Why do we survey biological control release sites? Survey Objectives Sampling 1. determine if insects are established at Site data is important because it reveals characteristics scientists use to the release site compare diverse sites and learn which characteristics potentially lead to successful insect establishment. Site data includes information like 2. measure the general size of biocontrol which weeds are present, how much it rains each year, who owns the agent population land, vegetation type (grassland, shrubland, cropland, coniferous forest, 3. assess insectsʼ spread beyond the initial deciduous forest, riparian area, other), topography (valley bottom, release site ridgetop, hillside with % slope), burn or treatment history, and the approximate size of target weed population (acres). 4. quantify target weed species population Establish or confirm the release site and flag it. Record GPS coordi- and vegetation response at release site nates and legal description. All survey activities originate from these spotted knapweed spotted knapweed spotted knapweed leafy spurge Dalmatian toadflax (measure changes over time) root moth root weevil flower weevil root and foliage weevils stem-mining weevil coordinates. Set up a photo point (see survey activities). Agapeta Cyphocleonus Larinus minutus Aphthona flava, Mecinus janthinus 5. note site characteristics at each location zoegana achates A. nigriscutis, A. lacertosa (identify characteristics which lead to insect Measuring Noxious Weed Population population establishment/effectiveness) Three measuring activities are detailed on accompanying flash cards. What tools do we need? Students will learn how to use two common measuring tools, the hoop Daubenmire frame (20 x 50cm) 6. establish permanent photo points at each ring to measure knapweed populations and the Daubenmire 20 x 50 cm release site (displays weed population frame to measure leafy spurge and Dalmatian toadflax. changes over time) ~1-meter (36”) diameter hoop ring Measuring Insect Population Photo Sweep Net Point Site Objectives Measuring insect populations requires a different method for each Flags insect species surveyed. Insects are not all alike. They are not visible Choosing a site to monitor may be as easy at all times of the year, nor are they visible at the same time of year as going to sites where releases have been every year. The time of year insects are visible is affected by biology, What do we look at? Why? Camera made in the past or starting a new site. Your climate, precipitation, temperature, and site characteristics. Learn Site Characteristics Invasion by plants such as spotted knapweed, leafy county weed coordinator will know where measuring methods using the survey activity flash cards for knapweed, spurge, and Dalmatian toadflax, has been expanding these sites are and where you can find spurge, and toadflax; and the Advanced Data Collection flash card. Insect Population and intensifying throughout the western United States. access. It is best to take the person who Weed Population Biological control agents are one of the tools available released the insects with you to show you the Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Campaign Photo Points to help manage these weeds. Once insects are released, exact release location. The release location Montana State University Dept. of Land Resources and follow-up surveys help us know if they survived and are is where you will set up and flag your photo Environmental Sciences in cooperation with United States GPS coordinates points, and collect your data year after year. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health doing their job, reducing weed populations. Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine When and what do we look for at release sites? Collect Site Data Advanced Data Collection (Create your form for the !eld and collect this information) Site Characteristics Observer (your name) ______Advanced Vegetation Cover Todayʼs date ______Measure vegetation in percentage of 100% cover inside the frame (round to 5%). Landowner (manager) ______“T” means trace amounts less than 5% Permanent monitoring site? ___Yes ___ No frame (Daubenmire size, or loop diameter) Site name ______target weed percentage inside frame Target weed ______other weed percentages by species Target biocontrol agent ______forb/shrub percentages Insect stage of growth ______grass percentages Location: Sec._____ Township____ Range____ bare ground/plant litter percentage leafy spurge Previous # of insects by species releases/dates Dalmatian toadflax spotted knapweed root and foliage weevils ______stem-mining weevil flower weevil Aphthona flava, ______Mecinus janthinus Advanced Target Weed Size/Density Larinus minutus A. nigriscutis, A. lacertosa ______Hill Aspect (slope direction) ______frame (which frame - Daubenmire size or loop diameter) Topographic Type (valley bottom, ridgetop, hill- number of stems inside the frame Spotted knapweed Leafy spurge flea beetle Dalmatian toadflax side, other) ______height of tallest stems (cm) inside the frame flower weevil The Aphthona species complex consists of six stem-mining weevil Vegetation Type (shrubland, grassland, cropland, coniferous forest, deciduous forest, riparian, other The Larinus minutus weevil is an abundant different species all with a smaller biology. The Adult weevils are small, somewhat elongated ______biological control agent that can utilize larval stage is the most destructive whereby the Advanced Biological Control Agents larvae feed on fine and lateral spurge roots, bluish black weevils which emerge from last spotted, diffuse, and squarrose knapweeds. Sweep Site. In an area within the same weed infestation as the transect, identify 6 sites at least impairing the roots and preventing moisture and yearʼs Dalmatian toadflax stems in April-May. The insect overwinters as an adult, which is 15 meters away from the transect. Count the number of insects per 10 sweeps (Standing at one nutrient uptake. Additionally, the root-feeding PHOTO POINTS AND GPS long-living and emerges in the spring when location)? An estimate (visual) may be useful to count Dalmatian toadflax Repeat the 10 sweeps provides entry points for deleterious pathogens. Adults feed on leaves and stems before mat- Date______they begin to feed on knapweed foliage. ing and laying eggs inside new shoots which Site Name______and document the count six times moving at least 2 steps away from the first sweep location. Females produce between 28 and 130 They overwinter in the spurge roots as larvae which can be found from July to early spring of are at least 1 mm (0.04 inches) in diameter. Forest/District/County______eggs which they lay in clusters in open The Advanced Data Collection conforms and is useful when shared with other land management the following year. Adults are active into July. The eggs hatch flowers. and larvae tunnel within the stem as they Photo # Degree Comments agencies. Advanced Data Collection concepts were developed by Idaho Department of Agricul- ture and recommended by U.S. Forest Service scientific reviewers for targeted youth audiences. Pupation occurs in the soil near the plant with feed, moving no more than .5 cm (1.2 inches) ______The hatching larvae feed on seeds and Activities for leafy spurge, spotted knapweed and Dalmatian toadflax monitoring were developed adult emergence occurring in June, July, and from where the egg was laid before pupating. ______receptacle tissues and later construct by Missoula County Weed District. August. Adult feeding damages the host and ______cocoons within the seedheads using Larval mining impacts the plants by causing ______pappus hairs. After four weeks, pupation reduces the plantʼs ability to make sugars for root reserves. The effective species are typically best premature wilting of shoots and suppression ______occurs within this cocoon. Emerging adults flower formation. They overwinter as adults ______Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Campaign chew a characteristic round hole in the top suited for dry sites with a large amount of sun exposure. Recent studies suggest that these inside their pupation chamber. The effects Montana State University Dept. of Land Resources and of the cocoon that is visible when viewed of the weevil on the plant are reportedly GPS site code ______Environmental Sciences in cooperation with from above. insects can be used as a “bio-herbicide” in riparian areas as well. Avoid releases in areas enhanced under drought stress. (your initials, kw03, # starting with 1 at first site) United States Department of Agriculture with high ant or grasshooper populations. Latitude______Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Longitude______Elevation______Plant Protection and Quarantine How to survey leafy spurge/Dalmatian toadflax biocontrol agents! Collect Site Data Insect Population ____Check for 5-minute timed plot (Mecinus) (Create your form for the !eld and collect this information) Species Adults Feeding Damage Site Characteristics Observer (your name) ______Date #Observed #Collected None Occasional Widespread Todayʼs date ______Aphthona lacertosa Landowner (manager) ______Aphthona nigriscutis What tools do we need? Permanent monitoring site? ___Yes ___ No Site name ______Mecinus janthinus Photo Point Daubenmire frame Target weed ______(20 x 50cm) Target biocontrol agent ______leafy spurge ___Dalmatian toadflax Flags Insect stage of growth ______Weed Population Location: Sec._____ Township____ Range____ Distance from release point North East South West Other Establish Previous # of insects by species releases/dates ______leafy spurge root/foliage weevils Dalmatian toadflax permanent photo ______Number of stems Aphthona flava, stem-mining weevil ______points centered 1 meter Average height A. nigriscutis, A. lacertosa Mecinus janthinus in each “miniplot”. ______Take photos from Hill Aspect (slope direction) ______Percent Cover STEP One (see Why do we survey biological control agents). the plot center, two Camera Topographic Type (valley bottom, ridgetop, hill- side, other) ______Number of stems Confirm the release site and flag it. Set up a photo point. showing landmarks ______and four of weed Vegetation Type (shrubland, grassland, cropland, 3 meter ______Average height Fill in “Site Characteristics” on the Card backside. populations, using coniferous forest, deciduous forest, riparian, other ______cardinal directions ______Percent Cover where possible. STEP Two. Sweep Net ______Number of stems Measure leafy spurge along four transects radiating out from PHOTO POINTS AND GPS 5 meter Average height STEP Four. ______the release point. Where possible, place transects in cardinal Date______Site Name______Collect Aphthona spp. by sweep netting the adult ______Percent Cover directions (0, 90, 180 and 270 degrees). Drop the Dauben- Forest/District/County______mire frame (20 x 50 cm) at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 meters (total 20 beetles, where possible, along four 50-meter Number of stems transects surrounding the insect release site at ______measurement points per “mini-plot”) along each transect. Photo # Degree Comments 7 meter ______Average height Collect leafy spurge plant measurements: cardinal directions where possible. Make four ______sweeps beginning one meter from the release number of leafy spurge stems - (example, 14) ______Percent Cover point and repeated at two-meter intervals until five ______avereage leafy spurge plant height - (example, 4.5 cm) Number of stems percent of canopy covered by leafy spurge - (ex, 6%) points have been sampled per transect. Count the ______adult Aphthona spp. after each four-sweep sample. ______9 meter ______Average height ______Percent Cover STEP Three. Count Mecinus janthinus adults by observation. GPS site code ______Use the Alien Insect Flash Cards to identify the leafy spurge Observe the insects for five minutes at each “mini-plot” (your initials, kw03, # starting with 1 at first site) Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Campaign biological control agents: Aphthona flava, A. nigriscutis, and along all four transects. For more advanced monitoring Latitude______Montana State University Dept. of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences A. lacertosa; or Dalmatian toadflax agent Mecinus janthinus. documentation go to the Advanced Data Collection flash card. Longitude______in cooperation with United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Elevation______Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine How to survey spotted knapweed biological control agents! Collect Site Data Insect Population (Create your form for the !eld and collect this information) Species Larvae Adults Site Characteristics Observer (your name) ______Date #roots dissected # infested Date #moths observed #weevils collected Todayʼs date ______Agapeta zoegana What tools do we need? Landowner (manager) ______Cyphocleonus achates Permanent monitoring site? ___Yes ___ No Site name ______Larinus minutus Photo Point Target weed ______Flags ~1-meter (36 inch) Target biocontrol agent ______Insect stage of growth ______Weed Population Spotted Knapweed Establish permanent diameter hoop ring Location: Sec._____ Township____ Range____ Transect #1 Transect #2 Transect #3 Transect #4 spotted knapweed photo points centered Previous # of insects by species releases/dates in each “miniplot”. Take ______root moth spotted knapweed spotted knapweed Camera ______photos from the plot ______Agapeta zoegana root weevil flower weevil Percent of ground covered by spotted knapweed Cyphocleonus Larinus minutus center, two showing ______landmarks and four of achates Hill Aspect (slope direction) ______STEP One weed populations. Topographic Type (valley bottom, ridgetop, hill- Average spotted knapweed plant height Confirm the insect release site and flag it. Set up photo side, other) ______points. Fill in “Site Characteristics” on the Card backside. STEP Four. Vegetation Type (shrubland, grassland, cropland, Total # of mature spotted knapweed plants Collect Agapeta zoegana and Cyphocleonus achates coniferous forest, deciduous forest, riparian, other ______STEP Two. at the larval stage and/or pupal stage by digging and Sweep Net Advanced Data Collection: Use this card to experience using the loop Spotted knapweed population is measured by dropping a dissecting 20 large-rooted (7mm or greater diameter for measuring and the sweep net for collecting and counting insects. ~1-meter (36”) diameter hoop ring at intervals of 2 and 9 at the root crown) plants. Always Wear gloves! PHOTO POINTS AND GPS Use the Advanced Data Collection Card instructions for collection and Date______meters (5ʼ and 25ʼ) along four transects radiating out from Sample for adults later in the summer. Sample Agapeta Site Name______documentation when you want your data to conform with and be useful plot center. Where possible, run transects in cardinal (0, adults visually by walking slowly along six 50-meter Forest/District/County______to other land management agencies. 90, 180 and 270 degrees) directions from plot center. transects surrounding the insect release point. Count Collect plant data at each “mini-plot” identified by the ring, Photo # Degree Comments moths that are observed along a meter swath on both along all four transects. ______sides of the transect line. View the Sweep Your World video percent of ground covered by the target weed ______and learn how to collect insects with a sweep net. Sample (spotted knapweed) - (example, 23%) ______Cyphocleonus adults by, where possible, sweep netting four average weed (knapweed) height - (example, 6.5 cm) ______50-meter transects radiating out from plot center. ______total number of mature weed (knapweed) plants - (14) Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Campaign ______Montana State University Dept. of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences Measure Larinus populations by sweep netting the adult beetles as in cooperation with United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health STEP Three. described for Cyphocleonus achates. The best time for measuring is GPS site code ______(your initials, kw03, # starting with 1 at first site) Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine Use the Alien Insect Flash Cards to identify three spotted during spotted knapweed bloom (typically late June to August). Latitude______knapweed biological control agents: Agapeta zoegana, Timing to find Dalmatian toadflax and leafy spurge bioagents is on the Longitude______Cyphocleonus achates, and Larinus minutus. “When and what do we look for at release sites?” flash card. Elevation______