Studies of Predators of the Balsam Woolly Aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.) (Homoptera: Adelgidae), VII. Laricobius rubidus Lec. (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), a Predator of Pineus strobi (Htg.) (Homoptera: Adelgidae)

1960 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Clark ◽  
N. R. Brown

Although Laricobius rubidus LeConte (1861, 1866) is not a common predator of the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.), this paper is included in the series because of the close taxonomic similarities of L. rubidus in all stages to the recently introduced L. erichsonii Rosenh. In the past there has been confusion in the literature because the majority of records of rubidus have been erroneously attributed to erichsonii. These records have been discussed in detail in a paper on L. erichsonii, a species which has been introduced into North America as part of a biological control program against A. piceae (Clark and Brown, 1958).

1962 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. R. Brown ◽  
R. C. Clark

Over the past ten years a number of exotic predators have been introduced into New Brunswick and other parts of North America as part of a biological control program against the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.). Several of these have become established and others show considerable promise. As introductions continue it becomes exceedingly important that field workers be able to distinguish rapidly all stages of introduced and native predators. Field identification characters for some species (Chamaemyiidae and Syrphidae) have been published in previous papers in this series (Brown and Clark, 1956, 1960; Clark and Brown, 1957) and have been found to be very useful.


1962 ◽  
Vol 94 (11) ◽  
pp. 1171-1175 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Clark ◽  
N. R. Brown

Cremifania nigrocellulata Cz. is one of the complex of predators that attacks A. piceae (Ratz.) in Europe. After studies on its morphology, biology, and distribution were made by Delucchi and Pschorn-Walcher (1954), C. nigrocellulata was reared in Europe by the Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control and introduced into New Brunswick via the Entomology Research Institute for Biological Control, Belleville, Ontario.


1960 ◽  
Vol 92 (9) ◽  
pp. 696-697 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Clark ◽  
N. R. Brown

In a previous paper (Clark and Brown, 1959) a field cage was described for rearing syrphid larvae and other predators of the balsam woolly aphid. The cages proved satisfactory in the field but some method was necessary to supplement the results with data for individual predators reared in the laboratory under controlled conditions.In the past, attempts to rear predator larvae in the laboratory on small pieces of infested bark proved unsatisfactory because of the difficulties of keeping the bark moist and suitable for prey development and preventing the growth of moulds on the prey, the bark, and the containers. In most cases when small petri dishes or other containers were used the prey or predators died before rearing was complete or the individuals which survived were unhealthy and not representative of normal prey or predator development.


1961 ◽  
Vol 93 (12) ◽  
pp. 1162-1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Clark ◽  
N. R. Brown

Pullus impexus (Muls.) is one of many species of predators that have been introduced into Eastern Canada since 1933 as part of a biological control program against the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.) Delucchi (1954) has published many details of the systematics, biology, and natural control of this species in Europe where he found it to be associated with all A. piceae infestations. According to Pschorn-Walcher and Zwölfer (1960), it is one of a group of predators that are usually associated with lower population densities of A. piceae and other related adelgids, rhan are Aphidoletes thompsoni Möhn and Laricobius erichsonii Rosen. Because it is common on adelgid infestations in Europe and because it can easily be reared en masse, large numbers have been released in North America. The purpose of the present paper is to bring together available information on releases, life-history and natural control, and control value of this species, obtained from studies carried out over the past nine years in New Brunswick.


2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 462-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Birdsall ◽  
George P. Markin

AbstractYellow starthistle is an invasive, annual, spiny forb that, for the past 30 yr has been steadily advancing up the Salmon River Canyon in west central Idaho. In 1994, a decision was made to attempt to manage yellow starthistle by establishing a complex of biological control agents in a containment zone where the weed was most dense. Between 1995 and 1997, six species of seedhead-attacking insects were introduced and successfully established. By 1999, the insects had spread through the entire containment zone. Following this dispersal, a rapid buildup of insect populations occurred, and, since 2003, seed destruction has fluctuated around 90%. Vegetation monitoring plots, however, have shown no consistent decline in the overall population of yellow starthistle, indicating that the amount of seed produced is still sufficient to allow full replacement. However, county weed control personnel, who are responsible for surveying and destroying outlying populations of yellow starthistle beyond the containment zone, report that, during this period, the number of new, isolated pockets of yellow starthistle they are finding has dropped dramatically. This case study discusses how the biological control program partially met the objective of managing yellow starthistle by reducing the rate of advance of this weed in the Salmon River Canyon.


1960 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 278-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Carroll ◽  
D. G. Bryant

The balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.), first recorded in Newfoundland in 1949, is now the most serious forest insect pest in the Province, having spread over an area of more than 1,600 square miles. Its host is balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. There are three separate infestations, the largest and most important being in southwestern Newfoundland. The aphid has two generations a year. A biological control program was initiated in 1952 and seven species of predators have been released, three of which are established. Silvicultural and climatic control factors are discussed and the possibilities for the extension of outbreaks are considered.


1956 ◽  
Vol 88 (12) ◽  
pp. 678-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. R. Brown ◽  
R. C. Clark

The present paper is the second of a series arising from a continuing study of the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.), and its biological control. The history of this introduced insect has been described (Balch, 1952). During the course of our studies a number of records of species associated with A. piceae have been obtained.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 873-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Blossey ◽  
Stacy B. Endriss ◽  
Richard Casagrande ◽  
Patrick Häfliger ◽  
Hariet Hinz ◽  
...  

AbstractDevelopment of a biological control program for invasive Phagmites australis australis in North America required 20 years of careful research, and consideration of management alternatives. A recent paper by Kiviat et al. (Biol Invasions 21:2529–2541, 2019. 10.1007/s10530-019-02014-9) articulates opposition to this biocontrol program and questions the ethics and thoroughness of the researchers. Here we address inaccuracies and misleading statements presented in Kiviat et al. (2019), followed by a brief overview of why biological control targeting Phragmites in North America can be implemented safely with little risk to native species. Similar to our colleagues, we are very concerned about the risks invasive Phragmites represent to North American habitats. But to protect those habitats and the species, including P. australis americanus, we come to a different decision regarding biological control. Current management techniques have not been able to reverse the invasiveness of P. australis australis, threats to native rare and endangered species continue, and large-scale herbicide campaigns are not only costly, but also represent threats to non-target species. We see implementation of biocontrol as the best hope for managing one of the most problematic invasive plants in North America. After extensive review, our petition to release two host specific stem miners was approved by The Technical Advisory Group for the Release of Biological Control Agents in the US and Canadian federal authorities.


1958 ◽  
Vol 90 (11) ◽  
pp. 657-672 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Clark ◽  
N. R. Brown

Laricobius erichsonii Rosen. is one of several species that have been introduced into the Atlantic Provinces since 1933 for the biological control of the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.). This small beetle occurs commonly on A. piceae infestations in Europe where it is one of the more numerous predators of the adelgid (Mesnil, 1950:). Franz (1953) described its range in Europe as from the Italian Alps to near southern Denmark and from Normandy almost to the Carpathian Mountains, srating that its distribution is bound to that of the Coniferae on which its prey live. Franz also described the morphology of all stages in detail and discussed the bionomics and ecology in Europe. Prior to these studies the biology of thc insect was unknown.


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