Save me the Money: Pests of

Economic Importance in

Washington State

Joshua Milnes, MS in Entomology Pest Biologist II

Washington State Department of Agriculture

Yakima WSU Master Gardner Class, WSU Yakima Extension

April 08, 2020Yakima, WA

Art: Matt Dorfman

Mission Statement“Through service, regulation, and advocacy, the Washington

State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) supports the viability and vitality of agriculture while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment.”

Photo by M. Klaus WSDAPhoto: Dr. Mike Bush

Primary tool is to find infested/infected hosts and treat or remove them before pests spread to commercial enterprisesAbandoned orchardsFeral fruit treesImproperly managed (“low input”)

orchardsImproperly managed residential

fruit trees

Photo: Dr. Mike Bush

Key Strategy

What is Expected of Homeowners?

Backyard trees must be sprayed every yearImproperly managed residential fruit trees are breeding

grounds for apple maggotRCW 15.08 and RCW 15.09

RCW 15.09.060 – Landowners are responsible for pest prevention

Maintain tree height at 10 ft.

Negatively impacts local producers

Photo: https://backyardables.com/how-to-kill-a-tree-stump/

Grower Help

We need commercial growers’ help in identifying potential problem sites! (file complaint forms)

For Each Invasive Pest . . .

WSDA seeks to get ahead of this invasion curve.

Slides from Dr. Mike Bush with WSDA

Introduction: Tree of Heaven Scientific Name: Ailanthus altissima

Tree of Heaven has invaded 42 of the 50 states, including most of the East and West coasts.

Tree of Heaven grows rapidly and can out-compete native vegetation.

A primary host of spotted lanternfly and brown marmorated stink bug

In Washington, tree of heaven is considered a noxious weed

Webpage: http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/Verrill_Wolf/pages/homepage.html

Photo: Amanada & Abbie

Photo: Amanada & Abbie

Photo: Amanada & Abbie

Photo: Amanada & Abbie

Tree of Heaven or Tree of Hell

Attractive and cultured as an ornamental

Compound leave w/ 10 to 40 leaflets

Resembles smooth sumac (Rhus glabra)

Photo: Dr. Mike Bush Photo: Dr. Mike Bush

Photo: Dr. Mike Bush

Photo: Dr. Mike Bush

WSDA: https://agr.wa.gov/getmedia/2fa7fc07-2ba4-476e-b47d-45bee70afe2c/tree-of-heaven.pdf

Removal of Tree of HeavenStrategy:

There are several techniques

Hack and Squirt! Use Herbicides with active ingredients

Glyphosate

or

Triclopyr amine

NOTE: Always follow the herbicide label instructions for rates, application methods, and personal protection

Hack and squirt method can be use for trees one inch in diameter and lager

To used this method, space downward-angle cuts, or “hacks” then apply herbicide to the cut

Introduction: Spotted Lanternfly

Photo takin from Pennsylvania Depart. of Ag. https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/PlantIndustry/Entomology/spotted_lanternfly/SpottedLanternflyAlert/Pages/default.aspx

Photo: Lawrence Barringer

Background Scientific Name: Lycorma delicatula

Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is an emerging invasive planthopper native to Asia

Studies show that SLF is a polyphagous feeder of over 70 host plants

Its preferred host is tree of heaven

Adults lay eggs on the tree bark and artificial structures

It was recently detected in the U.S. back in 2014 in Berks County, Pennsylvania

Life cycle: Ootheca (egg cases), 4 nymph instars, adult

Egg case

Photo takin from Pennsylvania Depart. of Ag. https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/PlantIndustry/Entomology/spotted_lanternfly/SpottedLanternflyAlert/Pages/default.aspx Photo: Lawrence BarringerPhoto: Lawrence Barringer

Damage SLF feed only on wood not directly on fruit and release

huge volume of honeydew which may potentially affect fruit

Have piercing/sucking mouth parts called a proboscis

SLF cause serious damage in trees including oozing sap, wilting, leaf curling, and tree dieback

SLF excrete honeydew, which encourages the growth of black sooty mold

Growers in affected areas reported being able to find SLF egg masses during the winter on nectarine and apple trees

Prefer tree of heaven and vineyards

Photo: Erica Smyers

Photo: Susan Rutherford

Wakie et al. 2019 Photo: Lawrence Barringer

Spotted Lanternfly Suitable Habitat in WashingtonWakie et al. 2019 Potential distribution of SLF in WA,

USA. Areas shaded in red, yellow, and green indicate high, medium, and low suitability, respectively

Unshaded/blank areas indicate areas that are unsuitable for SLFestablishment

Photo: Lawrence Barringer

What can we do? SLF has a broader ecological range than previously

predicted

If introduced, it is likely to establish in western U.S. including Washington State

Suitable habitats are found in temperate zones, not tropical zones

Proactive measures including control of tree of heaven are needed to prevent the introduction of SLF in the Pacific Northwest

Photo: Lawrence Barringer

Removal of Tree of HeavenStrategy:

There are several techniques

Hack and Squirt! Use Herbicides with active ingredients

Glyphosate

or

Triclopyr amine

NOTE: Always follow the herbicide label instructions for rates, application methods, and personal protection

Hack and squirt method can be use for trees one inch in diameter and lager

To used this method, space downward-angle cuts, or “hacks” then apply herbicide to the cut

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Biology

Invasive stink bug introduced in 1996 from eastern Asia

Economic pest that is a polyphagous feeder (300 host plants) and tree of heaven is one of the host plants

In 2010 East Coast apple industry alone lost $37 million in damage

Over 47 States have BMSB

www.STOPBMSB.org

Current Distribution of BMSB in Washington 2017

Current Distribution of BMSB in Washington 2018

Samurai Wasp

Preparing BMSB egg masses for placement

Check BMSB colonies each morning for freshly-laid (<24h old) egg masses

Egg masses transferred onto cardstock

Sentinel egg masses attached to the underside of a host plant leaf for 4 days

Sentinel Egg Mass Survey

Sentinel egg masses attached to the underside of a host plant leaf for 4 days

Bringing your friends to the field is also a perk of the trade!

Photo: Dr. E. Beers

Wintler Community Park

Introduction: T. japonicus in Vancouver, WA 2015

WintlerCommunity Park

Introduction: T. japonicus in Vancouver, WA 2019

From: Bergh, C., A. et al. 2016. Integrated pest management for brown marmorated stink bug in orchard crops: A synopsis of what researchers have learned so far and management recommendations using an integrated approach. http://www.stopbmsb.org/stopBMSB/assets/File/BMSB-in-Orchard-Crops-English.pdf

Predators observed attacking the BMSB eggs: • Earwigs, Tree Crickets, Ladybird Beetles, Mites

(Balaustium sp.), Pirate bugs, Lacewing immatures

1 2 3

4 5 6

Morrison, W. R., C. R. Mathews, and T. C. Leskey. 2016. Frequency, efficiency, and physical characteristics of predation by generalist predators of brown marmorated

stink bug (hemiptera: Pentatomidae) eggs. Biol. Control. 97: 120-130.

1) SEM set up for the field, 2) Incomplete Chewing, 3) Complete Chewing, 4-5) Stylet Sucking, 6) Punctured Sucking

4 6

Natural Enemies Feeding Damage

Although low, chewing insects have a greater impact on BMSB population more so than piercing/sucking insects

Tree Cricket

Natural Enemies Feeding Damage

2019 Distribution of T. japonicus in Yakima, WA

Surveyed 2 sites in Yakima, WA placed out (66 egg masses)

A total of 233 individual T. japonicus adults released in parks, near urban development

Distribution of T. japonicus in WA

Small invasive wood-boring beetle that attacks dozens of common native and landscape trees including commercial orchards

Found frequently in sick or abandoned orchards

http://treefruit.wsu.edu/crop-protection/opm/shothole-borers/ Photo: Dr. Mike Bush

Shothole Borer (SHB) Biology

SHB Damage in Abandoned Trees Exit Holes

Rose Stem Girdler Biology

RSG feeding in the cambium

Discovery of a Eulophidae sp. in Washington Tetrastichae subfamily-Includes known parasitoids of emerald ash borer in North America

& RSG in Europe.Working with Dr. Serguei Triapitsyn over in Riverside, CA

New Pests of Concern for 2020 GIANT ASIAN HORNET/ EUROPEAN

HORNET

Vespa mandarinia

Native to Asia and Europe, respectively

Larger than our native vespids (yellowjackets)

Giant Asian hornet preys on honey bees

European hornet feeds on ripening fruit

Animal health concerns.Actual size 1.5 to 2 inches

Slides from Dr. Mike Bush with WSDA

New Pests of Concern for 2020

Actual size 1.5 to 2 inches

Baldfaced Hornet- 1” long

GIANT ASIAN HORNET Reports of this species being found and eradicated in British

Columbia 2019 December 8- confirmed find of dead hornet in Blaine, WA Publicity focused on human threat—overblown End of December- two beekeepers submit photos of hives and

piles of decapitated honeybees WSDA strategizes response.

Slides from Dr. Mike Bush with WSDA

Questions?