Tederson L. Galvan

Toxicity of commonly used insecticides in sweet corn and soybean to multicolored asian lady beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Abstract Use of insecticides with low toxicity to natural enemies is an important component of conservation biological control. In this study, we evaluated the toxicity of insecticides used in sweet corn, Zea mays L., and soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., to the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), under laboratory and field conditions. Field experiments conducted in sweet corn in 2003 and 2004 and in soybean in 2003, showed that H. axyridis was the most abundant predator. In sweet corn, densities of H. axyridis larvae in plots treated with spinosad or indoxacarb were generally higher than in plots treated with chlorpyrifos, carbaryl, bifenthrin, and λ-cyhalothrin. In soybean, densities of H. axyridis larvae in plots treated with chlorpyrifos were higher than in plots treated with λ-cyhalothrin. Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the acute toxicity of insecticides to eggs, first and third instars, pupae, and adults. Spinosad, followed by indoxacarb, were the least toxic insecticides for all life stages of H. axyridis. Conventional insecticides showed high toxicity to H. axyridis when applied at field rates under laboratory conditions. Overall, first instars were most susceptible to the insecticides tested, followed by third instars and adults, eggs, and pupae. Our results suggest that spinosad, and to a lesser extent indoxacarb, offer reduced toxicity to H. axyridis and would be beneficial for conservation biological control in agricultural systems where H. axyridis is abundant.

Determination of 3-Alkyl-2-methoxypyrazines in lady beetle-infested wine by solid-phase microextraction headspace sampling

This study determined the concentration of 3-alkyl-2-methoxypyrazines in Frontenac and Leon Millot wines made from grapes that were naturally or artificially infested with the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Headspace sampling with solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography (GC) was used for the quantification of 3-isopropyl-2-methoxypyrazine (IPMP), 3- sec-butyl-2-methoxypyrazine (SBMP), and 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine (IBMP). The resulting method parameters included linearity (r2 > 0.98), limit of detection (>0.25 ng/L), relative standard deviation (<20%), and recovery (75-125%). IPMP concentrations in wine were not significantly different among the levels of natural or artificial infestations of H. axyridis. SBMP was found only in wine artificially infested with H. axyridis. IBMP was found in wine artificially infested with H. axyridis and in Frontenac wine, but not in Leon Millot. The consequences of these results for future research in the contamination of wine with H. axyridis are discussed.

Enumerative and Binomial Sequential Sampling Plans for the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Wine Grapes

Abstract To develop a practical integrated pest management (IPM) system for the multicolored Asian lady beetle,Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), in wine grapes, we assessed the spatial distribution ofH.axyridis and developed eight sampling plans to estimate adult density or infestation level in grape clusters. We used 49 data sets collected from commercial vineyards in 2004 and 2005, in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Enumerative plans were developed using two precision levels (0.10 and 0.25); the six binomial plans reflected six unique action thresholds (3, 7, 12, 18, 22, and 31% of cluster samples infested with at least oneH.axyridis). The spatial distribution ofH.axyridis in wine grapes was aggregated, independent of cultivar and year, but it was more randomly distributed as mean density declined. The average sample number (ASN) for each sampling plan was determined using resampling software. For research purposes, an enumerative plan with a precision level of 0.10 (SE/X̄) resulted in a mean ASN of 546 clusters. For IPM applications, the enumerative plan with a precision level of 0.25 resulted in a mean ASN of 180 clusters. In contrast, the binomial plans resulted in much lower ASNs and provided high probabilities of arriving at correct “treat or no-treat” decisions, making these plans more efficient for IPM applications. For a tally threshold of one adult per cluster, the operating characteristic curves for the six action thresholds provided binomial sequential sampling plans with mean ASNs of only 19–26 clusters, and probabilities of making correct decisions between 83 and 96%. The benefits of the binomial sampling plans are discussed within the context of improving IPM programs for wine grapes.

Impact of fruit feeding on overwintering survival of the multicolored Asian lady beetle, and the ability of this insect and paper wasps to injure wine grape berries

The establishment of the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), in North America has resulted in negative impacts on fruit production. We investigated the overwintering survival of H. axyridis after feeding on four diets: injured wine grape berries, 25% sucrose solution, water, and a control containing no food or water. After being exposed to these diets for 6 days, live individuals were transferred to clean plastic Petri dishes, and held at 5 ± 1 °C in growth chambers throughout the winter. Survival was recorded every month. Adult lady beetles collected during the overwintering flight in mid‐October had higher survival rates than beetles collected from soybean fields in mid‐August. These results suggest that an adaptation period prior to diapause increases the chances of lady beetle survival over the winter. In addition, injured wine grape berries, sugar, and water decreased beetle mortality during the overwintering months. Our results also showed that under similar conditions, females have higher survival during the winter than males. The importance of sugar and water on winter survival may drive H. axyridis adults to vineyards for feeding on wine grapes. Finally, we tested if adults of H. axyridis and the European paper wasp, Polistes dominulus Christ (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), were able to break the grape skin. Harmonia axyridis adults and paper wasps were not able to cause the primary injury to berries of Frontenac grapes under laboratory conditions. These results suggest that control of paper wasps in vineyards may not affect H. axyridis aggregations, and that H. axyridis feeding on wine grapes depends on previous injury to grape berries.

Economic injury level and sequential sampling plan for Bemisia tabaci in outdoor tomato

Abstract:  This work aimed to determine the economic injury levels and to establish sequential sampling plans for nymphs and adults of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Genn. (Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae) in tomato fields. Densities of nymphs and adults, as well as crop yield were evaluated in 13 commercial tomato fields to determine the economic injury levels. The whitefly nymphs were sampled by direct counting in a leaf from the lower part of the canopy and the adults were sampled by beating an apical leaf against a white plastic tray. The sequential sampling plan was based on data collected in eight commercial tomato fields. The validation of the sequential sampling plan was carried out based on the curves of operational characteristics and average sample numbers. The decisions reached with the conventional and the sequential sampling plans in 21 commercial fields were compared for the intended validation of the sequential plan. The economic injury levels were four nymphs per leaf and one adult per tray. The decisions taken based on the sequential sampling plan were similar to those obtained through the conventional sampling plan. Most of the decisions taken with the sequential sampling plan were obtained through the minimum number of seven samples per field for nymphs and 11 samples per field for adults, with reductions of 84.44% and 54.17% in the number of samples required to reach a decision with the sequential sampling plan compared with the conventional sampling plan.

Influence of Berry Injury on Infestations of the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Wine Grapes

The multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), has become an economically significant, contaminant pest in the wine making process throughout the eastern U.S. and in Ontario, Canada (1,5). Harmonia axyridis adults tend to aggregate (Fig. 1) on grape clusters near harvest, and subsequently, may be incorporated with the grapes during wine processing. Once crushed, the beetles release their foul smelling hemolymph that can taint the flavor and aroma of the resulting wine (1,5).

Efficacy of selected insecticides for management of the multicolored Asian lady beetle on wine grapes near harvest.

As one component of an Integrated Pest Management program for Midwestern wine grapes, we examined the efficacy of several insecticides on adults of the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). For field trials, percentages of clusters with at least one H. axyridis were recorded for each plot before treatment and on the day of harvest. We also examined the efficacy of insecticides under laboratory conditions via two routes of exposure, topical application and insecticide residues. In the 2004 field trials, the percentage of clusters infested with H. axyridis adults at harvest was statistically lower in plots treated with bifenthrin applied 7 days before harvest (DBH), carbaryl 10 DBH, and in plots covered with floating row cover compared to the untreated plots. In 2005, the percentage of clusters infested with H. axyridis adults at harvest in plots treated with zeta-cypermethrin 7 DBH, bifenthrin 22 and 7 DBH, and imidacloprid 1 DBH was statistically lower than beetle infestation in the untreated plots. In the laboratory, bifenthrin, carbaryl, and thiamethoxam were lethal to H. axyridis adults 7 days after treatment. Based on the efficacy results, labeled insecticides, pre-harvest intervals, and the late-season influx of H. axyridis infestations, chemical control is currently limited to carbaryl, malathion, and/or imidacloprid.

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Activity and Wine Grape Phenology: Implications for Pest Management

ABSTRACT We determined the phenology of the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), adults in relation to the phenology of wine grapes (Frontenac and Marechal Foch) in Minnesota and Wisconsin vineyards to establish a management window for H. axyridis infestations in wine grapes. In addition, we also assessed the flight activity of H. axyridis in an agricultural landscape. The phenology of berry development and ripening was determined by recording berry size and sugar content of randomly selected berries. The phenology of H. axyridis was determined by tracking its flight activity with yellow sticky cards in vineyards and with a blacklight trap in an agricultural landscape. Berry development and ripening showed three distinct growth periods or phases. The end of growth period I averaged 9 July (Frontenac) and 11 July (Marechal Foch). Veraison, which marks the end of growth period II, averaged 25 July (Frontenac) and 3 August (Marechal Foch). Harvest, the third growth period averaged 18 September for Frontenac and 17 September for Marechal Foch. A major peak of H. axyridis captures occurred between veraison and harvest (i.e., the grape susceptible stage). A similar peak in the summer was observed in the agricultural landscape ≈10d before the major peak in the vineyards.

Optimizing Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Insecticidal Efficacy in Minnesota Sweet Corn : A Logistic Regression to Assess Timing Parameters

ABSTRACT Late-season plantings of sweet corn in Minnesota result in an abundant supply of silking corn, Zea mays L., throughout August to early September that is highly attractive to the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). During a 10-yr period, 1997–2006, insecticide efficacy trials were conducted in late-planted sweet corn in Minnesota for management of H. zea. These data were used to develop a logistic regression model to identify the variables and interactions that most influenced efficacy (proportion control) of late-instar H. zea. The pyrethroid lambda-cyhalothrin (0.028kg [AI]/ha) is a commonly used insecticide in sweet corn and was therefore chosen for use in parameter evaluation. Three variables were found to be significant (&agr; = 0.05), the percentage of plants silking at the time of the first insecticide application, the interval between the first and second insecticide applications, and the interval between the last insecticide application and harvest. Odds ratio estimates indicated that as the percentage of plants silking at the time of first application increased, control of H. zea increased. As the interval between the first and second insecticide application increased, control of H. zea decreased. Finally, as the interval between the last insecticide application and harvest increased, control of H. zea increased. An additional timing trial was conducted in 2007 by using lambda-cyhalothrin, to evaluate the impact of the percentage of plants silking at the first application. The results indicated no significant differences in efficacy against late-instar H. zea at 0, 50, 90, and 100% of plants silking at the first application (regimes of five or more sprays). The implications of these effects are discussed within the context of current integrated pest management programs for late-planted sweet corn in the upper midwestern United States.