ID Lab Publication
Revised 1999
Insect Identification Laboratory
Annual Report 1998
Eric R. Day
Douglas G. Pfeiffer
Department of Entomology
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Introduction 2
Internet Use Statistics 4
Insect Surveys 5
Presentations for 1998 by Eric R. Day 7
Collaborators 7
Total Number of Specimens Received 9
Taxa, by Order, received at the Insect Identification Lab 10
Number of Specimens Received from each County 11
Specimens Received by Month and Commodity Group 12
Arthropods Received by Commodity Group :
Animal 13
Apiculture 13
Field Crops 13
Fruits and Nuts 14
General 15
Household 16
Human 21
Lawn and Turf 23
Ornamentals and Shade Trees 23
Other 33
Stored Products 34
Structural 36
Vegetables, Field Crops, and Forage 37
Arthropods Received by Host Plant 39
INTRODUCTION
This report summarizes the activity of the Insect Identification Laboratory at Virginia Tech for 1998. 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.
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:
Insect Identification Laboratory
Extension Entomology
215 Price Hall, VPI and SU
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0319
(540) 231-4899
idlab@vt.edu (Internet e-mail)
Look for the I.D. Lab on the Web: http://www.ento.vt.edu/bughunt
Whenever possible insects are identified to the species level. Common names are used where possible because of their wide recognition.
A total of 1,595 requests were received in 1998. The requests came from the following categories:
Source Total
Agent 1314
Mail-in 34
Other 4
Out of state 1
Unspecified 1
VDACS 6
VPI-ENT 1
VPI-Campus 18
VPI-PPWS 3
VPI-Station 2
Walk-in 211
Grand Total 1595
Identification requests from:
Homeowners 1331
Commercial growers and farmers 100
Landscaper, Arborist 42
Urban pest control operators 41
Medical Doctors 6
Unknown and Other 75
Control Recommendations were requested:
Yes 1521
No 74
Referrals
Sent to the Insect Identification Lab directly 1274
Refereed to the IIL from the
Plant Disease Clinic 316
Samples were sent in the following manner:
Mailing tube, vial, liquid 847
Envelopes and Boxes 575
Mailing Tube, no vial 3
Mailing Tube, dry vial 3
Pillbox 7
Other 160
Internet Use:
For the Insect Identification Laboraotry site, http://www.ento.vt.edu/Facilities/OnCampus/IDInfo.html.
Analysed requests from Thu-01-Jan-1998 00:54 to Wed-13-Jan-1999 15:26 (377.6 days).
Total successful requests: 389 891 (8 624)
Average successful requests per day: 1 033 (1 232)
Total successful requests for pages: 129 540 (3 066)
Total failed requests: 4 165 (74)
Total redirected requests: 78 (0)
Number of distinct files requested: 603 (419)
Number of distinct hosts served: 33 327 (585)
Number of new hosts served in last 7 days: 407
Corrupt logfile lines: 2 202
Unwanted logfile entries: 7 378 815
Total data transferred: 3 627 Mbytes (84 059 kbytes)
Average data transferred per day: 9 836 kbytes (12 008 kbytes)
(Figures in parentheses refer to the last 7 days).
For entomology factsheets maintained on the Virginia Cooperative Extension site, http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology. Data is for July to December.
Total pages requested (not total "hits"): 151752
Total estimated requests for all pages maintained by E. Day for 1998: 690,000
Insect and Pest Surveys conducted in 1998
Detection survey for exotic bark beetles: Ips typographus and I. sexdentatus. Dr. Scott M. Salom, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0319, Phone (540) 231-2794/Fax (540) 231-9131, e-mail: salom@vt.edu. PROJECT OBJECTIVE: To survey for exotic bark beetle pests, Ips typographus, I. sexdentatus at major Virginia ports. FINAL REPORT: No target insects were found. Semiochemical-baited funnel traps were deployed on April 14, 1998 at two locations: 1. Craney Island, Portsmouth, VA and 2. Dulles Airport, VA. Six traps were deployed at both sites. At Dulles, traps were placed in mature pine forests at two locations approximately 2 miles apart from each other. At Portsmouth, two groups of traps were placed 1/2 mile apart from each other. All traps were baited with the exotic Ips pheromones: ipsdienol, methyl butenol, and cis-verbenol supplied by Phero Tech Inc., Delta, B.C. Canada. APHIS, PPQ personnel checked the traps every two weeks until August 15, 1998 at Dulles Airport and August 12 at Portsmouth, when trapping was terminated After each collection period, the personnel sent the beetles to Virginia Tech for identification. None of the targeted exotic bark beetle species were captured in any of the semiochemical-baited traps. A total of 221 six-spined engraver beetles, Ips calligraphus were caught in Portsmouth, while only 3 were captured at Dulles. At Dulles, there were numerous bark beetle predators captured from April and May. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: I am very grateful to Josh Horn and Karen Williams at Norfolk and Jose Ceballos and Ilka Sullivan at Dulles Airport, all with USDA, APHIS, for diligently servicing the traps during the course of this survey. I am also grateful to Eric Day, VPI & SU who helped coordinate these efforts and set up the plots.
Pine Shoot Beetle - Thirty-one sites in northern Virginia were surveyed for Pine Shoot Beetle, Tomicus piniperda. No suspect or exotic beetles were found. Principal Investigators: Eric R. Day, Frank Fulgham and Bernetta Barco Project Background: Tomicus piniperda was recently detected in western panhandle region of Maryland (Allegheny, Garrett 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. Current survey procedures rely on visual surveys conducted during July and August. 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 consisted of at least 25 pine trees or a Christmas tree plantation, nursery, saw mill, pulp mill, or timber gathering yard. Three traps were placed per site. A total of 93 traps were placed in all five counties. T. piniperda fly when winter temperatures exceed 54oF Traps were baited with alpha pinene lures obtained from a commercial source. Traps were serviced by VDACS, APHIS, and VPI&SU. All samples were sent to VPI&SU. Preliminary screening of samples was done by a VPI&SU technician and no suspect specimens were submitted to S. Passoa for confirmation. Summary data has been entered into the NAPIS database by the state ADP. No suspect or exotic beetles were found. 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: 31 Sites in five counties Traps per site: 3 Total traps: 93 Trap Setup: February and March Travel & Transportation: Traps were visited every 4-8 weeks from February to June and until September for some sites. Virginia Tech Personnel: Eric R. Day. APHIS Personnel: Jose Ceballyos VDACS Personnel: Frank Fulgham, Tom Finn, Tom Cary, Beth McClelland, Ernie Elliott.
Exotic Pest Survey for Tropical Soda Apple in Virginia: Principal Investigator: Eric R. Ray Target Pests: Tropical soda apple, Solanum viarum Dunal (Solanaceae) Justification: Tropical soda apple, Solanum viarum Dunal (Solanaceae), is a perennial shrub that belongs to section Acanthophora and subgenus Leptostemonum. It is native to Brazil and Argentina but has become a weed in other areas of South America and in Africa, India, Nepal, West Indies, Honduras, and Mexico and recently in the U.S. It has been found in states that border the NE Region (of the CAPS Program). Although it has not been reported in Virginia it has been collected in neighboring states. The primary means of dispersal of tropical soda apple in the U.S. is livestock and wildlife, such as raccoons, deer, feral hogs, and birds feeding on fruits. Mullahey et al. reported that tropical soda apple foliage is unpalatable to livestock although cattle will eat the mature fruit. Scarification of seeds by digestive systems of livestock and wildlife seems to promote seed germination. Intra- and inter- county and state movement of livestock that have recently fed on tropical soda apple fruit are the primary vectors for its spread. However, contaminated equipment, hay, seeds, composed manure, and sod may also serve as a means of dispersal. Once established in an area, wildlife may continue the spread of tropical soda apple. Tropical soda apple is a threat to the vegetable crop industry as a competitive weed and because it is an alternate for numerous pathogens that are disease of eggplant, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, etc. These vegetable crop pathogens include the cucumber mosaic virus, Gemini virus, potato leaf- roll virus, potato virus Y, tobacco etch virus, tomato mosaic virus, tomato mottle virus, and the fungal pathogen, Alternaria solani. Objectives: The goal is to provide information to county agents and stockyards on tropical soda apple and provide fact sheets and posters that will aid in detection by the general public. Information will be provided on how to report suspect plants to APHIS/PPQ or the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Activities: Information packets were sent out to 10 County Extension Offices in the Southern Piedmont region of Virginia. These packets included fact sheets and a poster as well as a letter stating the importance of the TSA survey. Information on biology and detection procedures for all 107 county extension offices was posted at: http://www.ento.vt.edu/Facilities/OnCampus/IDLab/NewPests/TSA/TSA_Main.html. Information was also presented at 2 field days and 2 Master Gardener meetings. Timetable and End Results: Results (positive) will be reported through the CAPS coordinator for the Entomology Dept., Va. Tech. to the NAPIS data base.
Exotic Pest Survey for Sweet Potato Weevil in Virginia, Principal Investigator: Eric R. Day Target Pests: The Sweet Potato Weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Sum.) Objectives: To use pheromone traps to survey select sections of Virginia for Sweet Potato Weevil. Large commercial growers and home gardens in the Tidewater area will monitored for this pest. Final Report: No target insects were found. Traps were placed at commercial farm plantings of sweet potato in the following locations: Virginia Beach (3 farms), Isle of Wight (2 farms), Brunswick (1 farm), Greensville (1 farm), Accomack (6 farms), Hanover (1 farm), and Northampton (3 farms). Traps were placed on about the 2nd week of July, 1998 and removed in the end of September, 1998. Traps were in place from 50 to 75 days. Traps were sampled by cooperators at 4 week intervals. No suspect weevils were found in any of the traps or any of the samples submitted to the Insect Identification Lab at Va Tech. Results will be reported through the State ADP and entered onto the NAPIS data base. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: I am grateful for the work of Debra Martin, David Bailey, Elliott Drewry, Bill Hamilton and Frank Fulgham for there help in setting up and maintaining the traps. Justification: Sweet Potato Weevil (SWP) has not been found in Virginia but since it has been found in neighboring North Carolina it is of concern for the Commonwealth.. A survey with negative data will place Virginia as the only southern state without the SWP and may provide opportunities for export markets and thus make sweet potato a more attractive crop to Virginia growers. In addition suspect damage has been found in the Tidewater of Virginia bringing concern to its possible spread into Virginia. The Sweet Potato Weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Sum.), Coleoptera: Curculionidae, is the most destructive insect pest of sweet potatoes in the United States. It lives primarily on the tuber and other plants of the genus Ipomoea (morning glories) and is believed to be native to Asia. The sweet potato weevil was first discovered in India in 1792 and in the U.S. in 1875 near New Orleans, LA. In 1878 it was found on the west cost of Florida and in 1890 in Texas. It is thought that this insect was introduced from the West Indies. The weevil was found in Mississippi and Georgia in 1917, in Alabama in 1918, in Oklahoma in 1922, in South Carolina in 1966, in North Carolina in 1967 and 1971, in Arkansas in 1982, in Tennessee in 1983 and in California in 1993. The Sweet Potato weevil was detected in North Carolina in 1967 and 1971. It was recently discovered again in North Carolina and although it has not been found in Virginia. Most damage by Sweet Potato weevils is through infestation of mature sweet potatoes. Tunneling in the vines by larvae does not cause appreciable losses in yield. However, adult feeding, oviposition, and emergence holes mar the appearance of the Sweet Potato, and larval tunneling imparts a bitter taste to the yam. The threat posed by the weevil has serious implications for the Sweet Potato industry. The presence of Sweet Potato weevil and/or quarantine has a detrimental effect on seed and plant industries and on producers. A web-page has been set up, see: http://www.ento.vt.edu/Facilities/OnCampus/IDLab/NewPests/SPW/SweetPotatoWeevil. html Notice of the web page was sent to all 107 county extension offices in Virginia.
Previous Surveys: Corn Earworm, Heliocoverpa zea, Survey (1974-1997); Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera (1985, 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 (1997-1998), Exotic Bark Beetles (1995-1998), Tropical Soda Apple (1998), Sweet Potato Weevil (1998).
Presentations for 1998 by Eric R. Day
Site Group Audience Size
Virginia Beach Va Prof. Hort. Conf. 40
Virginia Beach Va Prof. Hort. Conf. 40
Staunton VDOT 50
Roanoke Residential IPM 15
Roanoke Master Gradeners 50
Staunton Garden club 20
New Castle Garden club 15
Danville Nurs'mans Assoc. 30
Loudoun Co. X-mas tree growers 20
Blacksburg Commonhealth 20
Blacksburg Master Gardeners 20
Charlottesville Agent In-Service 20
Roanoke Groundskeepers 30
Winchester VCTGA 100
VPI Campus Turf-Walking Tour 25
Turf Center Insect Clinic 25
Abingdon Mastern Gardeners 35
Roanoke PCO Workshop 15
Winchester Trufgrass School 100
Warrenton VDACS 14
New Market Shen Val Nurs 62
Roanoke Nurserymen 40
____
Total 786
Persons providing identifications and/or control recommendations:
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. Richard D. Fell Apiculture and Stinging Insects
Associate Professor of Entomology
Dr. Ames Herbert Soybeans, Small grains,
Associate Professor of Entomology Peanuts, and cotton
Mr. Steve Hiner Aquatic Insects
Technical Support Staff and Invertebrates
Dr. Michael Kosztarab Scale Insects
Emeriti Professor of Entomology
Dr. Edwin Lewis Turf and Ornamentals
Assistant Professor of Entomology
Dr. Douglas G. Pfeiffer Fruit and Nuts
Associate Professor of Entomology
Dr. Scott Salom Forest and Conifer
Assistant Professor of Entomology
Dr. Peter Schultz Ornamentals
Station Director, Hampton Roads
Dr. Paul J. Semtner Tobacco
Professor of Entomology
Dr. J. Reese Voshell Aquatic Insects
Professor of Entomology
Dr. Roger Youngman Corn, Small grains, and Livestock
Associate Professor of Entomology
Activities
The following table lists the magnitude of activities and services provided by the Insect Identification Laboratory (IIL) and the faculty and staff associated with it since 1967.
Number of Specimens Identified
Identifications from Specimens sent
Identifications for Exotic Pest to the Systematic
Extension Agents Surveys, Numbers of Entomology Laboratory,
Year and the Public Traps Examined 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
______ _____ _____
TOTAL 47730 833 2544
a Service not previously provided.
b Estimated
c Includes requested Harmonia axyridis samples
* Includes specimens sent to other taxonomists at other institutions
Taxa, by Order, received at the Insect Identification Lab
Count of Order
Order Total Order Total
Not specified* 126 Hymenoptera 233
Acari 148 Isopoda 2
Annelida 3 Isoptera 33
Anoplura 1 Lepidoptera 162
Anostraca 1 Neuroptera 3
Aranae 2 ODONATA 1
Araneae 20 Orthoptera 13
Araneida 22 Plecoptera 2
Coleoptera 316 Pseudoscorpiones 2
Collembola 11 Psocoptera 8
Dermaptera 13 Scolopendramorpha 1
Dictyoptera 6 Scorpionida 1
Diplopoda 10 Scutigeromorpha 2
Diptera 101 Siphonaptera 2
Ephemeroptera 1 Stylommatophora 1
GEOPHILOMORPHA 2 Thysanoptera 27
HEMIPTERA 81 Thysanura 1
Heteroptera 12 Trichoptera 1
Homoptera 224 Grand Total 1595
*"Not specified" includes such indentifications as "no insects found" and "not an insect".
* The designation 'Other Orders' includes: Annelida, Anoplura, Anostraca, Aranae, Ephemeropte, Geophilomorp, Isopoda, Neuroptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, Pseudoscorpiones, Scolopendramorpha, Scorpionida, Scutigeromorpha, Siphonaptera, Stylommatophora, Thysanura, and Trichoptera. Three samples or less were received from these orders, respectively, during 1998.
Source of Insects by County for 1998
Count of County
County Total
1
Accomack 1
Albemarle 46
Alexandria(IC) 1
Alleghany 8
Amelia 11
Amherst 4
Appomattox 13
Arlington 25
Augusta 49
Bath 3
Bedford 41
Bland 1
Botetourt 20
Brunswick 13
Buchanan 2
Buckingham 5
Campbell 3
Caroline 1
Carroll 13
Charles City 4
Chesapeake(IC) 5
Chesterfield 82
Clarke 7
Craig 4
Culpeper 12
Cumberland 3
Danville(IC) 17
Dickenson 6
Dinwiddie 2
Essex 4
Fairfax 10
Fauquier 29
Floyd 9
Fluvanna 19
Franklin 16
Frederick 13
Giles 14
Gloucester 3
Goochland 3
Grayson 2
Greensville 9
Halifax 7
Hampton(IC) 12
Hanover 54
Henrico 53
Henry 13
Highland 6
Isle of Wight 9
James City 39
King George 8
Lancaster 3
Lee 4
Loudoun 16
Louisa 9
Lunenberg 11
Lynchburg(IC) 69
Madison 1
Mathews 7
Mecklenberg 1
Middlesex 5
Montgomery 221
Nelson 8
Newport News(IC) 5
Norfolk(IC) 3
Northampton 1
Northumberlnd 19
Nottoway 6
Orange 7
Out of State 21
Page 18
Patrick 16
Pittsylvania 11
Powhatan 3
Prince Edward 2
Prince George 43
Prince William 18
Pulaski 10
Rappahannock 23
Richmond 3
Roanoke 79
Roanoke(IC) 1
Rockbridge 1
Rockingham 45
Russell 5
Scott 2
Shenandoah 12
Smyth 4
Southampton 14
Spotsylvania 4
Stafford 14
Suffolk(IC) 6
Surry 4
Tazewell 9
Virginia Beach(IC) 10
Warren 18
Washington 10
Westmoreland 15
Wise 9
Wythe 18
York 16
(blank) 0
Grand Total 1595
Count of Insects by Host Catagory and Month for 1998
Count of # Month
Category Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec (blank) Grand Total
HOUSEHOLD 13 20 37 43 47 54 61 32 31 23 15 13 0 0 389
ORNAMENTALS 21 17 37 100 105 145 93 72 50 53 15 9 0 0 717
STORED PRODUCTS 6 4 3 1 5 2 3 9 13 12 11 5 0 0 74
STRUCTURAL 1 1 10 10 12 3 7 5 6 3 0 2 0 0 60
FRUITS,NUTS 0 0 2 2 3 8 9 13 4 1 1 1 0 0 44
HUMAN 1 1 1 4 13 16 1 13 11 7 2 1 0 0 71
OTHER 5 0 4 4 9 9 7 19 2 0 0 1 1 0 61
VEGETABLES 2 1 3 2 3 7 13 7 2 8 1 1 0 0 50
ANIMAL 0 0 1 0 1 5 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 10
APICULTURAL 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
FIELD CROP 2 0 0 3 5 8 9 4 4 0 1 0 0 0 36
FRUITS, NUTS 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
GENERAL 0 0 4 12 4 6 7 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 36
LAWNS, TURF 1 3 5 1 7 4 4 7 7 1 0 0 0 0 40
(blank) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Grand Total 53 49 107 182 214 269 217 182 131 110 47 33 1 0 1595