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Current Research on Biological Control of Insects in the Midwest

At the annual meeting of the North Central Regional Committee on Arthropod Biological Control (NCR-125) in Grafton, Illinois in early October, state representatives reported on biological control activities in their states. Some of the many projects are summarized here. For further information contact the state representatives that are listed.

Illinois - Rob Weidenmann

• Several species and biotypes of gypsy moth microsporidia collected in Austria, Germany Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Poland and Czech Republic are being characterized to determine which is/are the most appropriate to introduce as permanent control agents of the gypsy moth in North America.
• The pine needle scale parasitoid Aphytis chilensis is attracted to floral volatiles of Dutch white clover, one of the only flowers blooming in the vicinity when parasitoids emerge in May. Specific volatiles might possibly be used to manipulate wasps for improved parasitism. Interplanting with clover may help conserve wasps in Christmas tree plantations.
• Weekly releases of the parasitoids Spalangia nigroaenea and Muscidifurax zaraptor at small owner-operated cattle feedlots in Indiana significantly reduced numbers of stable and house fly adults.

Indiana - Bob O'Neil and Cliff Sadof

• Foreign exploration for natural enemies of Colorado potato beetles continued, with visits to Bolivia and Columbia. A new species of parasitic mite, Chrysomelobia n. sp., that lives under the wing covers of the beetles was discovered in Honduras.
• Research on the mealybug destroyer shows that the beetles search for prey in a random fashion, so plant leaf area has an impact on how successful they are in finding enough food to complete their development.

Iowa - John Obrycki and Les Lewis (USDA)

• Over 600,000 leaf-feeding Galerucella beetles have been released in 11 Iowa counties during the past 5 years for control of purple loosestrife. Observations in 1998 showed that beetle densities are increasing and adults are dispersing throughout the release areas. Beetle feeding reduces flower production (as much as 80-90% at one site in northwest Iowa), but does not reduce below ground growth. A flower-feeding weevil and an aphid are also multiplying and dispersing following releases.
• Transgenic Bt corn pollen had significant negative effects on monarch butterfly and cecropia moth larvae in laboratory studies. Field studies showed enough corn pollen is deposited on milkweed plants adjacent to corn fields to kill young monarch larvae feeding on the plants.

Michigan - Doug Landis

• Since invading Michigan five years ago, the Asian lady beetle Harmonia axyridis has become the dominant lady beetle species, and may be contributing to the decline of three other native species.
• Purple loosestrife natural enemies are successfully established at 11 sites in Michigan, and the feeding of Galerucella beetles has resulted in significant reduction in plant height, flowering and density at over half of the sites that were monitored.
• In surveys of oak stands for gypsy moth virus and the fungus Entomophaga maimaiga, the virus was more common in heavily defoliated stands and the fungal pathogen was more common when gypsy moth populations were low.

Minnesota - Dave Ragsdale and George Heimpel

• Bioassay results show that the fungus Beauveria is better than oil, soap or azatin (neem) for conserving predators in interiorscapes.
• A classical biological control program began with exploration in Central Asia for new natural enemies of filth flies.
• Elm leaf beetle pupae under elm trees can be controlled with applications of Beauveria or Heterorhabditis nematodes, offering homeowners and park managers an alternative to conventional insecticides in recreational areas.

Missouri - Ben Puttler

• The USDA Biological Control of Insects Research Lab (BCIRL) is developing mass production and storage procedures for the two-spotted stink bug, a predator of Colorado potato beetle.

Nebraska - Bob Wright

• Total parasitization of the European corn borer in Nebraska was 16.6 and 17.7% during 1995 and 1996. The braconid Macrocentrus grandii (not previously reported from Nebraska) was recovered from 9-10% of the collected larvae and the ichneumonid Eriborus terebrans was recovered from about 7.5%.

Ohio - Dave Horn

• The predatory mite Typhlodromus pyri has been established on commercial apples in central Ohio, and hopefully will eventually provide more timely control of European red mite than does Neoseiulus fallacis.
• Coccinella septempunctata is the dominant lady beetle in both cultivated habitats and low vegetation in natural areas, while Harmonia axyridis has become the most common lady beetle in forested areas throughout Ohio.

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