Biological Invaders PCB 2441 Dr. Norm Leppla University of Florida Entomology and Nematology Department

Leppla’s Career Arizona State University- Zoology University of Arizona- Entomology/Bioscience USDA, ARS (Florida)- Alternatives to insecticides USDA, ARS (Texas)- Biological Control USDA, APHIS (Washington DC)- Integrated Pest Management University of Florida- Integrated Pest Management

Biological Invaders What are invasive species and how do we manage them? (cactus moth, gypsy moth, mosquitoes, mole crickets) Is biodiversity threatened in Florida? (development, tropical soda apple, lovebug) Characteristics of “Invadible” Communities and Theory of Ecosystem Engineers (western flower thrips)

Invasive Species Kudzu Brown tree snake Lantana

Definition of Invasive Species “Invaders” 1.Non-indigenous species or "non-native” plants or animals that adversely affect habitats. (Wikipedia) 2.Both non-indigenous and native species that disrupt a habitat by a dominant colonization. (Wikipedia) 3.A “pest” is an invasive or native species that adversely affects habitat functions and directly competes with threatened natives. (Google web)

What Causes Pest Outbreaks? Alien Invasive Species Local Invasions Pesticide Resistance Disrupted Environments Perceptions

Pest Management: The Magic Bullet

Lewis Wright, Florida Entomologist 87:94-99 (2004) “They applied DDT to control a very severe housefly outbreak in some campus buildings and observed phenomenal results within 24 hours. They could hardly believe the high level of control and anxiously waited to report the results to the university authorities and manufacturers of DDT. Subsequently, they also achieved high levels of control on bedbugs, cockroaches and body lice.”

DDT introduced in 1939 Pesticide use grows 1940s 4400 pesticides by in California by 1991 The “Magic bullet“ mindset Synthetic Pesticide Proliferation and Misuse

Concerns About Pesticides Integrated control is applied pest control that combines and integrates biological and chemical control. Chemical control is used as necessary and in a manner which is least disruptive to biological control Pesticide resistance to DDT Integrated Control Concept- Stern, Smith, van den Bosch and Hagen Hilgardia 29:

What is IPM today? IPM is the coordinated use of pest and environmental information and available pest control methods To prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means With the least possible hazard to people, property and the environment

Cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum Cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum

Gypsy Moth, Lymantria dispar

Mosquitoes Sarasota

Tawny Mole Cricket, Scapteriscus vicinus vicinus

Larra bicolor Shrubby false buttonweed

Growth of Miami 1896 in Lobby Pool Room~400 people incorporate Miami 1896 in Lobby Pool Room ~400 people incorporate Miami Miami-Dade County Population ~2.3 million

Miami- Dade Everglades Limited Land for Develo pment Lake Okeechobee

Principle Areas- Winter Fresh Vegetables Millions of citrus trees by county <1 <100,000

Agriculture, Communities, and Natural Areas

Gratiana boliviana Tropical Soda Apple, Solanum varum

Lovebug, Plecia nearctica

Resistant Crop Competitors Natural enemies Resistant varieties Vulnerable Crop Invasive Pest Integrated pest management program: Cultural practices Scouting, ID of pests & NEs Conservation of NEs Augmentation of NEs Reduced-risk insecticides Resistance management Pesticide program: New insecticides New formulations New Application methods Resistance management Characteristics of “Invadible” Communities

Western Flower Thrips, Franklinella occidentalis Franklinella occidentalis Established in the southeastern U.S. in the 1980s Key vector of Tomato spotted wilt virus Very destabilizing to integrated pest management

Tomato spotted wilt virus symptoms on pepper Flecking on pepper due to feeding by Frankliniella occidentalis

Grower’s Reaction to Pest Threats

OriusWestern flower thripsthrips larvae Pirate bugs Thrips per flower untreated fenpropathrin spinosad per flower May & June 1996 Funderburk, Stavisky &Olson 2000 FloridaPepper

Competing Thrips Species Florida flower thrips Frankliniella bispinosa Melon thrips Thrips palmi Tobacco thrips Frankliniella fusca Photo credit: Kelly Sims Photo credit: Cheryle O’Donnell

Frankliniella tritici Frankliniella bispinosa Frankliniella fusca Frankliniella schultzei Economic thresholds Host-free period Sanitation Resistant varieties UV reflective mulch Fertilizaton Pest Resistant Peppers Conserve Competitors Conserve Natural enemies Orius insidiosus (Say) Predaceous mites Other predators Cultural Practices Augment natural enemies Reduced-risk insecticides Resistance management Scouting & ID of pests and NE Spinosad and spinetoram Tomato spotted wilt virus Radient (spinetoram) Intrepid (methoxyfenozide) Predators

REDUCE RISK… Pest outbreaks & disease epidemics Environmental contamination Human health hazards Pest mgmt. costs IPM System INCREASE… Reliability Sustainability Cultural Methods Biological Control Chem

Sustainability of Agriculture  Economic profitability  Environmental health  Social and economic well-being

Eco-labels

Information on Commercial Biological Control