Host ranged of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus Planipennis) (Coleoptera: Burprestidae): Choice and no-choice tests

Andrea C. Anulewicz (1), Deborah G. McCullough (1,2), David Cappaert (2),
Therese M. Poland (3), and Deborah L. Miller (3)
1-Department of Forestry, Michigan State University,
243 Natural Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824 2-Department of Entomology, Michigan State University,
243 Natural Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824 3-USDA Forest Service, North Central Research Station,
1407 South Harrison Rd., Ste. 220, East Lansing, MI 48824

We evaluated EAB larval development on logs of ash and potential alternate hosts that were placed in infested ash trees and in choice and no-choice tests using live nursery trees.

In 2004, male and female beetles were caged on the lower 1 m section of the stems of 40 green and white ash, Japanese tree lilac and black walnut nursery trees transplanted in Ann Arbor, MI. The un-caged portions of the trees were exposed to wild beetle populations throughout the natural flight season. On both the caged and un-caged portions, there were more galleries on the green ash than on the white ash trees. No galleries were found on walnut or tree lilac.

In 2003, logs of green ash, walnut, and elm were attached to the stem of infested green ash trees. In 2004, white ash and blue ash logs were added to the study and logs were attached to infested white ash trees. Nearly 200 galleries/m² were found on green ash in 2003 and on white ash in 2004. This study was repeated in 2005 at two sites with predominately green ash trees and two sites with predominately white ash trees. One green and one white ash log were placed in each tree along with a third log that was either black or blue ash or black walnut. At three of the four sites, the green ash logs had higher gallery densities than the other ash species. At one site, gallery density on white ash logs was greater than the other ash species. In all three years, several small larval feeding attempts were found on walnut logs.

Abundance of native and non-native Coccinellidae in diverse Michigan habitats

Alissa M. Berro (1), Mary M. Gardiner (1), Alejandro C. Costamagna (1), Manuel Colunga-Garcia (2), Stuart H. Gage (2).
1204 CIPS, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, 2208 Manly Miles Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.

The NSF-sponsered Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site in agroecology at Michigan State Universities Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) has been the site of a study tracking populations of native and non-native Coccinellidae for the past fifteen years. Data is taken for two species of non-native and six species of native ladybeetles in varying habitats ranging from woodland to highly managed agricultural fields. From May to August each year, five yellow sticky traps are deployed in each habitat and sampled once a week. Results from the past three years show Harmonia axyridisand Coccinella septempunctata to be the most abundant coccinellids. Mapping the densities of coccinellids in this study from 2004-05 has revealed a shifting pattern of adult abundance related to both crop and non-crop habitats present in this study. The occurrence of a novel species to the site, Hippodamia variegata, has also been tracked since its appearance in 2004 and rise in population density over the past two years. Finally the relationship between soybean aphid population and ladybeetle abundance at KBS is explored to determine if this new invasive herbivore is driving response in coccinellid populations.

Prey responding adaptively to an invasive predator: relative importance of trait and density effects.

Katrina Button Fisheries and Wildlife Department (1), Kevin Pangle Fisheries and Wildlife Department (1), Scott Peacor Fisheries and Wildlife Department (1,2)
1-Michigan State University, 2-GLERL

Daphnia mendotae migrate vertically into deeper, cooler regions of Lake Michigan to avoid predation by an invasive species, Bythotrephes longimanus. Although vertical migration reduces actual predation by Bythotrephes (predator’s density effect), inhabiting these less productive regions can be costly to Daphnia population growth (predator’s trait effect). Such phenotypic responses, which balance tradeoffs of energy gain and predation risk in variable environments, are ubiquitous to predator-prey interactions in nature. Perhaps surprisingly, whereas the phenotypic response may be adaptive, the ensuing negative effects on fitness of the trait effect can be larger than the density effect. Theory in this area assumes coevolved predator-prey systems, and we therefore have little understanding of this phenotypic plasticity and ensuing fitness effects when prey face a novel risk from an invasive predator. We evaluated Bythotrephes density and trait effects on Daphnia using differential equation and dynamic optimization models. Both models, when parameterized with data from Lake Michigan, suggest that the observed vertical migration of Daphnia is adaptive. When we examine the effect on fitness of direct predation and cost due to migrating to colder regions, this latter trait component can be substantial, contributing up to as much as 97% of the net effect of the predator.

Thus, even when predator and prey have short co-evolution periods, our models show that prey adapt, changing their behavior to minimize the effect of the predator, balancing predation risk and energy gain. This implies that to understand the impact of an invasive predator, one must understand both trait and density effects.

How autumn olive and white-tailed deer affect old-field vegetation

J. B. Courteau
Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MSU Extension), Stevens T. Mason Building, P.O. Box 30444, Lansing, MI 48909–7944

In recent decades, southeastern Michigan’s native plant communities have been affected by simultaneous increases in plant invasions, including the shrub, autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata var. parvifolia) and populations of a large herbivore, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimm.), a native but opportunistic and overabundant species. Acting individually, both invaders and herbivores have been documented to affect species density and abundance and floristic quality, but their combined effects on old-field vegetation are complex. This study had three objectives: 1) to quantify and compare effects of autumn olive and deer on vegetation density and diversity, and to identify any interactions; 2) to examine how autumn olive and deer affect species composition and floristic quality; and 3) to assess whether effects differed across sites. Vegetation surveys and biomass harvests after two years of deer exclosure and in varying distances from autumn olive showed that autumn olive strongly reduced standing biomass and species density of neighboring vegetation, accompanied by a lesser reduction in floristic quality. Deer effects were weaker, more variable, and site-dependent: Deer reduced standing biomass and increased species density slightly at one site but not at the other, so overall effects were not significant (α = 0.05). Deer did, however, affect cumulativespecies richness (beta diversity) and floristic quality. Plots with deer had higher species richness outside autumn olive, but lower floristic quality because there were more invasive and ruderal species. These data are consistent with findings in forested areas that deer overbrowsing is leading “biotic homogenization” by increasing weedy and invasive species.

Matrix population models to inform A. petiolata biocontrol agent selection

Adam. S. Davis (1), Douglas.A. Landis (2), Douglas. W. Schemske (2), Jeffrey. A. Evans (2).
1-USDA-ARS Invasive Weed Management Unit, Urbana, IL; 2-Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb.) Cavara and Grande) invades and degrades woodland habitats in North America.  Four species of Ceutorhynchus weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) that attack different stages of A. petiolata are currently undergoing host specificity testing as potential biological control agents.  Selection of the best agents depends on both host-specificity and anticipated impacts of each species on A. petiolata’s population growth rate (l).  Matrix population models have proven effective for analyzing impacts of natural enemies on weed demography.  Elasticity analysis of a matrix model parameterized from data collected at eight sites in Michigan indicated that changes in the rosette to flowering plant transition, fecundity and seedling survival to the rosette stage consistently had the greatest impacts upon A. petiolata l. These results suggest that rosette-feeders that reduce overwintering survival and fecundity and seed or stem-petiole feeders that reduce seed output should be particularly effective agents.  Varying demographic parameters within ranges observed in Michigan had large impacts on biocontrol outcomes, indicating that successful containment and reduction of A. petiolata populations may occur under some, but not all, conditions of demographic variability.

The role of birds in transmitting and spreading the Lyme disease pathogen and vector in southwestern Michigan.

Koppel, E.M (1), S.Y. Yaremych (1), G. J. Hickling (1), J. I. Tsao (1,2), E. D. Walker (3),
1-Department of Fisheries and Wildlife; 2-Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine; 3-Department of Microbiology and Molecular Sciences; Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.

The main vector of Lyme disease, the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), is invading Lower Michigan. The blacklegged tick is a generalist vector that feeds on the blood of both mammals and birds. Parasitism of birds by I. scapularis is of particular interest because birds are capable of transporting ticks long distances, furthering the invasion. Over two-thousand birds were captured in southwest Michigan and checked for ticks over the past two summers in collaboration with the Kalamazoo Nature Center. Ticks were identified to detect blacklegged ticks. All ticks, regardless of species, were assayed for the bacterial spirochete (Borrelia burgdorferi) responsible for Lyme disease. We are finding few birds parasitized by I. scapularis along this invasion front, and hypothesize that birds may be important in feeding and transporting ticks once ticks are introduced to an area on other wildlife. The most prevalent tick species on the birds is Ixodes dentatus, a species that has been shown to be a competent vector of B. burgdorferi, but rarely feeds on people. We hypothesize that this tick species may be transmitting the pathogen among birds in areas that have not yet been invaded by I. scapularis in a cryptic transmission cycle.

A web-based, training and reporting platform for invasive species survey, detection and mapping.

Douglas A. Landis and Amos H. Ziegler
Department of Entomology, Michigan State University

A purposed survey and detection network to harness the power of an informed citizenry by utilizing a web-based platform to engage the public in detection and management activities will be presented. The proposed development calls for the launching of a comprehensive website to support on-line training in invasives detection and a reporting structure that will allow near real-time generation of occurrence maps. This system will provide regulators, managers and researchers alike with the information they need to effectively prioritize activities pertaining to invasives management and research.

Status of emerald ash borer biocontrol research in Michigan

Houping Liu (1) and Leah S. Bauer (1, 2)
1- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824; 2-USDA Forest Service, North Central Research Station, East Lansing, MI 48823

Natural enemies of the emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis (Buprestidae), are scarce in Michigan. For this reason, we are studying the population dynamics of EAB in China where this pest of ash, Fraxinus spp., is native. During summer and fall of 2005, EAB eggs and larvae were sampled monthly from an ash forest in Jilin Province and shipped to our quarantine laboratory. The main parasitoids reared from EAB were a gregarious larval endoparasitoid, Tetrastichus sp. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), and a solitary egg parasitoid, Oobius agrili (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). The prevalence of both parasitoids increased throughout the summer and fall, and we estimate these parasitoids reduced EAB populations by ca. 60%. These results confirm the need for biological control of EAB in North America. To that end, we developed methods to rear them in the laboratory and have studied their biology. Research on the host specificity of each parasitoid is ongoing as we prepare for their possible use as EAB biocontrol agents in MI.

Effects of light, soil-N, and moisture on the biomass and resource allocation of Phalaris arundinacea

Martina, J.P. and C.N. von Ende
Northern Illinois University

Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass) is a highly aggressive graminoid species that currently is invading most of the northern United States. In areas previously used for agriculture, and other recently disturbed habitats, P. arundinacea can quickly out-compete native flora and create large monocultures, which can greatly reduce biodiversity and alter ecosystem functioning. Much research has focused on the growth response of P. arundinacea to varying abiotic and biotic conditions, but surprisingly little has examined how variation in light, soil-N, and moisture affects growth and resource allocation. Recent experimental evidence showed that when soil-N levels were lowered through the addition of C (as sawdust), P. arundinacea’s growth rate decreased. This decrease was most likely due to a shift in internal resource allocation. We studied the growth response and resource allocation of P. arundinacea to contrasting levels of light, soil-N, and moisture in a greenhouse experiment using a split-plot factorial design. Significant 3-way interactions (MANOVA) were present for the following three groups of response variables: (1) below ground biomass (BGB) and above ground biomass (AGB); (2) shoot C/N ratio and root C/N ratio; and (3) shoot C/N, total chlorophyll and total soluble protein content. AGB, BGB, shoot/root ratio, root C/N ratio, shoot C/N ratio, total chlorophyll and total tillers all depended on the level of each of the three treatments (ANOVA, significant 3-way interactions). Soil-N and moisture at different light levels affected total soluble protein content (significant 2-way interactions). These results illustrate the high degree of plasticity P. arundinacea can exhibit and may help to explain its aggressive invasive behavior in wetlands with high levels of N deposition.

Mortality rate and feeding habits of emerald ash borer (Agrilius planipennis Fairmaire)  on privet leaves compared to green ash

Christopher J. Pell, Deborah G. McCullough
Dept. of Entomology, Dept. of Forestry Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive pest discovered in 2002 in southeast Michigan and is suspected to have been introduced from China in wood packaging between ten to fifteen years ago. As larvae, the Emerald Ash Borer (Argils planipennis Fairmaire) cuts off the vascular systems of ash trees by feeding on the phloem tissue, thereby preventing the tree from transporting water and nutrients. Healthy ash trees will loose their canopy and eventually die within several years of being infected by EAB. With the severity of the damage that EAB causes, it has become recognized as threat to all of the nation’s ash resource including landscape trees, forests and woodlots, and timber plantations. To date, various ashes (Fraxinus spp.) have been the only hosts to successfully generate the beetle from its larval stage, although foliar feeding has been observed on other plant species. A small shrub called privet (Ligustrum spp.), generally used for landscaping purposes, is one alternative species that EAB has been observed feeding on. Privet is of the same family (Oleaceae) as ash and may share a similar nutrient makeup that EAB require to survive. This study examined the possibility of privet becoming a secondary feeding host for EAB and how it may affect the current eradication and containment efforts.

The importance of tribal and first nation participation in invasive species science and management

Nick Reo
MSU, Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife

Through their longstanding and ongoing relationships with specific geographies, North American Indian communities have developed sophisticated understandings of their surroundings as well as time-tested natural resource management strategies. Currently, tribal and first nation natural resource managers incorporate both Western science and Traditional ecological knowledge into their research, monitoring and management activities. Because of their use and familiarity with the tools of Western science, tribal and first nation natural resource authorities are well-equipped to collaborate with non-Indian scientists and managers. Furthermore, because of their traditional knowledge, unique land management/land use experiences, and non-Western worldviews, tribal and first nation partners can often provide insights, perspectives and data that add significant value to collaborative working groups. Consequently, non-Indian natural resource managers and scientists are beginning to recognize the importance of incorporating the knowledge and perspectives of North American Indians into many of their projects.

Predicting future distribution of beech scale in Michigan

Nancy Schwalm (1), Daniel B. Hayes (1), Deborah G. McCullough (2,3), Michael B. Walters (3).
1-Fisheries and Wildlife Department, Michigan State University; 2-Department of Entomology Michigan State University; 3-Department of Forestry, Michigan State University

Beech bark disease (BBD) is an etiological complex involving the nonindigenous sap-feeding beech scale insect (Cryptococcus fagisuga) and exotic Nectria sp. fungi. Beech scale, the precursor to BBD, is found throughout most of the American beech tree range. Impacts of BBD include mortality of large trees, loss of wildlife habitat, reduced mast production, and a change in forest composition. Understanding patterns of beech scale and BBD spread can help managers prioritize silvicultural activities and focus public awareness efforts. These two invasive species cover such a wide geographic range and cross so many socio-political boundaries that management activities can be difficult to prioritize. My objective is to determine the predicted geographic distribution of beech scale to aid in prioritizing areas for management actions. I mapped the 2005 distribution of the beech scale insect throughout Michigan and provide maps of the projected distribution (based upon modeled spread rates of 14 km/year in contiguous areas) for years 2010, 2015, and 2025. Risk maps and graphs of area infected over time to illustrate that the percent of Michigan’s beech resources infected will increase at an accelerated rate over the next twenty years. Maps representing the geographic extent of estimated future disturbance caused by exotic pests are an important component of risk assessment and should provide natural resource managers priority areas to focus their efforts.

Estimating potential production of emerald ash borer: Tree, site and landscape applications

Nathan W. Siegert and Deborah G. McCullough
Depts. of Entomology & Forestry, Michigan State University, 243 Natural Science Bldg., East Lansing, MI, 48824-1115

Emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire; Coleoptera: Buprestidae), a phloem-feeding beetle native to Asia, was identified in June 2002 as the cause of widespread ash (Fraxinus spp.) mortality in southeastern lower Michigan and Windsor, Ontario. To-date, 21 Michigan counties have been quarantined for EAB and localized outlier populations have been found across much of lower Michigan. Outlier populations are also established in areas of Indiana, Ohio and Ontario. Regulatory officials and managers of forestland near EAB infestations must be able to compare alternative management strategies to allocate limited funds efficiently and effectively. In this study, we used empirical data to develop models to estimate phloem area and potential production of EAB adults in ash trees of varying diameter. Overall, 101.2 ± 5.49 adult beetles per m 2 of phloem area emerged from EAB-killed trees. Models were applied to ash tree inventory data collected at an outlier site in Michigan. Results showed that trees greater than 26 cm dbh accounted for less than 6.5% of the ash trees but would have contributed almost 70% of the total EAB adult beetle production at the site. While approximately 80% of the trees at the outlier site were small (≤ 13 cm dbh), these trees would have only accounted for approximately 5% of the total EAB production. Our results, in combination with ash inventory data, can be used by regulatory officials and forest resource managers to compare options for reducing EAB density and slowing its rate of spread for any area of interest.

Modeling the spread and dispersal of the invasive, tree-killing metallic wood borer Agrilus planipennis

Nathan W. Siegert (1), Deborah G. McCullough (1), Andrew M. Liebhold (2), & Frank W. Telewski (3)
1-Depts. of Entomology & Forestry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; 2-USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station, Morgantown, WV; 3-Department of Plant Biology,Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

The recently-discovered emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is a destructive tree pest and has been found to be responsible for the death and decline of over 15 million ash trees in southeastern lower Michigan since its establishment in North America. We are using tree ring analyses to reconstruct the historical dispersal and spread patterns of EAB throughout the core EAB infestation in southeastern lower Michigan. Increment cores or cross-sections from EAB-killed ash trees were preferentially collected over declining or non-stressed ash trees on at least a 3.0 × 3.0 mile sampling grid over an area greater than 5800 square miles encompassing the core EAB infestation. Crossdating and other dendrochronological analyses are in progress that will reveal when and where EAB initially became established in southeastern lower Michigan and how it spread historically. Additional ongoing research includes developing dynamic coupled map lattice models of EAB spread and dispersal parameterized to match EAB dynamics observed at several outlier sites. Potential applications of this approach include: (1) evaluating management techniques and strategies at distinctly different sites (e.g. forest, urban, riparian, etc.); (2) determining ash removal zones at EAB eradication sites given the ash distribution, infestation levels, and number of years infested; (3) predicting EAB dynamics following varying degrees of ash removals; and (4) evaluating the effectiveness of biological controls. The ability to predict the temporal and spatial dynamics of EAB in outlier populations is needed for continued development of effective management strategies for improved control of EAB.

Attraction of male and female emerald ash borers to trap trees

Sarah M. Smith (1), Deborah G. McCullough (2) and Therese M. Poland (3)
1-Department of Animal ScienceMichigan State University, East Lansing, MI 2-Departments of Entomology and ForestryMichigan State University, East Lansing, MI 3-North Central Research Station, USDA Forest Service

Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is an invasive species that has killed 12 million ash trees (Fraxinus sp.) in southeast MI. It also occurs in OH, IN and Ont. Detection of low-density EAB populations is difficult. Consequently, grids of girdled trees with sticky bands are used, but this is expensive. Understanding more about EAB behavior could improve detection and survey methods. To learn more about EAB attraction, we determined the gender of each captured beetle. We evaluated potential sex related differences in beetle response to trap color, or height, tree location, tree diameter, amount of shading and tree stress level. We examined 1837 captured beetles under a stereomicroscope. Male gender was verified by long, dense gold hairs on the sternum and narrow abdominal sternites; females lack the hairs and have broad sternites. Beetle capture peaked in early July at all sites. Overall, 46% of captured beetles were female. In contrast, 85-90% of beetles captured on similar traps in 2003 and 2004 were female. Roughly 65% of beetles on untreated control trees in 2005 were female, compared with only 42-48% of beetles on trees stressed by girdling, herbicide or methyl jasmonate.

Single and multi-year development in emerald ash borer larvae

Andrew Tluczek(1), Deborah G. McCullough(1); David Cappaert(2), Nathan W. Siegert (1), and Therese M. Poland(3)
1-Michigan State University, Dept. of Entomology, 243 Natural Science Building, East Lansing, MI; 2- Michigan State University, Dept. of Entomology, Ann Arbor, MI; 3-USDA Forest Service, North Central Research Station, East Lansing, MI

Emerald ash borer (EAB), a phloem-feeding beetle native to Asia, was first discovered in southeastern Michigan and Essex County, Ontario in June 2002. Little information about EAB biology or control options was available from Asia. Initial studies indicated that the EAB life cycle was univoltine. Adults oviposited during the summer; larvae fed from late summer to fall, then overwintered as pre-pupal larvae, pupated in spring and emerged as adults the following summer. Our recent observations, however, indicate that at least some larvae feed for two summers. Such prolonged development, if common, would strongly influence EAB spread, population dynamics and survey activities of program managers. We evaluated EAB larval development in ash trees with varying EAB densities from 2003-2005. Relative proportions of early and late instar larvae and prepupae were determined by debarking ash trees in localized outlier sites and in severely impacted sites in southeastern Michigan. Preliminary results indicate prolonged development is more common in trees with low-density EAB populations, while most larvae in heavily infested trees develop in a single year.

APHIS and a systems approach to invasive pest control under the SPS Agreement

Mollie Woods and Suzanne Thornsbury
Department of Agricultural Economics, MSU

International trade in agricultural products is viewed as a critical vector of invasive species transmission. Authority to supervise imports to the U.S. rests with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The principles of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS), adopted in 1995, guide the APHIS approval process for agricultural imports. Regulations set forth are increasingly designed in the form of a systems approach where at least two steps in the system have independent effects on reducing pest risks. In 2001, three citrus fruits (sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), lemon (C. limon) and grapefruit (C. paradisi)) from Argentina were given approval for importation to the U.S. using a systems approach for pest control, however, upon further analysis, and with pressure from domestic industry groups, approval was rescinded. Of specific concern were outbreaks of citrus canker ( Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. Citri) in the lemon growing regions of Argentina.

The focus of this poster will be on the APHIS approval process for imports under the auspices of the SPS Agreement. The poster will highlight the seven principles of the SPS Agreement and illustrate how the principles are applied using the case of lemon imports from Argentina. The poster will also illustrate the use of a systems approach for pest control and risk analysis by examining the pest risk assessment for lemon imports from Argentina produced by APHIS for citrus canker (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. Citri).