Overwintering Diapause and Survival of Western Leucotaraxis Argenticollis, a Promising Biological Control Agent for Adelges Tsugae, in the Eastern United States

36 Pages Posted: 12 Feb 2023

See all articles by Nicholas Joseph Dietschler

Nicholas Joseph Dietschler

Cornell University

Tonya D. Bittner

Cornell University

Nina G. Devine

Cornell University

Albert E. Mayfield III

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Carrie Preston

Virginia Tech

Ryan S. Crandall

University of Massachusetts Amherst

James Parkman

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Zachary Simek

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Biff Thompson

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Matthew E. Lonsdale

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Budd Veverka

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Joseph S. Elkinton

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Scott M. Salom

Virginia Tech

Mark C. Whitmore

Cornell University

Abstract

Successful use of biological control agents can be improved with a thorough understanding of the life history, survival, diapausing strategy, and synchrony with the host in the introduced range. Introduction of a novel organism can be influenced by abiotic factors that can impact the interactions with their target prey. Leucotaraxis argenticollis (Zetterstedt) and Le. piniperda (Malloch) (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae) are two species of predatory fly showing promise in the biological control program to manage the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae, in eastern North America. Field releases of these Leucotaraxis spp. began in 2015, but little is known about their potential for survival or how they overwinter. In an effort to explore Le. argenticollis establishment potential, laboratory reared puparia were observed at seven sites, across a latitudinal gradient, on the east coast and one site on the west coast (native range) from July 20, 2020, to June 1, 2021. Adult Le. argenticollis emerged in spring 2021, after successfully overwintering as puparia, with a subset emerging in summer-fall 2020 at all observation sites. Results suggest that 1) the interaction of mean daily fall max temperatures and relative humidity has the most impact on survival, 2) mean daily minimum temperatures influence induction/maintenance of diapause, and 3) mean average daily temperatures and relative humidity impact survival to spring emergence. While this study supports continued research and release of Le. argenticollis, substantial variation in survival and facultative diapause was observed across a south to north gradient.

Keywords: biological control, diapause, A. tsugae, Leucotaraxis, Chamaemyiidae, Diptera

Suggested Citation

Dietschler, Nicholas Joseph and Bittner, Tonya D. and Devine, Nina G. and Mayfield III, Albert E. and Preston, Carrie and Crandall, Ryan S. and Parkman, James and Simek, Zachary and Thompson, Biff and Lonsdale, Matthew E. and Veverka, Budd and Elkinton, Joseph S. and Salom, Scott M. and Whitmore, Mark C., Overwintering Diapause and Survival of Western Leucotaraxis Argenticollis, a Promising Biological Control Agent for Adelges Tsugae, in the Eastern United States. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4355484 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4355484

Nicholas Joseph Dietschler (Contact Author)

Cornell University ( email )

Ithaca, NY 14853
United States

Tonya D. Bittner

Cornell University ( email )

Ithaca, NY 14853
United States

Nina G. Devine

Cornell University ( email )

Ithaca, NY 14853
United States

Albert E. Mayfield III

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Carrie Preston

Virginia Tech ( email )

Blacksburg, VA
United States

Ryan S. Crandall

University of Massachusetts Amherst ( email )

Department of Operations and Information Managemen
Amherst, MA 01003
United States

James Parkman

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Zachary Simek

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Biff Thompson

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Matthew E. Lonsdale

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Budd Veverka

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Joseph S. Elkinton

University of Massachusetts Amherst ( email )

Department of Operations and Information Managemen
Amherst, MA 01003
United States

Scott M. Salom

Virginia Tech ( email )

Blacksburg, VA
United States

Mark C. Whitmore

Cornell University ( email )

Ithaca, NY 14853
United States

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