago, Chile. Some FL). Increasing concentrations of (Louisiana State Univ, PO Box homes in the area have wood in the IGR halofenozide can reduce 25100, Baton Rogue, LA), contact with soil, but are very dry termite consumption of treated Formosan termites cause $300 and did not have termite problems wood; over 60% mortality can be until recently. Some residents are million damage each year in New achieved in 4-6 weeks. too poor to afford termite control Orleans and $500 million in At 600 ppm, halofenozide starts and have resorted to extreme tac- Louisiana, including collapse and to become repellent to eastern sub- tics such as blow torches to stop demolition of structures and loan terranean termite, Reticulitermes termites from the cardboard defaults. Even creosote-treated flavipes. However, western subter- or sheetrock parts of their homes. wood and live trees are attacked. ranean termite tolerates 10,000 Government funding is being An areawide control program began ppm before there is a great effect. used to survey for termites with in 1998 in the French Quarter of Though not effective against forag- wooden stakes, and within 30 days New Orleans. Fifteen blocks treated ing termites, halofenozide shows 22.6% of the stakes were attacked. with termiticides or baits by good potential against Formosan “It was very difficult to pull wood out licensed PCOs are being compared and subterranean termite adult of the ground and not find termites,” to untreated blocks as part of the reproductives. said Smith. Sentricon® baiting and National Formosan Subterranean Labyrinth™, a bait matrix measurement of wood consumption Termite Management Program. impregnated with the synthe- are part of the IPM program. Some To monitor for flying reproduc- sis inhibitor, diflubenzuron, is being areas had such heavy termite levels tives, sticky traps were hung on used in single-family homes and that even after 1.5 years of baiting light poles within 2 m (6.6 ft) of date palm orchards in the United with 500 bait tubes in an 0.5 ha lamps. Termites were counted every Arab Emirates (UAE) against sand area, there are still termites. two weeks during May and June. termite, Psammotermes hypostoma However, baiting has lowered the In-ground stations were also (Rhinotermitidae), and harvester

IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 12 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Conference Notes termite, Anacanthotermes New Bait Matrix treated wood. Untreated and borate orchraceus (Hodotermitidae), said pressure-treated Douglas wafers The idea behind the M-714 bait Walid Kaakeh (United Arab were placed in varying arrange- matrix, marketed as Summon™ is Emirates Univ, PO Box 17555, Al- ments in the arenas. Daily digital that subterranean termite species Ain, UAE). Eight termite bait sta- imaging quantified termite tunnel- will find the bait and produce ing in the arenas, and ArcView soft- tions were placed around each sin- pheromones to recruit more termites, ware visually mapped the data in gle-family home; and stations were said James Ballard (FMC Corp, three dimensions. installed 2 m (6.6 ft) from trees in Specialty Products Business, 1735 Termites usually moved out from orchards. The stations were Market St, Philadelphia, PA). In the center to forage, and within 10 inspected monthly for termites, and paired comparison laboratory studies days populations were randomly 100 g (3.5 oz) of Labyrinth™ bait in petri dishes, Reticulitermes flavipes distributed. But in arenas with a was added when termite activity and Coptotermes formosanus were choice of DOT-treated and untreat- was detected. given the choice between wet poly- ed wood wafers, termites left the Complete bait consumption was ester fabric with Summon™ and sev- DOT-treated wood and started mov- noticed in most stations one month eral wood species commonly used for ing to the untreated wood within 7- after placement. The elimination of monitoring. Significantly more ter- 9 days. the termite population at all sites mites aggregated on the fabric laced By day 14, termites had aban- gave complete protection of all sin- with Summon™, and there was little doned the DOT-treated wood sec- gle-family houses, as well as date interest in the wood. tion of the arena and clustered on palm trees. New Jersey Experiment Station the untreated wood. When DOT- Joe DeMark (Dow AgroSci, 876 field trials in 2001 and 2002 used treated wood was later replaced Buckeye Lane W., Jacksonville, FL) varied doses of Summon in bait sta- with untreated wood, the termite compared Sentricon® stations bait- tions against R. flavipes and R. distribution did not change. Future ed with either hexaflumuron or nov- hagenii. Each four-chambered bait research will help understand iflumuron for protection of single- station (Defender™) holds either whether termites have a learned family Florida homes and barns. four FirstLine® GT Plus Termite avoidance of DOT-treated wood. Structures were attacked mostly by Bait Stations or wooden monitors. Reticulitermes flavipes, but some R. In an October 2001 trial, Defender virginicus, subterranean termite units with Summon were infested IPM Takes Sting colonies. Pre-baiting foraging terri- much faster than units without. In Out of Schools tories ranged from 2 to 40 bait sta- a June trial where traps with 5 g “Stinging insects are among the tions. An exceptionally large R. (0.18 oz) of Summon dust were most frequent and persistent pest flavipes colony occupied a former checked every 2-3 weeks, signifi- problems at schools, parks, and orange containing well-irri- cantly more termites were captured similar locations,” said Jody gated pines and pine stumps. in traps with Summon. Within a Gangloff-Kaufmann (Cornell Univ, Noviflumuron (0.25-0.5%) eliminat- month, traps with Summon cap- 1425 Old Country Rd., Bldg. J, ed termite colonies significantly tured 400% to 800% more termites Plainview, NY). Jody is part of a faster than hexaflumuron (0.5%), than those with wood attractants. team bringing IPM alternatives to 113 days versus 191 days. Less In September 2002, field trials of schools and other sensitive sites than one gram (0.04 oz) of noviflu- Summon were started around throughout New York State. Wasp muron killed an entire colony. homes in seven states. Preliminary stings often cause mild reactions, “Pest management professionals results after 2 weeks showed 300% but severe allergic reactions to yel- in the southeastern United States to 700% more termite hits in moni- lowjacket stings kill 40 people in are most likely to encounter R. toring stations with Summon. the U.S. every year. Hence, “sting- flavipes and R. virginicus when ing insects are considered among using termite baiting systems,” Borate Avoidance the most serious of pests in the said Idham Harahap (Clemson At certain disodium octaborate school environment,” and necessi- Univ, Clemson, SC). In the labora- tetrahydrate (DOT; Timbor®) wood tory both native species of termites treatment concentrations, termite consume more cellulose at warmer wood feeding ceases quickly and temperatures. However, in the field, wood suffers only minor surface native subterranean termites likely damage, said Cory Campora and J. avoid soil or monitoring stations Kenneth Grace (University of that are too hot. Indeed, subter- Hawaii, 3050 Maile Way, Gilmore ranean termites in South Carolina Hall Rm 310, Honolulu, HI). feed more at monitoring stations Plexiglas™ arenas with damp sand in the spring and fall, and survivor- floors and wood wafer foraging sites ship is higher at 18°C (61°F) than were established to study the fac- , Vespula sp. at 28°C (82°F). tors causing termites to avoid DOT-

IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 13 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Conference Notes tate a high percentage of outdoor materials used included expanding were baited every 2-3 days for 2 pesticide applications. insulating foam, caulk, steel wool, weeks. The traps were a strong Semimonthly inspections were and insect screening. Exclusion enough attractant that they were sufficient for maintaining control of sites consisted of playground equip- deemed “more appropriate in areas paper wasps, Polistes dominulus, ment, tennis courts, light posts, that would normally attract yellow- and locating nests of . doorways, signs, and cracks and jackets, such as garbage disposal Yellowjacket nests, particularly in gaps on the outside of buildings, areas, or in remote areas away from wall voids and in the ground, were especially in the eaves. Exclusion human activity.” In other words, harder to locate and remove than was particularly effective in reduc- baited traps should not be used in nests. Often nests were ing paper wasp activity inside fence school playgrounds that do not nor- large, and had many adults flying pipes and other hollow metal or mally have food sources attracting in and out before they were noticed. concrete structures. Exclusion wasps. Information from this ongo- If a colony had only a single queen, methods were only implemented ing trapping experiment “is needed control was obtained without insec- after IPM techniques or the onset of to help optimize wasp trap place- ticides by knocking down the nest cold weather killed active nests. ment in areas such as playgrounds, with a pole. Larger nests had a “Food-based attractants in jar parks and yards.” higher likelihood of being rebuilt if traps were used to draw wasps not sprayed to kill foragers. away from sensitive areas,” said Commercializing Larger paper wasp colonies or Gangloff-Kaufmann. Glueboard Polymer Film Barriers nests in hard to reach places were traps on garbage container lids sprayed with low-toxicity insecti- (underside), over doorways and on In building his own house in cides (particularly dusts) containing playground equipment mainly cap- Florida, Nan-Yao Su (Univ of Florida mint oil or eugenol, and then tured flies, and other - Ft. Lauderdale Res & Educ Cent, removed. When nest destruction insects; and this line of research 3205 College Ave, Ft. Lauderdale, FL) was consistently performed early in was stopped. Pineapple juice, apple rejected the conventional solution of the season, construction of new juice, fruit punch and beer evapo- treating the soil with large quantities nests at managed sites had dimin- rated rapidly from traps on warm of liquid termiticides in favor of a ished by mid-summer. During two summer days. So new liquid to polymer film barrier containing much years, 78 nests at two locations attract wasps was added and traps less . The termite species were eliminated with water spray. were cleaned weekly. At two school involved were the Formosan subter- An attempt to rebuild the nest was sites, 98% of the almost 10,000 ranean termite, Coptotermes for- made in only 11 (14%) locations. insects trapped were yellowjackets, mosanus, and eastern subterranean Physically knocking down nests and mainly Vespula species. termite, Reticulitermes flavipes. water sprays worked particularly At a prison site, 20 traps along- In 1996, a polycarbonate poly- well against mud daubers. side six dumpsters by a fence mer film barrier impregnated with Several methods were investigat- trapped over 1,000 wasps in a 2% lamda-cyhalothrin was buried ed, including vacuuming workers month without visibly reducing in a sand plot, covered with a red from a void and digging nests out of wasp numbers. In summer, garbage clay indicator layer, and topped the ground. Yellowjackets were vac- dumpster stench overpowered the with concrete. Every year Su drilled uumed with the hose end at the attractant in baited traps. In all sample cores of soil and polymer cases where food wastes attracted opening of the nest, capturing barrier and analyzed for lamda- wasps, recommendations were workers as they entered and exited cyhalothrin leaching. The first two made to regularly wash garbage the nest. Vacuuming took about an years termites barely got in, touch- containers, keep them covered, and hour. Yellowjacket numbers ing the polymer film barrier and to place waste into plastic bags, remained lower, but there was a then stopping. In subsequent years, slow increase over time as workers which were then sealed and put into receptacles. Sanitation extend- termites started penetrating deeper. emerged from pupation. Vacuuming But even after five years there was or bagging aerial nests in shrubs ed to recycling pails and honeydew- producing aphids on plants. But still 60%-70% active ingredient in and removing nests also worked the polymer film barrier, enough to with baldfaced hornets. Ground sanitation alone was not the solu- tion at every school, and prevent termite penetration. removal of nests was less practical, Steady state soil concentration and required workers to wear pro- restaurant site, indicating the need was a function of the release rate tective clothing while digging. for an IPM approach with multiple control techniques. from the polymer and the degrada- Exclusion, Traps, A peripheral trap experiment in tion rate in the soil. Over time, there a hay/grass field involved placing was less chemical leaching, more and Sanitation traps 8 ft (2.4 m) high atop metal degradation, lower soil concentra- Exclusion was used extensively poles every 20 ft (6.1 m) along plot tions and more termite penetration. to reduce the number of nest sites perimeters, with a trap in the plot The commercial product registered on the managed properties. The center. Yellowjacket container traps with EPA, Impasse™ (Syngenta),

IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 14 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Conference Notes uses a stronger yet porous con- traded,” said Ian Scott (Univ of terans at below 0.1% (1,000 ppm), struction-grade plastic that sand- Ottawa, 150 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, and control adult Colorado potato wiches lamda-cyhalothrin between ON, Canada). According to Scott, beetles at 0.5%,” said Scott. two protective polymer layers. black pepper is worth considering European chafer, Rhizotrogus The first Impasse™ product for as a botanical pesticide, as it has a majalis, 3rd instar larvae were con- sale blocks termite entry via utility long record of safe use and low trolled with a concentration of 3% pipes. Test plots now in their third health risks. applied to the soil. The downside is year should yield a commercial Several wild insect species were that users are advised to wear polyethylene film barrier product bioassayed on plant leaves with a masks and safety glasses, as pep- that can be installed prior to pour- 20% extract of ground peppercorns. per extracts are irritants. ing a building’s concrete slab. In repellent trials, leaves were treat- ed with 100 ml of 0.5% black pep- Herbal Repellents Soil Treatments per extract alone or in combination “Plants and plant compounds with recommended doses of neem Faith Oi (Univ of Florida, Bldg have been used as pest insect repel- oil, garlic, or lemon grass oil 970, Natural Area Dr, PO Box lents for much of human history,” extracts. In field trials, Yukon Gold 110620, Gainesville, FL) talked said William Irby (Georgia Southern potato plants with Colorado potato about non-repellent termiticides. Univ, POB 8042, Statesboro, GA). beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, These are supposed to last for at Pliny (23-79 A.D.) and Dioscorides least five years. However, applica- were treated with 0.5% black pep- per extract. (60 A.D.) reported that wormwood tions are highly imperfect, leaving juice, Artemisia absinthium; would the actual concentration applied The most practical use of P. repel gnats and flies. Many cultures and barrier thickness variable. It nigrum extracts may be for control have traditionally relied upon plant- common to have gaps in treatments of mosquito larvae in temporary based preparations for mosquito or treatment depths as thin as 1 pools, as very low concentrations repellency. Preparations of turmer- mm (0.04 in). When soil was treat- are needed. Less than 0.1% P. ed to a depth of 1 mm, termites nigrum controlled eastern tent cater- ic, Curcuma longa, in vegetable oil penetrated all concentrations of pillar, Malacosoma americanum, are used topically in India. In some chlorfenapyr (Phanthom; BASF), European pine sawfly, Neodiprion regions of Mexico, annato, Bixa orel- fipronil (Termidor; BASF) and imi- sertifer, and spindle ermine lana, is applied in vegetable oil or dacloprid (Premise; Bayer). moth,Yponomeuta cagnagellus. animal fat for protection against Treatment with 100 ppm at 1 mm Between 0.1% and 0.2% P. nigrum mosquito biting during outdoor depth gave 99% termite mortality controlled adult striped cucumber activities. However, after the discov- with fipronil; 81% with chlorfe- beetles, Acalymma vittatum; and lar- ery of DEET in 1954, pyrethrum napyr; 79% with thiamethoxam; val lily leaf beetles, Lilioceris lili; and from chrysanthemum was and 28.5% with imidacloprid. viburnum leaf beetles, Pyrrhalta the only major botanical mosquito When soil is compacted to differ- viburni. Black pepper is also repel- repellent in use around the world ent soil densities, the termite tun- lent, as 1% P. nigrum extract until recently. nel network changes, said Cynthia reduced L. lili feeding. Today’s main plant-based area Linton Tucker (Univ of Florida, Bldg “P. nigrum extracts can knock- repellents are citronella candles and 970, Natural Area Dr, Gainesville, down lepidopterans and hymenop- mosquito coils impregnated with FL). Tucker examined R. flavipes tunneling in moistened building sand that was low, moderately, or highly compacted. Subterranean termites do not follow pheromone trails or wood volatiles, but they may follow moisture gradients and be sensitive to soil pore space dis- turbances. In the first 24 hours there is more tunneling and a higher number of secondary tun- nels in soils with low compaction. Black Pepper for Urban IPM “Black pepper, Piper nigrum, is grown in large quantities in tropi- cal regions of the globe and is one of the most common spice plants Adult female mosquito, Culex tarsalis

IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 15 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Conference Notes pyrethrins. “Unfortunately, effective- mosquitoes than emanations from ness of these products appears to human skin, making it a good can- be limited to areas within the didate for traps. Not all human smoke plume produced during skin compounds are attractive to burning,” said Irby. Most recently, mosquitoes. Acetone and acetalde- the repellency of certain potted live hyde are the most attractive indi- plants such as basil, Ocimum ameri- vidual compounds. Some attractant canum, or camara or Lippia compounds are repellent at high uckambensis against Anopheles doses, but this was not the case gambiae was demonstrated in with acetone. Synergism was noted experimental hut trials. with binary blends such as methyl- Irby tested a granular flying ene chloride and lactic acid, which insect repellent and soil additive, were more attractive than a real Mosquito and Gnat Scat (Dr. T’s human hand, which also emits car- Nature Products, Pelham, GA), bon dioxide, heat and moisture. which has attapulgite hormite clay However, there is much individual (98.4%) as an inert carrier for lemon variation among humans, and the best blends are more attractive grass (1.12%), peppermint (0.08%) than some, but not all human and garlic (0.40%) oils. hands. CDC mosquito trap Dr. T’s was applied evenly by Some blends wiped out mosqui- hand several hours before dusk at to attraction. One inhibitory com- the label rate. CDC light traps bait- pound from human skin when female Asian tiger mosquitoes, ed with live yeast cultures moni- added to the patented three com- Aedes albopictus, a species that tored adult mosquitoes at night for pound attractant blend reduced does not strongly respond to CO2. 3 weeks. After the initial Dr. T’s attractancy from 93% to 13%. In Culex mosquitoes were not captured treatment, mosquito populations theory, if a human hand with a until CO2 gas generation was were lower for 5 days. 100% inhibitory compound was turned on. placed in a cage full of mosquitoes, Skin Chemistry & all the mosquitoes would be in the Better Traps Mosquito IPM back of the cage and not know the CO for trapping mosquitoes hand was there. With DEET, mos- 2 Ulrich Bernier (USDA-ARS, dates back to 1922. Using CO quitoes know the hand is there, as 2 CMAVE, 1600 SW 23rd Drive, PO from dry ice to capture biting they orient around the hand but do Box 14565, Gainesville, FL) is midges, Culicoides spp., dates to not land and feed. In contrast, the renowned for discovering better 1965, said Daniel Kline (USDA-ARS, best inhibitory compounds from mosquito attractants. More recently, CMAVE, 1600 SW 23rd Drive, PO human skin “masked the hand.” Bernier discovered from human Box 14565, Gainesville, FL). skin “attractant-antagonists that in Culicoides furens, a biting midge, blends mask the presence of human Improving CO2 Traps shows little response to octenol (1- odor.” By way of loose analogy this According to William Meade (IPM octen-3-ol) alone, but there is a means making human appendages Tech, 4134 N. Vancouver Ave, Suite “huge synergistic effect” —up to invisible to mosquitoes, a kind of 105, Portland, OR), the need for dry 100-fold more C. furens caught— stealth protection. ice or compressed gas cylinders has when octenol is added to CO2 traps In 1997 a blend of three chemi- limited the use of carbon dioxide in the Everglades (see the Spring cals from human skin, L-lactic acid, (CO2) traps for tick and mosquito 2003 Common Sense Pest Control acetone, and dimethyl disulfide, IPM. So, IPM Tech has developed a Quarterly). The results vary among were patented as attractants for yel- GasHouse™ that periodically meters biting midge species, and are not low fever mosquitoes, Aedes environmentally-benign chemicals the same for C. melleus. C. impunc- aegypti. Glass bead work led to the into a reaction to achieve controlled tatus in Scotland are highly attract- patent. Approximately 300 different release of CO2 for periods of time ed to octenol and acetone. compounds from human skin were that are under control of the user. Adding heat via a heating pad to deposited on 2.9 mm (0.1 in) glass This system can be added to the semiochemical trapping system beads by human handling. A sol- existing mosquito traps, such as tripled the number of C. furens ventless method, thermal desorp- CDC mini-traps or Faye-Prince caught. In addition to octenol, poten- tion, allowed gas chromatogra- traps or placed on the ground over tial biting midge attractants include phy/mass spectrometry identifica- a sticky surface to trap terrestrial butanone, mixed phenol compounds, tion of the human skin compounds. such as ticks. In field honey extract and lactic acid. A mix- The patented three compound trials and lab tests GasHouse™ ture of octenol and phenols attracted blend proved more attractive to “markedly” increased capture of large numbers of C. furens, but -

IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 16 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Conference Notes Calendar tic acid gave mixed results. batch of biting midges, at which September 9-12, 2003. 4th European Vertebrate A “4:1:8 mixture of octenol:3-n- time the program was repeated. Pest Management Conference. Contact: L. Nieder, propylphenol:4-methylphenol alone Backyard experiments are under- Parma, Italy. [email protected] or in combination with CO2” way using compressed CO2 tanks September 12-17, 2003. 14th Intl. Meeting showed good potential for backyard and the trap, which has Diseases of Grapevine. Contact: D. Boscia, Bari, IPM traps, capturing C. mississippi- an electrocuting grid. Italy. email [email protected]; ensis, C. barbosai, C. melleus and www.agr.uniba.it C. furens in northwest Florida. Mosquito Trap There is sometimes geographic vari- Comparisons September 18-19, 2003. 17th Annual Integrated ation in the Culicoides species Roadside Vegetation Management Conference. trapped, so experimentation with “The number of companies man- Iowa City, IA. Contact: Native Roadside Vegetation different blends is needed. ufacturing mosquito traps has Center, U. Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA 50614. increased dramatically in the last 2- Federal and state surveillance September 23, 2003. Benefit for 3 years,” said John Smith (JAMS and control programs can use bait- Research Foundation. Larkspur, CA. Contact: Center, Florida A&M University), ed traps, particularly where pesti- www.ofrf.org cide use and physical control meas- who compared seven commercial ures are not practicable. Backyard traps and one model under develop- September 26-28, 2003. Renewable Energy and Organic Agriculture. Fredericksburg, TX. IPM programs might use a perime- ment in terms of numbers and Contact:K. Houser, 512/326-3391; 877-roundup; ter of baited traps. Piping CO from species caught (next year mosquito 2 www.txses.org tanks to a “barrier” of poisoned control will be evaluated) on a targets protected a condo complex northwest Florida peninsula sur- October 4, 2003. Hoes Down Festival at Full Belly where pesticide treatments had pre- rounded by a salt marsh. The Farm. Contact: 800/791-2110; www.hoesdown.org viously been ineffective. Traps need Mosquito Megacatch and the Mosquito Magnet Liberty captured October 17-18, 2003. Xeriscape Conference. to be 20 ft (6 m) apart for C. furens, Albuquerque, NM. www.xeriscape.com versus 60 ft (18 m) for mosquitoes. 2.5X to almost 3X more mosquitoes than the next best trap, the Lentek Whenever the CO2 flow into the October 17-19, 2003. Annual Bioneers Conference. traps was turned on or off, the bit- Mosquito Trap, and 4X to 6X more San Rafael, CA. Contact: Bioneers Conf., 901 W. ing midge attractant effects were than the Mosquito Deleto, Mosquito San Mateo Rd., Suite L, Santa Fe, NM 87505; dramatically demonstrated. Deleto Prototype, Mosquito 505/986-0366; www.bioneers.org A perimeter barrier was also PowerTrap and the Dragonfly. The SonicWeb collected considerably October 20-23, 2003. Nonpoint Source Pollution effective around a school in Boyton Conference. Chicago, IL. Contact: Bob Kirschner, Beach, FL, where CO was piped fewer mosquitoes than any of the 2 other traps. The Mosquito Magnet Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., through a mangrove swamp. Mineral Glencoe, IL 60022; email bkirschn@chicagobotan- Liberty sampled the greatest species oil substituted for pesticide on the ic.org traps/targets at the school, and diversity with 16 collected. The the IPM system enabled the kids Mosquito Megacatch and Mosquito October 22-23, 2003. Soil and Soul Sustainable to finally play safely outside. The PowerTrap tied with 12 species. Agriculture. Contact: Bioneers Conf., 901 W. San school IPM trapping system worked Mateo Rd., Suite L, Santa Fe, NM 87505; 505/986- 0366; www.bioneers.org well until a hurricane blew in a new Mosquito Monitor Benedict Pagac (US Army, Bldg November 1, 2003. Deadline for Registration 4411 Llewellyn Ave, Fort George G. Course in Organic Farming. Contact: UC Santa Meade, MD) talked about monitor- Cruz, 831/459-4140; www.ucsc.edu/casfs/training ing mosquitoes. The U.S. Dept. of November 2-6, 2003. Organic Agriculture Defense monitors mosquitoes using Conference. Denver, CO. Contact: Jane Sooby, CDC-type black plastic oviposition [email protected]; www.asa-cssa-sssa.org/anmeet/ cups containing aged water and red velour egg deposition strips at November 3-6, 2003. 10th Annual Methyl Bromide 45 mostly Army installations in the Alternatives Outreach Conference. San Diego, CA. northeast and Washington D.C. Contact:MBAO, PMB #345, 7084 N. Cedar Ave., This surveillance method has Fresno, CA 93720; www.mbao.org proven to be a simple and economi- November 5-7, 2003. California Nonpoint Source cal tool in documenting the spread Pollution Conf. Ventura, CA. Contact: S. Ziegler, of non-native, container breeding EPA Reg. 9, 75 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, CA mosquito species over a large geo- 94105; 415/972-3399. email [email protected] graphic area. Cups were checked weekly, and the red valour strips November 10-12, 2003. Crop Science and were examined microscopically (6X- Technology. British Crop Protection Council. Glasgow, Scotland. Contact: www.bcpc.org Mosquito Magnet Liberty trap 30X) for eggs. Strips with eggs were placed into individual mosquito November 18-21, 2003. British Crop Protection breeders, and adults were identi- Conf. Brighton, UK. Contact: www.bcpc.org

IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 17 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Conference Notes

trap, Aubuchon compared four fly and mosquito catches. When different bulbs at a time in one mosquitoes are released into a room trapping device; 1-way ANOVA and the BugJammer sound button showed that light provided the is turned on, mosquitoes are readily main trapping effect. UV light collected on the trap surface. (high UV, low blue-green) Sound must be carefully inte- attracted more flies (131,695) grated with other components, such and a higher percentage of as visual stimuli. For example, males than cool and warm heart beat sounds with white plas- white fluorescents (high blue- tic traps capture horse flies. green, low UV). Overall, female However, no horse flies are trapped flies were more attracted to light if black plastic is used. Factors than males. But for restaurants such as the amount of glue on the the bottom line is the total fly sticky part of the trap also need catch. Control was not 100%, consideration. Indeed, a gooey because not all the flies flew to BugJammer trap caught 281 stable A treehole mosquito, Aedes sp. the light. flies, versus 39 for an Olson trap with less glue, although customers Traps With a Heart find it more convenient to use the fied and counted. This monitoring Beat less gooey trap. system documented the northward In an indoor test in a USDA sta- and eastward spread of the Asian Jerome Hogsette, USDA-ARS, PO ble fly colony room with 50 male tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, Box 14565, Gainesville, FL) talked and 50 female house flies released, from Houston, TX, in 1984. Similarly, about fly traps. Visual traps have traps with the sound caught the the southward and westward spread been used in west Florida to trap most house flies.However, in a com- of Ochlerotatus japonicus from Ocean stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans, mercial test, flies buzzed around County, NJ, and Suffolk County, since at least the 1930s. Even the trap and few were caught; NY, in 1998 was documented. on remote ranges, the economic whereas a light trap did very well. threshold for cattle is 5 flies/leg, In a horse paddock experiment Light Traps and some kind of fly control is with stable flies and a prototype needed. Stable flies are attracted outer sticky glue board, Trap 1 (low In late summer, particularly to high contrast traps. Box trap fly density) was set in the open and in restaurants, the $407 billion, research in the 1960s and 1980s Trap 2 (high fly density) was 100 m 878,000 unit U.S. food industry faces revealed this tendency when traps (328 ft) away near a feed area problems with nuisance flies, and “ were tested on a beach with lots of where there was large numbers of as the food industry grows, increas- sunlight and shadows. However, the flies. Sound activation was rotated ing numbers of flies are produced,” same box traps were less effective between the traps, only one trap at said Matthew Aubuchon (Univ of against stable flies further inland. a time had sound. BugJammer Florida, Bldg 970 Natural Area Drive, traps caught three fly species: Gainesville, FL). Electrocution traps The original white fiberglass or Williams trap that evolved from house flies, horn flies and stable are considered unsanitary, as the flies. With just the high density trap insects explode. But traps emitting this research has been used com- mercially for two decades. Olson activated, the catch was 41% house ultraviolet (UV) light and catching flies. With only the low density trap flies on glue boards are acceptable. Products (Medina, OH) makes cylin- drical, removable Stiky Sleeves that activated, the catch was 16-24% House flies show sensitivity peaks to house flies. The stable fly catch was go around the fiberglass and catch 340-350 nm (UV) and 480-510 nm highest (443) with the low density house flies as well as biting flies. (green-blue) light. Face flies show trap activated. With just the high Traps using sound are being sensitivity peaks to 360 nm (UV) and density trap emitting, the stable fly tried in bakeries and grocery stores, 490 nm (blue-green) light. The 330 catch was halved. With horn flies, nm wavelength produces a startle but their efficacy is unknown, said there was little difference with the response in flies. Brighter UV light Hogsette. The BugJammer trap, sound on or off. catches more flies than dim UV light. emulates a heart beat. A computer BugJammer traps are available in Eight hour fly-catching assays chip can be programmed to produce the SkyMall catalogs found on most conducted in enclosed structures the heartbeat sound of a dog or airlines; most people do not like to with 7-10 day old flies (younger flies human. The trap housing vibrates see insect bodies, so a shroud is are also being assayed) compared to recorded dog heart beat sounds; needed on commercial traps for the cool white, warm white and UV the vibrations can be felt, but only general public. Hogsette is toying light bulbs with a control. Using heard very close to the trap. with the idea of a trap that can be B&G matrix traps (B&G Equipment BugJammer traps can be inte- customized for different fly and mos- Co, 135 Region South Dr, Jackson grated with heat-producing units, quito hosts with a dial for different GA) with glue boards behind the carbon dioxide, or light to increase heart beats.

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IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 20 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 21 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 22 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 IPM Practitioner, XXV(7/8) July/August 2003 23 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 Printed with vegetable-based inks On Processed Chlorine-free paper 100% post-Consumer Waste content

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