D3104: (2nd Place) Scale destroyer beetle and green lacewing are effective biological control agents against crapemyrtle bark scale in a laboratory setting

Crapemyrtle bark scale, Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae (Kuwana), has become a common non-native pest in the urban landscape, with the most effective management recommendation being neonicotinoid treatments. With current legislative views on neonicotinoids and potential harm to beneficial insects from these products, alternative management tactics are needed to reduce the spread and impact of this pest. This study aims to identify augmentative biological control agents that consume CMBS and show potential in controlling their populations. Insects investigated include scale destroyer beetle (Rhyzobius lophanthae), insidious flower bug (Orius insidiosus), several species of predatory mites, and green lacewings (Chrysoperla rufilabris). To evaluate the potential utility of predators, we recorded the number of CMBS eggs and crawlers consumed by each predator over a fixed time period and estimated functional response curves. This information will guide future research into the efficacy of releasing biological control agents against crapemyrtle bark scale in field settings.