University of Vermont ScholarWorks @ UVM Graduate College Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses 2019 Evaluation of candidate pheromone blends for mating disruption of the invasive swede midge (Contarinia nasturtii) Elisabeth Ann Hodgdon University of Vermont Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis Part of the Agriculture Commons, and the Entomology Commons Recommended Citation Hodgdon, Elisabeth Ann, "Evaluation of candidate pheromone blends for mating disruption of the invasive swede midge (Contarinia nasturtii)" (2019). Graduate College Dissertations and Theses. 1063. https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/1063 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Dissertations and Theses at ScholarWorks @ UVM. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate College Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ UVM. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. EVALUATION OF CANDIDATE PHEROMONE BLENDS FOR MATING DISRUPTION OF THE INVASIVE SWEDE MIDGE (CONTARINIA NASTURTII ) A Dissertation Presented by Elisabeth Ann Hodgdon to The Faculty of the Graduate College of The University of Vermont In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Specializing in Plant and Soil Science May, 2019 Defense Date: March 22, 2019 Dissertation Examination Committee: Yolanda H. Chen, Ph.D., Advisor Kimberly F. Wallin, Ph.D., Chairperson David S. Conner, Ph.D. Scott C. Merrill, Ph.D. Cynthia J. Forehand, Ph.D., Dean of the Graduate College ABSTRACT Swede midge ( Contarinia nasturtii , Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is a small invasive fly that is currently threatening Brassica vegetable and oilseed production in the Northeastern U.S. and Canada. Larvae feed on plant meristems, resulting in deformed leaves, stems, and heads.