Source: TEXAS A&M UNIV submitted to
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS AND WEEDS
 
PROJECT DIRECTOR: Bernal, J. S. Wharton, R. A. Heinz, K. M. Michels, G. J. Knutson, A. E. Smith, J. W.
 
PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
ENTOMOLOGY
TEXAS A&M UNIV
COLLEGE STATION,TX 77843
 
NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Agriculture is a leading industry in Texas. Frequently, arthropod pests significantly limit the profitability of agricultural production. Biological control is a pest management technology that is often more reliable and less costly than traditional alternatives such as synthetic insecticides. Develop pest control technologies and provide solutions based on biological control tactics for important pest problems of Texas agriculture.
 
OBJECTIVES: 1. Cooperatively survey for, import, and assess natural enemies for invasive pests. 2. Assess integration of exotic and indigenous natural enemies with current and novel pest management approaches, to improve environmental and economic sustainability. 3. Evaluate effects of introduced natural enemies on target and non-target organisms. 4. Characterize and quantify the role of indigenous natural enemies in suppressing pest and beneficial species. 5. Improve colonization and efficacy of natural enemies through habitat manipulation for resident species and improvement of rearing, istribution, and establishment of released exotic or native natural enemies.
 
APPROACH: Important agricultural and urban pests amenable to suppresion through biological control tactics will be identified and research initiated that will lead to least-disruptive and environmentally- and economically sensible control technologies. Emphasis will be placed on cooperative approaches that include Experiment Station, Cooperative Extension, and Texas A&M University scientists.
 
CRIS NUMBER: 0188295 SUBFILE: CRIS
PROJECT NUMBER: TEX08031 SPONSOR AGENCY: CSREES
PROJECT TYPE: HATCH PROJECT STATUS: TERMINATED MULTI-STATE PROJECT NUMBER: S-303
START DATE: Oct 1, 2000 TERMINATION DATE: Sep 30, 2005

GRANT PROGRAM: (N/A)
GRANT PROGRAM AREA: (N/A)

CLASSIFICATION
Knowledge Area (KA)Subject (S)Science (F)Objective (G)Percent
215311011304.250%
216312010704.230%
211159910404.210%
213179910804.210%

CLASSIFICATION HEADINGS
KA213 - Weeds Affecting Plants
KA215 - Biological Control of Pests Affecting Plants
KA216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems
KA211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants
S3110 - Insects
S3120 - Spiders, mites, ticks, and other arthropods
S1599 - Grain crops, general/other
S1799 - Fiber crops, general/other
F1080 - Genetics
F1130 - Entomology and acarology
F1070 - Ecology
F1040 - Molecular biology
G4.2 - Reduce Number and Severity of Pest and Disease Outbreaks


RESEARCH EFFORT CATEGORIES
BASIC 60%
APPLIED 30%
DEVELOPMENTAL 10%

KEYWORDS: biological control (insects); biological control (weeds); conservation; exotic species; systematics; natural enemies; environmental impact; sustainable agriculture; insect control; mites; plant disease control; plant pathogens; weed control; integrated pest management; molecular biology; performance evaluation; agricultural economics; non target organisms; quantitative analysis; habitat manipulation; native species; mass rearing; cooperative research

PROGRESS: Oct 1, 2000 TO Sep 30, 2005
Substantial progress was made in achieving the project's broad goal of advancing the science and application of biological control for managing agricultural pests. It is particularly noteworthy that much of the progress was derived from graduate student research. Thus, the project contributed to solving current problems along with preparing the next generation of scientists, which will solve future problems. Specifically, the project contributed to: (i) advancing biological control of olive fruit fly and other tephritid pests; (ii) developing pest management technologies for cotton, particularly in reference to Lygus, cotton fleahopper, and pentatomids, and to understanding the ecology and behavior of Lygus parasitoids, role of red imported fire ant in cotton fields, and impacts of boll weevil eradication efforts on populations of other pests; (iii) understanding the impacts of plant, including transgenic crops, and environmental factors upon indigenous and exotic pests and their natural enemies; and, (iv) understanding the ecology, behavior, and systematics of natural enemies important for biological control.

IMPACT: 2000-10-01 TO 2005-09-30 Research conducted during 2005 will contribute to: (i) facilitating biological control of olive fruit fly, leafminers on ornamentals, and other tephritid and agromyzid pests; (ii) pest management in Texas cotton by generating information on the composition of and damage caused by an emerging pest complex (Pentatomidae); (iii) elucidating fundamental biological and behavioral features of two species of natural enemies (Cotesia marginiventris and Cotesia flavipes) and how such features can be used in biological control and systematics research; (iv) understanding whether plant (pecan, coffee) defenses against herbivory differ among latitudes and how such defenses impact pests and their natural enemies; (v) understanding how biotic (natural enemies, plants), abiotic (weather), and management (cultural practices) factors within a crop (coffee) affect the population dynamics of invasive pests (Leucoptera coffeella), and; (vi) understanding the ecology of glassy-winged sharpshooter and its natural enemies in vineyards and surrounding natural vegetation.

PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 2000-10-01 TO 2005-09-30
Setamou, M., Showler, A. T., Reagan, T. E., Jones, W. A., Bernal, J. S. 2005. Leptodyctia tabida (Hemiptera: Tingidae): A potential threat to sugarcane production in Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. J. Econ. Entomol. 98, 1018-1023.

PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION
NAME: Bernal, J. S.
PHONE: 979-862-8378
FAX: 979-846-7977