Roger W. Fuester
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I work on four projects, biocontrol of emerald ash borer, biocontrol of tarnished plant bug, biocontrol of soybean aphid, and biocontrol of brown marmorated stinkbug. Our work on emerald ash borer involves primarily foreign exploration for and laboratory evaluation of natural enemies that attack the pest in the Far East. Our work on tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris) involves trying to get Peristenus relictus, a parasitoid Lygus bugs in southern Europe, established in the lower Middle Atlantic States. Our work on soybean aphid focuses on studying the complex of natural enemies attacking the pest on soybeans and on buckthorn, its overwintering host plant. In addition, we are currently conducting surveys for natural enemies of brown marmorated stinkbug in Delaware.
Biological Control of Emerald Ash Borer
e-mail: Roger W. Fuester
William H. Day | Jian J. Duan | Keith R. Hopper | Kim A. Hoelmer |Paul W. Schaefer | Michael T. Smith | Lawrence R. Ertle
William H. Day
- For nearly 4 decades, my research was concentrated on establishing foreign beneficial insects to permanently reduce damage by harmful crop feeding insects, measuring the amount of biological control obtained, tracking the spread of the beneficial insects, and learning essential facts about the life cycles of the target pests and their natural enemies. Much of this research will be continued by K. A. Hoelmer (see his writeup for details). Since my retirement in November 2004, my main goal has changed from active research on farms to completing laboratory studies on parasites, analyzing field data on parasites and predators, and writing up the results for publication.
email: William H. Day
Roger W. Fuester |Jian J. Duan| Keith R. Hopper | Kim A. Hoelmer |Paul W. Schaefer | Michael T. Smith | Lawrence R. Ertle
Jian J. Duan
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The goal of my research is to develop sustainable and effective biological control programs against invasive forest and agricultural pests while at the same time minimizing the possible adverse non-target risk from importation and introduction of non-indigenous arthropod natural enemies (primarily parasitoids) into the North American environment. With the assistance from Susan Barth and Jeff Wildonger and collaboration with Roger Fuester and Phil Taylor, I am currently working on biological control of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire), an invasive metallic wood-boring beetle, that has killed over 30 million ash trees in North America to date, and threatens to kill 200 times as many unless controlled.
The specific objectives of my research on biological control of the emerald ash borer are to: (1) study the biology, behavior, ecology, and host specificity of several candidate natural enemies (hymenopteran parasitoids) that may be potentially used in classical biological control of emerald ash borer; (2) investigate the role of these natural enemies in regulating population dynamics of emerald ash borer in both their country of origin (China) and their country of introduction (US); and (3) develop spatial and temporal population dynamic models to predict the success of colonization, establishment, and distribution of these natural enemies in their new region (North America) of introduction.
email: Jian J. Duan
Roger W. Fuester| William H. Day |Keith R. Hopper | Kim A. Hoelmer | Paul W. Schaefer | Michael T. Smith | Lawrence R. Ertle
Keith R. Hopper
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My colleague (Kathy Lanier) and I study the genetics of host specificity and climatic adaptation in biological control agents introduced for control of arthropod pests and weeds.
The likelihood that a host-specific insect will evolve to attack a novel host species depends on how many genes are involved, how these genes interact, how much change in each gene is needed to cause a shift in host use.
Our first objective is to determine the genetic basis for host specificity in certain parasitoids and herbivores. Using crosses, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and differences in gene expression we will determine the genetic basis for a host shift in the specialist herbivore, Heliothis subflexa, and for differences in host specificity between species in the Aphelinus varipes complex. We will confirm gene function by silencing with RNA interference. These hypotheses have very different implications for collection strategies. Our second objective is to test these hypotheses using the A. varipes complex.
In our third objective, we are using the knowledge and methods developed under objectives 1 and 2 to screen candidates proposed for introduction to control Diuraphis noxia, (Russian wheat aphid) and Aphis glycines (soybean aphid), introduce the most promising candidates, evaluate their impact on target and non-target species, and determine whether the screening was useful in improving the success and safety of biocontrol introductions. The results of this research will increase establishment and efficacy of introduced natural enemies and decrease damage by pests, while increasing the safety of biocontrol introductions.
e-mail: Keith R. Hopper
Roger W. Fuester | William H. Day | Jian J. Duan | Kim A. Hoelmer | Paul W. Schaefer | Michael T. Smith | Lawrence R. Ertle
Kim A. Hoelmer
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The main objective of my research is to improve the biological control of crop pests important to agriculture in the mid-Atlantic region. I am currently working with three target pests, assisted by Kathy Tatman and in collaboration with Roger Fuester and Keith Hopper. Ongoing research at BIIR on natural enemies of tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris, and alfalfa plant bug, Adelphocoris lineolatus, in the eastern U.S. includes evaluating the benefits of biocontrol of Lygus on fruit crops in the northeastern U.S. by the previously introduced parasitoid Peristenus digoneutis; and working to establish additional natural enemies that will improve the biological control of alfalfa plant bug and of tarnished plant bug in the mid-Atlantic region. Our research on the Chinese soybean aphid, Aphis glycines, involves assessing the impact of indigenous natural enemies that attack soybean aphid populations in the mid Atlantic area and conducting foreign exploration in Asia for effective natural enemies of the aphid for importation to the U.S. These explorations also support interagency soybean aphid biocontrol programs in the Mid-West. We are also investigating the potential for classical biological control of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, a polyphagous pest of many fruits and ornamentals that has established in the mid Atlantic region. We are collecting baseline data on the natural enemies that attack it in North America and in Asia. If warranted, we will screen Asian candidates for biocontrol introductions and introduce promising species into the mid Atlantic states.
email: Kim A. Hoelmer
Roger W. Fuester | William H. Day | Jian J. Duan | Keith R. Hopper | Paul W. Schaefer | Michael T. Smith | Lawrence R. Ertle
Paul W. Schaefer
- Beginning in 2003, I commenced studies on Emerald Ash Borers (EAB), Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) with an emphasis on foreign exploration for both EAB and its natural enemies. Initial work has been done in Japan, Korea and Mongolia with prospects for continued exploration in China in 2005. Populations have been difficult to fine in both Japan and Korea although museum collections indicate that EAB is widespread in both these countries. In Mongolia, no records indicate that EAB nor it host trees Fraxinus spp. are present there.
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I continue to study natural enemies of gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) and related species of Lymantria with an overall objective of using candidate species for the biological control of gypsy moth and to understand the chemical communication occurring between gypsy moth hosts and their natural enemies or sex pheromones of the natural enemies, particularly Glyptapanteles flavicoxis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Pimpla disparis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae).
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With extensive experience in the Far East, especially Japan, China, and Korea, my interests continue into our understanding of variation of "Lymantria dispar” or the Asian gypsy moth. Currently in collaborative work with taxonomists, we are leaning toward the separation of distinct species and subspecies from the L. dispar complex.
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Since 1995, I have been working in collaboration with scientists at Simon Fraser University in the identification of sex pheromone of selected species of the Lymantriidae. Together we have identified the sex pheromones of Lymantria xylina, L. mathura, L. fumida, L. serva, L. lucescens, L. bantaizana, L. atemeles, L. plumbalis, Perina nuda, Teia anartoides, Orgyia thyellina, O. vetusta, and O. detrita and some initial progress on several other species. We would welcome collaboration on other related lymantriid species from elsewhere in the world.
email: Paul W. Schaefer
Roger W. Fuester | William H. Day | Jian J. Duan | Keith R. Hopper | Kim A. Hoelmer |Michael T. Smith | Lawrence R. Ertle
Michael T. Smith
- My colleagues (Ellen Aparicio , Jeff Wildonger, and Jinquan Wu) and I conduct a wide range of studies on Invasion Biology, with an emphasis on the Asian Longhorned Beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky). We have two primary lines of research: 1: Investigate Biology, Behavior and Ecology of the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Within its Countries of Origin and Within its Countries of Invasion. 1.1. Identify ecological and behavioral traits vulnerable to intervention and development of detection, monitoring, control and other IPM strategies. 1.2. Conduct studies of the process of invasion biology that will result in development of predictive spatiotemporal models (e.g. population spread, seasonal occurrence, population abundance and host colonization) for use in directing the implementation of IPM strategies for existing introductions, as well as for use in restricting establishment, proliferation and spread of future introductions. 1.3. Conduct studies for development of technologies for detection of trees infested by ALB. As a result of these investigations, we are gaining a unique insight into this cerambycid species that can also serve as a template for this poorly understood group of important insect pests. Furthermore, within the context of invasion biology, we expect to contribute new knowledge to the process of invasion of ALB that will aid in developing proactive approaches that will increase the probability of early detection and rapid eradication of this and other invasive species, thereby reducing the risk of establishment, proliferation and geographic spread.
2: Biological Control for the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB). 2.1. Conduct foreign exploration for natural enemies within the countries of origin (China and Korea); identify and import promising candidate species; and evaluate their target and non-target impacts in quarantine. 2.2.Conduct domestic exploration for native North American natural enemies found parasitizing: (1) ALB within North American infestations; and (2) native cerambycid species most closely related to ALB (e.g. ecologically). Collectively, for the most promising candidate species, we will: (a) develop mass rearing technology; (b) develop protocols for inundative releases or introduction; and (c) evaluate their impact on ALB and non-target species.
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