Project Number: 1926-22000-019-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jul 07, 2005
End Date: Jul 06, 2010

Objective:
(1) Investigate Biology, Behavior and Ecology of the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB). (2) Investigate natural enemies to develop biological control technologies for the ALB.

Approach:
1.1. Identify ecological and behavioral traits vulnerable to intervention and development of detection, monitoring, control and other IPM strategies: (a) based upon host selection, develop sentinel trees, artificial lures and Attract-and-Kill methods for detection of ALB; (b) based upon within tree host colonization behavior, develop protocols for utilizing fungal and insecticide band control methods; 1.2. Conduct studies of the process of invasion biology that will result in development of predictive spatiotemporal models (e.g. population spread, seasonal occurrence, population abundance and host colonization) for use in directing the implementation of IPM strategies for existing introductions, as well as for use in restricting establishment, proliferation and spread of future introductions; 1.3. Conduct studies for development of technologies for detection of trees infested by ALB, including acoustic detection. 2.1 In the Far East, we will identify promising candidate parasitoid species within their countries of origin, based upon bio-ecological studies, and evaluate their target and non-target impacts in quarantine. 2.2 we will also identify native North American natural enemies found parasitizing: (a) ALB within North American infestations; and (b) native cerambycid species most closely related to ALB and/or within ALB hosts. 2.3 for the most promising candidate species, we will: (a) develop mass rearing technology; (b) develop protocols for inundative releases or introduction; and (c) evaluate their impact on ALB and non-target species.