Release and monitoring of Laricobius nigrinus (Coleoptera: Derodontidae) for biological control of the hemlock woolly adelgid in the eastern US

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dc.contributor.authorMausel, Dave L.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairKok, Loke T.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairSalom, Scott M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberOnken, Bradley P.en
dc.contributor.committeememberMcDonald, Richard C.en
dc.contributor.committeememberKuhar, Thomas P.en
dc.contributor.departmentEntomologyen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:19:20Zen
dc.date.adate2007-12-10en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:19:20Zen
dc.date.issued2007-11-15en
dc.date.rdate2007-12-10en
dc.date.sdate2007-11-29en
dc.description.abstractDifferent Laricobius nigrinus Fender release locations, numbers of predators, and timing of release were evaluated for biological control of the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), Adelges tsugae Annand (Hemiptera: Adelgidae). It established at 59% of the sites and location was the most important factor related with establishment and abundance, HWA density, and hemlock vigor index. Cold locations had poor establishment or low abundance, declines in HWA density, and increases in hemlock vigor over time. Paired release and control sites detected a predator impact on HWA density, but densities remained high and tree vigor declined. The phenology of L. nigrinus, L. rubidus LeConte, and HWA were studied at a field insectary and the species were highly synchronized. A cage exclusion study showed that HWA survival and density were lower and ovisac disturbance was higher when exposed to predation. To improve L. nigrinus monitoring, we compared beat sheets for adults or branch clipping for immatures, and the host searching behavior of L. nigrinus was studied to understand how it locates a tree and HWA. In the Appalachians, beat sheet sampling resulted in false negatives as larvae were collected by branch clipping. Adults orientated to a tree visually, fed when prey were present and flew when absent, and showed different search patterns on infested versus uninfested trees. In Seattle, both sampling methods detected L. nigrinus because the predator was common. Predator : prey ratios were high at heavily infested sites in Seattle and low in the eastern US, where is has been released recently. Partial life tables were constructed for HWA sistentes at four sites for 2 yr in Seattle. Unspecified causes of nymph and adult mortality were high and L. nigrinus was the dominant predator of ovisacs. Adult L. nigrinus abundance was positively related to HWA density and immature abundance was related to ovisac density, indicating an aggregation and numerical response to its prey. Laricobius nigrinus has not demonstrated complete biological control of HWA to date, but it may do so in the future and continued release is justified.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-11292007-091928en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-11292007-091928/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/29785en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartMausel_ETD.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectsamplingen
dc.subjectlife tableen
dc.subjectobject orientationen
dc.subjecthost searching behavioren
dc.subjectAdelges tsugaeen
dc.subjectimpacten
dc.subjectsynchronyen
dc.subjectfield insectaryen
dc.subjectRelease methodologyen
dc.titleRelease and monitoring of Laricobius nigrinus (Coleoptera: Derodontidae) for biological control of the hemlock woolly adelgid in the eastern USen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineEntomologyen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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