A new invasive weevil that is turning berry buds into duds in British Columbia
By Michelle Franklin, Paul Abram, and Tracy Hueppelsheuser
Most of the weevils we find in raspberry and strawberry fields in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia (BC) are nocturnal, so you would be hard pressed to find adult weevils without venturing out at night with your headlamp or flashlight. However, in 2019 a curious small black weevil was observed during the day in a backyard raspberry patch in Abbotsford, BC.
The first specimens of this weevil were collected by Provincial Entomologist and coauthor, Tracy Hueppelsheuser from the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and sent to taxonomists and co-authors, Dr. Patrice Bouchard from the Canadian National Collection and Dr. Robert Anderson from the Canadian Museum of Nature for their expert identification. It turned out that this weevil was indeed new to the Fraser Valley, BC. This tiny (2.5 – 3mm), black, long nosed weevil was the strawberry blossom weevil, Anthonomus rubi, which is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. This was the first observation of this species in North America.
Strawberry blossom weevil is not just a pest of strawberries. It is able to feed and reproduce on a wide variety of plants in the family Rosaceae, including other economically important berry crops such as raspberries and blackberries. Adult weevils overwinter in the leaf litter and become active in the spring. After mating, the female chews a hole inside a closed flower bud, lays her egg inside, and then clips the stem below, killing the bud and preventing fruit development. The weevil larva then develops inside the bud and emerges as an adult about a month later when temperatures are warm in the summer. In its native range, the weevil completes a single generation each year.
I started my position as a research scientist in July 2020, specializing in small fruit entomology and Integrated Pest Management at the Agassiz Research and Development Centre of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. With help from Paul Abram (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada), Tracy Hueppelsheuser (BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries), and crop consulting company, ES Cropconsult we hit the ground running, completing surveys in the Fraser Valley in the summer 2020 to determine the distribution and associated host plants of the strawberry blossom weevil. We found adult weevils on cultivated plants (e.g. strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, and rose) and wild hosts (e.g. salmonberry, thimbleberry, Himalayan blackberry, and wild rose). Our survey found this species to be well established throughout the Fraser Valley from Richmond to Hope.
However, there is some good news for potential natural pest control. Later during the summer we saw parasitoid wasps around weevil-damaged Himalayan blackberry buds. We knew that some species of parasitoid wasps had the potential to be natural enemies of the weevil. Parasitoid wasps lay eggs on weevil larvae and their offspring often develop on the larvae resulting in their death. This behaviour has been successfully used as biological control of other weevil pests for decades. Hence, we initiated natural enemy surveys by collecting damaged buds from the field. Although COVID protocols restricted lab access, I monitored damaged buds in my temporary laboratory (a.k.a home garage) and within a few weeks parasitoids emerged! Over the summer, we had over 150 parasitoids emerge from strawberry blossom weevil damaged buds. With the help of taxonomist and co-author, Dr. Gary Gibson from the Canadian National Collection, we identified the metallic-colored parasitoid to the genus Pteromalus. Future work is needed to identify the parasitoid to the species level, determine its origin (native to North America or inadvertently introduced from another continent), and determine its impact on strawberry blossom weevil populations.
I am continuing to work with my co-authors to understand the biology of this new pest and its natural enemies, with the goal of using this knowledge to develop sustainable pest management strategies in the future. If you are interested in this new berry pest, please contact me at michelle.franklin@agr.gc.ca.
Free online access to article (until October 4, 2021): Click here
Links to information pages:
Strawberry blossom weevil – Anthonomus rubi Herbst – Canadian Food Inspection Agency (canada.ca)
Anthonomus rubi Detection in Canada Anthonomus rubi D tection au Canada | Phytosanitary Alert System (pestalerts.org)
Strawberry Blossom Weevil – Invasive Species Council of British Columbia (bcinvasives.ca)
Full article: https://doi.org/10.4039/tce.2021.28
Janzen, Goff and Sheppard – Icons of Decomposition Ecology and Applied Outcomes: Where Are We Today?
You are cordially invited to a webinar by Dr. Jeffery K. Tomberlin from the Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, USA.
Janzen, Goff and Sheppard – Icons of Decomposition Ecology and Applied Outcomes: Where Are We Today?
Youtube Live (https://youtu.be/NEdKwan6Bn8)
E-certificates will be provided.
You are kindly requested to click on the following link for registration https://forms.gle/P5cb1n5Y34f9ipK77
We will send the information related to the webinar in the email that you provide.
Thank you.
Secretariat,
Fun Ento Lab International Webinar Series
Contact us via email fun.entolab@gmail.com for any inquiries related to the webinar.
A new invasive weevil that is turning berry buds into duds in British Columbia
A new invasive weevil that is turning berry buds into duds in British Columbia
By Michelle Franklin, Paul Abram, and Tracy Hueppelsheuser
The first specimens of this weevil were collected by Provincial Entomologist and coauthor, Tracy Hueppelsheuser from the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and sent to taxonomists and co-authors, Dr. Patrice Bouchard from the Canadian National Collection and Dr. Robert Anderson from the Canadian Museum of Nature for their expert identification. It turned out that this weevil was indeed new to the Fraser Valley, BC. This tiny (2.5 – 3mm), black, long nosed weevil was the strawberry blossom weevil, Anthonomus rubi, which is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. This was the first observation of this species in North America.
Strawberry blossom weevil is not just a pest of strawberries. It is able to feed and reproduce on a wide variety of plants in the family Rosaceae, including other economically important berry crops such as raspberries and blackberries. Adult weevils overwinter in the leaf litter and become active in the spring. After mating, the female chews a hole inside a closed flower bud, lays her egg inside, and then clips the stem below, killing the bud and preventing fruit development. The weevil larva then develops inside the bud and emerges as an adult about a month later when temperatures are warm in the summer. In its native range, the weevil completes a single generation each year.
I started my position as a research scientist in July 2020, specializing in small fruit entomology and Integrated Pest Management at the Agassiz Research and Development Centre of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. With help from Paul Abram (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada), Tracy Hueppelsheuser (BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries), and crop consulting company, ES Cropconsult we hit the ground running, completing surveys in the Fraser Valley in the summer 2020 to determine the distribution and associated host plants of the strawberry blossom weevil. We found adult weevils on cultivated plants (e.g. strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, and rose) and wild hosts (e.g. salmonberry, thimbleberry, Himalayan blackberry, and wild rose). Our survey found this species to be well established throughout the Fraser Valley from Richmond to Hope.
However, there is some good news for potential natural pest control. Later during the summer we saw parasitoid wasps around weevil-damaged Himalayan blackberry buds. We knew that some species of parasitoid wasps had the potential to be natural enemies of the weevil. Parasitoid wasps lay eggs on weevil larvae and their offspring often develop on the larvae resulting in their death. This behaviour has been successfully used as biological control of other weevil pests for decades. Hence, we initiated natural enemy surveys by collecting damaged buds from the field. Although COVID protocols restricted lab access, I monitored damaged buds in my temporary laboratory (a.k.a home garage) and within a few weeks parasitoids emerged! Over the summer, we had over 150 parasitoids emerge from strawberry blossom weevil damaged buds. With the help of taxonomist and co-author, Dr. Gary Gibson from the Canadian National Collection, we identified the metallic-colored parasitoid to the genus Pteromalus. Future work is needed to identify the parasitoid to the species level, determine its origin (native to North America or inadvertently introduced from another continent), and determine its impact on strawberry blossom weevil populations.
I am continuing to work with my co-authors to understand the biology of this new pest and its natural enemies, with the goal of using this knowledge to develop sustainable pest management strategies in the future. If you are interested in this new berry pest, please contact me at michelle.franklin@agr.gc.ca.
Free online access to article (until October 4, 2021): Click here
Links to information pages:
Strawberry blossom weevil – Anthonomus rubi Herbst – Canadian Food Inspection Agency (canada.ca)
Anthonomus rubi Detection in Canada Anthonomus rubi D tection au Canada | Phytosanitary Alert System (pestalerts.org)
Strawberry Blossom Weevil – Invasive Species Council of British Columbia (bcinvasives.ca)
Full article: https://doi.org/10.4039/tce.2021.28
Meeting announcement – International Society of Chemical Ecology
Meeting announcement – International Society of Chemical Ecology
We would like to invite you to attend the annual general meeting 5-10 September, 2021. For the first time ever the ISCE annual meeting will be an entirely virtual meeting but numerous mechanisms have been built into the program and platform being used to host the meeting, to facilitate interaction by delegates with each other and the content. The theme of the conference “Chemical Ecology and Sustainable Development” emphasizes the immense potential chemical ecology has to both inform our understanding of the natural world and the potential for practical applications.
Please visit the meeting website (https://isce2021.carlamani.com/) to view the program and register. In addition to being able to participate in the live event 5-10 September, registration provides delegates the opportunity to view talks for 2 months after the meeting. We look forward to seeing you virtually at the meeting. Please don’t hesitate to contact the meeting organizers if you have any questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Jeremy Allison
Bernard Slippers
Francois Roets
Christian Pirk
(ISCE 2021 Organizing Committee)
Graduate Student Showcase 2021: Call for Applications
Graduate Student Showcase 2021: Call for Applications
Graduate students are invited to apply to present their research at the Graduate Student Showcase (GSS), held during the Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada and the Entomological Society of Ontario (Nov 15-18, 2021). The purpose of the GSS is to provide a high-profile opportunity for graduate students near the completion of their degrees to present a more in-depth overview of their thesis research.
Applicants to the GSS must:
Eligible candidates who wish to be considered for the GSS must submit a complete application to students@esc-sec.ca, following the instructions below. Items 1-3 must be submitted in a single PDF file named in the format “FamilyName_GSSapplication.pdf”.
1) Submit a 250 word abstract describing the proposed presentation highlighting their work,
2) Submit a 1 page (single-spaced, 12 point) outline of their research, including rationale/significance, methodology, and results to date,
3) Include a CV that includes a list of previous conference presentations and other presentation experience.
4) Arrange to have the principal supervisor email a letter of support in a PDF file that confirms the anticipated or actual date of graduation and comments on the proposed presentation and the applicant’s presentation and research abilities. Please ask your supervisor to name the letter of support in the format “FamilyName_GSSLetterOfSupport.pdf”, where Family Name is the applicant’s family name.
In addition to the above materials, applicants are welcome – but by no means required – to submit supplementary information about any factors that may have influenced their application (e.g., factors that may have limited access to publication or presentation opportunities). Please note that the supplementary information will be considered confidential, being viewed exclusively by members of the Graduate Student Showcase Selection Committee.
The GSS application deadline falls on the same day as the annual meeting deadline for contributed talks. For the 2021 GSS, all application materials must be submitted by September 13, 2021. We will select up to four (4) recipients. All applicants will be notified of the status of their application. Unsuccessful applicants to the GSS will have their talks automatically moved to a President’s Prize Oral session.
Differences between the GSS and the President’s Prize (PP) Competition include:
We encourage and welcome applications from all eligible individuals, especially those who identify with groups that are underrepresented in STEM and entomology. The Entomological Society of Canada values diversity in all its forms and seeks to represent the breadth of Canadian entomological research and researcher identities through its GSS. Supervisors, please encourage your students to apply and please help us to spread the word! Any questions can be directed to students@esc-sec.ca.
Matt Muzzatti and Rowan French
Co-Chairs of ESC’s Student and Early Professional Affairs Committee (SEPAC)
Study Invitation: Interference with Environmental Research in Canada
ESC members are invited to a participate in a research study on interference with environmental research in Canada conducted by a Master’s Thesis student from the School of Resource and Environment Studies, at Dalhousie University.
Purpose: To document scientists’ perceptions of their ability to conduct and communicate environmental research in Canada.
Eligibility: If you are currently working in Canada in the field of environmental studies or sciences, you will be asked to answer questions about your work, personal demographics (e.g., career stage, gender, etc.) and to recount any experiences with interference in your ability to conduct or communicate your work.
This survey is anonymous. It should take you 20 – 30 minutes to complete.
Impact: Results from this academic research will be presented at national fora on science policy and decision-making and could have policy implications that will directly affect your future work.
Incentive: Participants who complete the survey will have the option to provide their email address to enter a draw and win one of three $50 gift cards or donations to the organization of their choice. Email addresses will be collected separately from the survey to maintain anonymity in responses and will be kept confidential.
The deadline to complete the survey is on or before 11:59pm ADT on Sunday, August 15, 2021.
Follow this link to the Survey: Interference in Science Survey Link
Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser: https://rowebusiness.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aeHh5GmYXUMfoXk
If you have questions or concerns, please contact the research team at woodlab@dal.ca.
Thank you very much. Your participation is important to us.
Sincerely,
Manjulika E. Robertson
on behalf of the Westwood Lab
School for Resource and Environment Studies
Dalhousie University, Halifax (K’jipuktuk), Nova Scotia
www.westwoodlab.ca || woodlab@dal.ca
Seeking next ESC Treasurer
The Entomological Society of Canada is looking to fill the position of Treasurer, beginning in autumn 2021. Please note that the Treasurer is considered an officer of the Society and is expected to attend the annual meeting of the Governing Board. The Treasurer’s cost of attending this meeting is covered by ESC in the event the Treasurer does not have funding from another source for such expenses.
The duties include, but are not limited to, custody of the Society’s funds, reporting on the finances of the Society when required, submitting a budget to the June Board meeting, submitting an audited financial statement at the end of each financial year to the membership by posting it in the members’ area of the Society’s website, overseeing the day-to-day business operations of the ESC, coordinating the assembly of achievement awards and certificates, and serving as an ex officio member of several committees. Previous experience with financial reporting and/or accounting would be an advantage, as is a general knowledge of the affairs of the Society. Please express your interest in the position to the President, Bill Riel, by 30 September 2021 (ESCPresident@ esc-sec.ca). The final selection will be made by an ad hoc committee convened by the President.
Insect Olfaction and Taste in 24 Hours Around the Globe
Insect Olfaction and Taste in 24 Hours Around the Globe
From 9am Pacific Daylight Time, Wednesday August 11 to 5pm British Summer Time, Thursday August 12
Co-Hosts:
Walter S. Leal, UC Davis, USA
Wynand van der Goes van Naters, Cardiff University, UK
Coral Warr, La Trobe University, Australia
We travel west around the globe
Preface by John G. Hildebrand
Opening Lecture by Josefina del Mármol
Confirmed Invited/Keynote Speakers: Richard Benton, Greg Jefferis, Leslie Vosshall, Ke Dong, Zain Syed, Jeff Riffell, Sylvia Anton, Frederic Marion-Poll, Anupama Dahanukar, Marcus Stensmyr, John Pickett, Melissa Jordan, Guirong Wang & Silke Sachse
Contributed Presentations by:
Hany Dweck, Ilona Grunwald Kadow, Chris Potter, Jessica Zung, Ben Matthews, Sharon Hill, Mario Pannunzi, Naoko Toshima, Mahmut Demir, Erika Plettner, David Heckel, Zepeng Yao, Carolina Reisenman, Yael Grosjean, Preeti Sareen, Craig Montell, Pinky Kain, Xi Chu, Bente Berg, Kosuke Tateishi, Hidehiro Watanabe, Jayaprakas C. A., Emmanuelle Jacquin- Joly, Walter S. Leal, Ani Agnihotri, Jason Pitts, and others
Access no-cost registration here: https://bit.ly/3k68c2m
ESC/ESO 2021 Jam
When: 15–18 November 2021
Where: The virtual meeting will be hosted by Showcare. A dedicated virtual meeting website will be announced in the Fall.
Dates to know:
For more information on the theme of the meeting, keynote speakers and planned symposia: https://www.entsocont.ca/esceso-2021-jam-english.html
We hope to see you virtually in the fall!
Register now!
Announcing the Seventeenth Annual Photo Contest
Seventeenth Annual Photo Contest
The 17th Annual Photo Contest to select images for the 2022 covers of The Canadian Entomologist and the Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Canada is underway. The cover images are intended to represent the breadth of entomology cove red by the Society’s publications. Insects and non-insects in forestry, urban or agriculture; landscapes, field, laboratory or close-ups; or activities associated with physiology, behaviour, taxonomy or IPM are all desirable. A couple of ‘Featured Insects’ are also needed. If selected, your photo will grace the cover of both publications for the entire year. In addition, winning photos and a selection of all submitted photos will be shown on the ESC website.
See above link for contest rules.
2021 Virtual Meeting of the American Arachnological Society June 24 – July 1
The American Arachnological Society is hosting a Virtual Conference Thursday June 24 – Thursday July 1. A Keynote address by Maydianne Andrade will open the meeting on the evening of the 24th. Program highlights include plenary talks by Mercedes Burns, Lauren Esposito, and Ivan Magalhães; oral and poster presentations; and a panel discussion and workshop on actions to dismantle racism and promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in arachnology.
Abstract submission is now closed, but registration (only 20 USD) for the meeting and the associated events remains open until Monday June 14. Don’t miss this chance to participate in workshops on arachnid photography, collecting, and more, two movie nights (featuring Maratus and Sixteen Legs), a photography and art contest, and a virtual arachnid bioblitz!
Freely accessible events include a public talk about arachnids by Jillian Cowles, author of Amazing Arachnids (this talk will be livestreamed on youtube on Sunday June) and an Arachnid Q&A livestream with Isa Betancourt, host of The Bugscope.
Please contact meeting organizing committee member Catherine Scott if you have any questions, and follow the meeting on twitter at #Arachnids21 and @AAS_Arachnology.