START: 01 SEP 2001 TERM: 31 AUG 2004 FY: 2003 GRANT YR: 2001
GRANT AMT: $99,678
INVESTIGATOR: Polavarapu, S.; Kopenhoffer, A.; Lashomb, J.
PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
ENTOMOLOGY
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
PO BOX 231
NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY 08903
DEVELOPMENT OF IPM METHODS FOR ORIENTAL BEETLE MANAGEMENT IN MULTIPLE CROPS
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Oriental beetle is a major root feeding pest on turfgrass, blueberries and several species of ornamental nursery crops in the northeast. Current management practices exclusively rely on organophosphates and imidacloprid for control. This project will develop novel strategies to manage oriental beetles, integrating, biological, behavioral, and reduced-risk chemical strategies. Alternatives developed here are expected to reduce our reliance on OP insecticides.
OBJECTIVES: 1. Develop mating disruption technology using sprayable, microencapsulated formulation and high-release widely spaced dispenser systems; 2. Establish relationships between pheromone trap captures and larval density in the following generation; and 3. evaluate new species/strains of entomopathogenic nematodes and evaluate the potential synergy between nematodes and some novel insecticides.
APPROACH: Replicated field experiments will evaluate the potential of microencapsulated sex pheromone and widely spaced macrodispensers in disrupting mating of oriental beetles. Standard regression proceedures will be used to establish the relationship between pheromone trap catches and grub density in nursery and blueberry crops. Laboratory, greenhouse and field experiments will be conducted to evaluate new insecticidal nematode strains for potential synergy between novel insecticides and nematodes.
PROGRESS: 2001/09 TO 2004/08
Objective 1. Development of mating disruption technology using sprayable, microencapsulated
formulation and high-release widely space dispenser systems: During project
years 1 and 2 we had that in highbush blueberries widely-spaced marcodispensers
(50 g ai/ha) and red rubber septa (5 g ai/ha) both successfully interrupted
sexual communication as shown by a >98% reduced male captures in pheromone
baited traps and reduced mating success of caged virgin females from 77% in
controls to 0 to 6% in treated plots. Under nursery conditions microencapsulated
sprayable pheromone formulation (MEC) (50 g ai/ha) and widely-spaced macrodispensers
(7.5 g ai/ha) reduced male trap captures (in parentheses mating success of caged
virgins) by 83% (87%) and 88% (72%), respectively. In turfgrass 2 MEC applications
during the flight period (2 x 12.5 to 20 ai/ha) reduced trap captures by 87
to 88% and grub densities by 68 to 74%. In the 3rd project year we tested 2
new MEC formulations in turfgrass. Both formulations reduced trap captures (68
to 70%) but only one reduced grub densities (56%). A granular formulation was
tested in small plots with only trap data collected. However, the data suggested
that the control plots and corresponding treated plots had been too close to
each other, thus invalidating the data. This study had shown that mating disruption
in OB is feasible and different pheromone dispensing systems are effective in
disrupting sexual communication. Objective 2. Evaluate new species/strains of
entomopathogenic nematodes and evaluate the potential synergy between nematodes
and some novel insecticides: During project years 1 and 2 laboratory and turfgrass
greenhouse and field experiments that imidacloprid was a stronger nematode-synergist
than thiamethoxam, and had no negative effect on nematode reproduction. Imidacloprid
showed consistent synergism with H. bacteriophora but its interaction with S.
scarabaei was usually not synergistic. However, S. scarabaei alone was more
effective than H. bacteriophora in combination with imidacloprid. In blueberry
greenhouse and one field experiment we had shown similar results as in turfgrass
with S. scarabaei alone provided the best 3rd-instar OB control. In the 3rd
project year we confirmed these observations in a 2nd field experiment. Blueberry
greenhouse and field experiments showed that imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and
clothianidin could provide good control against 1st-instar OB but were ineffective
when applied against 3rd instars. Objective 3. Establish relationships between
pheromone trap captures and larval density in the following generation: The
work under this objective had been modified to focus on establishing damage-density
estimates because of the difficulties in undertaking work as originally proposed.
In pots planted with juniper, holly, and arborvitae we found a positive relationship
between number of eggs implanted and grub numbers but the grub number were generally
too low for a clear linear relationship between grub number and damage. However,
we found a linear relationship between grub numbers per pot and both root and
shoot quality in a field survey.
IMPACT: 2001/09 TO 2004/08
This project will eventually lead to the registration of several control options
that will provide additional means of managing oriental beetle populations in
blueberries, ornamental nurseries, and turfgrass. Mating disruption and entomopathogenic
nematodes are highly IPM compatible and are expected to reduce dependence on
broadspectrum insecticides in the three cropping systems studied, but should
also be feasible in other systems affected by oriental beetle.
PUBLICATIONS: 2001/09 TO 2004/08
1. Koppenhofer A.M., Cowles R.S., Cowles E.A., Fuzy E.M. and Kaya H.K. 2003.
Effect of neonicotinoid insecticide synergists on entomopathogenic nematode
fitness. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 106, 7-18.
2. Koppenhofer A.M. and Fuzy E.M. 2005(in press). Effect of white grub developmental
stage on susceptibility to entomopathogenic nematodes. J. Econ. Entomol.
PROJECT CONTACT:
Name: Polavarapu
Phone: 609-726-1590-ex.12
Fax: 609-726-1593
Email: polavarapu@aesop.rutgers.edu