Jan E. Freedman

Rearing and Release of Megamelus scutellaris Berg (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) for Biological Control of Water hyacinth in 2015

Abstract : PURPOSE: Water hyacinth biological control research at the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Vicksburg, Mississippi is currently focused on the rearing and release of the delphacid plant hopper, Megamelus scutellaris Berg (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), which has been in culture at the ERDC since 2010. Past failures to establish M. scutellaris were attributed to extreme summer temperatures at field sites; therefore, a putatively temperature-tolerant strain of this insect was obtained from field-established stock in Florida. This report details the performance of original and new strains of M. scutellaris in greenhouse rearing and field released colonies in 2015.

The Influence of Fluctuating Temperature on Megamelus scutellaris Berg (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

Abstract : PURPOSE: Information from unpublished reports, field, and greenhouse observations suggests that temperatures exceeding 29 deg C can cause reduced development and increased mortality of Megamelus scutellaris Berg (waterhyacinth planthopper), a biological control agent released for the management of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart. Solms). This document reports the results of an experiment conducted under greenhouse conditions designed to gauge temperature impacts to M. scutellaris survival and reproduction under fluctuating temperatures regimes.