Novel Techniques for Evaluating the Potential Host
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NOVEL TECHNIQUES FOR EVALUATING THE POTENTIAL HOST RANGE OF CANDIDATE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT TRISSOLCUS JAPONICUS (HYMENOPTERA: PLATYGASTRIDAE) by Sean M. Boyle A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the University of Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Entomology Fall 2017 © 2017 Sean M. Boyle All Rights Reserved NOVEL TECHNIQUES FOR EVALUATING THE POTENTIAL HOST RANGE OF CANDIDATE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT TRISSOLCUS JAPONICUS (HYMENOPTERA: PLATYGASTRIDAE) by Sean M. Boyle Approved: __________________________________________________________ Judith Hough-Goldstein, Ph.D. Professor in charge of thesis on behalf of the Advisory Committee Approved: __________________________________________________________ Jacob Bowman, Ph.D. Chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology Approved: __________________________________________________________ Mark Rieger, Ph.D. Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Approved: __________________________________________________________ Ann L. Ardis, Ph.D. Senior Vice Provost for Graduate and Professional Education ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my two co-advisors, Dr. Judy Hough-Goldstein and Dr. Kim Hoelmer, for their unwavering support and guidance, as well as for giving me the opportunity to pursue my graduate degree. I would also like to acknowledge my committee members, Dr. Don Weber and Dr. Doug Tallamy, for providing their abundant knowledge and unique perspectives to this project. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the people at the USDA-ARS Beneficial Insects Introductory Research Unit, especially Kathy Tatman, Patty Stout, and all the BMSB RSAs, whose efforts facilitated the success of my laboratory experiments and field research. To all the professors, staff, and fellow graduate students in the ENWC department, thank you for your ever-present enthusiasm and encouragement. You have made the past two years truly enjoyable. Finally, I am forever grateful for the endless love and support from my family and friends. I cannot thank you enough for being such an incredible source of motivation and strength throughout this experience. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................... vi LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................... vii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1 USING KAIROMONES AS A HOST RANGE EVALUATION TOOL .......... 1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Materials and Methods ............................................................................... 5 1.2.1 Insects ............................................................................................ 5 1.2.2 Plants .............................................................................................. 6 1.2.3 Leaf Surface Contamination by Stink Bug Footprints ................... 7 1.2.4 Bioassay Procedure ........................................................................ 7 1.2.5 Statistical Analysis ......................................................................... 9 1.3 Results ...................................................................................................... 10 1.3.1 Residence Time ............................................................................ 10 1.3.2 Linear Walking Velocity .............................................................. 11 1.3.3 Angular Walking Velocity ........................................................... 13 1.4 Discussion ................................................................................................ 15 2 PARENTAL HOST SPECIES INFLUENCES ON THE HOST- FORAGING PREFERENCES OF TRISSOLCUS JAPONICUS (HYMENOPTERA: PLATYGASTRIDAE) .................................................... 21 2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 21 2.2 Materials and Methods ............................................................................. 27 2.2.1 Insects .......................................................................................... 27 2.2.2 Plants ............................................................................................ 29 2.2.3 Kairomone Contamination of Leaf Surfaces ............................... 29 2.2.4 Behavioral Bioassay Procedure ................................................... 30 2.2.5 No-Choice Tests ........................................................................... 32 2.2.6 Statistical Analysis ....................................................................... 33 iv 2.3 Results ...................................................................................................... 34 2.3.1 Residence Time ............................................................................ 34 2.3.2 Linear Walking Velocity .............................................................. 36 2.3.3 Angular Walking Velocity ........................................................... 38 2.3.4 No-Choice Parasitism Rates ........................................................ 39 2.3.5 Exposed Egg Masses .................................................................... 40 2.3.6 Parasitoid Size .............................................................................. 41 2.3.7 Emergence from Parasitized Egg Masses .................................... 42 2.3.8 Parasitoid Development Time ...................................................... 43 2.4 Discussion ................................................................................................ 44 3 DETERMINING HABITAT OVERLAP BETWEEN HALYOMORPHA HALYS AND PODISUS MACULIVENTRIS IN NORTHERN DELAWARE . 53 3.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 53 3.2 Materials and Methods ............................................................................. 56 3.2.1 Trap Design and Deployment ...................................................... 56 3.2.2 Study Sites ................................................................................... 57 3.2.3 Statistical Analysis ....................................................................... 59 3.3 Results ...................................................................................................... 61 3.3.1 2016.............................................................................................. 62 3.3.1.1 Habitat ........................................................................... 62 3.3.1.2 Sampling Period ............................................................ 63 3.3.1.3 Habitat, Sampling Period, and Species ......................... 64 3.3.2 2017.............................................................................................. 65 3.3.2.1 Habitat ........................................................................... 66 3.3.2.2 Sampling Period ............................................................ 66 3.3.2.3 Habitat, Sampling Period, and Species ......................... 68 3.4 Discussion ................................................................................................ 68 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................. 73 v LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1: Total number of egg masses parasitized, percent eggs parasitized and mean percentages (± standard deviation) of all exposed egg mass outcomes for each treatment (n = 25) in no-choice tests. Asterisks indicate significant differences between exposed egg mass species treatments that share the same parasitoid strain (Fisher’s Exact test/ Bonferroni correction, *P < 0.0125; Tukey’s HSD **P < 0.05) ............. 40 Table 2.2: Mean right hind tibia (RHT) length and weight (± standard deviation) of H and P strain T. japonicus used in no-choice tests. ........................... 41 Table 2.3: Mean percentage of emerged T. japonicus (± standard deviation), percentage suitability, and mean development time for T. japonicus per parasitized egg mass in no-choice tests. Asterisks indicate significant differences between P-strain treatments (Fisher’s Exact test/ Bonferroni correction, *P < 0.0125; Tukey’s HSD **P < 0.05) ..... 44 Table 3.1: 2016 and 2017 H. halys and P. maculiventris captures in the traps of each habitat per sampling period. Letters indicate significantly different spring capture totals between habitat treatments for each species in the same year (Tukey’s HSD, P < 0.05). ................................ 61 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1: Experimental set up of camera recording T. japonicus within the arena. Monitor displays EthoVision XT tracking and measurement variables. .................................................................................................... 9 Figure 1.2: Mean residence of T. japonicus on leaf substrates. Bars indicate ± SE. Shared number of asterisks indicates no significant difference between leaf substrate treatment means (Tukey’s HSD, α = 0.05). Letters show significantly different kairomone treatment means within each leaf substrate treatment (Tukey’s HSD, α = 0.05). ......................................... 11 Figure 1.3: Mean linear walking velocity of T. japonicus on leaf