Source: UNIV OF MARYLAND submitted to NRP
ENHANCING SUSTAINABILITY OF URBAN FORESTS AGAINST NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE PESTS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
MCINTIRE-STENNIS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1003486
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 26, 2014
Project End Date
Sep 9, 2019
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UNIV OF MARYLAND
(N/A)
COLLEGE PARK,MD 20742
Performing Department
Entomology
Non Technical Summary
Nowak (2011) defined the urban forest as all publicly and privately owned trees within an urban area, including individual trees along streets and in backyards, as well as stands of remnant forest. Approximately 80% of the U.S. population lives in the urban forest and enjoys myriad benefits provided by critical ecosystem services forests deliver. These benefits include providing habitat for plants and wildlife, reducing energy use by providing shade and cooling, reducing wind speeds, mitigating soil pollutants, increasing real estate values, improving human health and fostering community well-being. Urban forests consist of about 3.8 billion trees valued at $2.4 trillion. We are in the midst of an unprecedented period of global change that imperils our urban forests. Urbanization destroys and degrades natural habitats and disrupts ecological processes. In forested biomes, trees are one of the first and most significant casualties of urbanization. The density of woody plants declines several orders of magnitude along the gradient from a forest to a city. Accompanying reductions in density are changes in the mixture of plant species in cities and suburbs as communities of native plants are replaced by exotic plants introduced accidentally or purposefully. The presence of exotic plants in urban areas may disrupt ecological processes in several important ways. If exotic plants are invasive, they may displace native vegetation, eliminating the insects that depend on native plants as sources of food. In turn, animals higher in the food chain like insectivorous birds may be less abundant in managed urban landscapes where exotic plants abound than in forests dominated by natives. In addition, exotic plants may lack an evolutionary history with native insects that eat them in their new home. This lack of evolutionary history may result in an absence of potent plant defenses and enable insect attackers in the new land to outbreak on the exotic plant. The sustainability of our urban forests is further imperiled by the relative lack of diversity in our communities of street trees. A tale of destruction has played out more than once where a limited palette of street trees has been devastated by the arrival of a new exotic pest such as emerald ash borer, smaller European elm bark beetle, or Asian longhorned beetle for which our native trees lacked adequate defenses. Another common perturbation in urban forests is an increase in man-made structures such as buildings and roadways that greatly increase the amount of land covered by impervious surfaces. Impervious surfaces dramatically limit water infiltration into soil. Water is one of the key raw materials of photosynthesis, and without water plants cannot grow and survive. Evaporation associated with transpiration helps to cool the surface temperature of leaves. Moreover, by intercepting and creating shade, trees cool cities and suburbs. The lack of vegetation and preponderance of buildings and hardscape in cities causes them to be significantly warmer than surrounding natural areas. These "heat islands" favor certain pests by accelerating their development and increasing the number of generations attained in a growing season. Water deficits in soils created by impervious surfaces negatively affect water availability and create drought stress for trees in cities. Some of the most egregious and deadly pests of woody plants such as wood-boring beetles and sucking insects benefit when trees experience drought stress due to disabling effects of water deficits on defensive pathways of trees. Impervious surfaces may also impede the movement of natural enemies that help reduce pest populations. This loss of "top-down" regulation by natural enemies may contribute to pest outbreaks in cities and suburbs. Deficits of critical resources such as water sometimes contrast with excesses of other man-made inputs such as minerals and nutrients. Harmful salts used for de-icing streets and sidewalks are commonly used in temperate cities with snow and ice. Trees and shrubs in cities often receive nutrients at levels much greater than those in natural systems. The strong causal link between high levels of nutrients, particularly nitrogen, and elevated performance and populations of pests is well known for many sucking insects such as scales and aphids, mites, and leaf chewers such as caterpillars and weevils. Pesticides used to control nuisance pests such as biting flies in recreational areas have resulted in outbreaks of scale insects on street trees. Similar widespread outbreaks of sucking insects and mites have been observed where area-wide attempts have been made to eradicate exotic pests. Cover sprays with residual insecticides have also been linked to outbreaks of scales in residential landscapes. The primary mechanism underlying these outbreaks of secondary pests appears to be disruption of the suppressive effects of predators and parasitoids on pest populations. Loss of top-down regulation has been cited as a primary cause of outbreaks of scales and mites following the application of pesticides. Recently, it has been shown that some pesticides may improve the quality or reduce the defenses of host plants. This may contribute to outbreaks of spider mites following the application of pesticides. Research conducted herein addresses several threats to the sustainability of urban forests in the U.S.
Animal Health Component
65%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
25%
Applied
65%
Developmental
10%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
12405301130100%
Knowledge Area
124 - Urban Forestry;

Subject Of Investigation
0530 - Parks and urban green space;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;
Goals / Objectives
Raupp et al. (2010, 2012) identified six threats to sustainability of urban forests. They are: 1) lack of plant and animal biodiversity, 2) substitution of exotic plants for native plants, 3) importation of exotic, invasive species, 4) climate change - the warming of our cities, 5) impervious surfaces, and 6) anthropogenic inputs of nutrients and pesticides. Knowledge gaps in each of these areas limit our ability to develop tactics and strategies to mitigate pest outbreaks in urban forests. When designing plans for managing pests, the use of pesticides is not a sustainable approach due to the potential exposure of people and pets to pesticides, disruption and elimination of beneficial insects including pollinators and natural enemies, and the potential for secondary pest outbreaks. Thus, the only rational options are sustainable integrated pest management strategies (SIPMS) that rely on applied ecological research to be successful. The SIPMS principle involves the use of practices and tactics that are sustainable, minimize the use of pesticides, and maintain high levels ecosystem processes and services, thereby enhancing overall forest health. The challenge of developing novel or effective non-pesticidal tactics to manage pest species will not be easy. But, we propose that it can be accomplished, in large part, by answering the following questions, which will provide baseline data critical to the development of management strategies. 1. How do features of urbanization such as impervious surfaces, plant species composition including plant abundance and diversity, and vegetational texture affect assemblages of pests and natural enemies and consequently the susceptibility of urban forests to pest invasions and outbreaks? 2. How do non-native plants affect population dynamics of native and non-native pests in urban forests? 3. Can biological control be enhanced in urban ecosystems by conservation of indigenous natural enemies through landscape design and the release of exotic natural enemies to control invasive, exotic pests (classical biological control)? The expected outcomes from this research include the production of research and extension publications and presentations that will inform stakeholders and the general public of the SIPM tactics and strategies. Furthermore, the training of undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scientists will provide the personnel that will help implement proposed solutions in the future.
Project Methods
Objective 1. How do features of urbanization such as impervious surfaces, plant species composition including plant abundance and diversity, ratios of native to non-native species, and vegetational texture affect susceptibility of urban forests to pest invasions and outbreaks? Over the past five years we have compiled a large and robust data base from around the world that includes information on the abundance of individual pests and beneficial insects and composition of pest and natural enemy assemblages in relation to several features of urbanization including plant biodiversity, impervious surfaces, vegetational structure, and plant species composition. We recently used this data base to conduct the first meta-analysis of the overall effects of urbanization on ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), an important group of predators in urban and natural forests (Martinson and Raupp 2013). Recent studies by Meineke et al. (2013) demonstrated that urban heat islands can be used as a spatial surrogate for temporal changes associated with climate change. By comparing differences in population dynamics and the biology of a scale insect pest in hot urban centers to populations of the scale insect in cooler zones nearby, they were able to model the effect of climate change on insect outbreaks (Meineke et al. 2013). We will employ this approach and our robust data base to evaluate the effects of a warming world on a wide variety of insect and mite pests of urban forests. Through model selection based on information theoretic measures, we will evaluate the importance of the simple and interactive effects of a variety of urban features on pest and beneficial insect populations and communities. These analyses will provide a basis for identifying which features have the greatest impact on pests and beneficials and which features are candidates for modifications to enhance urban forest sustainability. In addition, this knowledge will guide mechanistic studies to determine the efficacies of tactics designed to mitigate pests and enhance beneficials.Objective 2. How do non-native plants affect population dynamics of native and non-native pests in urban forests? In a recent report Riley and Raupp (2014) noted widespread support for planting native species among government, conservation, and non-profit organizations. This support is based in part on the notion that well-adapted plants native to an area should be less susceptible to abiotic problems than non-native species and that native plants support greater levels of ecological processes and services than non-native plants. The outcome of these two forces working in concert should result in greater levels of herbivory and damage on native compared to non-native plants in the urban forest. We recently established a collaborative project with research scientists at the Bartlett Tree Experts Research Laboratory in Charlotte, North Carolina, one of the largest commercial tree care firms in the world Bartlett Tree Experts 2014). They have provided a large data base we will use to evaluate the relative susceptibility of native and non-native plants to attack by pests and vulnerability to abiotic stressors in residential landscapes. This in turn should result in a greater need for intervention on native compared to non-native plants. Commercial arboriculture gains much of its revenue in managing pests on trees and shrubs in the urban forest. Working with large data bases maintained by commercial arborists, we will evaluate the relative susceptibility of native and non-native plants to attack by pests and vulnerability to abiotic stressors in residential landscapes. A preliminary analysis of some of this data suggests that native plants are disproportionately attacked by insects and mites but do not suffer disproportionately to abiotic problems relative to non-native plants. In addition to evaluating the importance of host origin, we will investigate the direct and interactive relationships among feeding guilds (chewers, suckers, leafminers, borers, etc.) and levels of specialization (generalist vs specialist), and pest origin (native vs non-native) in relation to the propensity for pest damage that requires intervention. This knowledge will enable landscapers to design landscapes refractory to certain guilds of pests with varying host origins and inform landscape managers where monitoring and intervention activities will be directed in existing landscapes.Objective 3. Can biological control be enhanced in urban ecosystems by conservation of indigenous natural enemies through landscape design and the release of exotic natural enemies to control invasive, exotic pests (classical biological control)? Since 2003 Maryland has been infested with Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, in unmanaged native forests, suburban, and urban forests. Under a cooperative research effort supported through USDA-APHIS and ARS and the Maryland Department of Agriculture, releases of EAB parasitoids Oobius agrili, Tetrastichus planipennisi, and Spathius agrili in Maryland have taken place since 2009. To date, little is known regarding how rapidly these parasitoids move from release points, but under a current agreement with USDA-APHIS and ARS, and the University of Maryland, establishment and rate of spread of these parasites is under investigation. Two release sites established in Maryland, one in native parkland and another in an urban forest, provide an excellent opportunity to determine how rapidly these biological control agents establish and disperse and how forest composition affects the rate of spread. Establishment and movement are currently measured by recovery of parasites through destructive sampling and autopsy of trees and examination of sentinel hosts. Research supported by this project will add the use of yellow pan traps as a way to rapidly and inexpensively expand our capability to detect movement and rate of spread. At each release site, yellow pan traps will be placed in transects at intervals radiating out along four cardinal directions. Traps will be placed at the beginning of parasitoid flight and samples collected weekly throughout the flight season. Collections will be stored in ethanol until counts can be completed. These comparative data on rates of establishment and movement in natural and urban forest stands will be used to guide management decisions regarding relative risks of different forest types and the potential costs and benefits of alternative intervention tactics such as tree removal and insecticidal intervention. Enhancing floristic biodiversity of urban landscapes is a potentially important tactic to increase the abundance of natural enemies and increase biological control services natural enemies provide (Shrewsbury and Leather 2012). Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, is now a major pest in several crops in Maryland and in nurseries and landscapes, where it attacks a broad range of trees and shrubs. In residential landscapes, these hosts amplify populations of stink bugs that then enter homes and become major nuisance pests. Recently, we discovered several indigenous parasitic wasps and predatory insects attacking eggs, nymphs, and adults of BMSB on woody landscape plants in landscapes and nurseries. Many natural enemies require or use as dietary supplement floral resources such as nectar and pollen. In replicated studies in commercial nurseries infested with BMSB, we will add different combinations of flowering plants to blocks of trees. Using sentinel prey we will examine rates of egg parasitism to determine which combinations of floral resources provide superior biological control. By monitoring abundance of nymphs and adults of BMSB on trees with different floral regimes, we will determine which floral resources enhance biological control on feeding stages of BMSB.

Progress 09/26/14 to 09/09/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Through refereed publications and presentations at scientific meetings we provided information to the research community and government agencies involved with the ecology and management of insect and mite pests of trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients ranging from natural landscapes to cities. Through trade journals, lay publications, and presentations at meetings of professional societies we presented information and conducted training on the ecology and management on insect and mite pests affecting trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients to arborists and foresters. Through interviews on television and radio and through web based delivery systems we presented information on the ecology and management on insect and mite pests affecting trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients to members of the green industries, government agencies, and the general public. Changes/Problems:This has been a great project. We made several important scientific discoveries related to plants, pests, and benefical insects that affect the sustainability of urban forests. We published many articles and book chapters, and made hundreds of presentations to thousands of stakeholders. Ourbroadcasts on television and radio reached millions of listeners in the US and around the world. We thank you for supporting our research and outreach and we hope that you will consider your investment a good one. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In the final year of the project we trained 1post-doctoral scientist, 1 graduate students, and 5undergraduate students.More than 2000 adult volunteers enrolled in Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs received knowldege and professional development generarated by our research. More than 1,000 commercial arborists, landscapers, institutional and governmental landscape managers received training in integrated pest management tactics and strategies for managing pests in urban forests based on knowledge generated by this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? 1 books chapterand 4journal articles to the scientific and professional communities 11 conference papers and presentations to the scientific and professional communities 7broadcasts on television and radio including NPR and PBS to several million people in the Washington metropolitan region 42presentations to more than 3,500 commercial arborists, landscapers, institutional and governmental landscape managers, adult volunteers in Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs, and private citizens What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. How do features of urbanization affect assemblages of pests and natural enemies and consequently the susceptibility of urban forests to pest invasions and outbreaks? Impact - By identifying features of urbanization that affect plants, pests, pests and natural enemies, we inform urban planners and pest managers on tactics and strategies to mitigate pest problems through design and maintenance practices that enhance sustainability of urban forests. Objective 1 - Effects of urbanization on assemblages of arthropods. We synthesized literature on the responses of terrestrial arthropods to urbanization from several different studies and reported our findings in a book chapter and trade journal. In summary, urban forests generally consist of many native and exotic tree species, which are encountered by herbivores from a variety of geographic origins. In addition to changes to plant density, forest structure and composition, and impervious surface cover, the increase in the proportion of exotic trees in cities can simplify arthropod communities and change patterns of herbivory relative to natural forests. Herbivory from many taxa becomes more severe, either consistently like scales, or episodically like many Lepidoptera, on urban trees compared to forest trees. However, total herbivory or the specific types of herbivory can also decrease on urban trees due to lower herbivore diversity. Many factors, including tree density and diversity, habitat fragmentation, temperature, tree quality, and natural enemy abundance, contribute to these patterns. The geographic origin of trees and herbivores are important drivers of herbivory on urban trees. Combinations of native and exotic trees and herbivores lead to four primary outcomes for urban trees. Exotic trees may be relatively immune to native herbivores and thus low maintenance or, if a co-evolved exotic herbivore is introduced, trees could be heavily attacked and damaged, and thereby become unsustainable. Native trees are typically subject to a suite of native herbivores, though in some cases these herbivores are not severe enough to warrant management. By contrast, urban conditions such as high temperature and drought can cause both native and exotic herbivores to become severe, damaging pests. The most extreme threat to native trees is generally from exotic herbivores against which they are undefended. Increasing research suggests that arthropod communities and herbivory on urban trees are determined by complex associations between plant provenance and a myriad of biotic and abiotic conditions surrounding the plants on which they live and feed. Objective 2 - Effects of plant species composition on patterns of host use by an invasive species. We examined patterns of host use by the highly invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, in diverse ornamental plant nurseries. We found broad use of diverse plants and identified 88 host plants used by all life stages of H. halys. We also highlight the 43 plant taxa that did not support any life stage of H. halys across the study period and are thus classified as non-hosts. In a related study we also documented the importance of fruit in the selection on host plants used by H. halys. We discuss how the selective planting of non-hosts, especially gymnosperms and non-fruit bearing trees and shrubs, may aid in reducing the agricultural and nuisance pest status of this invasive insect. In a second study we determined that the number of pest problems in residential landscapes was inversely related to the generic diversity of plants. 2. How do non-native plants affect population dynamics of native and non-native pests in urban forests? Impact - For an important exotic pest, brown marmorated stink bug, we identified several native plants differentially susceptible to the stink bug. A separate study demonstrated that native and exotic plants in home landscapes showed similar levels of herbivory due to indigenous pathogens and insects. This information informs plant growers and landscape designers on plant selection to mitigate a new invasive pest and provides knowledge enabling landscape mangers to focus monitoring and intervention strategies more effectively. Objective 1 - Patterns of host plant use by brown marmorated stink bug. Recent research identifies several factors that govern how specialist herbivores switch host plants upon introduction. Predicting the feeding ecology and impacts of introduced generalist species, however, remains difficult. We examined how plant geographic origin influenced patterns of host use by a generalist, invasive herbivore, while accounting for variation in plant availability. In visual surveys of 220 plant taxa in commercial nurseries in Maryland, USA, H. halys was more abundant on non-Asian plants and selected these over Asian plants. These results highlight the importance of considering both plant origin and relative abundance in understanding the selection of host plants by invasive generalist herbivores in natural and urban forests. Objective 2 - Biotic and abiotic problems associated with native and non-native plants in residential landscapes. Using data on some 60 taxa of woody plants found on more than 40 residential landscapes surveyed for several years by a commercial tree care firm, we examined the relationships between plant origin and the occurrence of problems associated with biotic factors including insects and pathogens and abiotic factors related to edaphic factors and other site associated conditions. We found that native and non-native plants had similar levels of pest problems. 3.Can biological control be enhanced in urban ecosystems by conservation of indigenous natural enemies through landscape design and the release of exotic natural enemies to control invasive, exotic pests (classical biological control)? Impact - By clarifying the associations between tree health, impacts of natural enemies, and rates of emerald ash borer population growth, scientists are better able to understand mechanisms underlying the rapid population growth of emerald ash borer in urban forests. By releasing three species on parasitic wasps in emerald ash borer infested sites and sequentially sampling trees, parasite establishment, movement, and rates of parasitism were determined. This information informs decisions regarding which species of wasps should be released for mitigating emerald ash borer. Work still in progress will identify features of urbanization such as amount of impervious surface that affect rates of parasitism of emerald ash borer by parasitic wasps. This information will be used to inform landscape managers on locations where biological control may have the greatest chances for success in urban forests.

Publications

  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2020 Citation: Martinson, H.H., M. J. Raupp, and S. Frank. In press. How Urban Forest Composition Shapes the Structure and Function of Arthropod Communities. In: Nature and Challenges of Urban Ecology. (ed. by P. Barbosa).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Jennings, D.E., J.J. Duan, P.M. Shrewsbury. 2018. Comparing Methods for Monitoring Establishment of the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis, Coleoptera: Buprestidae) Egg Parasitoid Oobius agrili (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in Maryland, USA. Forests, Special Issue Impacts, Monitoring and Management of Forest Pests and Diseases. doi: 10.3390/f9100659
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Raupp, M.J. 2018. EAB Aftermath. Tree Care Industry. 29(2):26-28.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Raupp, M.J. 2018. Arborists get ready for spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, the next landscape invader. Arborist News. 29(3): 52-55.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Shrewsbury, P.M. and M. J. Raupp. 2019. Beleaguered boxwoods, prepare for an unpleasant reunion with Box Tree Moth, Cydalima perspectalis. Tree Care Industry. 30(4):24-26.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Help wanted: Citizen Scientists support efforts to determine the distribution and diversity of native and exotic stink bug egg parasitoids in Maryland. Presenter by R. Waterworth with P. Shrewsbury. In the: Biological control of invasive organisms impacting the Eastern Region Symposium at the Eastern Branch Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting in Blacksburg, VA. March 2019
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Native natural enemies: Regional and habitat variation. P. M. Shrewsbury. Brown marmorated stink bug SCRI Stakeholder Advisory Panel Meeting. Columbus, OH. Feb. 2019 (35 attendees) Regional update on Trissolcus japonicus in MD. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Areawide Project, P. M. Shrewsbury, IPM Working Group Project. Winchester, VA. Nov. 2018
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Native and exotic natural enemies of the exotic brown marmorated stinkbug. P. M. Shrewsbury, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Entomology Seminar Series. Sept. 2018
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2020 Citation: Do treated ash trees confer a protective silhouette from emerald ash borer for neighboring trees? Abell K.J., R.B. de Andrade, J.J. Duan, D.S. Gruner, P.M. Shrewsbury. Joint meeting of IUFRO Working Parties: Population dynamics and integrated management of forest insects, Quebec City, Canada. July 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Redistribution of Trissolcus japonicus in Maryland and associated native parasitoid activity. Poster presentation by M. Potter with P.M. Shrewsbury at the Eastern Branch Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Blacksburg, VA. March 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Effects of environmental conditions on evasive behaviors of periodical cicadas, Magicicada septendecim and M. cassini. Michael Raupp and Holly Martinson, Entomological Society of America National Meeting, Vancouver, Canada. November 14, 2018
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Do all great minds think alike? An assessment of expert perspective on the impacts of non-native insects in North America. Ashley Schulz, Angela Mech, Craig Allen, Matthew Ayres, Kamal J. K. Gandhi, Jessica Gurevitch, Nathan Havill, Daniel Herms, Ruth Hufbauer, Andrew M. Liebhold, Kenneth Raffa, Michael J. Raupp, Kathryn, Thomas, Patrick Tobin and Travis D. Marsico. Entomological Society of America National Meeting, Vancouver, Canada. November 12, 2018
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Experimental tests of oviposition constraints and damage of the brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys) on nursery trees. Holly Martinson and Michael Raupp, Entomological Society of America National Meeting, Vancouver, Canada. November 13, 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Plant diversity predicts pest management interventions in urban residential landscapes. Christopher Riley, Michael J. Raupp, Kelby L. Fite and Mary Gardiner. Entomological Society of America National Meeting, Vancouver, Canada. November 14, 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Integrative Ecology of Invasive Wood-Boring Insects. D.S. Gruner. Rocky Mountain Biological Lab, Gothic CO, July 22, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Global warming and what it means to plants, insects, and natural enemies. Morris Arboretum. University of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, PA. October 10, 2018
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Get ready for the spotted lanternfly. Tree Care Industry Expo. Charlotte, NC. November 16, 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: What a warming world means to plants, pests, and beneficial insects. American Society of Consulting Arborists. San Diego, CA. November 29, 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: When management goes awry: Outbreaks following intervention. American Society of Consulting Arborists. San Diego, CA. November 30, 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: What a warming world means to plants, pests, and beneficial insects. Bayard Cutting Arboretum Symposium. Great River, NY. February 25, 2019.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: How insect make the world go around. USA Science and Engineering Festival. Nifty Fifty. Western School of Technology and Environmental Science in Baltimore, MD March 8, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: What a Warming World Means for Plants, Pests, and Their Natural Enemies. International Master Gardener Conference. Valley Forge, PA, June 20, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zoo IPM then and now: An historical look at challenges to safety and sustainability in Zoos. Association of Zoological Horticulture National Meeting. Philadelphia, PA, August 25, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: What a Warming World Means for Plants, Pests, and Their Natural Enemies. Association of Zoological Horticulture National Meeting. Philadelphia, PA, August 25, 2019.


Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Through refereed publications and presentations at scientific meetings we provided information to the research community and government agencies involved with the ecology and management of insect and mite pests of trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients ranging from natural landscapes to cities. Through trade journals, lay publications, and presentations at meetings of professional societies we presented information and conducted training on the ecology and management on insect and mite pests affecting trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients to arborists and foresters. Through webinars, interviews on television and radio and through web based delivery systems we presented information on the ecology and management on insect and mite pests affecting trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients to members of the green industries, government agencies, and the general public. Changes/Problems:No changes or problems What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We trained 2 post-doctoral scientists, 1 graduate students, and 4 undergraduate students associated with this project. More than 400 adult volunteers enrolled in Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs received knowldege and professional development generated by our research. More than 2,500 commercial arborists, landscapers, institutional and governmental landscape managers received training in integrated pest management tactics and strategies for managing pests in urban forests based on knowledge generated by this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?6 refereed journal articles and 2 articles in trade journals to the scientific and professional communities 15 conference papers and presentations to the scientific and professional communities 49 other publications or presentations to scientific communities, professional societies, and lay audiences 17 broadcasts on television and radio including NPR and PBS to several million people nationally and in the Washington metropolitan region What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to collect and anlyze data, publish papers, transfer information at conferences, seminars, symposia, shortcourses, workshops, and other training events on our three overarching goals: 1. How do features of urbanization such as impervious surfaces, plant species composition including plant abundance and diversity, and vegetational texture affect assemblages of pests and natural enemies and consequently the susceptibility of urban forests to pest invasions and outbreaks? 2. How do non-native plants affect population dynamics of native and non-native pests in urban forests? 3. Can biological control be enhanced in urban ecosystems by conservation of indigenous natural enemies through landscape design and the release of exotic natural enemies to control invasive, exotic pests (classical biological control)?

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. How do features of urbanization affect assemblages of pests and natural enemies and consequently the susceptibility of urban forests to pest invasions and outbreaks? The amount of impervious surface in an area is directly and positively related to the built environment, increasing dramatically with urbanization. Impervious surface reduces water infiltration leading to drought stress in plants. It also exacerbates the urban heat island effect. By studying ash trees across a gradient of impervious surface we found that mortality of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) caused by natural enemies decreased with increasing levels of impervious surface. The primary sources of mortality were parasitism by wasps and predation by woodpeckers. The impact of these agents differed at different spatial scales. We continued our studies of invasive brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) and demonstrated a strong preference for narrowed leaved plants as substrates for oviposition. This may help explain why narrow leaved gymnosperms are less utilized for egg-laying than broad leaved plants. By planting narrow leaved species and varieties infestations of landscapes by BMSB might be reduced. Vegetational texture, a habitat's plant species diversity, evenness, and richness, varies significantly throughout residential landscapes and plays an important role in structuring arthropod communities. Vegetational texture is often negatively related to increasing levels of urbanization. Greater vegetational diversity often corresponds with more robust natural enemy communities, which in turn may provide enhanced pest population control. Our primary objective was to elucidate the relationship between measures of vegetational texture and the frequency and type of pest and disease plant problems observed within residential landscapes. Additionally, we sought to identify plant genera most susceptible to problems and the types of problems that were commonplace. We compiled inventories of the woody plant communities found on the residential properties of 37 clients of Bartlett Tree Experts (BTE) in the mid-Atlantic US. We then analyzed three years of pest and disease treatment records for each property performed by BTE field technicians. A significant negative relationship existed between plant genera richness in residential landscapes and the number of arthropod pest treatments performed. Plants in the genera Acer, Cornus, Prunus, Ilex, and Rosa were the most problem-prone across the study, with their distribution of problems by type (e.g., arthropod or pathogen) often differing significantly from the distribution observed across all plant genera. Our findings provide support for the hypothesis that increased plant diversity translates to lower levels of herbivorous pests. Selecting less pest-prone genera of plants may enhance the sustainability of residential landscapes. These results were shared in publications and presentations. 2. How do non-native plants affect population dynamics of native and non-native pests in urban forests? Our previous studies demonstrated clear patterns supporting the observation that native plants were at greater risk than non-native plants to non-native invasive insects such as Emerald Ash Borer and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, no further contributions to this objective were made in this reporting period. 3. Can biological control be enhanced in urban ecosystems by conservation of indigenous natural enemies through landscape design and the release of exotic natural enemies to control invasive, exotic pests (classical biological control)? Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is one of the most destructive, invasive forest pests in North America and is responsible for the death of hundreds of millions of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in its introduced host range. Recently, this invasive beetle was also discovered attacking the white fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) in North America. In response to emerald ash borer's lack of evolutionary history with this host plant, we hypothesize that this host range expansion will result in enemy free space from the introduced larval parasitoid Tetrastichus planipennisi. Here we conducted both No Choice and Choice assays to evaluate the parasitism response of T. planipennisi to the emerald ash borer larvae reared or inserted in white fringetree sticks vs sticks of the favored host plant, green ash (F. pennsylvanica). Additionally, we observed the host-finding behavior of T. planipennisi when given a choice with the two host plants infested with emerald ash borer larvae. The No Choice assay demonstrates that T. planipennisi is able to parasitize and successfully develop on emerald ash borer larvae reared in white fringetree sticks. Choice assays further show that T. planipennisi is capable of parasitizing suitable stages of emerald ash borer larvae inserted in white fringetree even with the presence of emerald ash borer infested green ash in the same assay arena. However, rates of the host larval parasitism by T. planipennisi were significantly lower in white fringetree sticks than in green ash sticks and T. planipennisi spent less time on white fringetree sticks than green ash. These findings suggest that emerald ash borer may experience partial enemy free space through the utilization of white fringetree as an alternative host to ash, and thus biological control of emerald ash borer in white fringetrees with T. planipennisi may be less effective than in ash trees. In its native and introduced range, Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, H. halys, is attacked by a variety of natural enemies including several parasitoids and predators. We sought to learn the potential impact of indigenous natural enemies on H. halys in woody ornamental nurseries in Maryland, USA. We sampled naturally field laid H. halys egg masses for mortality and parasitism rates in two years. Overall, egg mortality averaged 54% for both years, and increased within season and between years. The largest source of mortality was from egg parasitoids with mean parasitism rates of 30.73 and 39.63% in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Mortality from predation was much lower and averaged 4.61% by chewing and 2.53% by sucking predators. We found seven species of Hymenopteran egg parasitoids attacking H. halys eggs, with Anastatus reduvii being the dominant species comprising 61.17 and 79.12% of all parasitoids in 2012 and 2013, respectively. The observed increase in parasitism over time and female biased sex ratio of parasitoids suggests that native parasitoids may be responding to the novel host, H. halys. Consequently, the use of these native eupelmid egg parasitoids in augmentative or conservation biological control may be a viable H. halys management strategy for this pest.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Jones A.L., D.E. Jennings, C.R.R. Hooks, P.M. Shrewsbury. 2017. Field surveys of egg mortality and indigenous egg parasitoids of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, in ornamental nurseries in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA. Journal of Pest Science, Special Issue on Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. DOI: 10.1007/s10340-017-0890-8
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: P.K. Abram, K.A. Hoelmer⿦ P.M. Shrewsbury, R.A. Waterworth,⿦ (49 authors). 2017. Indigenous arthropod natural enemies of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug in North America and Europe. J. Pest Sci. DOI: 10.1007/s10340-017-0891-7
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Rice, K.B., R.J. Bedoukian, G.C. Hamilton, P. Jentsch, A. Khrimian, P. MacLean, W.R. Morrison III, B.D. Short, P.M. Shrewsbury, D.C. Weber, N. Wiman, and T. C. Leskey. (2018). Enhanced Response of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) to its Aggregation pheromone with Ethyl Decatrienoate. Journal of Economic Entomology, 111 (1): 495-499. DOI: 10.1093/jee/tox316
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Hoban, J.N., J.J. Duan, P.M. Shrewsbury. 2018. Host utilization and fitness of the larval parasitoid Tetrastichus planipennisi are influenced by emerald ash borer⿿s food plants: implications for biological control. Biological Control. 127: 85-93.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2018 Citation: Jennings, D.E., J.J. Duan, P.M. Shrewsbury. (subm). Comparing Methods for Monitoring Establishment of the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis, Coleoptera: Buprestidae) Egg Parasitoid Oobius agrili (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in Maryland, USA. Forests, Special Issue Impacts, Monitoring and Management of Forest Pests and Diseases. doi: 10.3390/f9100659
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2018 Citation: Abell, K.J., Duan, J.J., and Shrewsbury, P.M. (subm.). Determining optimal parasitoid release timing for the biological control of emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). Florida Entomologist.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Raupp, M.J. 2018. EAB Aftermath. Tree Care Industry. 29(2):26-28.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Raupp, M.J. 2018. Arborists get ready for spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, the next landscape invader. Arborist News. 27(3): 52-55.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Shrewsbury, P. 2018. Beneficial of the Week: Assassin bugs are as deadly as their name indicates - if you are an insect! The Nursery and Landscape IPM Pest Report weekly on-line newsletter. May 25: 12.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Shrewsbury, P. 2018. Beneficial of the Week: Praying mantids are interesting predators. The Nursery and Landscape IPM Pest Report weekly on-line newsletter. August 17: 6-7.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: R. Waterworth and P. Shrewsbury. Citizen Science Project - Project Stink-be-Gone website at https://shrewsburylab.weebly.com/project-stink-be-gone.html
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Abell, K., Duan, J., Jennings, D., and Shrewsbury, P. Report on progress of emerald ash borer biological control efforts in Maryland at the Emerald Ash Borer Interagency Committee Meeting, Annapolis, MD, Oct. 2017 (30 attendees)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Abell, K., Duan, J., Jennings, D., and Shrewsbury, P. ⿿Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) and its parasitoids in the aftermath of invasion in Maryland⿝. Oral presentation at the 65th national meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Denver, CO. November 2017. (50 attendees)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Select flowering plants: Can they increase natural enemies and biological control services in ornamental systems? Presented by R. Waterworth with P.M. Shrewsbury at the Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Denver, CO. Nov. 2017. (50 attendees)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Waterworth, R.A. and P.M. Shrewsbury, 2018. Native Natural Enemies: Variation Among Regions and Habitats. Brown marmorated stinkbug SCRI Stakeholder Meeting, Portland, OR. Jan. 2018. (50 attendees)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: P.M. Shrewsbury. Invited presentation on research relating to biological control of the invasive brown marmorated stinkbug to the Abkhazian Study Tour on Managing Brown Marmorated Stinkbug and Other Threats to Agriculture. Department of Entomology, UMD. March 2018
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: P.M. Shrewsbury. Invited presentation on research relating to sustainable pest management to the German Delegation on Climate Change and Agricultural Issue, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, UMD. March 2018
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: P. M. Shrewsbury. Tiny wasps to the rescue: Sustainable management of invasive species. The Arboricultural Association⿿s 51st Annual Amenity Conference ⿿ Protect and Survive, University of Exeter, England, U.K. Sept. 2017 (400 attendees)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: P.M. Shrewsbury. Bugs, Aphids, Adelgids, Thrips. Advanced Landscape IPM Shortcourse. Department of Entomology, University of Maryland. College Park, MD. Jan. 2018. (63 attendees)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: P.M. Shrewsbury. Mite Pests. Advanced Landscape IPM Shortcourse. Department of Entomology, University of Maryland. College Park, MD. Jan. 2018. (63 attendees)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: P.M. Shrewsbury. Scale Pests. Advanced Landscape IPM Shortcourse. Department of Entomology, University of Maryland. College Park, MD. Jan. 2018. (63 attendees)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: P.M. Shrewsbury. Sustainable landscapes. Advanced Landscape IPM Shortcourse. Department of Entomology, University of Maryland. College Park, MD. Jan. 2018. (63 attendees)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: P.M. Shrewsbury. Demonstration of Hemiptera and Mite Pests ⿿ Laboratory. Advanced Landscape IPM Shortcourse. Department of Entomology, University of Maryland. Jan. 2018. (25 attendees)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: P.M. Shrewsbury. Demonstration of Biological Control ⿿ Laboratory. Advanced Landscape IPM Shortcourse. Department of Entomology, University of Maryland. Jan. 2018. (25 attendees)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: K. Abell. Demonstration of key chewing and boring insect pests of ornamentals (lab). Advanced Landscape IPM Short Course, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, Jan. 2018 (25 attendees)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: P.M. Shrewsbury. Biological Control. Advanced Landscape IPM Shortcourse. Department of Entomology, University of Maryland. College Park, MD. Jan. 2018. (63 attendees)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: P.M. Shrewsbury. Insect Pests of Ornamentals (1 day ⿿ lectures and lab). Continuing Professional Education Short Course, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. Jan. 2018. (35 attendees)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: P.M. Shrewsbury. Pollinators and natural enemies: Can we help them do their jobs in landscapes and nurseries. Manor View Farm and The Perennial Farm Education Seminar. Towson, MD. Feb. 2018. (200 attendees)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: P.M. Shrewsbury. Biological control discoveries for emerald ash borer: What is working well to protect ash trees? Invasive Species Conference, University of Maryland Extension, Derwood, MD. April 2018 (60 attendees)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: K. Abell. Entomology instructor and field guide for Master Naturalist Program, Montgomery County Parks and Recreation. Wheaton, MD, May 2018 (24 attendees)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: R. Waterworth. Project Stink-be-Gone June Training. 4 June 2018. Featured stink bug adult and egg mass identification. Garrett County Master Gardeners. (10 attendees)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: R. Waterworth. Project Stink-be-Gone June Training. 6 June 2018. Featured stink bug adult and egg mass identification. Frederick County Master Gardeners. (14 attendees)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: R. Waterworth. Project Stink-be-Gone June Training. 21 June 2018. Featured stink bug adult and egg mass identification. Allegeny County Master Gardeners. (9 attendees)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: R. Waterworth and P. Shrewsbury. Protect and conserve pollinators and natural enemies in our landscapes and a Project Stink-be-Gone update. Monthly Meeting of the Montgomery County Master Gardeners, Gaithersburg, MD Aug. 2018 (125 attendees)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: M.J. Raupp. How global change abets insect invasions: Case studies of beetles and bugs from the United States. First International Conference on Biosecurity in Arboriculture. Arboricultural Association. Exeter, UK. September 11, 2017.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: M.J. Raupp. How changing climate affects trees, pests, and beneficial insects. Tree Care Industry Expo. Columbus, OH. November 3, 2017.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Does plant community composition drive the frequency or type of plant problems in residential landscapes? Christopher B. Riley, Michael J. Raupp, Kelby L. Fite, and Mary Gardiner. National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Denver, CO. November 5, 2017.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: M.J. Raupp. What a warming world means for pest outbreaks. New York Stare Arborists Association. Suffern, NY. January 28, 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: M.J. Raupp. Friend or Foe? Identification of insect larvae. New York Stare Arborists Association. Suffern, NY. January 28, 2018.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: M.J. Raupp. Ecological Entomology. Anne Arundel County Master Gardeners. Gambrills, MD. October 17, 2017.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: M.J. Raupp. Ecological Entomology. Baltimore County Master Gardeners. Cockeysville, MD. October 27, 2017
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: M.J. Raupp. When generalists specialize: Patterns of host use on trees and shrubs by Halyomorpha halys in the invaded range. Department of Entomology, Rutgers University. April 13, 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Ecological IPM: Master Gardeners learning sustainable ways to manage insects in landscapes and gardens. M. Raupp, C. Sargent, and A. F. Bembenek. 9th International IPM Symposium, Baltimore, MD. March 21, 2018.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: M.J. Raupp. IPM and Plant Health Care Workshop. Tree Care Industry Association. Columbus, OH November 3, 2017.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: M.J. Raupp IPM and Plant Health Care Workshop. Tree Care Industry Association. Morton Arboretum. Lisle, IL. May 31, 2018.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: M.J. Raupp IPM and Plant Health Care Workshop. Tree Care Industry Association. San Diego Botanic Garden, Encinitas, CA. June 29, 2018.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: M.J. Raupp. IPM and Plant Health Care Workshop. Tree Care Industry Association. The Gardens at Elm Bank, Wellesley, MA. July 12, 2018
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: M.J. Raupp. IPM and Plant Health Care Workshop. Tree Care Industry Association. Cleveland Botanic Garden. Cleveland, OH. August 9, 2018.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: M.J. Raupp. Insect update. Community Forestry Workshop. Westminster, MD. October 6, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: M.J. Raupp. Introduction to insects and ecosystem services. Master Gardeners of Howard County. Ellicott City, , MD. February 26, 2018.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: M.J. Raupp. Native and non-native plants and insects in our landscapes. Kent County Master Gardeners. With Paula Shrewsbury. Chestertown, MD. March 7, 2018.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: M.J. Raupp. Introduction to insects and ecosystem services. Master Gardeners of Baltimore City. Baltimore, MD. March 8, 2018.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: M.J. Raupp. Introduction to insects and ecosystem services. Master Naturalists of St. Mary⿿s County, Prince Frederick, MD. April 23, 2018.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: M.J. Raupp. Introduction to insects and ecosystem services. Master Gardeners of Charles County, Waldorf, MD. March 22, 2018.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: M.J. Raupp. . Introduction to insects and ecosystem services. Master Gardeners of Prince George⿿s County, College Park, MD. March 26, 2018
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: M.J. Raupp. Introduction to insects and ecosystem services. Master Naturalists of Gardeners of Charles County, Waldorf, MD. March 22, 2018.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: M.J. Raupp.Ecological Entomology. Baltimore County Master Gardeners. Cockeysville, MD. April 30, 2018
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: M.J. Raupp. Introduction to insects and ecosystem services. Master Naturalists of Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD. May 7, 2018.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: J. Hoban. Affect of habitat factors and host plant on natural enemies emerald ash borer and implications for biological control.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Does plant community composition drive the frequency or type of plant problems in residential landscapes?. Christopher B. Riley, Michael J. Raupp, Kelby L. Fite, and Mary M. Gardiner. Entomological Society of America National Meeting. Denver, CO. November 6, 2017.


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

Outputs
Target Audience:Through refereed publications and presentations at scientific meetings we provided information to the research community and government agencies involved with the ecology and management of insect and mite pests of trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients ranging from natural landscapes to cities. Through trade journals, lay publications, and presentations at meetings of professional societies we presented information and conducted training on the ecology and management on insect and mite pests affecting trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients to arborists and foresters. Through webinars, interviews on television and radio and through web based delivery systems we presented information on the ecology and management on insect and mite pests affecting trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients to members of the green industries, government agencies, and the general public. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We trained 2 post-doctoral scientists, 2 graduate students, and 3 undergraduate students associated with this project. More than 500 adult volunteers enrolled in Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs received knowldege and professional development generated by our research. More than 2,000 commercial arborists, landscapers, institutional and governmental landscape managers received training in integrated pest management tactics and strategies for managing pests in urban forests based on knowledge generated by this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?7 books chapters and refereed journal articles to the scientific and professional communities 33 conference papers and presentations to the scientific and professional communities 10 other publications or presentations to professional and scientific communities 14 broadcasts on television and radio including NPR and PBS to several million people in the Washington metropolitan region 24 presentations to more than 2,500 commercial arborists, landscapers, institutional and governmental landscape managers, adult volunteers in Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs, and private citizens What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to collect and anlyze data, publish papers, transfer information at conferences, seminars, symposia, shortcourses, workshops, and other training events on our three overarching goals: 1. How do features of urbanization such as impervious surfaces, plant species composition including plant abundance and diversity, and vegetational texture affect assemblages of pests and natural enemies and consequently the susceptibility of urban forests to pest invasions and outbreaks? 2. How do non-native plants affect population dynamics of native and non-native pests in urban forests? 3. Can biological control be enhanced in urban ecosystems by conservation of indigenous natural enemies through landscape design and the release of exotic natural enemies to control invasive, exotic pests (classical biological control)?

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. How do features of urbanization affect assemblages of pests and natural enemies and consequently the susceptibility of urban forests to pest invasions and outbreaks? Objective 1 - Effects of urbanization on assemblages of arthropods. By synthesizing the diverse literature on the responses of terrestrial arthropods to urbanization from several dozen studies we examined effects of urbanization on arthropod communities. Traits such as trophic position and body size were important predictors of arthropod responses. We suggest that understanding relationships between pattern and process and mitigating the effects of individual urban factors will aid in the development of more sustainable urban forests. Objective 2 - Determine mortality factors of emerald ash borer (EAB) in ash trees located along a gradient of natural to urban habitats where introduced parasitoids were released, using a life table approach. Comparisons of EAB density and mortality factors in ash growing in urban versus natural habitats were being conducted in a field study. The factor that best predicted the density of EAB along the urbanization gradient was the generic diversity of trees in an area. We found a significant negative relationship between the amount of impervious in a site and the rate of parasitism at the site. Predation by woodpeckers was unaffected by any habitat factors measured. 2. How do non-native plants affect population dynamics of native and non-native pests in urban forests? Objective 1 - Patterns of host plant use by Halyomorpha halys (BMSB). We examined patterns of host use by the highly invasive brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (BMSB) in diverse ornamental plant nurseries. We found BMSB utilizing naïve North American and European plants in favor of Asian plants and attributed this difference to a lack of co-evolved defenses in non-Asian plants. We discuss how the selective planting of resistant hosts, especially those from Asia may aid in reducing the agricultural and nuisance pest status of this invasive insect. Objective 2 - Biotic and abiotic problems associated with native and non-native plants in residential landscapes. Using data on some 60 taxa of woody plants found on more than 40 residential landscapes managed for several years by a commercial tree care firm, we found problems were no more common on native compared to non-native plants. This knowledge will enable landscape managers focus monitoring and intervention activities associated with pest management. 3. Can biological control be enhanced in urban and natural ecosystems by conservation of indigenous natural enemies through landscape design and the release of exotic natural enemies to control invasive, exotic pests (classical biological control)? Objective 1 - Identify the arthropod community associated with indigenous ash tree infested with EAB and measure temporal changes in the community. We harvested live ash trees infested with EAB at 37 sites in Maryland from 2011 to 2014 and collected a total of 2031 arthropods. All arthropods were identified to order and 94.6% were identified to family or below. The community comprised 13 orders, 60 families and 41 genera, with 28 arthropod species identified. Data on changes in richness and diversity over time were fitted to second-order polynomial models, corresponding with a transition in the dominant taxa from woodboring beetles (Cerambycidae) to parasitoids (Braconidae and Eulophidae). This resulted in changes to community composition as the EAB infestation intensified. The findings of the present study provide further evidence of the diversity of arthropods at risk from EAB. Objective 2 - Monitor the establishment and abundance of introduced parasitoids of EAB larvae. We examined the establishment and abundance of two introduced parasitoids of EAB larvae (Spathius agrili and Tetrastichus planipennisi). We recovered 77 S. agrili from 16 EAB larvae at six sites, and 1856 T. planipennisi from 110 EAB larvae at 19 sites. Percentage parasitism by T. planipennisi, and the mean percentage of trees containing T. planipennisi broods were positively associated with the number of years post-release of the parasitoids (reaching 11.6% and 41.7% four years post-release, respectively). In conclusion, T. planipennisi has established populations and dispersed in Maryland, while S. agrili releases have been largely unsuccessful. These findings are a step towards optimizing EAB biological control release and recovery strategies, and are particularly pertinent for other states in the Mid-Atlantic region. Objective 3 - Does use of a novel host by EAB provide enemy free space? The recent finding that EAB has shifted to American white fringe tree, Chionanthus virginicus, as a larval host provided an opportunity to examine whether this host shift provides enemy free space. We determined that EAB larvae implanted into ash and fringe trees were parasitized by T. planipennisi at different rates with those in fringe tree having much lower rates compared to those in ash. This was due in part to the fact that the parasitoid spent more time searching ash branches than those of fringe tree. However, we did demonstrate the ability of T. planipennisi to successfully develop in EAB larvae in ash. White fringe tree may provide at least partial escape of EAB from T. planipennisi. Objective 4 - How will climate change affect host-parasite interactions. We found that EAB fecundity was negatively associated with temperature variation and that temperature variation altered the temporal egg laying distribution of EAB. Additionally, even moderate increases in temperature variation affected parasitoid emergence times, while decreasing percent parasitism and survival. Our findings indicate that relatively small changes in the frequency and severity of extreme climate events have the potential to phenologically isolate emerging parasitoids from host eggs, which in the absence of alternative hosts could lead to localized extinctions. More broadly, these results indicate how climate change could affect various life history parameters in insects, and have implications for consumer-resource stability and biological control. Objective 5 - Determining the indigenous egg parasitoids of BMSB on ornamental plants. We sampled naturally field laid BMSB egg masses for mortality and parasitism rates in 2012 and 2013. Overall, egg mortality averaged 54% for both years, and increased within season and between years. The largest source of mortality was from egg parasitoids with mean parasitism rates of 30.73 and 39.63% in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Mortality from predation was much lower. We found seven species of Hymenopteran egg parasitoids with Anastatus reduvii being the dominant species comprising 61.17 and 79.12% of all parasitoids in 2012 and 2013, respectively. The observed increase in parasitism over time and female biased sex ratio of parasitoids suggests that native parasitoids may be responding to the novel host, BMSB. Consequently, the use of these native eupelmid egg parasitoids in augmentative or conservation biological control may be a viable management strategy in ornamental nurseries.

Publications

  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Raupp, MJ and O. Gonthier. 2017. Biotic factors: Pathogens and Insects in the Urban Forest. In: Handbook of Urban Forestry. (ed. by F.Ferrini, A.Fini, and C.Konijnendijk). Routledge. New York, NY.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Wetherington, M.T., D.E. Jennings, P.M. Shrewsbury, and J.J. Duan. 2017. Climate variation alters the synchrony of host-parasitoid interactions. Ecology and Evolution. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3384
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Jones A.L., D.E. Jennings, C.R.R. Hooks, P.M. Shrewsbury. 2017. Field surveys of egg mortality and indigenous egg parasitoids of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, in ornamental nurseries in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA. Journal of Pest Science, Special Issue on Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. DOI: 10.1007/s10340-017-0890-8
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Paul K. Abram, Kim A. Hoelmer& Paula M. Shrewsbury, Rebeccah Waterworth,& (49 authors). 2017. Indigenous arthropod natural enemies of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug in North America and Europe. J. Pest Sci. DOI: 10.1007/s10340-017-0891-7
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Jennings D.E., J.J. Duan, D. Bean, K.A. Rice, G.L. Williams, S.K. Bell, A.S. Shurtleff, and P.M. Shrewsbury. 2017. Effects of the emerald ash borer invasion on the community composition of arthropods associated with ash tree boles in Maryland, U.S.A. Agricultural and Forest Entomology. doi: 10.1111/afe.12186
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jennings D.E., J.J. Duan, D. Bean, J.R. Gould, K.A. Rice, and P.M. Shrewsbury. 2016. Monitoring the establishment and abundance of introduced parasitoids of emerald ash borer larvae in Maryland, U.S.A. Biological Control. 101: 138-144
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Martinson, H.M., Bergmann, E. J., P. D. Venugopal, P. M. Shrewsbury and M. J. Raupp. 2016. Invasive stink bug favors na�ve plants: Testing the role of plant geographic origin in diverse, managed environments. Nature: Scientific Reports. 6:32646 | doi: 10.1038/srep32646
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Influence of elevation on dispersal behavior of brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) seeking overwintering sites. Cullum, J. P. Bergh, C., Raupp, M. J., Shrewsbury., P.M., Venugopal , P. D., Martinson, H.M., and Leskey, T.C. 25 th International Congress of Entomology. Orlando, FL. September 26, 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Survey and impact of native natural enemies on the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, in ornamental nurseries in the eastern United States. Presented by P.M. Shrewsbury with A.L. Jones, C.R.R. Hooks , M.J. Raupp, and D.E.Jennings in the Biological Control of the Invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys, by exotic and Native Parasitoids and Predators: A Global Persepctive Symposium at the 25th International Congress of Entomology. Orlando, FL. September 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Does emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) host plant impact the performance of its larval parasitoids? Poster presentation by J. Hoban, J. Duan, D. Jennings, and P. Shrewsbury. 25th International Congress of Entomology. Orlando, FL. September 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Evaluation of host habitat and host plant impacts on natural enemy assemblage and biological control of EAB. Presented by Jackie Hoban, Jian Duan, and Paula Shrewsbury, Eastern Branch Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting in Newport, RI. March 2017
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Does emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) host plant impact the performance of its larval parasitoid, Tetrastichus planipennisi? Presented by Jackie Hoban, Jian Duan, and Paula Shrewsbury. - University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Open House, Clarksville, MD. October 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: A tale of two studies of cities: Synthesizing arthropod responses to urbanization with complementary meta-analyses. Martinson, H.M. and Raupp, M.J. 25 th International Congress of Entomology. Orlando, FL. September 30, 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Lurking in the trees: Experimental tests of oviposition constraints and potential damage of an invasive stink bug on nursery trees. Martinson, H, C Taylor, C McMullen, C Sargent, K Rane, E Bergmann, D Venugopal, P Shrewsbury, and MJ Raupp. Ecological Society of America National Meeting. Portland, OR. August 8, 2017
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: IPM for Emerald Ash Borer - Project update and future work. Kris Abell, Jian Duan, Paula Shrewsbury. Emerald Ash Borer Interagency Committee Meeting. Nov. 2017
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Select flowering plants: A tool to increase pollinator diversity in ornamental nurseries. Presented by R. A. Waterworth with P.M. Shrewsbury at the Eastern Branch Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Newport, RI. March 2017.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Japanese Maple Scale: Biology and management of an old time exotic species. In the: Whats New? Status and updates on historical pests and new introductions Symposium at the Eastern Branch Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting in Newport, RI. March 2017
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Evaluation of host habitat and host plant impacts on natural enemy assemblages and biological control of emerald ash borer. Presented by J. Hoban w/ P.M. Shrewsbury and J. Duan in the: Recent Developments in IPM by Students and Early Career Professionals in the Eastern U.S. at the Eastern Branch Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting in Newport, RI. March 2017
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Raupp, M.J. 2016. A trio of trouble across the pond. Arborist News. 24(6): 52  55.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Raupp, M. J. and D. A. Herms. 2016. Invasive insect pests  what do they like to eat? Tree Care Industry. 24(8): 30-34.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Raupp, MJ. and J.A. Davidson. 2017. Friend or foe: Some tricks for identifying insect larvae on woody plants. Tree Care Industry. 28(4): 54-59.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Raupp, M.J. and J. A. Davidson. 2017. What lies beneath the bark? Some tricks for identifying larvae of insects found in shoots, branches, and trunks. Arborist News. 25(3): 50-53.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Making a Habitat for Beneficial Insects. Paula Shrewsbury. Maryland Nursery, Landscape, and Greenhouse Association Summer Field Day, June 2017.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Biological Control Approaches. Paula Shrewsbury. Advanced Landscape IPM Shortcourse. Department of Entomology, University of Maryland. College Park, MD. Jan. 2017
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Pollinators and the future of insecticides in tree care. Michael Raupp. Trees South Carolina, Folly Beach, SC. October 27, 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: CSI for bugs. Michael Raupp. Tree Care Industry Expo. Baltimore, MD. November 11, 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Alternative Management Tactics and Materials in a Post-Neonicotinoid Era. Michael Raupp. American Society of Consulting Arborists. Boston, MA. December 1, 2016
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Can Insect Pests be Managed Organically? Michael Raupp. New England Grows. Boston, MA. December 1, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Biological Control Agents. Advanced Landscape IPM Shortcourse. Department of Entomology, University of Maryland. College Park, MD. Jan. 2017.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Mites. Advanced Landscape IPM Shortcourse. Paula Shrewsbury. Department of Entomology, University of Maryland. College Park, MD. Jan. 2017.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Biological controls for emerald ash borer. Paula Shrewsbury. Adapting to New Climates for Forests and Invasive Species Conference, Maryland / Delaware Society of American Foresters. Nov. 2016
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Coordinator and Instructor: Managing Insect Pests of Ornamental Plants (1 day  lectures and lab). Paula Shrewsbury. Continuing Professional Education Short Course, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. Jan. 2017
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Symposium Co-coordinator and Moderator: In the: Biological Control of the Invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys, by Exotic and Native Parasitoids and Predators: A Global Perspective. paula Shrewsbury. Symposium at the 25th International Congress of Entomology (ICE). Orlando, FL USA. Sept. 2016
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: 39 Beneficial of the Week articles and Pest Updates published in: TPM/IPM Weekly Report for Arborists, Landscape Managers & Nursery Managers Paula Shrewsbury (http://extension.umd.edu/ipm/landscape-and-nursery-ipm-alerts);
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: What a warming world means for pest outbreaks. Michael Raupp. Urban Forestry Today. University of Massachusetts Webcast. October 13, 2016. http://www.urbanforestrytoday.org/videos.html
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Aliens in our midsts: Present and future consequences of non-native insects and plants. Michael Raupp. Trees South Carolina, Folly Beach, SC. October 27, 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Integrated Approaches for Managing Scale Insects on Trees and Shrubs. Michael Raupp. Ohio State Green Industry Shortcourse. Columbus, OH. December 6, 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: What a Warming World Means for Pest Outbreaks. Michael Raupp. Ohio State Green Industry Shortcourse. Columbus, OH. December 6, 2016
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Alternative Management Tactics and Materials in a Post-Neonicotinoid Era. Maine Arborist Association American Society of Consulting Arborists. Maine Arborist Association. Webinar. January 20, 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Update on insect pests in ornamentals. Michael Raupp. Green Industry Professional Seminar Pesticide Re-certification. Annandale, VA. January 27, 2017.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: What a warming world means to insect outbreaks. Michael Raupp. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Symposium. Richmond, VA. March 23, 2017.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Chicago Botanic Garden Midwest Tree and Shrub Conference. Michael Raupp. Future impacts of invasive species and climate change on pest management in landscapes. September 7, 2017


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

Outputs
Target Audience:Through refereed publications and presentations at scientific meetings we provided information to the research community and government agencies involved with the ecology and management of insect and mite pests of trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients ranging from natural landscapes to cities. Through trade journals, lay publications, and presentations at meetings of professional societies we presented information and conducted training on the ecology and management on insect and mite pests affecting trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients to arborists and foresters. Through webinars, interviews on television and radio and through web based delivery systems we presented information on the ecology and management on insect and mite pests affecting trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients to members of the green industries, government agencies, and the general public. Changes/Problems:We anticipate no major changes or problems in the foreseeable future. If sufficient funds become available we would like to spend more time documenting impact brought about by our research. At present not enough resources or expertise are available to conduct adequate surveys to demonstrate short and long terms changes in knowledge, actions, or conditions. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We trained 2 post-doctoral scientists, 1 graduate student, and 3 undergraduate students associated with this project. More than 500 adult volunteers enrolled in Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs received knowledge and professional development generated by our research. More than 2,000 commercial arborists, landscapers, institutional and governmental landscape managers received training in integrated pest management tactics and strategies for managing pests in urban forests based on knowledge generated by this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Through refereed publications and presentations at scientific meetings we provided information to the research community and government agencies involved with the ecology and management of insect and mite pests of trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients ranging from natural landscapes to cities. Through trade journals, lay publications, and presentations at meetings of professional societies we presented information and conducted training on the ecology and management on insect and mite pests affecting trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients to arborists and foresters. Through webinars, interviews on television and radio and through web based delivery systems we presented information on the ecology and management on insect and mite pests affecting trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients to members of the green industries, government agencies, and the general public. A summary of activities is listed below. 9 books chapters and journal articles to the scientific and professional communities 23 conference papers and presentations to the scientific and professional communities 9 other publications or presentations to professional and scientific communities 4 broadcasts on television and radio including NPR and PBS to several million people in the Washington metropolitan region 67 presentations to more than 2,000 commercial arborists, landscapers, institutional and governmental landscape managers, adult volunteers in Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs, and private citizens What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to collect and analyze data, publish papers, transfer information at conferences, seminars, symposia, shortcourses, workshops, and other training events on our three overarching goals: 1. How do features of urbanization such as impervious surfaces, plant species composition including plant abundance and diversity, and vegetational texture affect assemblages of pests and natural enemies and consequently the susceptibility of urban forests to pest invasions and outbreaks? 2. How do non-native plants affect population dynamics of native and non-native pests in urban forests? 3. Can biological control be enhanced in urban ecosystems by conservation of indigenous natural enemies through landscape design and the release of exotic natural enemies to control invasive, exotic pests (classical biological control)?

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. How do features of urbanization affect assemblages of pests and natural enemies and consequently the susceptibility of urban forests to pest invasions and outbreaks? Objective 1 - Effects of urbanization on assemblages of arthropods. By conducting meta-analysis to synthesize the diverse literature on the responses of terrestrial arthropods to urbanization from several dozen studies we examined effects of urbanization on arthropod communities. Habitat factors including low vegetation cover, high percentage of impervious surface and high percentage of exotic plants reduced the diversity or arthropods in urban habitats. We presented the results of this analysis in 2016 and have a manuscript in preparation. Objective 2 - Effects of plant species composition on patterns of host use by and invasive species. We found broad use of diverse plants and identified 88 host plants used by all life stages of H. halys and 43 plant taxa that did not support any life stage of H. halys and are thus classified as non-hosts. In a related study we also documented the importance of fruit in the selection on host plants used by H. halys. We discuss how the selective planting of non-hosts, especially gymnosperms and non-fruit bearing trees and shrubs, may aid in reducing the agricultural and nuisance pest status of this invasive insect. Results of this research were published in 2015 and 2016 within this granting cycle and this objective is complete. 2. How do non-native plants affect population dynamics of native and non-native pests in urban forests? Objective 1 - Patterns of host plant use by brown marmorated stink bug. We examined how plant geographic origin influences patterns of host use by a generalist, invasive herbivore, while accounting for variation in plant availability. In visual surveys of 220 plant taxa in commercial nurseries in Maryland, USA, H. halys was more abundant on non-Asian plants and selected these over Asian plants. This research was presented at professional meetings in 2015 and 2016 and was published in 2016. This objective is complete. Objective 2 - Biotic and abiotic problems associated with native and non-native plants in residential landscapes. Using data on some 60 taxa of woody plants found on more than 40 residential landscapes surveyed for several years by a commercial tree care firm, we are examining the relationships between plant origin and the occurrence of problems associated with biotic factors including insects and pathogens and abiotic factors related to edaphic factors and other site associated conditions. To date the data has been collected, vetted, and compiled. This knowledge will enable landscape designers and property managers to select trees refractory to both biotic and abiotic factors that cause problems in landscapes. This research will be published within the next granting cycle. 3. Can biological control be enhanced in urban ecosystems by conservation of indigenous natural enemies through landscape design and the release of exotic natural enemies to control invasive, exotic pests (classical biological control)? Objective 1 - Identify the major indigenous biotic sources of mortality of emerald ash borer in natural wooded sites where exotic parasitoids have been released. We found that the fates of larvae were highly dependent on EAB life stage and host tree crown condition. In relatively healthy trees (i.e., with a low EAB infestation) and for early instars, host tree resistance was the most important mortality factor. Conversely, in more unhealthy trees (i.e., with a moderate to high EAB infestation) and for later instars, parasitism and predation were the major sources of mortality. Our findings provide further evidence of the mechanisms by which EAB has been able to successfully establish and spread in North America. Research has been presented at meetings and published. This objective is complete. Objective 2 - Monitor the establishment and abundance of introduced parasitoids of EAB larvae. We examined the establishment and abundance of two introduced parasitoids of EAB larvae (Spathius agrili and Tetrastichus planipennisi). The relationship between T. planipennisi parasitism and tree size was best described by an exponential decrease model, with over 95% of parasitism occurring in trees with a diameter at breast height of <16 cm. T. planipennisi has established populations and dispersed in Maryland, while S. agrili releases have been largely unsuccessful. Results of the 2010 - 2015 surveys have been published. We are revisited these sites in 2016 and are this compiling data. We continue to report our findings at scientific meetings and have published these results in journals. Objective 3 - Determine mortality factors of emerald ash borer (EAB) in ash trees located along a gradient of natural to urban habitats where introduced parasitoids were released, using a life table approach. Comparisons of EAB density and mortality factors in ash growing in urban versus natural habitats are being conducted in a field study. Habitat factors associated with these trees (ex. % hardscape) have been quantified and will be used to determine their influence on EAB and their natural enemy activity towards identifying measures to conserve natural enemies and favor biological control. T. planipennisi (larval parasitoid) and O. agrili (egg parasitoid) were released on selected trees in 2016. Bark sampling for O. agrili, and debarking trees for T. planipennisi, native natural enemies, and other mortality factors continues. We plan to publish these results in the next reporting cycle. Objective 4. Evaluate the effect of emerald ash borer (EAB) host plant, white fringetree compared to green ash, on the preference and performance of the introduced parasitoid, Tetrastichus planipennisi. Lab studies are currently being conducted to compare EAB parasitism rates by T. planipennisi in green ash versus white fringe tree (a newly identified host used by EAB) to determine if host tree species make a difference to natural enemies? Choice and no choice studies are being conducted. Preliminary analysis of data shows that T. planipennisi successfully parasitizes EAB larvae in both ash and white fringe tree, both with and without a choice. However, parasitism rates are greater for EAB in ash hosts compared to whitefringe hosts. These findings should elucidate the potential for biological control of EAB infesting its new host, white fringe tree. Objective 5. Determine mortality factors of emerald ash borer (EAB) and natural enemy assemblages in ash trees located along a gradient of natural to urban habitats where introduced parasitoids were released, using a life table approach. Comparisons of EAB density and mortality factors in ash growing in urban versus natural habitats are being conducted in a field study. Habitat factors associated with these trees (ex. % hardscape) have been quantified and will be used to determine their influence on EAB and their natural enemy activity towards identifying measures to conserve natural enemies and favor biological control. T. planipennisi (larval parasitoid) and O. agrili (egg parasitoid) were released on selected trees in 2016. Bark sampling for O. agrili, and debarking for T. planipennisi, native natural enemies, and other mortality factors is currently being done. Objective 6. Examine the interaction between pesticide treated ash and parasitoid releases for their impact on emerald ash borer (EAB) populations and ash health. An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach towards managing EAB is being evaluated in a field study. The interaction between pesticide treated ash and parasitoid releases is being evaluated for their impact on EAB populations and ash health. Parasitoid releases have been conducted and ash trees have been treated with a systemic insecticide in study sites. Bark sampling and debarking of ash trees will be done in fall 2017 / winter 2018.

Publications

  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2017 Citation: Raupp, MJ and O. Gonthier. In press. Biotic factors: Pathogens and Insects in the Urban Forest. In: Handbook of Urban Forestry. (ed. by F.Ferrini, A.Fini, and C.Konijnendijk). Routledge. New York, NY
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Martinson, H., D.P. Venugopal, E. Bergmann, P. Shrewsbury, and M. Raupp. 2015. Fruit availability influences the seasonal abundance of invasive stink bugs in ornamental tree nurseries. Journal of Pest Science. 88:461  468. DOI 10.1007/s10340-015-0677-8
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Bergmann, E. J., P. D. Venugopal, H.M. Martinson, M. J. Raupp, and P. M. Shrewsbury. 2016. Host Plant Use by the Invasive Halyomorpha halys (St�l) on Woody Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. PLoS ONE. 11(2): e0149975. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0149975.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Martinson, H.M., Bergmann, E. J., P. D. Venugopal, P. M. Shrewsbury and M. J. Raupp. 2016. Invasive stink bug favors na�ve plants: Testing the role of plant geographic origin in diverse, managed environments. Nature: Scientific Reports. 6:32646 | DOI: 10.1038/srep32646
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jennings D.E., J.J. Duan, D. Bean, J.R. Gould, K.A. Rice, and P.M. Shrewsbury. 2016. Monitoring the establishment and abundance of introduced parasitoids of emerald ash borer larvae in Maryland, U.S.A. Biological Control. 101: 138-144
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Raupp, M. J. 2015. Does a droughty world mean more insect outbreaks? Arborist News. 24(5):36  41.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Raupp, M. J. and H. Martinson. 2015. Bye bye big beetles in cities. Arborist News. 24(6): 70  73.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Raupp, M.J. 2016. Can insect pests of trees and shrubs be managed organically? Tree Care Industry. 24(2): 22-26.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Raupp, M. J. and D. A. Herms. 2016. Invasive insect pests  what do they like to eat? Tree Care Industry. 24(8): 30-34.


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

Outputs
Target Audience:Through refereed publications and presentations at scientific meetings we provided information to the research community and government agencies involved with the ecology and management of insect and mite pests of trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients ranging from natural landscapes to cities. Through trade journals, lay publications, and presentations at meetings of professional societies we presented information and conducted training on the ecology and management oninsect and mite pests affecting trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients to arborists and foresters. Through webinars, interviews on television and radio and through web based delivery systems we presented information on the ecology and management on insect and mite pests affecting trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients to members of the green industries, government agencies, and the general public. Changes/Problems:We anticipate no major changes or problems in the foreseeable future. If sufficient funds become available we would like to spend more time documenting impact brought about by our research. At present not enough resources or expertise are available to conduct adequate surveys to demonstrate short and long terms changes in knowledge, actions, or conditions. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We trained 3 post-doctoral scientists, 2 graduate students, and 3 undergraduate students associated with this project. More than 500 adult volunteers enrolled in Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs received knowldege and professional development generarated by our research. More than 2,000 commercial arborists, landscapers, institutional and governmental landscape managers received training in integrated pest management tactics and strategies for managing pests in urban forests based on knowledge generated by this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Severalbooks chapters and refereed journal articles to the scientific and professional communities More than a dozen conference papers and presentations to the scientific and professional communities Severalother publications or presentations to professional and scientific communities Numerousbroadcasts on television and radio including NPR and PBS to several million people in the Washington metropolitan region More than 50 presentations to more than 1,000 commercial arborists, landscapers, institutional and governmental landscape managers, adult volunteers in Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs, and private citizens What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to collect and anlyze data, publish papers, transfer information at conferences, seminars, symposia, shortcourses, workshops, and other training events on our three overarching goals: 1. How do features of urbanization such as impervious surfaces, plant species composition including plant abundance and diversity, and vegetational texture affect assemblages of pests and natural enemies and consequently the susceptibility of urban forests to pest invasions and outbreaks? 2. How do non-native plants affect population dynamics of native and non-native pests in urban forests? 3. Can biological control be enhanced in urban ecosystems by conservation of indigenous natural enemies through landscape design and the release of exotic natural enemies to control invasive, exotic pests (classical biological control)

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. How do features of urbanization affect assemblages of pests and natural enemies and consequently the susceptibility of urban forests to pest invasions and outbreaks? Objective 1 - Effects of urbanization on assemblages of arthropods. By conducting meta-analysis to synthesize the diverse literature on the responses of terrestrial arthropods to urbanization from several dozen studies we examined effects of urbanization on arthropod communities. Habitat factors including low vegetation cover, high percentage of impervious surface and high percentage of exotic plants reduced the diversity or arthropods in urban habitats. We suggest that understanding relationships between pattern and process and mitigating the effects of individual urban factors will aid in the development of more sustainable urban forests. We are completing the analysis of this research and will publish soon. Objective 2 - Effects of plant species composition on patterns of host use by and invasive species. We examined patterns of host use by the highly invasive brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys in diverse ornamental plant nurseries. We found broad use of diverse plants and identified 88 host plants used by all life stages of H. halys. We also highlight the 43 plant taxa that did not support any life stage of H. halys across the study period and are thus classified as non-hosts. In a related study we also documented the importance of fruit in the selection on host plants used by H. halys. We discuss how the selective planting of non-hosts, especially gymnosperms and non-fruit bearing trees and shrubs, may aid in reducing the agricultural and nuisance pest status of this invasive insect. This research will be published within the next granting cycle. 2. How do non-native plants affect population dynamics of native and non-native pests in urban forests? Objective 1 - Patterns of host plant use by brown marmorated stink bug. We examined how plant geographic origin influences patterns of host use by a generalist, invasive herbivore, while accounting for variation in plant availability. In visual surveys of 220 plant taxa in commercial nurseries in Maryland, USA, H. halys was more abundant on non-Asian plants and selected these over Asian plants. These results highlight the importance of considering both plant origin and relative abundance in understanding the selection of host plants by invasive generalist herbivores in natural and urban forests. This research will be published within the next granting cycle. Objective 2 - Biotic and abiotic problems associated with native and non-native plants in residential landscapes. Using data on some 60 taxa of woody plants found on more than 40 residential landscapes surveyed for several years by a commercial tree care firm, we are examining the relationships between plant origin and the occurrence of problems associated with biotic factors including insects and pathogens and abiotic factors related to edaphic factors and other site associated conditions. To date the data has been collected, vetted, and compiled. This research will be published within the next granting cycle. This knowledge will enable landscape designers and property managers to select trees refractory to both biotic and abiotic factors that cause problems in landscapes. Objective 3 - Effects of plant origin and water stress on the relative susceptibility of ash trees to native and nonnative borers. The objectives of this study were to examine the relative susceptibility of green (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and Manchurian (F. mandshurica) ash to Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis and indigenous borers and whether that susceptibility changed with drought stress. In a common garden experiment, EAB occurred more frequently and reached higher abundances in green than Manchurian ash. The frequency and abundance of bark beetles, North American native clearwing borers, and longhorn beetles were similar in the two ash species. Relative susceptibility of green and Manchurian ash to borers did not change due to strees. The findings suggest Manchurian ash may be resistant to several classes of borers, regardless of insect geographic origin. 3. Can biological control be enhanced in urban ecosystems by conservation of indigenous natural enemies through landscape design and the release of exotic natural enemies to control invasive, exotic pests (classical biological control)? Objective 1 - Identify the major indigenous biotic sources of mortality of emerald ash borer in natural wooded sites where exotic parasitoids have been released. To further our understanding of Agrilus planipennis population dynamics, we used a large-scale field experiment and life-table analyses to quantify the fates of EAB larvae and the relative importance of different biotic mortality factors at 12 recently colonized sites in Maryland. We found that the fates of larvae were highly dependent on EAB life stage and host tree crown condition. In relatively healthy trees (i.e., with a low EAB infestation) and for early instars, host tree resistance was the most important mortality factor. Conversely, in more unhealthy trees (i.e., with a moderate to high EAB infestation) and for later instars, parasitism and predation were the major sources of mortality. Lifetable analyses also indicated how the lack of sufficient levels of host tree resistance and natural enemies contribute to rapid population growth of EAB at recently colonized sites. Our findings provide further evidence of the mechanisms by which EABhas been able to successfully establish and spread in North America. Objective 2 - Monitor the establishment and abundance of introduced parasitoids of EAB larvae. We examined the establishment and abundance of two introduced parasitoids of EAB larvae (Spathius agrili and Tetrastichus planipennisi). Overall, 56,677 S. agrili and 191,506 T. planipennisi were released at 26 and 32 sites, respectively, over a 5 year period. Monitoring parasitoids involved debarking trees, and harvesting trees to place in rearing barrels, and was conducted at 47 sites (23 of which received parasitoids, and 24 of which served as controls) from 2010 to 2015. We recovered 77 S. agrili from 16 EAB larvae at six sites, and 1856 T. planipennisi from 110 EAB larvae at 19 sites. Percentage parasitism by T. planipennisi, and the mean percentage of trees containing T. planipennisi broods were positively associated with the number of years post-release of the parasitoids (reaching 11.6% and 41.7% four years post-release, respectively). The relationship between T. planipennisi parasitism and tree size was best described by an exponential decrease model, with over 95% of parasitism occurring in trees with a diameter at breast height of <16 cm. In conclusion, T. planipennisi has established populations and dispersed in Maryland, while S. agrili releases have been largely unsuccessful. These findings are a steptowards optimizing EAB biological control release and recovery strategies, and are particularly pertinent for other states in the Mid-Atlantic region. Objective 3 - Determine mortality factors of emerald ash borer (EAB) in ash trees located along a gradient of natural to urban habitats where introduced parasitoids were released, using a life table approach. Comparisons of EAB density and mortality factors in ash growing in urban versus natural habitats are being conducted in a field study. Habitat factors associated with these trees (ex. % hardscape) have been quantified and will be used to determine their influence on EAB and their natural enemy activity towards identifying measures to conserve natural enemies and favor biological control. T. planipennisi (larval parasitoid) and O. agrili (egg parasitoid) were released on selected trees in 2016. Bark sampling for O. agrili, and debarking for T. planipennisi, native natural enemies, and other mortality factors is currently being done.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Martinson, H., Sargent, C.S., and M.J. Raupp. 2014. Tree water stress and insect geographic origin influence patterns of herbivory in green (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and Manchurian (F. mandshurica) ash. J. of Arbor. Urban For. 40(6): 332344.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Venugopal, D. P., H. M. Martinson, E. J. Bergmann, P. M. Shrewsbury, and M. J. Raupp. 2015. Edge Effects Influence the Abundance of the Invasive Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Woody Plant Nurseries. Environmental Entomology. 44:474-479. doi: 10.1093/ee/nvv061
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jennings, D. E., J. J. Duan, and P. M. Shrewsbury. 2015. Biotic mortality factors affecting emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) are highly dependent on life stage and host tree crown condition. Bulletin of Entomological Research, Bulletin of Entomological Research 105:598-606. doi:10.1017/S0007485315000498.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jennings, D. E., J. J. Duan, L.S. Bauer, J.M. Schmude, M.T. Wetherington, and P. M. Shrewsbury. 2015. Temporal dynamics of woodpecker predation on emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) in the northeastern U.S.A. Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 18: 174-181. DOI: 10.1111/afe.12142
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Jones, A.L., D.E. Jennings, C.R.R. Hooks, and P.M. Shrewsbury. 2014. Sentinel eggs underestimate rates of parasitism of the exotic brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys. Biological Control, 78, 61-66. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2014.07.011. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964414001509
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Jennings, D.E, J.J. Duan, K.M. Larson, J.P. Lelito, and P.M. Shrewsbury. 2014. Evaluating a new method for monitoring the field establishment and parasitism of Oobius agrili (Hymentoptera: Encyrtidae), an egg parasitoid of emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Bupresstidae). Florida Entomologist, 97(3), 1263-1265.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jennings, David E., Duan, Jian J., Abell, Kristopher J., Bauer, Leah S., Gould, Juli R., Shrewsbury, Paula M., Van Driesche, Roy G. 2015. Life table evaluation of change in emerald ash borer populations due to biological control. In: Van Driesche, R.G.; Reardon, R.C., eds. Biology and control of emerald ash borer. FHTET-2014-09. Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team: 139-151. Chapter 9.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Effects of woodpecker predation on emerald ash borer population dynamics: implications for biocontrol. Presented by D.E. Jennings with J. Gould, J.D. Vandenberg, J.J. Duan, and P.M. Shrewsbury at the National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America in Portland, OR. Nov. 2014.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Shrewsbury, P.M. 2015. Japanese Beetles and Natural Enemies. Article for the University of Maryland Extension, IPMNet for Commercial Horticulture web site, found at: http://extension.umd.edu/ipm/japanese-beetles-and-natural-enemies
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Biological control: Working towards sustainable management of the exotic brown marmorated stink bug, Halymorpha halys. Invited symposium with Paula M. Shrewsbury, Ashley L. Jones, and Cerruti Hooks. National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Portland, OR. November 19, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Do brown marmorated stink bugs (Halyomorpha halys) track resources in diverse woody plant nurseries? Presented with Holly M. Martinson, Erik J. Bergmann, and P. Dilip Venugopal. National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Portland, OR. November 16, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Disasters by Design: Why Insects Outbreak in Urban Forests. M. J. Raupp. P. M. Shrewsbury, and D. A. Herms. Eastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America. Rehoboth, DE. March 16, 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Turning the tables on invasive insect pests: Using wicked plant defenses in landscape ecosystems. M. J. Raupp. Eastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America. Rehoboth, DE. March 16, 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Abundance patterns of the invasive Halyomorpha halys in adjacent tree nurseries and field crops. Entomological Society of America Eastern Branch Meeting. D.Venugopal, H. Martinson, P Shrewsbury, M Raupp. Rehoboth Beach, DE. March
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Designing stink bug-free landscapes. Shrewsbury, P, M Raupp, H Martinson, D Venugopal, E Bergmann. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Working Group Meeting. College Park, MD. June 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Drivers of host plant use for invasive stink bugs in heterogeneous habitats. Ecological Society of America National Meeting. H. Martinson, PD Venugopal, E Bergmann, P Shrewsbury, M Raupp. Ecological Society of America National Meeting. Baltimore, MD. August 2015.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Raupp, M.J. 2014. Threats to sustainability of urban forests. Arborist News. 23(6):64  67.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Raupp, M.J. and A. Szczepaniec. 2015. Collateral effects of neonicotinoid insecticides. Tree Care Industry. 24(2): 30  34.


Progress 09/26/14 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience:Through refereed publications and presentations at scientific meetings we provided information to the research community and government agencies involved with the ecology and management of insect and mite pests of trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients ranging from natural landscapes to cities. Through trade journals, lay publications, and presentations at meetings of professional societies we presented information and conducted training on the ecology and management on insect and mite pests affecting trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients to arborists and foresters. Through webinars, interviews on television and radio and through web based delivery systems we presented information on the ecology and management on insect and mite pests affecting trees and shrubs along urbanization gradients to members of the green industries, government agencies, and the general public. Changes/Problems:We anticipate no major changes or problems in the forseebale future. If sufficient funds become available we would like to spend more time documenting impact brought about by our research. At present not enough resources or expertise are available to conduct adequate surveys to demonstrate short and long terms changes in knowledge, actions, or conditions. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We trained 3 post-doctoral scientists, 2 graduate students, and 3 undergraduate students associated with this project. More than 500 adult volunteers enrolled in Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs received knowldege and professional development generarated by our research. More than 2,000 commercial arborists, landscapers, institutional and governmental landscape managers received training in integrated pest management tactics and strategies formanaging pests in urban forests based on knowledge generated by this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?14 books chapters and refereed journal articles to the scientific and professional communities 23 conference papers and presentations to the scientific and professional communities 9 other publications or presentations to professional and scientific communities 13 broadcasts on television and radio including NPR and PBS to several million people in the Washington metropolitan region 107 presentations to more than 2,500 commercial arborists, landscapers, institutional and governmental landscape managers, adult volunteers in Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs, and private citizens What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to collect and anlyze data, publish papers, transfer information at conferences, seminars, symposia, shortcourses, workshops, and other training events on our three overarching goals: 1. How do features of urbanization such as impervious surfaces, plant species composition including plant abundance and diversity, and vegetational texture affect assemblages of pests and natural enemies and consequently the susceptibility of urban forests to pest invasions and outbreaks? 2. How do non-native plants affect population dynamics of native and non-native pests in urban forests? 3. Can biological control be enhanced in urban ecosystems by conservation of indigenous natural enemies through landscape design and the release of exotic natural enemies to control invasive, exotic pests (classical biological control)? .

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. How do features of urbanization affect assemblages of pests and natural enemies and consequently the susceptibility of urban forests to pest invasions and outbreaks? Objective 1 - Effects of urbanization on assemblages of arthropods. By conducting meta-analysis to synthesize the diverse literature on the responses of terrestrial arthropods to urbanization from several dozen studies we examined effects of urbanization on arthropod communities. Traits such as trophic position and body size were important predictors of arthropod responses. We suggest that understanding relationships between pattern and process and mitigating the effects of individual urban factors will aid in the development of more sustainable urban forests. Objective 2 - Effects of plant species composition on patterns of host use by and invasive species. We examined patterns of host use by the highly invasive brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys in diverse ornamental plant nurseries. We found broad use of diverse plants and identified 88 host plants used by all life stages of H. halys. We also highlight the 43 plant taxa that did not support any life stage of H. halys across the study period and are thus classified as non-hosts. In a related study we also documented the importance of fruit in the selection on host plants used by H. halys. We discuss how the selective planting of non-hosts, especially gymnosperms and non-fruit bearing trees and shrubs, may aid in reducing the agricultural and nuisance pest status of this invasive insect. 2. How do non-native plants affect population dynamics of native and non-native pests in urban forests? Objective 1 - Patterns of host plant use by brown marmorated stink bug. Recent research identifies several factors that govern how specialist herbivores switch host plants upon introduction. Predicting the feeding ecology and impacts of introduced generalist species, however, remains difficult. Here, we examine how plant geographic origin influences patterns of host use by a generalist, invasive herbivore, while accounting for variation in plant availability. In visual surveys of 220 plant taxa in commercial nurseries in Maryland, USA, H. halys was more abundant on non-Asian plants and selected these over Asian plants. These results highlight the importance of considering both plant origin and relative abundance in understanding the selection of host plants by invasive generalist herbivores in natural and urban forests. Objective 2 - Biotic and abiotic problems associated with native and non-native plants in residential landscapes. Using data on some 60 taxa of woody plants found on more than 40 residential landscapes surveyed for several years by a commercial tree care firm, we are examining the relationships between plant origin and the occurrence of problems associated with biotic factors including insects and pathogens and abiotic factors related to edaphic factors and other site associated conditions. To date the data has been collected, vetted, and compiled. This knowledge will enable landscape designers and property managers to select trees refractory to both biotic and abiotic factors that cause problems in landscapes. Objective 3 - Effects of plant origin and water stress on the relative susceptibility of ash trees to native and non-native borers. Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is a devastating buprestid beetle introduced to North America from Asia. The objectives of this study were to examine the relative susceptibility of green (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and Manchurian (F. mandshurica) ash to EAB and indigenous borers and whether that susceptibility changed with drought stress. In a common garden experiment, EAB occurred more frequently and reached higher abundances in green than Manchurian ash. The frequency and abundance of bark beetles, North American native clearwing borers, and longhorn beetles were similar in the two ash species. Although borers increased as expected in stressed trees, the relative susceptibility of green and Manchurian ash to borers did not change. The findings suggest Manchurian ash may be resistant to several classes of borers, regardless of insect geographic origin. 3. Can biological control be enhanced in urban ecosystems by conservation of indigenous natural enemies through landscape design and the release of exotic natural enemies to control invasive, exotic pests (classical biological control)? Objective 1 - Identify the major indigenous biotic sources of mortality of emerald ash borer in natural wooded sites where exotic parasitoids have been released. To further our understanding of Agrilus planipennis population dynamics, we used a large-scale field experiment and life-table analyses to quantify the fates of EAB larvae and the relative importance of different biotic mortality factors at 12 recently colonized sites in Maryland. We found that the fates of larvae were highly dependent on EAB life stage and host tree crown condition. In relatively healthy trees (i.e., with a low EAB infestation) and for early instars, host tree resistance was the most important mortality factor. Conversely, in more unhealthy trees (i.e., with a moderate to high EAB infestation) and for later instars, parasitism and predation were the major sources of mortality. Life-table analyses also indicated how the lack of sufficient levels of host tree resistance and natural enemies contribute to rapid population growth of EAB at recently colonized sites. Our findings provide further evidence of the mechanisms by which EAB has been able to successfully establish and spread in North America. Objective 2 - Monitor the establishment and abundance of introduced parasitoids of EAB larvae. We examined the establishment and abundance of two introduced parasitoids of EAB larvae (Spathius agrili and Tetrastichus planipennisi). Overall, 56,677 S. agrili and 191,506 T. planipennisi were released at 26 and 32 sites, respectively, over a 5 year period. Monitoring parasitoids involved debarking trees, and harvesting trees to place in rearing barrels, and was conducted at 47 sites (23 of which received parasitoids, and 24 of which served as controls) from 2010 to 2015. We recovered 77 S. agrili from 16 EAB larvae at six sites, and 1856 T. planipennisi from 110 EAB larvae at 19 sites. Percentage parasitism by T. planipennisi, and the mean percentage of trees containing T. planipennisi broods were positively associated with the number of years post-release of the parasitoids (reaching 11.6% and 41.7% four years post-release, respectively). The relationship between T. planipennisi parasitism and tree size was best described by an exponential decrease model, with over 95% of parasitism occurring in trees with a diameter at breast height of <16 cm. In conclusion, T. planipennisi has established populations and dispersed in Maryland, while S. agrili releases have been largely unsuccessful. These findings are a step towards optimizing EAB biological control release and recovery strategies, and are particularly pertinent for other states in the Mid-Atlantic region. Objective 3 - Determine mortality factors of emerald ash borer (EAB) in ash trees located along a gradient of natural to urban habitats where introduced parasitoids were released, using a life table approach. Comparisons of EAB density and mortality factors in ash growing in urban versus natural habitats are being conducted in a field study. Habitat factors associated with these trees (ex. % hardscape) have been quantified and will be used to determine their influence on EAB and their natural enemy activity towards identifying measures to conserve natural enemies and favor biological control. T. planipennisi (larval parasitoid) and O. agrili (egg parasitoid) were released on selected trees in 2016. Bark sampling for O. agrili, and debarking for T. planipennisi, native natural enemies, and other mortality factors is currently being done.

Publications

  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2017 Citation: Raupp, MJ and O. Gonthier. In press. Biotic factors: Pathogens and Insects in the Urban Forest. In: Handbook of Urban Forestry. (ed. by F.Ferrini, A.Fini, and C.Konijnendijk). Routledge. New York, NY
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Martinson, H., Sargent, C.S., and M.J. Raupp. 2014. Tree water stress and insect geographic origin influence patterns of herbivory in green (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and Manchurian (F. mandshurica) ash. J. of Arbor. Urban For. 40(6): 332344.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Venugopal, D. P., H. M. Martinson, E. J. Bergmann, P. M. Shrewsbury, and M. J. Raupp. 2015. Edge Effects Influence the Abundance of the Invasive Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Woody Plant Nurseries. Environmental Entomology. 44:474-479. doi: 10.1093/ee/nvv061
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Martinson, H., D.P. Venugopal, E. Bergmann, P. Shrewsbury, and M. Raupp. 2015. Fruit availability influences the seasonal abundance of invasive stink bugs in ornamental tree nurseries. Journal of Pest Science. 88:461  468. DOI 10.1007/s10340-015-0677-8
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Designing the dreaded brown marmorated stink bugs out of residential landscapes. Invited symposium with Erik J. Bergmann and Holly M. Martinson. National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Portland, OR. November 19, 2014.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Bergmann, E. J., P. D. Venugopal, H.M. Martinson, M. J. Raupp, and P. M. Shrewsbury. 2016. Host Plant Use by the Invasive Halyomorpha halys (St�l) on Woody Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. PLoS ONE. 11(2): e0149975. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0149975.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Martinson, H.M., Bergmann, E. J., P. D. Venugopal, P. M. Shrewsbury and M. J. Raupp. 2016. Invasive stink bug favors na�ve plants: Testing the role of plant geographic origin in diverse, managed environments. Nature: Scientific Reports. 6:32646 | DOI: 10.1038/srep32646
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Turning the tables on invasive insect pests: Using wicked plant defenses in landscape ecosystems. M. J. Raupp. Eastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America. Rehoboth, DE. March 16, 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Abundance patterns of the invasive Halyomorpha halys in adjacent tree nurseries and field crops. Entomological Society of America Eastern Branch Meeting. D.Venugopal, H. Martinson, P Shrewsbury, M Raupp. Rehoboth Beach, DE. March 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Biological control: Working towards sustainable management of the exotic brown marmorated stink bug, Halymorpha halys. Invited symposium with Paula M. Shrewsbury, Ashley L. Jones, and Cerruti Hooks. National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Portland, OR. November 19, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Do brown marmorated stink bugs (Halyomorpha halys) track resources in diverse woody plant nurseries? Presented with Holly M. Martinson, Erik J. Bergmann, and P. Dilip Venugopal. National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Portland, OR. November 16, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Disasters by Design: Why Insects Outbreak in Urban Forests. M. J. Raupp. P. M. Shrewsbury, and D. A. Herms. Eastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America. Rehoboth, DE. March 16, 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Designing stink bug-free landscapes. Shrewsbury, P, M Raupp, H Martinson, D Venugopal, E Bergmann. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Working Group Meeting. College Park, MD. June 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Drivers of host plant use for invasive stink bugs in heterogeneous habitats. Ecological Society of America National Meeting. H. Martinson, PD Venugopal, E Bergmann, P Shrewsbury, M Raupp. Ecological Society of America National Meeting. Baltimore, MD. August 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: A specialized generalist: Resource availability and edge effects constrain the host plants used by Halyomorpha halys in nurseries. Martinson, H, D Venugopal, E Bergmann, P Shrewsbury, and M Raupp. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug USDA NIFA SCRI Project Stakeholder Advisory Panel Meeting. Kearneysville, WV. December 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Influence of elevation on dispersal behavior of brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) seeking overwintering sites. Cullum, J. P. Bergh, C., Raupp, M. J., Shrewsbury., P.M., Venugopal , P. D., Martinson, H.M., and Leskey, T.C. 25 th International Congress of Entomology. Orlando, FL. September 26, 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: A tale of two studies of cities: Synthesizing arthropod responses to urbanization with complementary meta-analyses. Martinson, H.M. and Raupp, M.J. 25 th International Congress of Entomology. Orlando, FL. September 30, 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Survey and impact of native natural enemies on the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, in ornamental nurseries in the eastern United States. Shrewsbury. PM., Jones, A. Hooks , C.R., Raupp, M.J. and Jennings, D.E. 25 th International Congress of Entomology. Orlando, FL. September 26, 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: When generalists specialize: Patterns of host utilization by Halyomorpha halys in the invaded range. Raupp, M.J., Martinson, H.M., Venugopal, P. D., Bergmann, E. J., and Shrewsbury, P. M. 25 th International Congress of Entomology. Orlando, FL. September 30, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Raupp, M.J. 2014. Threats to sustainability of urban forests. Arborist News. 23(6):64  67.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Raupp, M.J. and A. Szczepaniec. 2015. Collateral effects of neonicotinoid insecticides. Tree Care Industry. 24(2): 30  34.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Raupp, M. J. 2015. Does a droughty world mean more insect outbreaks? Arborist News. 24(5):36  41.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Raupp, M. J. and H. Martinson. 2015. Bye bye big beetles in cities. Arborist News. 24(6): 70  73.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Raupp, M.J. 2016. Can insect pests of trees and shrubs be managed organically? Tree Care Industry. 24(2): 22-26.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Tracy C. Leskey, Arthur Agnello, J. Christopher Bergh, Galen P. Dively, George C. Hamilton, Peter Jentsch, Ashot Khrimian, Grzegorz Krawczyk, Thomas P. Kuhar, Doo-Hyung Lee, William R. Morrison III, Dean F. Polk, Cesar Rodriguez-Saona, Peter W. Shearer, Brent D. Short, Paula M. Shrewsbury, James F. Walgenbach, Donald C. Weber, Celeste Welty, Joanne Whalen, Nik Wiman, and Faruque Zaman. 2015. Attraction of the invasive Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) to traps baited with semiochemical stimuli across the United States. Environmental Entomology, 44(3): 746-756. DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvv049.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Jones, A.L., D.E. Jennings, C.R.R. Hooks, and P.M. Shrewsbury. 2014. Sentinel eggs underestimate rates of parasitism of the exotic brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys. Biological Control, 78, 61-66. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2014.07.011. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964414001509
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Raupp, M. J. and D. A. Herms. 2016. Invasive insect pests  what do they like to eat? Tree Care Industry. 24(8): 30-34.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2105 Citation: Shrewsbury, P.M. 2015. White Grub Management. Article for the University of Maryland Extension, IPMNet for Commercial Horticulture web site, found at: http://extension.umd.edu/ipm/white-grub-management
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2017 Citation: Jennings D.E., J.J. Duan, D. Bean, K.A. Rice, G.L. Williams, S.K. Bell, A.S. Shurtleff, and P.M. Shrewsbury (in press) Effects of the emerald ash borer invasion on the community composition of arthropods associated with ash tree boles in Maryland, U.S.A. Agricultural and Forest Entomology.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jennings D.E., J.J. Duan, D. Bean, J.R. Gould, K.A. Rice, and P.M. Shrewsbury. 2016. Monitoring the establishment and abundance of introduced parasitoids of emerald ash borer larvae in Maryland, U.S.A. Biological Control. 101: 138-144
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jennings, D. E., J. J. Duan, and P. M. Shrewsbury. 2015. Biotic mortality factors affecting emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) are highly dependent on life stage and host tree crown condition. Bulletin of Entomological Research, Bulletin of Entomological Research 105:598-606. doi:10.1017/S0007485315000498.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jennings, D. E., J. J. Duan, L.S. Bauer, J.M. Schmude, M.T. Wetherington, and P. M. Shrewsbury. 2015. Temporal dynamics of woodpecker predation on emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) in the northeastern U.S.A. Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 18: 174-181. DOI: 10.1111/afe.12142
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Jennings, D.E, J.J. Duan, K.M. Larson, J.P. Lelito, and P.M. Shrewsbury. 2014. Evaluating a new method for monitoring the field establishment and parasitism of Oobius agrili (Hymentoptera: Encyrtidae), an egg parasitoid of emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Bupresstidae). Florida Entomologist, 97(3), 1263-1265.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jennings, David E., Duan, Jian J., Abell, Kristopher J., Bauer, Leah S., Gould, Juli R., Shrewsbury, Paula M., Van Driesche, Roy G. 2015. Life table evaluation of change in emerald ash borer populations due to biological control. In: Van Driesche, R.G.; Reardon, R.C., eds. Biology and control of emerald ash borer. FHTET-2014-09. Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team: 139-151. Chapter 9.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Impact of indigenous natural enemies on the exotic brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, in MD Nurseries, Department of Entomology Colloquium Series, University of Arkansas, Layfayette, AK. Spring 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Does emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) host plant impact the performance of its larval parasitoids? Poster presentation by J. Hoban, J. Duan, D. Jennings, and P. Shrewsbury. 25th International Congress of Entomology. Orlando, FL. September 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: How do arthropod communities respond to native and exotic urban landscapes? Presented by P.M. Shrewsbury with D.W. Tallamy, M.J. Raupp, H.M. Martinson, D.E. Jennings, and E. Krause. North American Forest Insect Work Conference, Washington D.C. June 2016. (40 attendees)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Adventive populations of Trissolcus japonicus, an exotic natural enemy of Halyomorpha halys. Poster presentation by A. Acebes-Doria, C. Bergh, M. Bon, M. Buffington, M. Cornelius, C. Dieckhoff, E. Fread, M. Greenstone, M. Harlihy, T. Leskey, J. Milnes, R. Morrison, P. Shrewsbury, E. Talamas, K. Tatman, R. Waterworth, D. Weber, N. Wiman and K. Hoelmer. NEPPSC, ESA Eastern Branch Meeting, Philadelphia, PA. Jan. 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Interactions of a native and exotic parasitoid of brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys. Presented by R.A. Waterworth w/ S. Ramsey, K.A. Hoelmer, C. Dieckhoff, and P.M. Shrewsbury at the Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Minneapolis, MN. Nov. 2015.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Parasitism of Halyomorpha halys (BMSB) by indigenous parasitiods. Presented by C. Dieckhoff w/ K. Tatman, K.A. Hoelmer, P. M. Shrewsbury, A. Jones, J. Walgenbach, E. Ogburn, T. Kuhar, D. Pfeiffer, and T. Trope in the Member Symposium: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Working Group: Synergizing IPM Research to Deliver Solutions Symposium at the Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Minneapolis, MN. Nov. 2015
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Adventive populations of Trissolcus japonicus, an Asian natural enemy of Halyomorpha halys, in the USA. Poster presentation by A. Acebes, B. Beers, C. Bergh, M. Bon, M. Buffington, M. Cornelius, C. Dieckhoff, E. Fread, M. Greenstone, M. Harlihy, V. Lesieur, T. Leskey, L. Manaargadoo, J. Milnes, R. Morrison, P. Shrewsbury, E. Talamas, K. Tatman, R. Waterworth, D. Weber, N. Wiman and K. Hoelmer. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Minneapolis, MN. Nov. 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Potential fungistatic effects of the defensive compound of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (St�l), on entomopathogenic fungi. Presented by T. Pike with R.J. St. Leger and P.M. Shrewsbury at the National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America in Portland, OR. Nov. 2014. (50 attendees)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Effects of woodpecker predation on emerald ash borer population dynamics: implications for biocontrol. Presented by D.E. Jennings with J. Gould, J.D. Vandenberg, J.J. Duan, and P.M. Shrewsbury at the National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America in Portland, OR. Nov. 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Survey and impact of indigenous natural enemies of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, in the United States. Presented by P.M. Shrewsbury with A.L. Jones, M.J. Raupp, C.R.R. Hooks, and D.E. Jennings in the Pentatomid pests and associated microbes Symposium at the Xth European Congress of Entomology, University of York, York, UK. Aug. 2014
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Comparing parasitoid performance between two host plants of the emerald ash borer, green ash and white fringetree. Presented by J. Hoban with J. Duan, D. Jennings, and P. Shrewsbury. NEPPSC, ESA Eastern Branch Meeting, Philadelphia, PA Student Paper Competition. Jan. 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: David Smitley, Michigan State University Department of Entomology; Diane Brown and Erwin Elsner, MSU Extension; Joy N. Landis, MSU IPM; Paula M. Shrewsbury, Univ. of Maryland Department of Entomology; and Daniel A. Herms, Ohio State University Department of Entomology. 2016. Protecting and enhancing pollinators in urban landscapes for the US North Central Region. (30 pp)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Shrewsbury, P.M. 2015. Japanese Beetles and Natural Enemies. Article for the University of Maryland Extension, IPMNet for Commercial Horticulture web site, found at: http://extension.umd.edu/ipm/japanese-beetles-and-natural-enemies