Good Bug? Bad Bug? Biocontrol of Insects and Weeds

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1 Good Bug? Bad Bug? Biocontrol of Insects and Weeds Dr. Meredith Shrader Entomology Extension Agent Tri-River Area

2 Biological Controls Predators Parasitoids Pathogens Nematodes

3 Good Bugs Lady beetles Ground beetles Lacewings Flower flies Robber flies Mantids Assassin bugs Predatory stink bugs Minute pirate bugs Predatory thrips Predatory mites All spiders

4 Bad Bugs Aphids Caterpillars Squash Bugs Borers Beetles Earwigs Lygus Stinkbugs Fruit Flies

5 KNOWLEDGE IS HALF THE BATTLE!!! GO JOE!!!!

6 Characteristics of Insect Predators Immature stages actively hunt prey Several prey are consumed Adults may or may not have similar food needs as immature form Can only eat so many May not be able to see immediate impact

7 Adults Eat the Same Thing As Young

9 Adults and Young Eat Different Food

11 Hover fly larvae

12 Adults and Young Eat Different Food

15 Green lacewing eggs are available from many suppliers that rear/distribute insects

16 Predatory Mites Female two spotted spider mite and its eggs along with adult predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis. (Photo by Jack Kelly Clark)

17 Mites Attack

18 Order Mantodea Mantids

19 European mantid life stages

20 European mantid egg cases

21 Chinese Mantid Tenodera sinensis

22 Egg cases of the Chinese mantid are sold by some nurseries and in some garden catalogs

23 Collect egg cases, but keep outside to avoid hatching

24 European mantid mating pair, 2:30 PM, Mon. Sept. 29, 2008.

25 European mantid male as lunch, 4:00 PM, Mon. Sept. 29, 2008.

host They are invariably lethal to the host parasitoids

27 Characteristics of Insect Parasitoids Larvae develop inside their hosts One or more larvae develop in a single host They are invariably lethal to the host parasitoids Adults often have different food needs Nectar, honeydew Pollen

28 Common Insect Parasitoids Parasitic Hymenoptera Braconid wasps Ichneumonid wasps Chalcid wasps Eulophid wasp Trichogrammatid wasps Parasitic Diptera Tachinid flies

29 Host evaluation Oviposition Photographs courtesy of Brian Valentine

32 Tachinid fly eggs on caterpillars and squash bugs

33 Photograph courtesy of Jim Kalisch

34 Cabbage looper supporting six developing tachinid fly larvae Tachinid fly pupae within killed cabbage looper larva

35 Pathogens / Nematodes Fungi Bacteria Viruses Nematodes

36 Pathogens / Nematodes Advantages Specificity No toxic residues Slower resistance? Compatible with pesticides Applied with pesticide technology Easily modified genetically

37 Pathogens / Nematodes Disadvantages Specificity Short shelf life and field persistence High population density optimal for spread Affected by weather Slow acting Cadaver residues contaminate produce Commercial development difficult

Some Important Fungi and Common Hosts Entomophthora muscae* - flies Erynia neoaphidis - aphids Beauveria bassiana - many insects Metarhizium anisopliae many

38 Some Important Fungi and Common Hosts Entomophthora muscae* - flies Erynia neoaphidis - aphids Beauveria bassiana - many insects Metarhizium anisopliae many insects Coelomomyces spp. - mosquitoes, bugs Hirsutella thompsonii - mites Verticillium lecanii - aphids Nomurea rileyii - caterpillars Paeciliomyces fumosaroseus - bugs

Nematodes steinernema and heterorhabditis Peach Tree Borer White Grubs Caterpillars 10 Acres (500 mill)- $270.

39 Nematodes steinernema and heterorhabditis Peach Tree Borer White Grubs Caterpillars 10 Acres (500 mill)- $ Crop(s) Targeted Pest Common Name Efficacious Nematodes2 Artichokes Artichoke plume moth Sc Vegetables Armyworm Sc, Sf, Sr Turf Billbug Hb,Sc Turf, vegetables Black cutworm Sc Berries, ornamentals Black vine weevil Fruit trees, ornamentals Borer Hb, Sc, Sf Home yard, turf Cat flea Sc Pome fruit Codling moth Sc, Sf Vegetables Corn earworm Sc, Sf, Sr Vegetables Corn rootworm Hb, Sc Cranberries Cranberry girdler Sc Turf Crane fly Sc Citrus, ornamentals Diaprepes root weevil Hb, Sr Mushrooms Fungus gnat Sf, Hb Grapes Grape root borer Hz, Hb Vegetables, Leafminer Hb, Hd, Hm, Hmeg, Sc, Sg Sc, Sf ornamentals Fruit trees Plum curculio Sr Turf, ornamentals Scarab grub3 Hb, Sc, Sg, Ss, Hz Ornamentals Shore fly Sc, Sf

40 Conserving and Enhancing Natural Enemies Don t kill them Limit use of broad spectrum insecticides Provide foods that the adults need Often need nectar, pollen Good Bug Power Blend is a combination of yellow, red, crimson, rose, and white clovers, grizzly alfalfa, white alyssum, nasturtium, white yarrow, carrot, dill, daikon radish, and celery seeds. Provide foods that the immature stages need Allow there to be some hosts, prey available

41 Some Plants Useful for Providing Food for Adult Predators Umbelliferae/Apiaceae - (dill, fennel, etc.) Yarrow Many sedums Spurges* Alyssum Basket-of-gold Thyme, several herbs

42 What to Release?? Inundate Acts like a spray No long term beneficial populations Fast results in pest population decline Inoculate Small amount released Biocontrol population increases, feeds slowly on pest Residual population to control pest

43 What to Release and When Lots of biocontrol agents can be purchased online May be expensive Biocontrol may be specialized; egg vs larvae Release before pest population reaches damaging levels

44 Plan Ahead!! USPS Tracking page should not be a bookmark May take time to arrive or hatch Feed 1-3 weeks before pupation Adults may not eat target pest Initial release followed by additional releases 3-4 weeks later

45 Two-Year-Old Effect Can t make them stay where you released them Your house!! Neighbors house!!

46 Plant Refugia Within Fields Insects Don t Move Far *Research on beneficial insect movement

47 Movement??

48 -Planning -Planting -Flowering when pest present Can do in orchards, gardens and large acreage commercial row crops

49 Cons to Refugia Planting Attracts ALL bugs, not just good ones Plants may move outside of planting area Water requirements increase Some seed maybe costly Variety of seeds needed to keep adult beneficial insects around- prolonged flowering period

50 Weed Control Palisade Insectary

release for beneficial organisms May not give 100%

51 Palisade Insectary Call to purchase Only for Colorado residents Can be in high demand Can be expensive Proper release for beneficial organisms May not give 100% control; puncturevine weevil May take several years; Tamarisk beetle

52 Alternatives To Conventional Herbicide Burning Vinegar (20%) Hoeing Discing Mowing Manual hand removal Plant competition Cover crop

53 Thank you

Beneficial Insects. Your best buddies for pest control

Beneficial Insects. Your best buddies for pest control Beneficial Insects Your best buddies for pest control Convergent Lady Beetle Adults are generalist predators (especially aphids), also feed on chinch bugs, whiteflies, mites and many other soft-bodied