Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Our project has successfully reached a diverse range of audiences through various outreach efforts and educational programs. We have targeted both the general public and specific scientific communities, ensuring that our work reaches those who can benefit most from our research and educational initiatives. General Public and K-12 Education We provided 20 outreach events with the WVU Insect Zoo, engaging over 300 citizens. These events aimed to educate and inspire the public, particularly focusing on K-12 students and families. Our outreach activities served to increase public understanding of insect diversity and their role in ecosystems, while also raising awareness about beneficial insects and invasive species. Scientific Community To engage with the scientific community and share our research findings, we delivered 6 research presentations to various scientific audiences. These presentations allowed us to disseminate our results and contribute to the broader scientific discourse in our field. Stakeholders and General Public We conducted 5 workshops or talks specifically designed for stakeholders and the general public. These events focused on practical applications of our research and its relevance to agriculture and ecosystem management.By targeting these diverse audiences, we ensured that our work reached both those who can directly apply our findings (such as farmers and land managers) and those who benefit from increased awareness and understanding of invasive pest management. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One graduate student was trained in the use of drones and sensors for aerial surveys of invasive plants, and aerial release of natural enemy insects and seed balls for integrated pest management (IPM) of mile-a-minute weeds. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results of this study have been disseminated via academic conferences (twoEntomological Society of America conferences), the West Virginia University Library Exhibit, and the West Virginia University Farm Field Day.In addition, we educated the general public about the use of integrated pest management for invasive plants via the WVU Insect Zoo outreach. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?For objective 1, the field experiments will be conducted at the research sites to determine the optimal concentration and amount of herbicide using drones.We will examine the spray droplets captured on the water-sensitive papers to measure droplet density, percent area coverage, and spray efficiency. In addition, we will calculate a relative mile-a-minute weed coverage compared to that in the control plot to determine the efficacy of aerial spray of herbicide by drones. Aerial surveys before and after aerial application of herbicide, aerial surveys with drones and sensors will be conducted to determine the effect of aerial herbicide applications on mile-a-minute weeds. For objective 2, we will design an experiment to determine the effect of an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to manage and prevent reinvasion of mile-a-minute weeds. The treatments will include control (no management), herbicide only, herbicide + natural enemy insect, herbicide + natural enemy insect+ native seed. All herbicides, natural enemy insects, and native seed balls will be applied or released aerially using drones. After aerial releases and applications of control measures, aerial surveys with drones will be conducted every two weeks until the end of the growing season.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
For objective 1, we selected research sites in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. To lay out the research plots, we conducted aerial surveys with drones and sensors. The aerial images were stitched to generate a composite image which then was used to locate patches of mile-a-minute weeds in each site. For objective 2, we developed native seed balls which will be used to prevent reinvasion of mile-a-minute weeds after initial control with herbicide. The balls were made of clay and native seeds of Canada goldenrod(Solidago canadensis L.).As arate of 0.45 kg/0.4 ha or 0.65 lb/acre (about 650,000 seeds) is expected for aerial release using drones, we developed different sizes and ratios of clay content to develop and test the germination rate of goldenrod seeds. We found that the seed ball with a diameter of 1 cm containing 50-60 seeds successfully germinated after aerial release.
Publications
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