FR 230072 Achiano (Final Report) - SAWIS Information Centre · The polymorphic harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (HA) preys voraciously on a diversity of pestiferous

SATI CFPA SAAPPA / SASPA DFTS Winetech South African Table Grapes Canning Fruit Producers’

Assoc. Fruitgro Science Dried Fruit Technical Services

Submit to: Submit to: Submit to: Submit to: Submit to: Elaine Alexander Wiehahn Victor Samantha Khiba Dappie Smit Anel Andrag

Tel: +27 (0)21 872 0813 Tel: +27 (0)21 872 1501 Tel: +27 (0)21 882 8470/1 Tel: +27 (0)21 870 2900 Tel: +27 (0)21 807 3387 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

X

Indicate (X) client(s) to whom this progress report is submitted. Replace any of these with other relevant clients if required.

Final Report

For 2009/2012

Project Leader Information

Programme Leader Project Leader

Title, initials, surname MS. R. Carstens Dr. KA Achiano

Affiliation ARC Infruitec/Nietvoorbij ARC Infruitec/Nietvoorbij

If selected other Other Other

Present Position Acting-Manager: Plant Protection

Senior Researcher

Address ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij Private Bag X5026 Stellenbosch 7599

ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij Private Bag X5026 Stellenbosch 7599

Tel. / Cell no. (021) 809 3002 (021)8093466

Fax (021) 809 3584 (021)8093023

E-mail CarstensR@ arc.agric.za [email protected]

Project title Study to determine occurrence and impact of Asian ladybird, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), in Western Cape winelands.

Project number 230072

Subcommittees

Fruitgro Science Winetech

Choose an item.

Plant Protection

Fruit kind(s) Wine

Start date (dd/mm/yyyy) 01 April 2009

End date (dd/mm/yyyy) 31 March 2012

Progress report 2

230072 KA Achiano ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij

Give a summary of the project to date in no more than 250 words

Objectives1. Determine the distribution of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (HA) in the western Cape winelands.2. Determine the possible effect of HA on population of local natural enemies especially predatory ladybirds.3. Determine whether indigenous parasitoids that attack local predatory ladybirds also attack HA.4. Determine whether grains sown as winter cover crops play a significant role in attracting HA to vineyards.

Methodology Four vineyards (about 3 ha each) were selected from Nietvoorbij, Glen Helderberg, Backsberg and La Motte. The HA, other coccinellids and parasitoids were assessed by placing one yellow sticky trap Agribiol (200x 100 mm) per hectare at the centre of each trial site and in adjacent surrounding vegetation. The inspection of the traps was done fortnightly. A non-destructive method of visual inspection of cover crops, vines and adjacent surrounding vegetation was also used for monitoring. The number of every species obtained for yellow sticky traps and visual inspections were combined for analysis.

Conclusions1.Considering the flight behaviour of HA from the vines in December, they appear not to pose any risk to wine farmers as most grapes are harvested from January.2. HA as an exotic insect does have a debilitating effect on the population of indigenous coccinellids. HA was only found in South Africa in 2002 (Stals & Prinsloo, 2007) yet their numbers are significantly higher than that of the indigenous coccinellids.

RecommendationWork must be done to determine why Harmonia axyridis is so successful in the South African ecosystem.

Progress report 3


Progress Report

The polymorphic harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (HA) preys voraciously on a

diversity of pestiferous aphids. HA will also attack soft-bodied arthropods when aphids are in

short supply and thus will feed on other beneficial insect species such as eggs of the ladybird,

Exochomus flavipes which preys on vine mealybugs. Many vineyards in the Western Cape

Province plant various grains as winter cover crops which are attacked by aphids. The aphids

in turn might attract HA into the vineyards. Furthermore, the presence of crushed HA in

processed wine could render it unpalatable. The tainted wine and the unacceptable taste

associated with HA could cause millions of Rands in losses to the wine industry in the Western

Cape Province as had happened in Canada and USA. This study was to determine:

(i) The distribution of HA in the Western Cape winelands,

(ii) The possible effect of HA on populations of local natural enemies particularly predatory

ladybirds,

(iii) Whether indigenous parasitoids that attack local predatory ladybirds also attack HA,

(iv) Whether grains sown as winter cover crops play a significant role in attracting HA to

vineyards.

Four vineyards (± 3 ha each) were selected as trial sites. These were at Nietvoorbij (33º91´S;

18º85É; altitude 149 m), Glen Helderberg (34º03´S; 18º42É; altitude 100 m), Backsberg

(33º83´S; 18º91É; altitude 242 m), and La Motte (33º83´S; 18º61É; altitude 248 m). The H.

axyridis, other coccinellids and parasitoid numbers were assessed by placing one yellow sticky

trap Agribiol® (200 mm x 100 mm) per hectare in each of the trial sites at a height of 1.0 m

(measured with a tape) and in adjacent surrounding vegetation. A second assessment of the

parasitoids was made by using yellow delta traps™ (110 mm x 200 mm x 280 mm) containing a

white sticky pad with male P. ficus pheromone lures, also at a density of one per hectare. The

yellow delta traps were also placed at a height of 1.0 m. The yellow delta traps and yellow

sticky traps were placed 30 m apart on the same row in the centre of each hectare. All traps

were placed in the centre of the vineyard to avoid potential edge effect. The inspection of the

traps was done fortnightly for yellow delta traps and monthly for yellow sticky traps. A non-

destructive method of visual inspection of cover crops, vines and adjacent surrounding

vegetation was also used to monitor HA and other coccinellids. The monitoring was done from

September 2009 to March 2012. At every inspection the yellow sticky traps and removable

sticky inserts of the delta traps were removed and replaced with new ones. The old ones were

taken to the laboratory and inspected under a stereo microscope. The species were identified

and counted. The number of every species obtained for yellow delta trap, visual inspection and

1. Problem identification and objectives Shortly state the problem being addressed and the ultimate aim of the project.

State the objectives for the current year and for the following year.

2. Amended workplan materials and methods Give the proposed workplan for continuation if changes are proposed to the original workplan

Progress report 4


yellow sticky pads were combined for analysis. The female mealybugs were monitored by

systematically sampling each trial site from stems, lateral branches and leaves. Samples were

taken from 100 different vines evenly distributed throughout each of the trial sites.

Data Analyses

The average monthly temperature, rainfall, total number of female mealybugs and total number

of H. axyridis, were plotted against time. The total percentage of coccenellid species collected

at each farm and the Pearson correlation of independent variables temperature and rainfall, and

dependent variable H. axyridis was calculated. In addition, the regression relationship between

average number of parasitoids per month and total average number of H. axyridis per month for

three seasons were also calculated.

The numbers of female mealybugs were initially low at all four farms from September, but

increased between October and January. Thereafter they continued to decrease till the end of the

season (Fig. 1). These low number counts may be due to managerial practices such as

application of chemicals earlier in the season. Some minor peaks occurred between October and

January at all four farms (Fig. 1). The very low numbers at the end of the season could be

attributed to farmers taking measures to reduce female mealybug infestation just before harvest

(Fig. 1).

The exotic Harmonia axyridis made up the highest percentage of coccinellids (65.84 %) collected

at La Motte. This was followed by Hippodamia variegata (44.09 %) at Nietvoorbij and the

indigenous coccinellids Cheilomenes lunata (24.87 %) at Backsberg, Exochomus flavipes (3.11 %)

3. Performance chart, results, and discussion Referring to the objectives state results obtained to date and list any current benefits to the industry. Include a short

discussion if applicable to your results. Please limit this discussion to essential information

Milestones (Significant event or stage in a project) Achievements Date

1. Monitor populations of VMB and its

parasitoid complex.

Female mealybug and parasitoid

populations on four farms were

monitored.

September 2009-March 2012

2. Monitor HA on cover crops, vines and

adjacent surroundings

HA populations on four farms

were monitored.


3. Monitor natural enemies of HA in the trial

areas.

Natural enemies of HA on four

farms were monitored.


4. Obtain meteorological data for trial areas. Meteorological data for the four

trial areas were obtained from

ARC.


Progress report 5


(attacks female mealybug) at La Motte and Micraspis sp. (0.37 %) in descending order (Table 1).

All the species mentioned above feed on ahpids, thus at low densities of prey, especially H.

axyridis may engage in intra-guild predation. The intra-guild predation and other factors such as

good searching ability, high reproductive rate of HA and a possible two generations per year could

account for the apparent displacement of indigenous coccinellids by the exotic H. axyridis at

Backsberg and La Motte (Table 1; Figs. 2 & 3). The primary mealybug parasitoids encountered at

the four farms from October to February were mainly encyrtids: Leptomastix dactylopii,

Coccidoxenoides perminutus and Anagyrus sp.

The total number of H. axyridis collected from vine/cover crops was initially high, peaking between

October and December when aphids were found on the cover crops and thereafter decreasing

drastically (Figs. 2 & 3). The numbers of H. axyridis collected from the surrounding vegetation on

the other hand were at the outset low, but increased slightly in tandem with the numbers found on

the vine/cover crops (Figs. 2 & 3). The decrease of H. axyridis on the vine/cover crops and

increase on the surrounding vegetation coincided with an increase in temperature and a decrease

in rainfall, respectively (Figs. 2 & 3). The Pearson correlation of temperature and rainfall was -

0.629 and 0.720 respectively (at P = 0.05) (Table 2). This suggests that the immigration and

emigration of H. axyridis between the vines/cover crops and surrounding vegetation could depend

on temperature and rainfall. The movement of HA onto the vines in September from the

surrounding vegetation coincides with high rainfall and relatively low temperature in the previous

four months (Figs. 2 & 3). The exodus of HA in December from the vines into the surrounding

vegetation in turn coincides with low rainfall and very high temperatures (Figs. 2 & 3). The

movement between the two sites may also depend on the availability of food sources, such as

aphids. It is also possible that the chemicals used to control the mealybug population could have

had a negative impact on the HA numbers (Figs. 2 & 3).

The total numbers of H. axyridis were negatively correlated with the numbers of mealybug

parasitoids at all the four trial sites (Fig. 4). This negative impact on parasitoids may be due to H.

axyridis sustaining itself on parasitized mealybugs in the absence of aphids. It will further impact

negatively on the ability of resident parasitoids to control mealybug infestations of vines. No

indigenous parasitoids were found to attack H. axyridis.

Conclusion

1. Considering the flight behaviour of HA from the vines in December, they appear not to pose

any risk to wine farmers as most grapes are harvested from January.

2. HA as an exotic insect does have a debilitating effect on the population of indigenous

coccinellids. HA was only found in South Africa in 2002 (Stals & Prinsloo, 2007) yet their

numbers are significantly higher than that of the indigenous coccenellids.

Progress report 6


Recommendation

Work must be done to determine why HA is so successful in the South African ecosystem and how

to combat it. HA has the ability to displace coccenellids like Exochomus flavipes which attacks and

controls vine mealybug.

4.4.4.4. Accumulated outputsAccumulated outputsAccumulated outputsAccumulated outputs Indicate the year actioned.

Technology developed Technology developed Technology developed Technology developed

None Human resources developed/trainedHuman resources developed/trainedHuman resources developed/trainedHuman resources developed/trained Indicate the number and level (e.g. MSc, PhD, post doc) of students/support personnel that were trained as well as their cost to industry through this project. Add in more lines if necessary.

Research staff and industry advisors/consultants trained to identify harlequin beetles.

Student level (BSc, MSc, PhD, Post doc) Cost to project (R)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Patents Patents Patents Patents

None PublicationsPublicationsPublicationsPublications (popular, press releases, semi-scientific, scientific)

At least one scientific and one popular publication - 2013 Presentations/papers deliveredPresentations/papers deliveredPresentations/papers deliveredPresentations/papers delivered

Presented a paper at WINETECH Grapevine IX Virus Workshop 29 May 2011. Title: Population study of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on vines in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

Reference STALS, R. & PRINSLOO, G. 2007. Discovery of an alien invasive, predatory insect in South

Africa: the multicoloured Asian ladybird beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas)

(Coleoptera:Coccinellidae). South African Journal of Science 103: 123–126.

Progress report 7


Table 1. Total percentage of coccenellid species collected at each farm.

Species

Farm H. axyridis H. variegata E. flavipes C. lunata Micraspi s sp.

0.00 c

Nietvoorbij 47.39 b 44.09 b 0.11 c 8.18 c 0.23 c

Backsberg 63.08 a 10.00 c 2.05 c 24.87 c

0.37 c

La Motte 65.84 a 21.74 bc 3.11 c 9.32 c 0.00 c

Glen Helderberg 37.80 c 46.33 b 1.83 c 13.67 c

Variables

Independent Dependent Pearson correlation Significance difference (P < 0.05)

Temperature (0C) H. axyridis -0.629 0.004

Rainfall (mm) H. axyridis 0.720 0.002

Letters in the same row are not significantly different at P = 0.05

Table 2. Pearson correlation of independent variables temperature, rainfall and dependent variable

H. axyridis from all trial sites combined.

Progress report 8


0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Se

pte

mb

er

Oct

ob

er

No

ve

mb

er

De

cem

be

r

Jan

ua

ry

Fe

bru

ary

Ma

rch

Ap

ril

Ma

y

Jun

e

July

Au

gu

stMe

an

nu

mb

er

of

fem

ale

me

aly

bu

gs/

mo

nth

/plo

t

Backsberg Glen Helderberg La Motte Nietvoorbij

Fig. 1. The average number of female mealybugs per month per plot at four farms from September

2009 to March 2012.

Fig. 2. The relationship between the total mean temperature and total mean H. axyridis

numbers/month/plot from September 2009 to March 2012 at all four farms.

Progress report 9


Fig. 4. The correlation of total number of H. axyridis vs. total parasitoids collected at each farm from

September 2009 to March 2012.

Fig. 3. The relationship between the total mean rainfall and total mean H. axyridis numbers/month/plot

from September 2009 to March 2012 at all four farms.

Progress report 10


5. Budget for the following year: (YEAR)

CFPACFPACFPACFPA DeciduousDeciduousDeciduousDeciduous DFTSDFTSDFTSDFTS WinetechWinetechWinetechWinetech THRIPTHRIPTHRIPTHRIP ARCARCARCARC TOTALTOTALTOTALTOTAL

FUNDING REQUIRED FOR FOLLOWING YEAR: TOTAL

OverheadsOverheadsOverheadsOverheads (only if part of project cost)

Personnel costsPersonnel costsPersonnel costsPersonnel costs

BursariesBursariesBursariesBursaries

Running costsRunning costsRunning costsRunning costs

Local travel and accommodationLocal travel and accommodationLocal travel and accommodationLocal travel and accommodation

Local conferences Local conferences Local conferences Local conferences (only specify separately for THIRP purposes)

Equipment (capital itemsEquipment (capital itemsEquipment (capital itemsEquipment (capital items*) *) *) *) [List capital items HERE][List capital items HERE][List capital items HERE][List capital items HERE]

OtherOtherOtherOther

* Industries will only fund capital items under exceptional circumstances

6. Total estimated budget for project6. Total estimated budget for project6. Total estimated budget for project6. Total estimated budget for project (insert actual cost when available)

YearYearYearYear CFPACFPACFPACFPA DeciduousDeciduousDeciduousDeciduous DFTSDFTSDFTSDFTS WinetechWinetechWinetechWinetech THRIPTHRIPTHRIPTHRIP ARCARCARCARC TOTALTOTALTOTALTOTAL

Total cost in real terms for year 1Total cost in real terms for year 1Total cost in real terms for year 1Total cost in real terms for year 1 2009/10 165 911 172 683 338 594



Total cost in real terms for year 4Total cost in real terms for year 4Total cost in real terms for year 4Total cost in real terms for year 4

Total cost in real terms for year 5Total cost in real terms for year 5Total cost in real terms for year 5Total cost in real terms for year 5

TOTAL 534 255 556 061 1 090 316


EVALUATION BY INDUSTRYEVALUATION BY INDUSTRYEVALUATION BY INDUSTRYEVALUATION BY INDUSTRY This section is for office use only

Project number:Project number:Project number:Project number: 230072

Project name:Project name:Project name:Project name: Study to determine occurrence and impact of Asian ladybird,

Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), in Western Cape winelands. Name of Subcommittee*:Name of Subcommittee*:Name of Subcommittee*:Name of Subcommittee*:

Comments on project:Comments on project:Comments on project:Comments on project:

Committee’s recommendation:Committee’s recommendation:Committee’s recommendation:Committee’s recommendation:

• Accepted.

• Accepted provisionally if the subcommittee’s comments are also addressed.

Resubmit this progress report by ________________

• Unacceptable. Must resubmit progress report.

Chairperson: _____________________ Date: __________________

*SUBCOMMITTEES: Winetech Viticulture: Cultivation; Soil Science; Plant Biotechnology; Plant Protection; Plant Improvement Oenology: Vinification Technology; Bottling, Packaging & Distribution; Environmental Impact; Brandy and

Distilling; Microbiology Technology Transfer Training

Deciduous Fruit Industry Advisory committees:Production Technical Advisory Committee, etc. Peer Work Groups (PWG’s): Breeding & Evaluation, Entomology, Horticulture, Pathology, Post-Harvest, Soil Science

Documents

FR 230072 Achiano (Final Report) - SAWIS Information Centre · The polymorphic harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (HA) preys voraciously on a diversity of pestiferous