Eric R. Day

Douglas G. Pfeiffer

Shannon Hill

Department of Entomology

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

 

A total of 1,569 requests were received in 2002. This report summarizes the activity of the Insect Identification Laboratory at Virginia Tech for 2002. The laboratory is located in 215 Price Hall. It is managed by Eric Day, Lab Manager, and Doug Pfeiffer, Extension Entomologist, Department of Entomology.

Specimens are identified and recorded in the lab, then sent for control recommendations and additional comments to Extension Entomologists who handle particular commodity groups. All specimen data are entered into the Insect I.D. Lab computer data base on the Virginia Tech mainframe computer. The data base greatly facilitates sorting and storage of the information. Some of the records were sent via microcomputer to the Cooperative National Plant Pest Survey and Detection Program (USDA, APHIS, PPQ). We at Virginia Tech acknowledge support provided by this program.

Whenever possible insects are identified to the species level. Common names are used where possible because of their wide recognition. To facilitate mailing insects and insect damaged plant specimens to the lab, local offices of Virginia Cooperative Extension are provided with Insect Identification and Diagnosis Request forms (form 444-113), alcohol vials, and mailing tubes. Specimens also may be brought directly to the lab or mailed to:

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Internet Use for 2002: Combined total requests for all sites: 3,263,703

Web Server Statistics for For the Insect Identification Laboratory sites,

Web Server Statistics for Insect ID Lab, VT Entomology

Program started at Tue-04-Mar-2003 11:26.

Analysed requests from Tue-01-Jan-2002 00:00 to Tue-31-Dec-2002 23:58 (365.00 days).

(Figures in parentheses refer to the 7 days to 31-Dec-2002 23:59).

Successful requests: 2,071,830 (12,746) reqs: %bytes: directory

# pages: percentage: directory
-------: ------: ---------

1799490: 88.76%: /Facilities/

272340: 11.24%: /~idlab/

 

Web Server Statistics for Virginia Cooperative Extension

Program started on Mon, Jul 01 2002 at 2:48 AM.

Analyzed requests from Sun, Jul 01 2001 at 12:00 AM to Sun, Jun 30 2002 at 11:59 PM (365.00 days).

This report lists the directories from which files were requested. (The figures for each directory include all of its subdirectories.)

Listing directories with at least 1 request for a page, sorted alphabetically.

# pages: directory

------- : ---------

1191873: /departments/entomology/

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Insect and Pest Surveys conducted in 2002

Survey for the Soybean Aphid, Aphis glycines, in Virginia. RESULTS A TOTAL OF 21 COUNTIES WERE VISITED AND 13 WERE POSITIVE FOR SOYBEAN APHIDS. NO APHIDS WERE FOUND ON INITIAL EARLY SURVEYS INDICATING THAT IT IS UNLILELY THAT THE APHID OVERWINTERED IN VA. APHIDS WERE ONLY FOUND IN LATE SUMMER AFTER WEATHER FRONTS HAD MOVED THROUGH THE COMMONWEALTH. Project Coordinator: Eric R. Day, Department of Entomology, VPI&SU, Blacksburg, VA 24061 AND Ames Herbert, Department of Entomology, VPI&SU, Blacksburg, VA 24061. Objective: Survey soybean fields and feral buckthorn (Rhamnus) in Virginia for the continued presence of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines (Homoptera: Aphididae). Benefits/Justification: In 2001, the soybean aphid was found in 22 counties in Virginia. It is not known if it overwintered or is still present in Va. The alternate host, necessary for overwintering, is rare in this part of the county. Late in the growing season of 2000, the soybean aphid was found in 10 states including two that border Virginia. Those states are: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The soybean aphid was not found in Virginia in 2000. Materials and Methods: Survey efforts will be concentrated in two regions. The Shenandoah Valley which although has limited production, is closer to the mid-western infestations. The second area for survey will be in the major eastern soybean production areas of the commonwealth. Fields will be selected along secondary and primary roads. Those walking through the field will use a "Z" or zigzag pattern and random leaves will be selected to check for the presence or absence of the aphid. In addition field borders will be scanned for feral buckthorn plants. All aphids will be preserved in alcohol and submitted to the Insect Identification Lab at Virginia Tech for preliminary screening. Suspect aphids were compared to previously identified soybean aphids for confirmation. Screening will continue to take place with regular samples in the Insect ID Lab and in experiment station plot work. Although these efforts are for other insects, with just a little extra effort any stray aphids can be collected. Summary data was entered into the NAPIS database by the state ADP in October 2002. Work Plan: Counties: Soybeans are grown in 57 counties but the survey will probably not reach all counties. Monitoring agencies: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI&SU). Supplies: alcohol, collection jars, and other survey equipment. Survey Schedule: June &endash; October 2002. Travel & Transportation: Approximately 8 one-day trips specifically for Soybean aphid will be made in each of the two regions. Personnel: VPI&SU Personnel: Eric R. Day, Technician: Ken Cote

IV ADDITIONAL SURVEYS

FUNNEL TRAP SURVEY FOR TOMICUS PINIPERDA IN VIRGINIA, WINTER 2001-2002. CURRENT STATUS: NO PINE SHOOT BEETLES HAVE BEEN FOUND IN 2002 OR IN THE PAST IN VIRGINIA. Principal Investigators: Eric R. Day, Department of Entomology, VPI&SU, Frank Fulgham, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), Richmond, VA and Bernetta Barco, USDA/APHIS/PPQ, Richmond, VA Abstract: Survey of five Virginia counties for Tomicus piniperda using baited Lindgren funnel traps and bait logs. Project Proposed: Tomicus piniperda was recently detected and continues to be found in western panhandle region of Maryland (Allegheny, Garrett, Frederick, and Washington Counties) less then 20 miles from the Virginia state line. T. piniperda is known in the United States from seven states and has not yet been found in Virginia. This insect has the potential to be a pest of pine (Pinus sp.) in Virginia and knowledge of its presence would aid in pest management and regulatory programs. It is currently regulated by a USDA, APHIS quarantine. The literature and recent trapping experience in infested states shows that Lindgren funnel traps baited with alpha pinene or a combination of alpha pinene, terpinolene, and 3-carene are effective in detecting T. piniperda. Due to the amount of work during the visual survey season and the cryptic nature of shoot damage, survey for T. piniperda during spring emergence is needed. Five Virginia counties (Frederick, Clarke, Loudoun, Fauquier, Highland) were surveyed. Widely scattered sites were selected in each county. Each site will consist of at least 25 pine trees. Three traps will be placed per site. A total of 96 traps will be placed in all five counties. T. piniperda fly when winter temperatures exceed 54o F.; thus traps were placed in the January 2002 and monitored until early July 2002. Traps were baited with alpha pinene lures obtained from a commercial source. VDACS, APHIS, and VPI&SU serviced the traps. All samples were screened for potential exotics by the agencies that placed the traps. No suspect beetles were submitted to S. Passoa for confirmation in 2002. All data regarding this survey has been uploaded to the NAPIS database in October 2002. Work Plan: Counties: Frederick, Clarke, Loudoun, Highland, Fauquier. Monitoring agencies: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI&SU), Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), and APHIS/PPQ. Number of Sites: 32 Sites in five counties. Traps per site: 3. Total traps: 96. Supplies: Lures, supplies, plastic containers, antifreeze, and replacement traps to use as backups for damaged traps. Trap Setup: First week of December 2001 weather permitting or January 2002. This is to take into account warm weather that often occurs during the winter in Virginia. The concern is that Pine Shoot Beetle may become active as temperatures will often exceed 54 degrees for days at a time in December and January. Changes for 2002: Antifreeze (environmentally safe formulation) was used in the cups instead of the dry basket. The antifreeze did increase capture of non-target bark beetles and longhorned beetles. That method will be continued in 2003 as it did not significantly increase the time for collecting samples. Travel & Transportation: Traps were visited every approximately every 4 weeks from January to June. Personnel: Virginia Tech Personnel: Eric R. Day, VDACS Personnel: Tom Finn, Frank Fulgham

FUNNEL TRAP SURVEY FOR EXOTIC LONGHORNED BEETLES AND BARK BEETLES IN VIRGINIA CURRENT STATUS: THE 24 TRAPS FROM 13 LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN DOWN, CURRENTLY ALL SCOLYTIDS AND BOSTRICHIID BEETLTLES ARE WITH RICK HOEBEKE, CORNELL UNIVERSITY, AWAIING DETERMINATION. NO SUSPECT CERAMBYCIDS WERE COLLECTED. Project Coordinators: Eric R. Day, VPI&SU. Bernetta Barco, Micah Thomas, Joy Brown, USDA/APHIS/PPQ. Frank Fulgham, VDACS. Objective: Survey of warehouses and wood processing facilities for exotic wood borers with particular emphasis on non-domestic longhorned beetles and to add additional coverage to existing surveys for the Asian longhorned beetle and Callidielum rufipenne the Cedar longhorned beetle. Benefits/Justification: Current surveys in Virginia, conducted by APHIS and VDACS, are looking for Callidielum rufipenne, the Cedar longhorned beetle (CLHB) and the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB). CLHB is currently found in North Carolina and Connecticut and a survey is being conducted using cedar logs. ALB is found in both New York and Illinois and a survey using baited funnel traps at selected warehouses is being conducted by VDACS. Monochamus alternatus was considered by the Virginia State Survey Committee to be the most dangerous of the listed exotic cerambycids because of Virginia's pine based forestry industry coupled with international cargo ports of entry. Traps will be checked for all exotic beetles that have a potential of establishing in Virginia. This list includes Anoplophora glabripennis (the Asian longhorned beetle), Anoplophora malasiaca, Callidiellum rufipenne, Hesperophanes campestris, Monochamus alternatus, and Ips typographus, although traps will be baited specifically for Monochamus alternatus. Materials and Methods: The first criterion for selecting a site was sites with a foreign source of wooden shipping material. Survey sites included warehouses that receive wood crating, pallets, and dunnage from foreign sources, outside areas where wooden spools are stored, businesses that recycle wooden pallets, and businesses that receive material in wooden crates. Lindgren funnel traps were placed at each site and baited with a commercial lure for bark beetles and longhorned beetles. Each trap was set up with dry collection baskets and a killing agent (Vapona). Funnel traps were set up in May and samples were taken in June and September. APHIS/PPQ and VPI&SU serviced traps. Preliminary screening of samples was done by a VPI&SU technician and suspect specimens were submitted to E. Richard Hoebeke for confirmation. All data regarding this survey will be uploaded to the NAPIS database when specimens are returned from Rick Hoebeke. Work Plan: Counties/Cities: 5., (Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Richmond, and Warren) Monitoring agencies: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI&SU), Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), and APHIS/PPQ. Sites per agency: 13 (APHIS/PPQ), Total number of sites: 13, Traps per site: 1-3 each, Total traps: 24, Supplies: 12-unit Lindgren funnel traps, lure, alcohol, vials, and other survey equipment. Trap Setup: May. Travel & Transportation: Traps were visited in June and again in September.

 

Previous Surveys: Corn Earworm, Heliocoverpa zea, Survey (1987-1997); Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera (1987-93); Asian Tiger Mosquito, Aedes albopictus (1988-1992); Pear Thrips (1990-92), Exotic Lady Beetles (1993), Hylobius abietis (1995). Exotic moths: Apple Ermine Moth, Cherry Bark Tortrix, and Pear Leaf Blister Moth (1986-1995). Broomrape Weed (Orobanche) (1996), Tufted Apple Bud Moth (1996), Apple Maggot (1996), Golden Nematode (1996) Culicoides veripennis. (1994 -1995), Pine Shoot beetle (1997-2002), Exotic Bark Beetles (1995-2000), Tropical Soda Apple (1998), Sweet Potato Weevil (1998), exotic clover weevils: Ischnopterapion virens (1999), Soybean Aphid (2001-2002), Leek moth (2001), Ports Survey for Wood Boring beetles (2002).

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Identifications and control recommendations covering most commodities performed by:

Mr. Eric R. Day

Manager, Insect Identification Laboratory

Timely and valuable identifications and/or control recommendations were also provided by:

Dr. Tom Kuhar	Assistant Professor of Entomology	Vegetable Pests
Dr. Richard D. Fell	Professor of Entomology	Apiculture and Stinging Insects
Dr. Dini Miller	Assistant Professor of Entomology	Structural and Household Insects
Dr. Ames Herbert	Associate Professor of Entomology	Soybeans, Small grains, Peanuts, and cotton
Mr. Steve Hiner	Technical Support Staff	Aquatic Insects and Invertebrates
Dr. Michael Kosztarab	Emeriti Professor of Entomology	Scale Insects
Dr. Edwin Lewis	Assistant Professor of Entomology	Turf and Ornamentals
Dr. Douglas G. Pfeiffer	Professor of Entomology	Fruit and Nuts
Dr. Scott Salom	Associate Professor of Entomology	Forest and Conifer
Dr. Peter Schultz	Station Director, Hampton Roads	Ornamentals
Dr. Paul J. Semtner	Professor of Entomology	Tobacco
Dr. J. Reese Voshell	Professor of Entomology	Aquatic Insects
Dr. Roger Youngman	Associate Professor of Entomology	Corn, Small grains, and Livestock

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Number of Specimens Identified
Year	Identifications for Extension Agents and the Public	Identifications from Exotic Pest Surveys, Numbers of Traps Examined	Specimens sent to the Systematic Entomology Laboratory,USDA at Beltsville, Md. *
1967	318	A	a
1968	984	A	a
1969	1104	A	a
1970	1245	A	a
1971	1276	A	100b
1972	970	A	516
1973	1124	A	184
1974	1264	A	316
1975	1430	A	160
1976	1437	A	223
1977	1365	A	282
1978	1351	A	89
1979	1770	A	120
1980	1527	A	23
1981	2028	A	89
1982	2004	A	100
1983	1815	A	36
1984	1745	A	45
1985	1730	A	20
1986	1537	62	16
1987	1731	0	32
1988	1719	69	15
1989	1877	145	10
1990	1629	120	37
1991	1874	120	23
1992	1516	80	13
1993	1642c	160	30
1994	1548	77	17
1995	1764	0	32
1996	1376	0	6
1997	1435	0	4
1998	1595	0	6
1999	1510	0	7
2000	1751	0	7
2001	1609	0	11
2002	1569_____	0__	11__
TOTAL	54169	833	2580

a Service not previously provided; b Estimated; c Includes requested Harmonia axyridis samples; * Includes specimens sent to other taxonomists at other institutions

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