Presentation to: Annual Meeting of the National Plant Board Current Status of the Kudzu Bug, Megacopta Mystic, Connecticut Acknowledgments 24 July 2012 cribraria, in North America
Wayne A. Gardner, Professor Department of Entomology John All University of Georgia University of Georgia Lisa Ames Georgia Dept of Agriculture Griffin Campus Chuck Bargeron Emory University Griffin, Georgia 30223 USA David Buntin USDA Forest Service 770‐228‐7341 Keith Douce USDA‐ARS [email protected] Wayne Gardner USDA‐APHIS‐PPQ Jim Hanula Clemson UiUniversit y Scott Horn NC State University Tracie Jenkins NC Dept of Agriculture Robert Kemerait Wingate University Joseph LaForest Virginia Tech Hal Peeler University of Georgia Auburn University Phillip Roberts College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Megacopta Working Group Dow AgroScience John Ruberson Florida Dept of Agriculture Paul Smith Mississippi State University Alton (Stormy) Sparks, Jr. Dan Suiter Clay Talton Michael Toews Yanzhou Zhang
The Insect Megacopta cribraria Initial Discovery Hemiptera: Plataspidae October 2009
A Development time from egg to Samples submitted to the UGA adult = 24 to 56 days. Homeowner Insect & Weed Diagnostics Laboratory. Numbers of eggs produced per female = 26 to 274 with 15 eggs per egg mass. October 28, 2009: Site visit to Jackson Co., GA, thousands of Eggs usually deposited in 2‐3 adult kudzu bugs on homes. parallel rows stuck black Upper images provided by Jeremy Greene, Clemson University substance deposited by female. Kudzu growing 30 m from homes harbored large numbers 5 nymphal instars. of adults and some late‐instar nymphs. Adult longevity = 23 to 77 days.
Overwinter as adults in groups Adults seeking overwintering usually under debris or under sites at the homes. bark. Megacopta cribraria deemed “a 2 to 2.5 overlapping serious home invader and generations observed in Eggs masses on kudzu potential legume pest.” Georgia; maybe 3 in 2012. plant stipules Confirmed in 9 counties Images by and courtesy of Daniel R. Suiter & Lisa Ames 2 (University of Georgia) & Center for Invasive Species and Image provided by Phillip Roberts Image provided by John Ruberson covering 7050 km Ecosystem Health, UGA (www.insectimages.org) University of Georgia University of Georgia
Range Expansion 2009 ‐ 2012 Origin of Introduction
Megacopta now confirmed in 8 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Native Range: Southeast Asia, Carolina, South Carolina, China, Japan, India, northern Tennessee, Virginia . Australian, Malaysia, etc..
Area Infested by Year: Genetic analyses (mtDNA) 2010: 98, 816 km2 (14x increase) show that insects in expanddded 2011: 188,577 km2 (41x inc) range are from SINGLE 2012: 417,025 km2 (59x inc) FEMALE ANCESTOR (GA1).
75% of additional area reported Genetic comparisons indicate in 2011 was in a northeasterly source of origin is Japan. direction; likely affected by weather (La Niña). Likely will NEVER know mode of introduction. 2012 reports from Mississippi likely due to hitchhiking.
Map compiled by Wayne A. Gardner, University of Georgia
1 Reported Host Plants in Expanded Range Impacts
Legumes Non‐Legumes
Kudzu Alligatorweed Kudzu Biomass Reduced (33% in Soybean Cocklebur one year’s growth). Lima Bean Cotton Pole/String/Green Bean Soybean Yield reduced an Fig average of 18% over 19 tests Lablab Bean Pine Trees conducted in GA and SC. American Wisteria Wheat Chinese Wisteria Loquat Edible Bean Yield? Japanese Wisteria Wild Blackberry Nuisance Pest in urban areas – American Yellowwood Satsuma mandarin abundance and activity of adults, Lespedeza Black Willow staining, odor. Peanut Localized Skin Reactions for Crimson Clover some individuals. Clover Alfalfa International Trade Images courtesy of Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, UGA Sicklepod www.insectimages.org Black Locust
Exporting Possibility for Classical Megacopta Biological Control
11 February 2012: Native predators in expanded Honduran inspectors discover 7 dead Megacopta adults in the bottom of a range have little impact shipping container of poultry meat products from Georgia. Inspectors had (generalists). previously found 2 dead adults in a container shipment of fertile chicken eggs from same Georgia facility. No native parasitoids known.
27 February 2012: Exotic enemies from native Honduran Servicio de Proteccion Agropecuaria (SEPA; Agricultural Protection range of pest best option. Service) halted all agricultural imports from Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina citing 11 February discovery. Egg parasitoid Paratelenomus saccharalis ideally suited for 29 February 2012: importation: wide distribution, Honduras North Carolina agricultural exports were added to the ban by the Honduran strong knowledge base, high 50.7% of Honduran imports SEPA. specificity. are from the United States. Paratelenomus saccharalis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) Primarily machinery, 01 March 2012: Currently in quarantine in transportation equipment, Honduran officials ease restrictions to begin inspecting and unloading individual Stoneville (USDA ARS). and agricultural products containers (primarily cotton) to support local industries. (cotton, poultry products). Release permit application in development.
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