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URBAN ENTOMOLOGY

The insects of urban and public health importance do not recognize city boundaries. Fire ants and termites are as important to individuals who are agricultural producers as they are to the urban citizen. Therefore, research education on insects that affect man in urban environments often is directly applicable for man in other environments. Simply, the majority of the stakeholders affected by synanthropic (associated with humans) insects are urban dwellers. Our research projects on vegetables, fruits and nuts are included in the Agricultural IPM section, but clearly these projects also are important for our urban stakeholders.

Extension’s urban programs are directed in three areas. The first is ornamentals, trees and turf, the second is structural and household and the third is vegetables, fruits and nuts. These three areas make up the bulk of our educational and demonstrational efforts throughout the year.

The structural program deals primarily with termites and other household pests. This program is funded primarily by the USDA-ARS and LDAF. The work is centered around the Area-wide French quarter project on the Formosan subterranean termite and is supplemented by the state’s tree-treating program. The Formosan subterranean termite is the most destructive insect in Louisiana. It could become the most destructive insect in the United States. Losses totaling $500 million dollars are the estimates for the damage to Louisiana’s housing and economy. The educational program is directed to the county agents and to the general public. Emphasis is placed on the education of all parties involved in construction from the designers to the homeowners and legislators. The public is provided unbiased documented research based information on all potential management tools from sanitation to chemicals. Fact sheets and publication are used to address specific and broad areas of information to keep the public and agents up to date on the development and use of new technology.

The program on vegetables, fruits and nuts is an identification and integrated pest management program. The program is designed to separate the good insects, bad insects and the casual insect. Producers are trained to look for signs and symptoms of infestations before the problem gets out of hand. Bulletins and publications describe the insects and talk about the best times to look for and to control them. We discuss the possibility of using beneficial insects to aid in integrated pest management and potential sources to find and purchase them for use. Programs cover the gamut of management tools from varieties to chemicals. We enhance our programs with garden shows and train assistants through the Master Gardener programs around the state. We provide programs for all garden clubs and organizations that request information.

Ornamentals and turf is the second largest commodity in the state behind forestry, totaling some $300 million dollars. Programs are designed to educate, demonstrate and to evaluate new methods and materials for economical pest management. Insect identification and life cycles are of primary concern. This program touches everyone who grows a plant or has a yard. Clinics, field days, garden shows, certifications, agent training and parish programs are all part of the effort to keep plants pest free. Much of this is supported by various organizations and by the chemical industry. The importation of new pest continues to be of great concern. New pests such as the Asian longhorn beetle, bamboo cerambycids and several species of scales are constantly entering the country and occasionally Louisiana through various means. Management programs such as the community-wide program on the red imported fire ant are part of the overall extension program. These management programs have been very successful and continue to be used by associations and communities across the state. There is a tremendous need for additional information and work in the ornamental and turf area.

Urban Entomology has been designated as a new research concentration in our strategic plan (Appendix 1). One of our strategic goals states "Management of insects that attack humans, our dwellings, and our companion animals in urban environments is of increasing public concern. We propose establishment of a new "research concentration" that expands the Department’s existing strength in management of urban pests".

The Department of Entomology has faculty who have research projects on specific insects (termites, fire ants, and honey bees) and faculty who have broader research responsibilities (medical, veterinary, and horticultural entomology). Research programs in the Urban area will be discussed by individual faculty programs. A description of the individual programs, the roles of support personnel and interactions with cooperators follows this overview. The identification all of the individuals that participate in the activities described in the overview is not possible.

The red imported fire ant (RIFA) is a pest of humans in both urban and rural environments as well as a pest of animals including wildlife. The RIFA is considered to be a beneficial insect in certain agricultural crops such as sugarcane and has been associated with the reduction of tick populations in Louisiana.

Linda Hooper-Bui and her group conduct research on ant nutrition to help understand ant biology and bait technology for controlling ants. They are currently investigating the differences in nutrient movement among castes in two forms of RIFA, monogyne and polygyne, using sucrose, fructose, casein, and linoleic and linolenic acids (components of soybean oil). The regulation of feeding exchanges is also of interest and has been investigated through the quantification of biogenic amines. This has led to the demonstration that increased levels of dopamine may be responsible for egg production in reproductive females. This group also is investigating the feeding capacities of several species of pestiferous ants. This will allow us to better understand and accurately measure food consumption at bait stations. They also are describing the life history of an ant, Brachymyrmex cf. patagonicus, which has become a significant urban pest in the South

Linda’s group has recently completed a project that addressed the question of whether large-scale treatment for ants is more effective than small-scale in urban areas. There were three different studies. The first study investigated whether baits are more effective on RIFA in urban areas if applied community-wide on a large-scale or by individual homeowners on a small-scale. They found that large-scale broadcast application of baits was significantly more successful at reducing RIFA populations and reduced the populations for a longer time (3x longer), thus reducing the cost of treatment for the homeowners and reducing the amount of insecticide used. For the second study, they addressed questions of whether large-scale application (large apartment complexes) of 3 different granular contact insecticides was more effective or long lasting than that of small-scale applications at homes. The third study examined the effect of large-scale and small-scale broadcast applications of bifenthrin on populations of both RIFA and Argentine ants.

A project that is nearing completion is the investigation of the efficiency of insecticidal barriers using bifenthrin as a model compound. Practical questions that have been addressed include: 1) How wide does an effective barrier have to be? 2) Are barriers consistently effective? 3) How long does bifenthrin last in turf and does the width of the barrier affect this? There are several practical applications for this research. For example, fire ant predation of the Eastern Blue Bird is a concern throughout the South. Wildlife conservationists have searched for ways to keep the ants out of elevated blue bird boxes without interfering with the food supply of these insectivorous birds. Bifenthrin and fipronil barriers were successfully used to protect the nest boxes. Fire ant effect on wildlife is a major concern in infested areas and another focus of research is the impact of ants on ground nesting birds such as Northern Bobwhite Quail.

The RIFA program has many lines of cooperative research, particularly in the area of biological control. James R. Fuxa works in this area and has a project aimed at weakening RIFA populations in Louisiana by means of classical biological control with the microsporidium Thelohania solenopsae. After release of this organism into a pasture in June, 1998, it was barely detectable for almost 2 years but spread to 71% of colonies at the site by October, 2000. At that time, the ant population had not yet been weakened by the disease. The microsporidium failed to establish in a monogyne population. This project is also focusing on short-term microbial control. Current research is focusing on the effect of environmental variables, especially soil type and moisture, on induced epizootics of the fungus Beauveria bassiana. This research currently is in greenhouse microcosms under controlled conditions. Research in the upcoming year will concentrate the same variables for entomopathogenic nematodes as well as inoculation methods for both pathogens.

Seth Johnson also has a project with the objective of reducing the use of pesticides to control fire ants using classical biological control techniques. Biological control studies of the RIFA with the decapitating fly, Pseudaceton tricuspis, were initiated in September 1999. Three releases have been made in pastures in the Florida parishes in southeastern Louisiana. Paired control and release sites were established for each release. The first release of flies was made in September 1999. That population survived the winter and, as of October 2000, had dispersed 0.5 miles from the release point. The other two releases were made in May and October 2000. Mound counts, bait sampling and pitfall traps are being used to measure the impact of the flies on the RIFA populations.

Structural pests are particularly important in the subtropical environment of Louisiana. Gregg Henderson has a comprehensive program with goals to develop new tools that are environmentally friendly and cost-effective and improve existing ones for the control of subterranean termites, especially the Formosan subterranean termite. The Formosan subterranean termite is the most important urban pest in Louisiana due to costs associated with infestations and repair of damage. By monitoring termite populations yearly for over 12 years Gregg’s research indicated that termite populations were growing exponentially in New Orleans. Baits were developed (FirstLine product) , and bait development has continued along the lines of adding substances that are feeding stimulants and attractants. Bait placement has been studied to improve the likelihood of intercepting termites. Temperature and moisture conditions of the soil were shown to be important factors correlated with termite presence. Comparison of colony reduction products using baits and non-repellent termiticides in a replicated study is nearing completion. Colony reduction studies also have focused on killing termite colonies infesting trees has progressed since its inception in 1993. Studies on tree infestations in a Sam Houston Jones State Park indicated for the first time that forested systems are in danger from attack by this termite. Results of Gregg’s work have been incorporated into a 5 million dollar appropriation received through a vote by the La State Legislature. Tree treatments with non-repellent termiticides in a foam solution are being applied by licensed pest control operators on a state-wide basis. Gregg’s group also is evaluating the tree treatment program. In addition, 5 million in federal funds, that the USDA receives each year, used Gregg’s research for justification. On other fronts, 2 patents and 3 patents that are pending have been initiated that are meant to reduce environmental contamination and improve bait efficacy through timely interception of termites in monitoring stations. A new termiticide was discovered during investigations of a plant extract. This termiticide is nootkatone and licensing negotiations are presently underway. Evaluation of fungus associates of Formosan subterranean termites are 3-pronged: using fungi as killing agents, beneficials in enhancing cellulose nutrition, and potential emitters of gases used as reporter molecules. Reporter molecules are chemicals that tell us termites are present. Henderson and associates presently are perfecting the reporter molecule technology that is meant to be used by the pest control operator. A patent was issued on this technology in 1999.

There has been a strong multidisciplanary research approach on termites at LSU and details of collaborative arrangements are described later in this section.  One intradepartmental collaboration exists with Jim Fuxa. The goal of this cooperative project is to suppress Formosan termite populations with pathogenic fungi or nematodes. Insect Pathology personnel are isolating fungi from soil with live Formosan termites as bait. These fungi, along with several USDA isolates, are being evaluated for transmission and replication as well as virulence in Formosan termites.

Medical Entomology

Dayton Steelman and Lamar Meek previously held the medical entomology position, and their successor should be named by the time of the review. Mosquitoes are the most important insect pests of humans. Therefore, research on the biology and control of mosquitoes has been and will be the primary focus for our medical entomologist.

Since the pests of man and animals overlap, the pests of companion animals (fleas) are included in this section. We maintain a flea colony at the St. Gabriel Research Station. The flea colony pays for itself because we sell fleas to Industry. Since the colony was initiated, there has been an ample number of fleas for the research of Lane Foil, 3 graduate students, and 2 residents from the Veterinary School. We have established a reputation for being able to conduct assays relevant to the development of products for the environmental control of fleas. Currently, the products available for host treatment are so effective that there is little interest in developing new products for environmental control.

Basic research has been conducted on the biology of the cat flea and on three health issues associated with fleas; flea allergy, Bartonella henselae, and Rickettsia felis. The 2 residents conducted their research projects on flea allergy. One of the graduate students conducted his research on Rickettsia felis. Our colony is unique because the fleas are infected with Rickettsia felis, an organism that is vertically transmitted in our flea line. R. felis has been the subject of research projects at Johns Hopkins and the University of Texas Medical School in Galveston (UTMB). R. felis is a potential model for the causative agent of murine typhus. The interest in this organism has resulted in a fluid exchange of biological material, reagents, and techniques. In other words, if they want to play we have the ball. Currently we are cooperating with UTMB faculty on 2 projects. One project is to culture the organism. The other project is an electron microscopy study to determine if R. felis is found in the flea salivary gland. This project was initiated because we observed that cats fed on by fleas from our colony for 15 minutes once per week for 3 months became seropositive for antibody against R. felis. This indicated that it is possible that R. felis is "transmitted" anteriorally rather than posteriorally which is the case for R. typhi. If the organism is transmitted via salivary secretions, this is a novel mechanism. Our work on Bartonella henselae, the causative agent of cat scratch disease, began with a successful NIH grant. We established the mechanisms of transmission of B. henselae and more recently have shown that the organism grows in fleas (the subject of a thesis). We will submit a second NIH grant this spring to support this line of research.

Seth Johnson has a research project on the biology and management of selected arthropod pests of ornamentals, turf and citrus. His program goals are to reduce pesticide use on azaleas and turf by using classical biological control against appropriate introduced pests. The azalea lace bug is the most important pest of azaleas in the United States. The azalea lace bug has 5 generations in south Louisiana. It is important to know the timing for insecticide applications to reduce economic injury while allowing maximal natural biological control. The spring generation was the most abundant one with the population steadily declining during the summer. Egg parasitism by a mymarid wasp exceeded 50% over much of July and August. These ecological studies identified the spring as the critical time to chemically control the azalea lace bug because of high populations then and it would conserve the egg parasitoid, which doesn’t emerge from overwintering until late spring. Treating at this time should reduce aesthetic injury by the azalea lace bug and the total number of insecticide applications needed to control it during the growing season.

A classical biological control program was initiated against tawny and southern mole crickets by release of a temperately adapted strain of Ormia depleta, a tachinid fly from southern Brazil. Both mole crickets are introduced pests from South America. The releases were made in spring 2000 at the LSU Agricultural Center Burden Research Plantation and City Park in New Orleans. Establishment will be determined in spring 2001. Baseline mole cricket population estimates were made with sound traps for two years prior to the release.

The USDA-ARS Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Laboratory conducts research on honey bees which is directly applicable for our Louisiana stakeholders. Four of the members of this research facility are adjunct members of the Department of Entomology. A detailed description of their research programs is provided in the section for adjunct faculty resumes. Specific research objectives of the unit include: 1) importing and evaluating stocks resistant to parasitic mites and diseases or stocks generally improved in behavior; 2) using genetic techniques to address problems caused by varroa mites; 3) using genetic techniques to address problems caused by tracheal mites; 4) developing simple, cost effective measurements of specific characteristics that can be used with improved breeding programs and germplasm storage techniques to solve apicultural problems; 5) studying populations of all species of honey bees worldwide with the goals of identifying useful germplasm and distinguishing apicultural and agricultural threats; 6) characterizing the process of Africanization of current U.S. stocks, including development of identification methods and appropriate management techniques; and 8) developing methods for characterizing and breeding honey bees for improved pollination efficiency, especially on newly developed crops.

Thomas E. Rinderer is the Research Leader of the laboratory. His personal research is currently directed at the first objective. This has involved discovering a source of varroa resistant stock in far-eastern Russia, importing mated queens and conducting a selection program to stabilize and improve the resistant traits. John Harbo’s program goals are to describe genetic mechanisms of resistance in honey bees that will enable bee breeders to select honey bees for resistance to Varroa destructor, an external parasitic mite. Jeffrey W. Harris has a project to breed and select honey bees with resistance to varroa mites, and a project to determine the trigger for development of eggs in varroa mites. Robert Danka’s program goals are to breed and select honey bees with resistance to the parasitic tracheal mites, Acarapis woodi. Parasitism by tracheal mites constitutes a significant biological challenge to productive beekeeping in the United States. Bob also has a project to determine the usefulness of honey bees as pollinators of regionally important crops.

1. Are there ways to increase the growth of our Urban program, particularly ways to achieve a unique identity and increase graduate student enrollment in this area.

Faculty: when the medical position is filled, the core for a faculty that could establish a national reputation will be present. If another position could be created, an Arachnologist would be the first preference. We will not be able to be address all arthropod problems of urban society and expertise for pests of turf, ornamentals, vegetables, urban trees, etc. should come from the agricultural ipm group.

2. Why is our graduate program shrinking? National trend or do we have a real problem? An active recruitment program for the department should be initiated. Applications of qualified students should be circulated to faculty with resources for students. Our stipends have to be competitive.

3. Do we have adequate facilities? Parker facilities are available to this program, but the future use of the facilities is unclear. LSB. What space in the current building will be available for those moving? Two of our programs are too large to fit into the space assigned in the new building.

4. Is our office staff adequate? There is concern that the management of the office staff would need to be better before any real growth in graduate student applications and grants.

Faculty: Ornamentals, turf and urban forestry are areas where we could use a position for research needs.

For Ext Fac? Need more?

There is an effort to create Urban specialist positions throughout the state.

Facilities: Parker facilities also are an issue. The Knapp Hall facilities are limited and there is no laboratory facilities.

1. Do we have adequate communication to our stakeholders? Communication: There is concern that the routes of communication with the public are not properly established. There should be a coordinated effort to route extension questions and research questions to the correct personnel.

Research: there are no real guidelines for disseminating research information through extension to the public. From the researcher’s point of view, extension personnel are spread too thin to be able to properly interact with research personnel.

The majority of the research in urban areas gets to the public. Timely information for press releases by Extension should be a priority.

A specific issue of the Henderson program is the need for a specialist supported by the Department to maintain recently obtained equipment (GC/MS and HPLC) and to assist researchers with other projects.

Lane Foil: Urban (fleas)

Goals: The flea program was initiated by Jeff LaFage and myself. Our goal was to conduct applied research that would generate revenues that could be used for basic research on fleas.

Activities: We maintain a flea colony at the St. Gabriel Research Station. The flea colony pays for itself because we sell fleas to Industry. Since the colony was initiated, there has been an ample number of fleas for the research of myself, 3 graduate students, and 2 residents from the Veterinary school. We have established a reputation for being able to conduct assays relevant to the development of products for the environmental control of fleas. Currently, the products available for host treatment are so effective that there is little interest in developing new products for environmental control.

Basic research has been conducted on the biology of the cat flea and on three health issues associated with fleas; flea allergy, Bartonella henselae, and Rickettsia felis. The 2 residents conducted their research projects on flea allergy. One of the graduate students conducted his research on Rickettsia felis. Our colony is unique because the fleas are infected with Rickettsia felis, an organism that is vertically transmitted in our flea line. R. felis has been the subject of research projects at Johns Hopkins and the University of Texas Medical School in Galveston. R. felis is a potential model for the causative agent of murine typhus. The interest in this organism has resulted in a fluid exchange of biological material, reagents, and techniques. In other words, if they want to play we have the ball. Currently we are cooperating with UTMB faculty on 2 projects. One project is to culture the organism. The other project is an electron microscopy study to determine if R. felis is found in the flea salivary gland. This project was initiated because we observed that cats fed on by fleas from our colony for 15 minutes once per week for 3 months became seropositive for antibody against R. felis. This indicated that it is possible that R. felis is "transmitted" anteriorally rather than posteriorally which is the case for R. typhi. If the organism is transmitted via salivary secretions, this is a novel mechanism. Our work on Bartonella henselae, the causative agent of cat scratch disease, began with a successful NIH grant. We established the mechanisms of transmission of B. henselae and more recently have shown that the organism grows in fleas (the subject of a thesis). We will submit a second NIH grant this spring to support this line of research.

Personnel: Glenn O’Remus, Research Associate- Assistance in laboratory studies and data management

Cooperators: LSU Veterinary School, Kathy O’Reilly and others. University of Texas Medical School, Galveston, Texas, Dave Walker and others.

James R. Fuxa: Urban Research

Program Goal: Suppress Formosan termite and red imported fire ant populations with pathogenic fungi or nematodes.

Major Activities: Insect Pathology personnel are isolating fungi from soil with live Formosan termites as bait. These fungi, along with several USDA isolates, are being evaluated for transmission and replication as well as virulence in Formosan termite. Other personnel are attempting to eliminate colonies of red imported fire ant on a short-term, local basis with pathogenic fungi or nematodes. Current research is focusing on the effect of environmental variables, especially soil type and moisture, on induced epizootics of the fungus Beauveria bassiana. This research currently is in greenhouse microcosms so that independent variables can be controlled. Research in the upcoming year will concentrate the same variables for entomopathogenic nematodes as well as inoculation methods for both pathogens. If experiments on classical biological control of fire ants in pastures (see "Agricultural IPM" section) are successful, then this control method will be adapted to the urban landscape.

Arthur Richter, Research Associate, runs the fire ant experiments.

J.-Z. Sun, Graduate Research Assistant, is responsible for the termite work as his Ph.D. dissertation research.

Formosan termite research: Dr. Gregg Henderson (LSU AgCenter Entomology) and Dr. Maureen S. Wright (Research Microbiologist, USDA Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans)

Regional Project S-301 (LAES Project LAB03485), Development, Evaluation and Safety of Entomopathogens for Control of Arthropod Pests (2000-2005)

Objective 4: Development, evaluation and safety of entomopathogens for control of veterinary and structural arthropod pests.

Program Goals: To develop new tools that are environmentally friendly and cost-effective and improve existing ones for the control of subterranean termites, especially the Formosan subterranean termite.

Major Actvities: The Formosan subterranean termite is the most important pest in Louisiana due to costs associated with infestations and repair of damage. Urban baits were developed in our laboratory in order to reduce population numbers that our research indicates are growing exponentially in New Orleans. Bait development has continued along the lines of adding substances that are feeding stimulants and attractants. Bait placement has been studied to improve the likelihood of intercepting termites. Temperature and moisture conditions of the soil were shown to be important factors correlated with termite presence. Comparison of colony reduction products using baits and non-repellent termiticides in a replicated study is nearing completion. Colony reduction studies that have focused on killing termite colonies infesting trees has progressed since its inception in 1993. Studies on tree infestations in a Sam Houston Jones State Park indicated for the first time that forested systems are in danger from attack by this termite. Results of our work have been incorporated into a 5 million dollar appropriation received through a vote by the La State Legislature. Tree treatments using non-repellent termiticides in a foam solution are being applied by licensed pest control operators on a state-wide basis. We are evaluating the tree treatment program. On other fronts, 2 patents and 2 patents that are pending have been initiated that are meant to reduce environmental contamination and improve bait efficacy through timely interception of termites in monitoring stations. A new termiticide was discovered during our investigations of a plant extract, nootkatone. Licensing negotiations are presently underway. Evaluation of fungus associates of Formosan subterranean termites are 3-pronged: using fungi as killing agents, beneficials in enhancing cellulose nutrition, and potential emitters of gases used as reporter molecules, which tell us termites are present. We presently are perfecting the reporter molecule technology to be used by the pest control operator. A patent was issued on this technology in 1999.

Huixin Fei: Postdoctoral student, heading up a field comparison study involving 16 public schools being treated with products currently registered for termite control.

Feng Chen: Assistant Professor/ Research, chemical characterization of termite reporter molecules that are volatiles of termite nests and for identification of vetiver root components having termite activity.

Lara Maistrello: Postdoctoral Fellow, bioassays related to vetiver grass components against Formosan subterranean termites and other important urban pest insects.

Steven Braham: Postdoctoral fellow following the state initiated tree treatment project

Betty Zhu: Research Associate termite bioassays and lc of termite-active fractions

Mr. Sun Younson: Student shared with Dr. Fuxa.

Collaborators: Dr. Roger Laine, Biological Sciences, in the area of reporter molecules, vetiver grass extracts and protein isolation, Jim Fuxa in microbial control of termites, Dennis Ring, LSU AgCenter Coop. Ext., Alan Lax and members of the USDA/ARS in New Orleans, Ed Vargo, North Carolina State University, microsatellites, Brian Forscher, Univ. of Georgia, on several termite related fronts and Ed Bordes, of the New Orleans Mosquito and Termite Control Board.

Linda M. Hooper-Bùi: Red Imported Fire Ant Laboratory

Goals: Develop an understanding of ant basic biology, investigate and refined methods of control, and examine effects of control at small scale and landscape levels.

Activities: Heather Story and I are investigating the differences in nutrient movement among castes in two forms of red imported fire ants (RIFA), monogyne and polygyne. We are systematically investigating nutrient flow using sucrose, fructose, casein, and linoleic and linolenic acids (components of soybean oil). The regulation of feeding exchanges is also of interest and has been investigated through the quantification of biogenic amines. This has led to the demonstration that increased levels of dopamine may be responsible for egg production in reproductive females. These data will help us better understand bait technology for controlling ants. We are studying Brachymyrmex cf. patagonicus, which has become a significant urban pest in the South. We have been trapping this ant at food traps for one and a half years and have been rearing it in the laboratory to learn more about the nest structure and social hierarchy.

An undergraduate student, Christina Leonard, is investigating the feeding capacities of several species of pestiferous ants. This will allow us to better understand and accurately measure food consumption at bait stations. More recently, I have begun investigations that will lead to the description of the endosymbionts in RIFA using classical microbiological and biochemical techniques to be confirmed later with molecular biological techniques. I currently am working with Jessica Rosson, a Master’s student, on this project.

One applied project that is nearing completion is the investigation of contact insecticidal barriers using bifenthrin as a model compound. My Master’s student, Anthony Pranschke is asking questions such as: 1) How wide does an effective barrier have to be? 2) Are barriers consistently effective? 3) How long does bifenthrin last in turf and does the width of the barrier affect this? Recently, I completed another applied project that addressed the question of whether large-scale treatment for ants is more effective than small-scale in urban areas. We addressed this question in three different studies. The first study investigated whether baits are more effective on RIFA in urban areas if applied community-wide on a large-scale or by individual homeowners on a small-scale. We found that large-scale broadcast application of baits was significantly more successful at reducing RIFA populations and reduced the populations for a longer time (3x longer), thus reducing the cost of treatment for the homeowners and reducing the amount of insecticide used. For the second study, I was assisted by my research associate, Jonathan Legendre, and we addressed questions of whether large-scale application of 3 different granular contact insecticides was more effective or long lasting than that of small-scale applications. In this study, we used large apartment complexes for the large-scale portion and homes for the small-scale portion of the study. The third study examined the effect of large-scale and small-scale broadcast applications of bifenthrin on populations of both RIFA and Argentine ants.

Cooperators: At LSU: M. Chamberlain (Wildlife, Forestry, and Fisheries), R. Downer (Exp. Stats.), L. Foil (Ent.), J. Fuxa (Ent.), S. Johnson (Ent.), D. Saunders (Idlewild Res. Stat.), R. Story (Ent.), and J. Woodring (Biol. Sci.).Outside LSU: S. Porter (USDA-ARS, Florida) and Dr. Raphaël Boulay (Tel Aviv University, Israel). Industry: G. Cramer (FMC), S. Falk (Scotts Co.), A. Weisy (Aventis Envir. Sci.), S. Sims (Whitmire Microgen), G. Braness and J. Cink (Bayer).

Seth Johnson: Ornamental and turf IPM 

Program Goals: Reduce pesticide use on azaleas and turf. Use classical biological control against appropriate introduced ornamental and turf pests.

Major Activities: The azalea lace bug is the most important pest of azaleas in the United States. My research determined that in south Louisiana overwintering eggs hatch in February or early March. The azalea lace bug has 5 generations in south Louisiana. The spring generation was the most abundant one with the population steadily declining during the summer. Egg parasitism by a mymarid wasp exceeded 50% over much of July and August. Egg parasitism, predation and possibly high summer temperatures greatly suppressed summer populations. These ecological studies identified the spring as the critical time to chemically control the azalea lace bug because of high populations then and it would conserve the egg parasitoid, which doesn’t emerge from overwintering until late spring. Treating at this time should reduce aesthetic injury by the azalea lace bug and the total number of insecticide applications needed to control it during the growing season.

A Classical biological control program was initiated against tawny and southern mole crickets by release of a temperately adapted strain of Ormia depleta, a tachinid fly from southern Brazil. Both mole crickets are introduced pests from South America. The releases were made in spring 2000 at the LSU Agricultural Center Burden Research Plantation and City Park in New Orleans. Establishment will be determined in spring 2001. Baseline mole cricket population estimates were made for two years prior to the release with sound traps.

Personnel: Donald Henne, Research Associate. Duties: Participate in release, establishment and assessment of biological control agents for red imported fire ants, mole crickets and citrus pests. Assist in data collection and analysis and also, preparation of manuscripts and presentations. Supervise student workers and work closely with other researchers on Red Imported Fire Ant Management Team.

Cooperators: Allen D. Owings, Specialists, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service - Azalea lace bug studies; Howard Frank, Professor, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL – Provide red-eyed fly for mole cricket biological control.

Hatch Project LAB03263, Biology and Management of Selected Arthropod Pests of Ornamentals, Turf and Citrus

Objectives: (1) Study the biology and ecology of selected arthropod pests of ornamentals, turf and citrus. (2) Investigate the biology, ecology and impact of natural enemies of these pests. (3) Develop effective and environmentally safe controls for these pests with an emphasis on biological control.