Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: R. Miller continued to survey invasive ants on the islands of Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and Rota in the Mariana Islands during 2011. This activity is part of an ongoing USDA-APHIS-CAPS funded project on the surveillance of Wasmannia auropunctata and Solenopsis invicta on Guam and other Mariana Islands. Past attempts to introduce the aphelinid parasitoid, Coccobius fulvus, and more recent attempts to introduce Aphytis lignanensis, also an aphelinid, have failed. Laboratory colonies have been lost repeatedly because field collected CAS always harbor undetectable R. lophanthae eggs and 1st instar larvae hidden beneath female scale covers. Current work is aimed at establishing a lab culture of CAS devoid of predators so that we can raise parasitoids. While the lack of virulence of fungal strains imported from New Zealand is still unclear, green muscardine fungus, Metarhizium majus, appears effective in controlling CRB on Guam and is spreading throughout the island. This will help in reducing mortality and cosmetic damage to palms of various species on Guam. Ongoing surveillance conducted at the Guam International Airport suggests that the ant Lepisiota fraunfeldii has been successfully eradicated from Guam. Little fire ant (LFA), Wasmannia auropunctata was detected at several sites on Guam and appears associated with dramatic decreases in the diversity of several invertebrate species in heavily infested areas, while LFA's attendance behavior appears to enhance populations of scales, mealybugs, whiteflies and aphids. The effect of LFA on natural enemies of these plant pests has yet to be determined. Recently, T. marianae has become a serious pest, particularly affecting eggplant. Efforts were therefore made to develop an integrated approach to control of T. marianae. First, indoor experiments on eggplant, Solanum melongena L. (Solanaceae), determined the optimal combination of petroleum spray oil (Volck oil spray) with release of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) for the management of T. marianae. Additional studies evaluated the viability of the predatory mites on Guam. PARTICIPANTS: Principal Leader: Ross H. Miller: rmiller@uguam.uog.edu; CNAS-WPTRC, University of Guam, Mangilao, GU 96923; Tel: (671) 735-2141; Fax: (671) 734-4600 Cooperators: Aubrey Moore, Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam; amoore@uguam.uog.edu Christy Leppanen, Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam; leppanen@uguam.uog.edu G.V.P. Reddy, Montana State University, Conrad, MT; gadi.reddy@montana.edu TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
In June 2012 approximately 30 quarantine personnel from the CNMI, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia were trained in the importance of natural enemies in regulating populations of invasive insect pests in Micronesia, with special recognition of the potential impact of Hemiptera and ants if not intercepted or detected at or shortly after introduction to the islands. Regulations for importing natural enemies and prohibiting the entry of potential pests were discussed, along with methods for inspection and enforcement of regulations. This activity was the 10th of its kind hosted by the University of Guam and sponsored jointly by the Secretariat of the Pacific Commission, the Guam Department of Agriculture and USDA-APHIS.
Publications
- Reddy, G.V.P. and J.R. Bautista. 2012. Interaction between the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus and petroleum spray oil for control of tetranychus marianae on eggplant. Biocontrol Science and Technology 22: 1211-1220
- Reddy, G.V.P. 2012. Recent trends in the olfactory responses of insect natural enemies to plant volatiles, In: Biocommunication of Plants, G. Witzany and F. Baluska (eds.), Springer-Verlag, Germany, pp. 281-301.
- Rogers, H., J. Hille ris Lambers, R. Miller, J.J. Tewksbury. 2012. Natural experiment demonstrates top-down control of spiders by birds on a landscape level. PLoS ONE 7(9): e43446. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0043446.
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Progress 03/01/09 to 09/30/12
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience inlcuded technical workers from Guam's Department of Agriculture, agricultural scientists and policy makers in Micronesia, and the scientific community at large. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? In June 2012 approximately 30 quarantine personnel from the CNMI, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia were trained in the importance of natural enemies in regulating populations of invasive insect pests in Micronesia, with special recognition of the potential impact of Hemiptera and ants if not intercepted or detected at or shortly after introduction to the islands. Regulations for importing natural enemies and prohibiting the entry of potential pests were discussed, along with methods for inspection and enforcement of regulations. This activity was the 10th of its kind hosted by the University of Guam and sponsored jointly by the Secretariat of the Pacific Commission, the Guam Department of Agriculture and USDA-APHIS. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Papers have been published in refereed journals, workshops have been presented for plant protection and quarantine personnel, lectures in university courses have been presented, and articles and interviews with local media have been conducted. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The University of Guam Biological Control Laboratory, and associated laboratories in House 35, Dean's Circle on the UOG campus, were completely refurbished during the spring and summer of 2012. Recertification by USDA-APHIS was obtained in September 2012, and biological control related activities recommenced in early October 2012. The facility includes two restricted access rooms reserved for the introduction of permitted exotic biological control agents, with temperature and light control as well as containment features required by USDA. The remainder of the facility includes a non-secured rearing room with light and temperature control and ample laboratory bench space. The renovations included other improvements to render the entire facility more resistant to the numerous typhoons and earthquakes that regularly occur on Guam. Mikania micrantha (Eupatorieae: Asteraceae) is a neotropical invasive weed that can smother both agro-forestry and natural forest ecosystems, and many crops within smallholder and plantation production systems in the tropical moist forest zones of Asia and the Pacific Region. Current control methods utilize slashing and herbicides, but are expensive, ineffective, not sustainable, and can be environmentally damaging. The rust, Puccinia spegazzinii, was found to occur on M. micrantha throughout the native range of the plant and a variety of pathotypes were tested for efficacy in M. micrantha control as well as for host-plant specificity. While none of the other test plants became infected with the rust or showed any reaction to the inoculation with rust basidiospores, M. micrantha plants inoculated were always fully infected. We have received permits to receive P. spegazzinii from Fiji and have identified locations for its release and subsequent monitoring on Guam for M. micrantha control. In August of 2011 and May of 2012, Neoseiulus californicus was imported and released for the control of spider and broad mites on Guam. Monitoring of N. californicus establishment is currently being carried out at release sites as well other sites where vegetables are grown, to evaluate the mites' ability to disperse naturally. We have documented N. californicus in several locations where it was not released, suggesting that the mite has indeed distributed beyond the initial releases and is maintaining a sustainable population on Guam. Since the releases, the pest (Tetranychus marianae) has also shown an apparent population reduction. To evaluate the value of N. californicus as an alternative or supplement to integrated pest management in agriculture, we are currently evaluating its effectiveness in reducing pest damage to eggplant, an important agricultural commodity on Guam. We are attempting to control rhino beetles using two pathogens which are specific to Dynastinae: Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV) and Metarhizium majus, commonly referred to as green muscardine fungus (GMF). Laboratory bioassays of the virus indicate that the Guam population of rhino beetles is not susceptible to OrNV. This finding is of regional significance because OrNV has been used as a major tactic for rhino beetle control on infested Pacific islands for many years. We are working with rhino beetle virus experts at AgResearch New Zealand to find strains of virus which kill the Guam beetles, and to determine if Guam has a virus-resistant population. We began disseminating GMF, imported from the Philippine Coconut Authority, in November 2011. We are seeing significant mortality of larvae and adults from GMF infection in the field and are finding diseased beetles at a distance from treatment sites, indicating that the fungus is spreading naturally. Since its first detection in late 2003, CAS has killed >90% of Guam's endemic cycad, once the most numerous tree in Guam's forests. The coccinelid, Rhyzobius lophanthae, was imported from Maui in 2005 and is very abundant and appears to protect mature plants. However, seedling mortality due to CAS infestation is 100%. An experiment has shown that R. lophanthae is not an efficient predator at ground level. We hope to establish parasitods which may protect seedlings and attack scales which escape predation because they have settled in cracks which are too small for R. lophanthae to enter. Early attempts to introduce the aphelinid parasitoid, Coccobius fulvus, and more recent attempts to introduce Aphytis lignanensis, also an aphelinid, have failed. Laboratory colonies have been lost repeatedly because field collected CAS always harbor undetectable R. lophanthae eggs and 1st instar larvae hidden beneath female scale covers. These soon emerge and devour all scales along with developing parasitoids. Current work is aimed at establishing a lab culture of CAS devoid of predators so that we can raise parasitoids. A report on CAS biocontrol will be delivered to the biocontrol meeting in Chile next March. R. Miller continued to survey invasive ants on the islands of Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and Rota in the Mariana Islands during 2011. This activity is part of an ongoing USDA-APHIS-CAPS funded project on the surveillance of Wasmannia auropunctata and Solenopsis invicta on Guam and other Mariana Islands. A study related to this project describes the attendance behavior of Guam's invasive ants towards aphids, scales and mealybugs commonly encountered in the Marianas and the effects this might have on biological control agents released in the islands. The red spider mite, Tetranychus marianae McGregor (Acari: Tetranychidae), a pest of several vegetable crops and perennials, is widespread in the Pacific islands, like the Mariana Islands, where it was first reported. Recently, T. marianae has become a serious pest, particularly affecting eggplant. Efforts were therefore made to develop an integrated approach to control of T. marianae. First, indoor experiments on eggplant, Solanum melongena L. (Solanaceae), determined the optimal combination of petroleum spray oil (Volck® oil spray) with release of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) for the management of T. marianae. Additional studies evaluated the viability of the predatory mites on Guam. The combination of N. californicus with petroleum spray oils produced significant control of T. marianae and did not affect the survival of N. californicus. Although dicofol and carbaryl reduced populations of T. marianae, they caused high mortality of N. californicus. Integrating petroleum spray oil with N. californicus yielded better control of T. marianae than did N. californicus alone. The release of N. californicus at 200 individuals per plant reduced populations of T. marianae more than did other release rates. In addition, N. californicus was able to survive and become established after being released on Guam.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Rogers H, J. Hille Ris Lambers, R. Miller R, J.J. Tewksbury. 2012. Natural experiment Demonstrates Top-Down Control of Spiders by Birds on a Landscape Level. PLoS ONE 7(9): e43446. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0043446.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Reddy, G.V.P., and J.R. Bautista. 2012. Interaction between the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus and petroleum spray oil for control of Tetranychus marianae on eggplant, Biocontrol Science and Technology 22: 12111220.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Reddy, G.V.P. 2012. Recent trends in the olfactory responses of insect natural enemies to plant volatiles, In: Biocommunication of Plants, G. Witzany and F. Baluska (eds.), Springer-Verlag, Germany, pp. 281301.
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: R. Miller continued to survey invasive ants on the islands of Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and Rota in the Mariana Islands during 2011. This activity is part of an ongoing USDA-APHIS-CAPS funded project on the surveillance of Wasmannia auropunctata and Solenopsis invicta on Guam and other Mariana Islands. A study related to this project describes the attendance behavior of Guam's invasive ants towards aphids, scales and mealybugs commonly encountered in the Marianas and the effects this might have on biological control agents released in the islands. In 2010, we (A. Moore)received a USDA APHIS permit to import and release an entomopathogenic virus produced in cell culture by a lab in NZ. This virus is specific to Dynastinae, the rhino beetle subfamily. It has been used with good results on many Pacific Islands. However, no pathogenicity to Guam rhino beetles was observed in lab bioassays of 8 isolates of the virus (7 from cell cultures in NZ, 1 from dead beetles in Fiji). The Guam population may be resistant to the virus and/or the cell cultured virus strains have been deactivated. It is important to investigate the cause of this biological control failure, because inundative release of the virus remains an important tactic for rhino beetle control campaigns in the Asia/Pacific region. Metarhizium (green muscardine fungus). In September, 2011, we (A. Moore)imported spores for a long spore variety of Metarhizium anisopliae from the Philippine Coconut Authority under an import and release permit from USDA APHIS. Field releases of fungal spores into rhino beetle breeding sites were initiated following lab bioassays which proved pathogenicity for grubs of the Guam rhino beetle population. From April 18 through April 22, 2011 approximately 35 quarantine personnel on Guam, the CNMI, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia were trained in the importance of natural enemies in regulating populations of invasive insect pests in Micronesia, with special recognition of the potential impact of Hemiptera and ants if not intercepted or detected at or shortly after introduction to the islands. Regulations for importing natural enemies and prohibiting the entry of potential pests were discussed, along with methods for inspection and enforcement of regulations. This activity was the 9th of its kind hosted by the University of Guam and sponsored jointly by the Secretariat of the Pacific Commission, the Guam Department of Agriculture and USDA-APHIS. PARTICIPANTS: Ross H. Miller, Western Pacific Tropical research Center, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam: Project leader for ant surveys, and coordinator of biological control activities on Hemiptera. Aubrey Moore, Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam: directs coconut rhinoceros beetle biological control activities on Guam Keith S. Pike: Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Prosser, WA: provides technical assistance with collecting, preserving and and identification of Hemiptera and aphidiid parasitoids Robert Foottit: Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa; provides technical assistance with collecting, preserving and identification of Hemiptera, and provides microsatellite analysis of aphids TARGET AUDIENCES: Results of various projects related to biological control wee presented to PPQ workers from throughout Micronesia at the annual PPQ workshop held in the spring at the University of Guam. Participants were instructed in basic principles of entomology and biological control, with reviews provided of ongoing biological control activities in the Western Pacific region. Participants were PPQ workers employed by government agencies from Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Work on coconut rhinoceros beetle on Guam has revealed that there may be genetic differences in beetles on Guam, or in the virulence of fungal strains imported from New Zealand. Little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata was identified for the first time on Guam in November 2011. Delimiting surveys conducted immediately after its discovery revealed that it infests about a 2 ha forest site in northern Guam, and several residentidal and small farm sites in central and southern Guam. Information was disseminated in local media regarding the ant, its spread, and its potential impact on local farm and forest ecosystems.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Populations of the spiny soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris, have been established in quarantine and host specificity testing has begun. This insect may prove useful against a range of coleopteran and lepidopteran pests of cabbage on Guam, but due to its generalist nature may pose a threat to biocontrol agents previously released on Guam, and to threatened butterfly species on Guam, including the nymphalid Hypolimnas octocula which is a candidate for the US Endangered Species List. About 2000 nymphs and 1500 adults of Heteropsylla spinulosa (Homoptera: Psyllidae) from Palau and were released against giant sensitive weed, Mimosa (invisa) diplotricha, in northern Guam and in Saipan over a year ago. Ongoing surveys were periodically conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Rhyzobius lophanthae, a coccinellid, on controlling populations of the Asian cycad scale, Aulocaspis yasumatsui on Cycas micronesica on Guam. Studies have also been conducted to evaluate predations rates of R. lophanthae at different heights above ground in an attempt to understand why there is little apparent recruitment of C. micronesica seedlings into the forest population of trees. R. Miller continued to survey invasive ants on the islands of Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and Rota in the Mariana Islands during 2010. This activity is part of an ongoing USDA-APHIS-CAPS funded project on the surveillance of Wasmannia auropunctata and Solenopsis invicta on Guam and other Mariana Islands. A study related to this project describes the attendance behavior of Guam's invasive ants towards aphids, scales and mealybugs commonly encountered in the Marianas and the effects this might have on biological control agents released in the islands. From March 29 through April 2, 2010 approximately 30 quarantine personnel on Guam, the CNMI, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia were trained in the importance of natural enemies in regulating populations of invasive insect pests in Micronesia, with special recognition of the potential impact of Hemiptera and ants if not intercepted or detected at or shortly after introduction to the islands. Regulations for importing natural enemies and prohibiting the entry of potential pests were discussed, along with methods for inspection and enforcement of regulations. This activity was performed as part of an annual PPQ workshop hosted by the University of Guam and sponsored jointly by the Secretariat of the Pacific Commission, the Guam Department of Agriculture and USDA-APHIS. PARTICIPANTS: Ross H. Miller WPTRC, University of Guam Aubrey Moore, ANR, University of Guam G.V.P. Reddy, WPTRC, University of Guam TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audience for PPQ training are the customs officers of Guam's Customs Division, and PPQ workers throughout the various Micronesian islands. Target audience for ant related work are agricultural workers in the Marianas, pest control operators, and USDA-APHIS-CAPS personnel. Target work for all biological work are farmers in their respective islands. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: We have received USDA-APHIS funding to continue Solenopsis invicta surveillance on Guam, and to recommence Wasmannia auropunctata surveillance on Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and Rota in 2011. This project will also allow us to sample various habitats for invasive ants and to complement other projects on ant attendance of Hemiptera. We have begun and will continue studies on ant attendance of aphids and other hemipterans emphasizing the role of ants in disrupting biological control by hymenopteran parasitoids. We will continue to monitor the distribution and effectiveness of R. lophanthae on Asian cycad scale. We will continue to monitor the distribution of Asian cycad scale on Saipan, Tinian and Rota, and will collaborate with T. Marler in importing R. lophanthae to these islands as needed to protect C. micronesica populations there, as well as C. micronesica germplasm gardens on Tinian. We will continue to seek funding to import parasitic cecidomyiids from Hawaii for release on aphids in the Mariana Islands, and to import Aphitis lignanensis from Hawaii against Asian cycad scale. We plan to use an insect virus (ORV) to suppress the coconut rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros, on Guam. This virus, which only infects rhino beetles (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae), has been used successfully on other Pacific Islands where O. rhinoceros is invasive, and also in Asia where the beetle is a major pest of coconut and oil palm. We plan to disperse the virus by auto-dissemination. Healthy, laboratory raised adult beetles will be infected with the virus and released into the wild before they get sick. Unfortunately, laboratory bioassays of two strains of ORV produced in cell culture by AgResearch, New Zealand have not produced significant mortality in O. rhinoceros adults currently infesting palms on Guam, suggesting that Guam's rhino beetle population is resistant to the available strains of ORV.
Impacts
Populations of H. spinulosa were deemed to have become established, but have since declined on gian sensitive week, Momosa diplotricha. The Asian cycad scale has killed 90% of Guam's endemic cycad, Cycas micronesica, since its accidental arrival in December 2003, and the remaining 10% are declining linearly towards predicted extirpation in the wild by 2019. While introduction of the coccinelid, Rhyzobius lophanthae in 2005 offered some protection to mature plants, seedlings continued to be killed by scale infestations. Although both larvae and adults feed voraciously on cycad scales, many insects escape predation because they infest parts of the plant which are inaccessible to the relatively large beetle. Red imported fire ant and little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, the two main species of interest in ant surveys on Guam, have not been detected. Lepisiota frauenfeldi, initially found at the Guam International Airport, has apparently been eradicated through repeated baiting treatments. It has not been observed in repeated samplings for nearly 18 months. Customs personnel on Guam and PPQ personnel throughout Micronesia are implementing practices for inspection and intercepting pests that were suggested at the annual PPQ workshop at UOG.
Publications
- Foottit, R.G., H.E.L. Maw, K.S. Pike and R.H. Miller. 2010. The identity of Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel and P. caladii van der Goot (Hemiptera: aphididae) based on molecular and morphometric analysis. Zootaxa 2358: 25-38.
- Van Driesche, R.G, Carruthers, R.I., Center, T., Hoddle, M.S., Hough-Goldstein, J., Morin, L., Smith, L., Blossey, B., Brancatini, V., Casagrande, R, Causton, C., Coetzee, J. A., Cuda, J., Ding, J., Fowler, S.V., Frank, J.H., Fuester, Goolsby, J., Grodowitz, M., Heard, T. A., Hill, M. P., Hoffmann, J., Huber, J., Julien, M., Kario, M.T.K., Kenis, M., Mason, P., Medal, J., Messing, R., Miller, R., Moore, A., Neuenschwander, P., Newman, R., Norambuena, H., Palmer, W.A., Pemberton, R., Perez Panduro, A., Pratt, S., Rayamajhi, M., Salom, S., Sands, D., Schooler, S., Sheppard, A., Shaw, R., Schwarzlander, M, Tipping, P.W., van Klinken, R., Wagner, D. 2010. Classical Biological Control for the Protection of Natural Ecosystems: Past Achievements and Current Efforts. Biological Control 54: 2-33.
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Ongoing surveys are periodically conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Rhizobius lophanthae, a coccinellid, on controlling populations of the Asian cycad scale, Aulocaspis yasumatsui on Cycas micronesica on Guam. Studies have also been conducted to evaluate predations rates of R. lophanthae at different heights above ground in an attempt to understand why there is little apparent recruitment of C. micronesica seedlings into the forest population of trees. R. Miller continued to survey invasive ants on the islands of Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and Rota in the Mariana Islands during 2009. This activity is part of an ongoing USDA-APHIS-CAPS funded project on the surveillance of Wasmannia auropunctata and Solenopsis invicta on Guam and other Mariana Islands. A study related to this project describes the attendance behavior of Guam's invasive ants towards aphids, scales and mealybugs commonly encountered in the Marianas and the effects this might have on biological control agents released in the islands. In April 2009 about 30 quarantine personnel on Guam, the CNMI, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia were trained in the importance of natural enemies in regulating populations of invasive insect pests in Micronesia, with special recognition of the potential impact of Hemiptera and ants if not intercepted or detected at or shortly after introduction to the islands. Regulations for importing natural enemies and prohibiting the entry of potential pests were discussed, along with methods for inspection and enforcement of regulations. This activity was performed as part of an annual PPQ workshop hosted by the University of Guam and sponsored jointly by the Secretariat of the Pacific Commission, the Guam Department of Agriculture and USDA-APHIS. PARTICIPANTS: Principal Leader: Ross H. Miller: rmiller@uog.edu; CNAS-WPTRC, University of Guam, Mangilao, GU 96923; Tel: (671) 735-2141; Fax: (671) 734-4600 Cooperators: Keith S. Pike: Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Prosser, WA; kpike@tricity.wsu.edu Robert Foottit: Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa; foottitrg@em.agr.ca Konrad Engelberger: Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Kolonia, Pohnpei, FSM; ppmicronesia@mail.fm Thomas Marler, Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam Aubrey Moore, Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: 1. We have received USDA-APHIS funding to continue Solenopsis invicta surveillance on Guam in 2009. This project will also allow us to sample various habitats for invasive ants and to complement other projects on ant attendance of Hemiptera. We have begun and will continue studies on ant attendance of aphids and other hemipterans emphasizing the role of ants in disrupting biological control by hymenopteran parasitoids. Funding for Wasmannia auropunctata surveillance ended in June 2009, and new sources of funding to resume this activity are being sought. 2. We will continue to monitor the distribution and effectiveness of R. lophanthae on Asian cycad scale. 3. We will continue to monitor the distribution of Asian cycad scale on Saipan, Tinian and Rota, and will colloaborate with T. Marler in import R. lophanthae to these islands as needed to protect C. micronesica populations there as well as C. micronesica germplasm gardens on Tinian. 4. We will seek funding to import parasitic cecidomyiids from Hawaii for release on aphids in the Mariana Islands. 5. We will seek funding to host an Encyclopedia of Life sponsored synthesis meeting to establish a network for performing a biodiversity inventory of Micronesia and for establishing a publically accessible database of entomological information for each island.
Impacts
We have established that Asian cycad scale appears is under good biological control in many areas of Guam. However, many trees that appear to have recovered from scale infestation following scale predation by R. lophanthae may actually be at great risk of being toppled in the next typhoon due to undetected bole necrosis. Statistical analysis of Rhizobius lophanthae predation suggests that the beetle predation on A. yasumatsui does appear to be influenced by height above ground with scales on plants placed at 75cm and 150cm above ground about 38% more likely to be attacked than plants placed directly on the ground.
Publications
- Bamba, J.P., R.H. Miller, G.V.P. Reddy, and R. Muniappan. 2009. Studies on the biology, host specificity, and feeding behavior of Acythopeius cocciniae O Brien and Pakaluk (Coleoptera: curculionidae) on Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt (Cucurbitaceae) and Zehneria guamensis (Merrill) Fosberg (Cucurbitaceae). Micronesica 41(1): 71-82.
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