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Project 12

Project Title: Long-term monitoring of coccinellid communities on the KBS LTER site.
Investigators: Douglas A. Landis, Alissa Berro and Chris Sebolt
Contact: Doug Landis (landisd@msu.edu)

Abstract:  For the past sixteen years, populations of native and non-native species of Coccinellidae and other selected predators have been monitored at the Kellogg Biological Station LTER site using yellow sticky traps.  The study’s overall goal is to monitor trends and determine interactions between these populations and other biota, and to serve as a sentinel system to detect and track new invasive species.

Six native coccinellid species, three non-native coccinellid species and several other important predators (lacewings, lampyrids and minor coccinellids) have been consistently monitored on the KBS LTER main site as well as the deciduous, coniferous and successional forest extensive sites.  New exotic coccinellids are included in long-term monitoring as they are detected.  Results from the past 15 years reveal shifting trends in coccinelid population dynamics in addition to the first detection of three exotic coccinellids in Michigan.  The previously established exotic Coccinella septempuncta, has consistently exhibited 4-5 year population peaks throughout the study and is consistently one of the two most abundant coccinellid species.  Harmonia axyridis was the first new exotic coccinellid detected in this study in 1994.  It maintained modest populations for several years until the arrival of soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) in the Midwest in 2000 (Figure 1).  Since that time both the aphid and H. axyridis have exhibited strong 2 year cycles with peaks of both species in odd numbered years.  The establishment and increase of H. axyridis appears to be correlated with the dramatic decline of the native coccinellid Coleomegilla maculata.  Hippodamia variegata was the second exotic coccinellid detected by this study with the first occurrence detected in 2005 (Gardiner and Parsons in review).  A native of Eurasia, Africa and India, H. variegata was originally introduced to the midwest and western United States in 1986 as a biocontrol agent for Diuraphis noxia, the Russian wheat aphid (Ellis et. al. 1999).  Hippodamia variegata was most often recorded at the LTER in poplar and successional field plots during late July and early August.  A third novel species, Propylea quattuordecimpunctata, also originally released as a biocontrol agent for Diuraphis noxia, was first detected in 2006.  The detection of these two new exotic species along with the interaction of H. axyridis with soybean aphid, underscore the importance of this monitoring protocol and its service as a sentinel system for new species detection, colonization and long-term trends.

Ellis, D. R., D.R. Prokrym & R.G. Adams.  1999.  Exotic lady beetle survey in Northeastern United States:  Hippodamia variegata and Propylea quaturodecimpunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).  Entomological News 110: 73-84.

Gardiner M. M. and G. L. Parsons. Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) detected in Michigan soybean fields.  Great Lakes Entomologist.  In Review.