Location: Southern Insect Management Research
2017 Annual Report
Accomplishments
1. Determined key factors that naturally regulate TPB population. ARS scientist in Stoneville, Mississippi, quantified the impact of biological control factors of TPB seasonal abundance and distribution. No parasitism by Phasia spp. (Diptera: Tachinidae) was found during 2016. Natural incidence of Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Aspergillus flavus continued being the main microbial in Mississippi. Using biological control agents is the major goal addressed in this investigation. It will implement a tarnished plant bug (TPB) management technology that will be environmentally safe and will contribute to improving profitability and sustainability of the U.S. cotton industry.
2. Determined the effect of NI8 on population of tarnished plant bug (TPB) density and its possible effect on non-target arthropods. ARS scientists in Stoneville, Mississippi quantified the impact of NI8 on feral populations of TPB and its possible impact on beneficial arthropods. Over 170 species of arthropods including TPB were collected from different locations across the Mississippi Delta. Preliminary results suggested that the control of TPB with NI8 will require significant ecological understanding of the interaction among the target host, fungal isolate, and the environment. NI8 will be suitable for control of TPB, not only because of its high pathogenicity against this insect, but also for its selectivity against some beneficial arthropods.
