Location: European Biological Control Laboratory
Project Number: 0212-30400-001-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated
Start Date: Nov 24, 2025
End Date: Nov 23, 2030
Objective:
Objective 1: Explore across Europe, Asia and Africa for natural enemies of invasive arthropod pests identified as high priority targets by the ARS Office of National Programs that include but are not limited to bugs, flies, beetles, planthoppers, psyllids and moths.
Objective 2: Characterize target pests and their natural enemies using integrated taxonomy, genetics and traits-based ecology to enable the successful search of prospective biocontrol agents.
Sub-objective 2a. Conduct DNA-based research on invasive pests and their natural enemies to probe genetic bases of invasion history and determine correct taxonomy, systematics and extent of hybridization.
Sub-objective 2b: Conduct trait-based ecological research on pests and their natural enemies to contribute to successful pest management.
Objective 3: Evaluate novel biologically based control strategies and new technologies that could be incorporated with classical biocontrol strategies against arthropod pests and their vectored diseases.
Sub-objective 3a: Evaluate and optimize symbiont technology for the control of Xylella fastidiosa.
Sub-objective 3b: Extend the use of symbiont technology for the control of insect pests such as ambrosia beetles and diamondback moth through the expression of antimicrobial peptides and/or volatile organic compounds.
Sub-objective 3c: Develop synergies between classical biological control, vector control and irradiation- based strategies.
Objective 4: Develop novel chemical-based tools and improved application technologies for the surveillance and control of blood-feeding arthropods with a strong impact on human health, ecosystems and wildlife.
Sub-objective 4a: Discover novel biochemical based approaches/tools for the control of biting arthropods via laboratory assessments.
Sub-objective 4b: Evaluate most promising candidate bio-chemical tools/approaches under semi-field/field conditions.
Sub-objective 4c: Investigate chemical ecology of larval stages of small, terrestrial blood-feeding arthropods.
Approach:
Objective 1, non-hypothesis driven research, is to identify potential biological control agents for introduction into the U.S. The focus of foreign exploration is on priority pests due to their current and anticipated impact on U.S. agriculture. Priority targets are the diamondback moth and the spotted lanternfly. Secondary targets include the European cherry fruit fly, the allium leafminer and the box tree moth. The appraoch will be: 1) areas of interest for exploration within the native range of the targets will be identified based on existing literature records well as climate-matching software; 2) collection and importation permits will be secured in accordance with local regulations and access and benefit-sharing policies of the relevant countries; 3) collecting expeditions will be carried out in the countries of interest at suitable times to gather the desired life stages of the target pest(s); 4) collected insect and/or plant materials will be returned to EBCL quarantine facilities for parasitoid emergence, identification, and/or rearing. The hypothesis supporting sub-objective 2a is on characteristics contributing to the safety and efficacy of biological control, assessed by genetic methods applied to pests and their natural enemies. A phylogeographic method plus analyses of population genetics will be employed to identify the source populations of VLB within the U.S., thereby enhancing the likelihood of discovering the most locally adapted natural enemies to VLB. Integrative taxonomy will be implemented to accurately name and identify the species as well as sub-specific populations of natural enemies specified in objective 1. The hypothesis underlying sub-objective 2b is on the olfactory preferences of the allium leaf miner pest; understanding this will facilitate the identification of effective chemical attractants and the development of new monitoring tools. For sub-objective 3a the hypothesis is that symbiont technology can be used to introduce therapeutic molecules into plants for the purpose of managing Xylella fastidiosa. For sub-objective 3b the hypothesis is on the use of symbiont technology to combat insect pests with varying biological characteristics, including Ambrosia beetles and the Diamondback moth. The hypothesis for sub-objective 3c focuses on employing irradiation techniques on insect eggs to assist in identifying new beneficial natural enemies of pests like Bagrada hilaris and to aid in the development of innovative autocidal traps aimed at mosquitoes. For sub-objective 4a and 4b the hypotheses emphasize development of effective bio-chemical approaches/tools (such as plant-derived active extracts, pure compounds, or their combinations) leading to a notable repellency and/or mortality of blood-feeding arthropods in laboratory settings and in semi-field or field environments respectively. In sub-objective 4c the hypothesis focuses on the design and implementation of larval-specific attractancy bioassays, which will facilitate the discovery of attractive compounds capable of inducing a strong positive chemotaxis response in the larval stages of small, terrestrial blood-feeding arthropods.