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ViewAttendees 7

P-IE

Student Competition 10-Minute Paper

Undergrad 10-min: P-IE, Miscellaneous

Attraction of beneficial insects to honeydew produced by crape myrtle bark scale Eriococcus lagerstroemiae (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae)

On-Demand
Student Competition On-Demand
 Outbreaks of crape myrtle bark scale (CMBS) have resulted in widespread use of systemic insecticides on crape myrtle, a common flowering tree in urban landscapes. Insecticide residues were recently reported in honeydew. This study explored the idea through the following questions: Are beneficial insects using honeydew produced by crape myrtle bark scale (CMBS) at varying times (e.g. summer) throughout the year? Does the time of year affect the amount of honeydew produced by CMBS? A field experiment measured the abundance and diversity of insects that visited potted trees, uninfested or infested with CMBS. Trees were placed into landscapes for 4 days per month (May to Oct). Data were recorded every 3 hours from 0600-1500 on two days. In addition to a visual survey, selective netting was used to confirm identifications.  Plate collectors were used to determine honeydew production from landscape trees and from trees used in the visitation experiment.  Honeydew collections (48 h) were eluted and dried to determine weight produced at each evaluation.  Systemic insecticides used to control CMBS create a hazardous condition for flower inhabiting beneficial insects.  Mostly Hymenopteran and Dipteran species were observed in association with infested trees. Honeydew is present on landscape trees from June to August.  
The work presented here suggest that honeydew produced by CMBS is attractive to ants, wasps, and flies.