Project Number: 6615-22000-018-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jun 15, 2001
End Date: Aug 31, 2005

Objective:
The overall objective of this research is to develop new and improved technologies to provide ecologically based alternatives to chemical control of lepidopteran and dipteran insect pests of field and fruit crops. Promising approaches to achieving pest suppression and the use of new technology to develop, improve and implement mass rearing of parasitoids and predators for field release. Investigate chemical ecology of tephritid fly/ host plant relationships to enhance host plant resistance to attack.

Approach:
Artificial media and presentation systems for mass production of beneficial insects will be developed. Kairomones required to mediate recognition and acceptance of artificial culture media by parasitoids and predators will be incorporated into the presentation system. Insect cell lines and their products will be evaluated as supplements to artificial diets considered suboptimal relative to yield and quality of host-reared insects. Laboratory studies will be conducted to develop or improve invivo rearing methods of selected parasitoids resulting in high yields of quality insects having a consistent, acceptable male:female ratio. The efficacy of artificially-reared parasitoids and predators will be evaluated under field conditions. The biochemical basis of absolute immunity of lemon and lime to attack by tephritid fruit flies will be investigated. Efforts will be made to evaluate the susceptibility of the Mediterranean fruit fly and various Anastrepha and Bactrocera spp. to the causal agents.

Project Team

Ferkovich, Stephen - Steve Shapiro, Jeffrey - Jeff

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002

Related National Programs

Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)

Patent

Nutritional Supplements For Artificial Insect Diets