2005 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? The larvae of moths and the nymphs and adults of true bugs and leafhoppers inflict millions of dollars in damage to agricultural, ornamental, and forest plants annually, which elicits the additional expenditure of millions of dollars for pesticides and other control and management activities. In contrast, a wide array of moths and true bugs may be highly effective biological control agents against noxious and/or invasive weed pests for the same reasons they are important pests of crops. Efficacious exclusion of invasive plant pests, successful detection and management of those already established in the United States, and the selection of appropriate biological control agents all require the accurate identification of these insects, as well as an understanding of their relationships to similar organisms and in-depth knowledge of their biologies. The proposed research uses morphological, biological, biogeographical, and to a limited degree molecular approaches to classify and characterize difficult groups that are considered either pests (owing to their plant-feeding habit or ability to vector plant pathogens) or beneficials (owing to their predatory habits or their selective herbivory on noxious weeds). Specific groups examined include leafroller moths (Tortricidae), cutworm moths (Noctuidae), snout moths (Pyraloidea), true bugs (Miridae), and leafhoppers (Cicadellidae). Knowledge of their classification and relationships is essential for accurate identification, for providing a context for assessing host specificity for potential biological control agents, and for developing hypotheses of which species have the greatest likelihood of invading and becoming establishing within the U.S. The project has three specific goals: (1) conduct systematic studies on plant pests and beneficial insect groups of importance to U.S. agriculture; (2) develop electronic resources to enhance technology transfer of research products via the web; and (3) provide expert identification and curatorial services. The research undertaken falls under National Program 304 - Crop Protection and Quarantine, which mandates the investigation of potential and actual plant pests of importance to U.S. agriculture and species with high potential as biological control agents. The proposed research provides various U.S. state (extension services, universities) and federal agencies (e.g., ARS, APHIS) and foreign governments with the tools necessary to accurately identify agriculturally important pests, to better understand the range of crops and native plants upon which they feed, to recognize predators and herbivores that may be useful for biological control, and to make predictions about the pest potential of closely related species. The exclusion and control of invasive species relies heavily on taxonomic information on a worldwide basis. The research will provide scientists and extension personnel with names to use when communicating about, or studying insect pests. Errors in identification may result in monetary loss and/or misdirected efforts, or permit the introduction of pests that may threaten agricultural commodities or entire agroecosystems or native ecosystems. The proposed research will enhance the probability of successful implementation of biological control programs. 2.List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. Year 1 (FY 2005) 1.1. Complete revisions of 5 species groups of North American Heliothinae - fully met; five papers published. 1.2. Complete examination of type specimens for 5 genera of North American Cochylini (Henricus, Rudenia, Lorita, Carolella, "Atroposia") - substantially met; types of two species of Henricus deposited in The Natural History Museum, London, have not been examined because of logistic difficulties; the Lepidoptera collection at that institution currently is being moved. 1.3. Revision of Herpetog ramma not scheduled to begin until FY 2006. 1.4. Study Diatraea type specimens deposited in The Natural History Museum, London, and compared them with USNM specimens - fully met. 1.5. Complete review of relevant literature for monograph of New World Isometopinae - substantially met. 1.6. Complete sorting of specimens into species groups for monograph of Ceratocapsini - substantially met. 1.7. Complete accumulation of specimens from most major institutions for revision of Acrogonia and define limits of genus. Not met; specimens accumulated from some major institutions, but others are still being sought. 2.1. Complete addition of authors to plant names in food plant database of leafroller moths - substantially met; using primarily the USDA-GRIN Taxonomy Home Page, the authors of almost all names (about 97%) have been discovered. 2.2. Identify homonyms in Cicadellidae and propose replacement names in publication; complete hardcopy and on-line checklist of the subfamily Cicadellinae - substantially met; manuscript on proposed replacement names accepted for publication; 423 p. manuscript completed and submitted for internal review. 2.3. Complete data capture for type specimens of Immidae and Choreutidae in USNM collection - fully met. 3.1. Provide expert identifications for customers and stakeholders, and maintain and enhance the National Insect Collection - fully met. [List the milestones that you expect to address over the next 3 years (FY 2006, 2007, and 2008). What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years under each milestone?] Year 2 (FY 2006) 1.1. Complete examination of borrowed specimens of North American Heliothinae. 1.2. Complete descriptions or re-descriptions and diagnoses for 5 genera of North American Cochylini (Henricus, Rudenia, Lorita, Carolella, "Atroposia"). 1.3. Complete examination of Herpetogramma type specimens for revision of genus. 1.4. Complete field work and dissection of specimens for revision of Diatraea. 1.5. Complete sorting and identification of all available material for monograph of New World Isometopinae. 1.6. Complete descriptions and keys to Renodaeus species group for monograph of Ceratocapsini. 1.7. Complete specimen data collection for the revision of Acrogonia; begin search for characters to diagnose species. 2.1. Complete addition of authors to moth names in food plant database of leafroller moths. 2.2. Complete on-line and hard-copy checklist of the subfamily Deltocephalinae; identify new combinations in the subfamily Typhlocybinae. 2.3. Track down original descriptions of species of Immidae and Choreutidae for which the type specimen is deposited in USNM collection. 3.1. Provide expert identifications for customers and stakeholders, and maintain and enhance the National Insect Collection. Year 3 (FY 2007) 1.1. Complete identification of species groups of North American Heliothinae. 1.2. Complete examination of type specimens for 5-6 additional genera in the leafroller tribe Cochylini. 1.3. Complete draft descriptions and diagnoses of described and undescribed species for revision of Herpetogramma. 1.4. Complete diagnoses and re-descriptions of described species of Diatraea. 1.5. Complete photographs and electron micrographs for monograph of new World Isometopinae. 1.6. Complete descriptions of and keys to species of North American Ceratocapsini. 1.7. Complete lists of diagnostic characters and draft descriptions of all species of Acrogonia. 2.1. Complete capture of data on leafroller food plants from literature discovered in Zoological record. 2.2. Complete on-line and hard-copy checklist of the subfamily Typhlocybinae (ca. 5,157 species). 3.1. Provide expert identifications for customers and stakeholders, and maintain and enhance the National Insect Collection. Year 4 (FY 2008) 1.1. Resolve all species-level problems for monograph on North American Heliothinae. 1.2. Complete descriptions or re-descriptions for 5-6 additional genera in the leafroller tribe Cochylini. 1.3. Costa Rica Pyraloidea. 1.4. Complete diagnoses and descriptions of new species of Diatraea. 1.5. Complete diagnoses and descriptions of all species for monograph of New World Isometopinae. 1.6. Complete identification of monophyletic genera of remaining genera of Ceratocapsini. 1.7. Complete illustrations of species; begin work on identification key of Acrogonia. 2.1. Complete capture of data on leafroller food plants from reared specimens in major collections. 2.2. Complete on-line and hard-copy checklists for remaining subfamilies. 3.1. Provide expert identifications for customers and stakeholders, and maintain and enhance the National Insect Collection. YEAR 5 (2009) 1.1 Complete manuscript, including photographs of adults, illustrations of genitalia, descriptions and diagnoses. 1.2 Complete cumulative revisions of 20-25 genera (100-120 species), including keys, descriptions, diagnoses, and illustrations of genitalia; complete introduction and bibliography. 1.3 Complete keys to genera and species; complete introduction and bibliography of manuscript. 1.4 Complete and review introduction and bibliography of text. 1.5 Complete phylogenetic analysis of genera of the world; finalize text of manuscript and submit for publication. 1.6 Complete phylogenetic analysis of genera. 1.7 Complete and submit manuscript for publication. 2.1 Complete hardcopy and on-line database of food plants; prepare introduction and bibliography. 2.2 Complete hardcopy and on-line checklists of remaining subfamilies (ca. 8,012 spp.); complete on-line searchable database with digital images of vector species. 4a.What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? None. 4b.List other significant accomplishments, if any. None. 4c.List any significant activities that support special target populations. None. 4d.Progress report. None. 5.Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. 1275-22000-232-00D replaced 1275-22000-225-00D as of March 18, 2005. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? None. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). None.