MEETING THE RESEARCH & OUTREACH NEEDS FOR MANAGING LEEK MOTH, A NEW INVASIVE PEST OF ALLIUM CROPS

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: SPECIAL GRANT
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1000514
• Grant No.: 2013-34381-21310
• Cumulative Award Amt.: $196,732.00
• Proposal No.: 2013-03714
• Project Start Date: Sep 1, 2013
• Project End Date: Aug 31, 2016
• Grant Year: 2013
• Program Code: [MX]- Pest Management Alternatives

Recipient Organization
N Y AGRICULTURAL EXPT STATION
(N/A)
GENEVA,NY 14456

Performing Department
Entomology

Non Technical Summary
The leek moth (LM), Acrolepiopsis assectella (Zeller), is a serious threat to Allium vegetables including onions, leeks, garlic and cloves. The larvae attack the aerial parts of Allium host plants, causing damage by tunneling mines and feeding on leaf tissues. Their feeding also occurs on the bulb, both in the ground and after harvest. LM was first identified in North America in 1993 in Ontario, Canada and has now expanded its range throughout eastern Ontario and southwestern Quebec. In 2009, LM was discovered in the United States near Plattsburgh, NY and now has spread to several other counties in NY and across the border to Vermont. According to CLIMEX models, nearly all the Allium production regions in the US are suitable for LM. The farm gate value of Allium crops in the US exceeds $1.5 billion. The goal of this project is to develop LM management practices that will help both large-scale and small-scale conventional and organic growers avoid catastrophic losses in Allium crops throughout the US. Through this project we will fill existing knowledge gaps in LM ecology, the efficacy of cultural practices and insecticides against LM, the potential roles of natural enemies in LM management, and the economics of such practices. This project will provide growers with the tools they need to avoid catastrophic losses caused by LM on conventional and organic Allium crops. With the help of a strong outreach program, growers nationwide will be able to adopt management practices that are effective and economically viable.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
211	1451	1130	100%

Knowledge Area
211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
1451 - Onion, garlic, leek, shallot;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;

Keywords

acrolepiopsis assectella

leek moth

garlic

leek

onion

Goals / Objectives
The overall goal of this project is to develop LM management practices that will help both large-scale and small-scale conventional and organic growers avoid catastrophic losses in Allium crops throughout the US. Through this project, we will fill existing knowledge gaps in LM ecology, the efficacy of cultural practices and insecticides against LM, the potential roles of natural enemies in LM management, and the economics of such practices. The overall goal of this project is to develop LM management practices that will help both large-scale and small-scale conventional and organic growers avoid catastrophic losses in Allium crops throughout the US. Through this project, we will fill existing knowledge gaps in LM ecology, the efficacy of cultural practices and insecticides against LM, the potential roles of natural enemies in LM management, and the economics of such practices.

Project Methods
Develop and validate degree-day models for LM population in NY. Assess development of LM on different host plants (onions, leek and garlic) in the laboratory. Develop a degree-day model for LM life stages on the different host plants (onions, leek and garlic). Conduct simulated and actual field trials to validate the developed degree-day model in currently LM-infested areas using pheromone traps. Conduct laboratory and field tests to evaluate insecticide efficacy against LM. Evaluate insecticides and EPNs in the laboratory. We will pay special attention to evaluating cyantraniliprole, since it is expected to be registered for onions in the 2nd quarter of 2013, and to EPNs that have shown promise in Spain. Effective insecticides screened in section 2a will be further tested in the field. Document the effect of LM-effective insecticides on biological control agents. For those insecticides that our tests show, are effective against LM, conduct a literature search to determine their potential effects on generalist predators and parasitoids. Conduct focused tests with cyantraniliprole against Diadromus pulchellus, the parasitoid currently being released in Canada for LM control, and the generalist predator, Coleomegilla maculata, a common predator in onion fields. Test the effect of rows covers. Evaluate row covers and their use for preventing LM injury. Conduct an economic analysis on management strategies for LM. Using the data collected in Objectives 1, 2, 3 and 4, an analysis of the costs for various management strategies will be conducted. Conduct an outreach educational program for Allium growers. Educate growers, extension educators, crop consultants and other industry personnel and home gardeners on how to utilize the developed degree-day model, pheromone traps and IPM strategies in existing LM-infested areas; educate growers on the economics of various strategies for control of LM. Develop information suitable for national distribution on the detection, identification and management of LM. This will include enhancing our existing website and developing a brochure on LM that can be printed off for other states with their own logo.

Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16

Outputs
Target Audience:We reached Small-scale and large-scale Allium crop producers, and home gardeners in NY and VT through extension meetings and producers meetings. We reached Cornell Cooperative Extension agents across the state through in-service meeting. We reached researchers across the country through the oral and poster presentations at the national meeting of the Entomological Society of America and through our website on leek moth. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training has been focused on farmers and homeowners adopting recommended strategies to avoid losses due to leek moth. Training has also been focused on enhancing educational material for extension educators to distribute to their clientele. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been distributed through farm demonstrations, evening meetings, through distribution of printed material and websites. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This was the last year of the project. Extension educators will continue to distributre information as part of their programs and recommendations will be modified as new information becomes available.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Overall, I believe the project helped alert growers to the threat of LM and provided them with practices that helped prevent the wider spread of this new invasive pest. LM is here to stay and control practices for it need to be incorporated into the overall crop management practices for Allium crops. Our research indicates that this can be done effectively.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Seto, M. and A. M. Shelton. 2015. Development and evaluation of degree-day models for Acrolepiosis assectella based on hosts and flight patterns. J. Econ. Entomol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jee/tov344. Published on line Dec. 2015
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: The pocket guide to identifying and managing LM (Leek Moth: Identification and Management Guide) was published in May 2014 and widely distributed and was well received. Due to the demand, it was reprinted in 2015.
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: http://web.entomology.cornell.edu/shelton/leek-moth/index.html

Progress 09/01/13 to 08/31/16

Outputs
Target Audience:We reached Small-scale and large-scale Allium crop producers, and home gardeners in NY and VT through extension meetings and producers meetings. We reached Cornell Cooperative Extension agents across the state through in-service meeting. We reached researchers across the country through the oral and poster presentations at the national meeting of the Entomological Society of America and through our website on leek moth. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Farmers, homeowners and extension educators were trained in how to manage leek moth and prevent its injury. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The extension outreach efforts were conducted in a series of workshops, on-farm demonstrations and regional presentations. The pocket guide to identifying and managing LM ("Leek Moth: Identification and Management Guide") was published in May 2014 and widely distributed and was well received. Due to the demand, it was reprinted in 2015. It is also available on the website we developed for LM management, http://web.entomology.cornell.edu/shelton/leek-moth/ What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Extension educators will continue to use the website and printed material in their outreach programs.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Overall, I believe the project helped alert growers to the threat of LM and provided them with practices that helped prevent the wider spread of this new invasive pest. LM is here to stay and control practices for it need to be incorporated into the overall crop management practices for Allium crops. Our research indicates that this can be done effectively.

Publications

Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/15

Outputs
Target Audience:We reached Small-scale and large-scale Allium crop producers, and home gardeners in NY and VT through extension meetings and producers meetings. We reached Cornell Cooperative Extension agents across the state through in-service meeting. We reached researchers across the country through the oral and poster presentations at the national meeting of the Entomological Society of America and through our website on leek moth. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have worked effectively with New York and Vermont extension personnel to help train producers of Allium vegetable crops. This was done through workshops, e-mail and telephone communications, and distributing information with publication. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have personally communicated farmers from NY and VT on this issue. There were over 50 attendees at the Empire State Producers Expo in Syracuse NY. Our website on leek moth is used extensively as a source of information. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Based on the collected data, we validated the degree-day model for field development of leek moth and compiled the result into a journal article submitted to Journal of Economic Entomology. We identified insecticides that could be used as curative treatment methods. In tandem with the result of a past study published from our lab, we are now be able to list insecticides that are effective as preventive and/or curative treatment method. The result is now being compiled into a journal article. We further evaluated the efficacy of foliar application of nematodes against leek moth in the laboratory settings. Despite of its high effectiveness when used for leeks, nematodes showed very unstable effectiveness against leek moth on onions. The use of the foliar application against leek moth on onions is considered unreliable. The result is now being compiled into a journal article. We identified row covers are very effective method to prevent the leek moth from infesting Allium crops. However, based on our economic analysis, row covers are only appropriate for small-scale growers due to its cost and associated labors. The result is now being compiled into a journal article. We presented the results of the study at an academic conference, in-service meeting, gowers expo and updated the leek moth website. We also published a pocket guide for the leek moth and distributed 500 copies across the state.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Foliar application of Steinernema feltiae for biological control of the leaf-mining leek moth larvae (Acrolepiopsis assectella) in Allium vegetables: Remedy for NY onions? CONFERENCE PAPER � NOVEMBER 2014 Conference: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting 2014
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Seasonal occurrence and development of degree-day models for predicting activity of Acrolepiopsis assectella (Lepidoptera: Acrolepiidae) in NY onions CONFERENCE PAPER � NOVEMBER 2014 Conference: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting 2014
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Its only a matter of time~Leek moth management recommendations for conventional onion growers~ CONFERENCE PRESENTATION � January 2015 Conference: Empire State Producers Expo
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Development and Evaluation of Degree-day Models for Acrolepiopsis assectella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Acrolepiidae) Based on Hosts and Flight Patterns Submitted to Journal of Economic Entomology

Progress 09/01/13 to 08/31/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Our primary target audiences are producers of Allium vegetables, those who market and consume these crops and environmentalists concerned about the footprint of agriculture. Changes/Problems: No major changes. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? We have worked effectively with New York and Vermont extension personnel to help train producers of Allium vegetable crops. This was done through workshops. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Yes, our workshops have reached over 120 growers and extension personnel. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The degree-day model will be completed and validated, results of insecticide trials will be published, the row cover trial will be published and the data on non-targets with insecticides will be completed.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Under this project we have collected the data which we have used to develop a degree-day model for leek moth life stages. We have also completed our studies to evaluated insecticide efficacy against leek moth using insecticides and nematodes and these data are being analayzed. Additionally, we conducted studies using row covers as protectors for leek moth ovipositon. We generated economic information which will be used as baseline for improving leek moth management. We conducted 4 growers workshops, several extension agent workshops and updated the leek moth website.

Publications