Source: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA submitted to
ALTERNATIVE PEST MANAGEMENT TACTICS FOR ORNAMENTAL PLANTS IN FLORIDA LANDSCAPES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
REVISED
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1002506
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
FLA-APO-005308
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
May 30, 2014
Project End Date
May 29, 2019
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Osborne, LA.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
G022 MCCARTY HALL
GAINESVILLE,FL 32611
Performing Department
Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, Apopka
Non Technical Summary
Ornamental plants, including trees, shrubs and grasses are a critical component of urban landscapes, providing both beauty (aesthetic value) and functional value (e.g. turf for recreational activities). An economic impact study conducted by the University of Florida (Hodges et al. 2011) estimated value of Florida's ornamental horticultural industry at over $12 billion in 2010. These ornamental plants are attacked by many insects and related pests, that in turn require treatment with large quantities of chemical pesticides. In Florida, these pests include many invasive species that double as serious pests of major agricultural crops, such as citrus, and may spread to surrounding states. Several problems are associated with an overreliance on chemical insecticides to control ornamental plant pests; these include pest resistance, pest resurgence, negative impacts on beneficial species such as bees, and environmental pollution.This project seeks to improve methods of managing pests of ornamental plants in urban landscapes, including yards, parks, sports fields, cemeteries, botanical gardens, nurseries, medians, and roadsides where pest outbreaks occur. Research will be conducted on new plant protection products, including chemical and biological insecticides and beneficial insects that have potential to better manage invasive pests. Studies will be conducted in the laboratory and greenhouse as well as field sites such as plant nurseries and hotel grounds containing decorative ornamental plants. An important aspect will involve collaboration with University Extension and groups, such as the Center for Landscape Conservation and Ecology whose goal is to promote 'sustainable landscaping practices'. The goal is to conduct relevant research and deliver up to date information to the industry, which includes up to 60,000 landscape maintenance companies in Florida alone. Training of graduate students in related topics will occur at the Masters and PhD levels. Collaborative work will be conducted with the multistate Hatch Project #S1052: The Working Group on Improving Microbial Control of Arthropod Pests, of which the PI currently serves as chair.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
80%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2110530113025%
2162110113025%
2112199113025%
2152110113025%
Goals / Objectives
Develop and support integrated pest management (IPM) tactics for arthropod pests of ornamental plants, trees and shrubs.Evaluate new ornamental plant protection productsScreen non-target effects of insecticidesDevelop monitoring devices and traps for landscape insectsTest small replicated 'Pest Resistant Landscapes'Develop and provide educational tools on sustainable pest management for the Florida landscaping industryMentor students, collaborate with other scientists and obtain funding to support objectives
Project Methods
Evaluate new ornamental plant protection products Laboratory, greenhouse and nursery experiments will be conducted to evaluate various plant protection products through randomized and replicated trials. Tested products may include insecticides (chemical and biological/microbial) as well as arthropod biological control agents (predators and parasites) marketed as plant protection products. Where possible, I will partner with agrochemical companies (insecticides) and biological control suppliers (beneficial arthropods) to develop protocols and treatments for testing. A new funded project (supporting a Masters student in 2014/2015) will evaluate a KnockOut® rose IPM program for chilli thrips using several biorational insecticides and plant fertility management in a simulated nursery setting (collaborator Yan Chen, LSU). An additional project financially supported by the FNGLA will evaluate used coffee grounds (available FOC from coffee houses) to control cycad aulacaspis scale, an invasive pest on Cycas spp. (cooperators Lloyd Singleton, Juanita Popenoe, UF/IFAS Extension).Screen non-target effects of insecticides Studies testing the effect of group 4A insecticides on beneficial organisms will follow procedures recognized by the International Organization of Biological Control (IOBC) (Candolfi et al. 2000). Tier 1 testing (laboratory) and where possible tier 2 and 3 tests will be conducted using label rates (upper and lower range), ½ label rates and 1/10th label rates. Based on biological importance, parameters will evaluate both direct (% mortality) and indirect sub-lethal effects (pre-oviposition, fecundity and longevity). Comparisons will be made to toxic and least toxic standards. Tier 1 work has been completed on green lacewing (Arthurs et al. unpublished).Develop monitoring devices and traps for landscape insectsStudies will continue to optimize the 'lovebug trap' for an exotic fly species that is commonly found alongside roadways in Florida and surrounding state and creates a nuisance for motorists. Using phenylacetaldehyde (a potent lure) and bright yellow or white materials (visually most attractive to the fly) (Arthurs et al. 2012; 2013) we will test commercial, modified commercial and potentially completely new traps for their effectiveness. Other aspects such as trap location and height need to be investigated in replicated field tests in different locations. We hope to find something that will be useful for monitoring and controlling flies in areas where they are of maximum nuisance, such as public events. Studies will continue with a PhD student (Tofangsazi) to develop a sex-pheromone based trap for a turfgrass caterpillar pest common in Florida lawns and sod farms. Two of the three major pheromone components have been identified (cooperator Ron Cherry, Everglades Research and Education Center; Ashraf El-Sayed, Plant and Food Research, New Zealand). Test small replicated 'Pest Resistant Landscapes' The goal is to compare different landscape designs for pest occurrence and severity, using pest resistant and susceptible varieties. There may be possibility to work with demonstration landscapes being installed by Environmental Horticulture Landscape Unit at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. Visitors to the Landscape Unit including student, extension agents and growers, will benefit from education opportunities at the site. It will be necessary to obtain financial support to support labor requirements of this project. Develop and provide educational tools on sustainable pest management for the Florida landscaping industryTo meet my extension responsibilities (30% FTE) I will develop and provide various educational products for University extension agents, professional landscapers, schools, homeowner gardeners and other parties interested in landscape pests in Florida. This effort includes giving presentations to at Extension organized field days and pest management updates (where CEU credits may be obtained), publishing pest-related articles on the University of Florida IFAS Extension Electronic Data Information Source(http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/) or trade press, and responding to phone calls, emails and clinic walk is and other enquiries in a timely manner. Where possible, I will partner with the Center for Landscape Conservation and Ecology (CLCE) of which I am a faculty member to promote sustainable landscaping practices as relates to pests and diseases in urban landscapes. I will provide instruction to the IFAS Pest Management University https://pmu.ifas.ufl.edu/ located at Apopka, FL, whose goal is to support the training the pest control industry(collaborate with Eileen Buss and Faith Oi at the University of Florida). In an attempt to document impact, I will conduct simple surveys to determine whether knowledge gain was imparted and whether trainees changed their practices as a results of various training efforts.Mentor students, collaborate with other scientists and obtain funding to support objectivesTo achieve these and additional objectives, funding will be sought from Federal, State and Industry sources to hire postdocs, students, and others technical staff. I will collaborate with other scientists in the southeast region. I serve as chair of a multistate USDA working group: S1052: The Working Group on Improving Microbial Control of Arthropod Pests, which currently has 25 participants listed http://nimss.umd.edu/homepages/home.cfm?trackID=14196.

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Pest control operators, local garden clubs and extension agents. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Our distribution and release of a parasitoid has been so effective managing the target pest there is no need to apply pesticides for their management and this little interest by our stakeholders. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will evaluate the use of two new predatory beetles for managing exotic whiteflies in the landscape. We will use a combination of field releases and or banker plants to establish these beetles in infesteed landscapes. We will also train local homeowners and pest control operators on how to implement IPM programs in the landscape. This will be a series of 3 courses on Palm Beach Island starting in February 2018.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We demonstrated that an insect pathogen and insect growther regulator can be used in conjuction to manage an invasive whitefly species in the landscape.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2018 Citation: Kumar V., A. Francis, P. Avery, C. L. McKenzie and L. S. Osborne. 2018. Assessing compatibility of Isaria fumosorosea and buprofezin for mitigation of Aleurodicus rugioperculatus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) - a new invasive pest in the Florida landscape. Journal of Economic Entomology. (In review).


Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Extension agents and pest managment companies. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One In-service training was held to train extension agents.We involved extension agents for surveying whitefly species in other parts of Florida. In the second half of 2016, we spent about six weeks in organizing an in-service training and preparing whitefly extension mini kits and pictorial manuals. In-service training and pictorial manuals provide information on the most prevalent whitefly species and natural enemies and any potential upcoming invaders in Florida. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Continue to evaluate biological control tactics for the management of invasive whitefly species. We will publish PowerPoint presentations that can be used for educational purposes. They will be in Spanish and English. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue to evaluate biological control tactics for the managment of invasive whitefly species. We will publish PowerPoint presentaions that can be used for educational purposes. They will be in Spanish and English.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? I joined this project late but will report work done that address the goals of this project.have just become part of this project.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Ahmed MZ, Francis A, Evans G, Rohrig E, Osborne L, Mannion CM (2016) Genetic and behavioral differentiation between two closely related whitefly parasitoids. (In preparation)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Ahmed MZ, Antonio F, Rohrig E, Osborne L, Mannion, CM (2016) Identification, movement and distribution of a new parasitoid of ficus whitefly. (ready for submission)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Ahmed MZ, Mannion C, Osborne, L. Rohrig, E., Francis, A., Stocks, I, and McKenzie, C. (2015) Whitefly pictorial manual not all whiteflies are the same. UF-IFAS-TREC
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Ahmed MZ, Mannion C, Osborne, L. (2015) Natural enemies of ficus whitefly, a new pest in South Florida. (ready for submission as EDIS publication, University of Florida)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Ahmed MZ, Antonio F, Osborne L, Mannion, CM (2016) Movement and distribution of a new parasitoid of ficus whitefly. ESA Southeastern Branch, March 13-15, Raleigh, North Carolina, US
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Ahmed MZ, Antonio F, Evans G, Rohrig E, Osborne L, Mannion, CM (2016) Genetic and behavioral differentiation between two closely related whitefly parasitoids. XXV ICE and ESA, September 25-30, Orlando, Florida USA


Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Extension faculty, Master Gardeners, professional landscapers, pest control operatprs, homeowners and schools. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Objective #6. Hosted 3 visiting scientists from Pakistan and China (2). They learned techniques to take back to their countries. Graduate 1 MS and 1 PhD student 1 high school student conducted researchwhch led to winning regional category of science fair (topic= botanical pesticides) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Objective#5, Provided 9 presentations, workshops and other training events.Provided support via plant clinic, email, phone enquiries, walk in, listserve andother means What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective #1. Published 2peer reviewed journal article and 4 reports in Arthropod Management Tests (open access) Objective #2. Published 1peer reviewed journal article Objective #3. Published 1peer reviewed journal article Objective #5, Provided 9 presentations, workshops and other training events.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Dara S.K., Barringer L., Arthurs S.P. 2015. Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae): A new invasive pest in the United States. Journal of Integrated Pest Management 6(1): 20; DOI: 10.1093/jipm/pmv021
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Arthurs S.P., Cherry R.H. 2015. Trap design for lovebugs, Plecia nearctica (Diptera: Bibionidae). Florida Entomologist 98: 892-898.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Tofangsazi N., Cherry R., Beeson R., Arthurs S.P. 2015. Concentration-response relationships and residual activity of insecticides to control Herpetogramma phaeopteralis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in St. Augustinegrass. Journal of Economic Entomology 108: 730-735.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Chong J.C., Aristiz�bal L.F., Arthurs S.P. 2015. Biology and management of Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on ornamental plants. Journal of Integrated Pest Management 6(1):5 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmv004
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Aristiz�bal L.F., Jim�nez M., Bustillo A.E., Trujillo H.I., Arthurs, S.P. 2015. Monitoring coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) populations with alcohol-based funnel traps in coffee farms in Colombia. Florida Entomologist 98: 388-390.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Soares A., Quintela E.D., Mascarin G.M., Arthurs S.P. 2015. Effect of temperature on the development and feeding behavior of Acanthoscelides obtectus (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) on dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Journal of Stored Products Research 61: 90-96.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Aristizabal, L.S. Integrated management of chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), on ornamental roses. Master of Science Thesis, University of Florida
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Entomological Society of America Meeting, Sod webworms: Distribution, biology and management, Minneapolis, MN
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Florida Entomological Society meeting, Do-It-Yourself Insect Pest Traps, Sanibel Harbor, FL


Progress 05/30/14 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Hosted 4 visiting foreign scholars in my lab in 2014; from Mexico, Pakistan, and China (2).The outcome is that these scholars are being trained in techniques that they can transfer to their countries. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Made 12 presentations to user groups in 2014 (260 + people) What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? I have many outreach and research activities planned

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Evaluated various insecticides against a range of pests of ornamental plants in Florida. These trials were reported on Arthropod Management Tests database. The outcome contributes to knowledge of pesticide efficacy. Successfully tested traps for invasive fly, Plecia neartctica at 2 locations. 768 volunteer hours contributed in this CRIS 2 research reports to chemical companies.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Tofangsazi(g), N., Cherry, R., Meagher, R., and Arthurs, S.P. Tropical sod webworm (Lepidoptera: Crambidae): a pest of warm season turfgrasses. Journal of Integrated Pest Management, 2014, 5(4), 1-8
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Cherry, R., Lu, H., and Arthurs, S. Effect of temperature on resistance of St Augustinegrass to southern chinch bug (Hemiptera: Blissidae). Journal of Entomological Science 49, (2014) 369-372.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Marques, M.A., Quintela, E.D., Mascarin, G.M., Fernandes, P.M., and Arthurs, S.P. Management of Bemisia tabaci Biotype B with botanical and mineral oils. Crop Protection 66, (2014) 127-132.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Tofangsazi(g), N., Cherry, R., and Arthurs, S.P. Susceptibility of tropical sod webworm (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae). Journal of Applied Entomology 138, 2014, 656-661.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Mascarin, G.M., Kobori, N.N., Quintela E.D., Arthurs, S.P., and J�nior, I.D. Toxicity of non-ionic surfactants and interactions with fungal entomopathogens toward Bemisia tabaci biotype B. BioControl, 59, 2014, 111-123.