Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory
2017 Annual Report
Accomplishments
1. Researching taxonomic and bionomic data on wasps helps protect U.S. agricultural interests. Parasitic wasps attack pest insects that cause billions of dollars of damage to crops and natural resources annually. They also attack beneficial natural enemies and are pests when they disrupt biocontrol. ARS researchers at Beltsville, Maryland, focused on some 200 various species of parasitic wasps associated with: aphids that attack cereals; stink bugs that eat major food crops in the US and infest homes; flies that eat strawberry and blackberry; beetles that bore into trees and kill them; fire ants that disturb livestock, and caterpillers released for the biocontrol of invasive pest plants. Along with clarifying identification, the biological attributes and host records are updated for the first time in these groups. Correct identification of biological control agents, as well as an understanding of their biological role in mitigating pestiferous species populations, is essential for making rearing and quarantine decisions in the protection of the US agricultural interests worldwide.
Review Publications
Liu, H., Mottern, J.L. 2017. An old remedy for a new problem? Identification of Ooencyrtus kuvanae (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) as egg parasitoids of spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) in North America. Journal of Insect Science. 17(1):1-6.
Burks, R., Mottern, J.L., Dominguez, C., Heacox, S., Hersty, J.M. 2017. Biting the bullet: revisionary notes on the Oraseminae of the Old World (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eucharitidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 55:139-188.
Kula, R.R., Gates, M.W., Buffington, M.L., Harms, N.E. 2017. Parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Apocrita) associated with Sagittaria latifolia Willd. and Sagittaria platyphylla (Engelm.) J. G. Sm. (Alismatales: Alismataceae) in the Nearctic Region. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 119(2):215-227.
Kula, R.R., Johnson, P.J., Heidel-Baker, T.T., Boe, A. 2017. A new species and key for Acanthocaudus Smith (Braconidae: Aphidiinae), with new host and distribution records for aphidiines associated with Silphium perfoliatum L. (Asterales: Asteraceae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 4235(3):543-552.
Lue, C., Mottern, J.L., Walsh, G., Buffington, M.L. 2017. New record for the invasive Spotted Wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Anillaco, Argentina. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 119:146-150.
Milnes, J.M., Wiman, N., Talamas, E.J., Brunner, J.F., Hoelmer, K.A., Buffington, M.L., Beers, E.H. 2016. Discovery of an exotic egg parasitoid of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) in the Pacific Northwest. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 118:466-470.
Branstetter, M., Danforth, B., Pitts, J., Faircloth, B., Ward, P., Buffington, M.L., Gates, M.W., Kula, R.R., Brady, S. 2017. Phylogenomic analysis of ants, bees and stinging wasps: Improved taxon sampling enhances understanding of hymenopteran evolution. Nature Ecology and Evolution. 27:1019-1025.
Nomano, F., Kasuya, N., Matsuura, A., Suwito, A., Mitsui, H., Buffington, M.L., Kimura, M. 2017. Genetic differentiation of Ganaspis brasiliensis (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) from East and Southeast Asia. Applied Entomology and Zoology. DOI 10.1007/s13355-017-0493-0.
Talamas, E.J., Miko, I., Johnston-Jordan, D. 2017. Convergence in the ovipositor system of platygastroid wasps (Hymenoptera). Journal of Pest Science. 56:263-276.
Kolesik, P., Gagne, R.J. 2016. A revision of the early taxa of Australian gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Zootaxa. 4205:301–338.
Zhang, J., Zhang, F., Gariepy, T., Mason, P., Gillespie, D., Talamas, E.J., Haye, T. 2017. Seasonal parasitism and host specificity of Trissolcus japonicus in northern China. Journal of Pest Science. 1:1-15.
