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CLASSICAL BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF THE ELONGATE HEMLOCK SCALE, FIORINIA EXTERNA: 2004 ACTIVITIES

In 2004, a new project on classical biological control of a hemlock pest, Fiorinia externa Ferris (elongate hemlock scale) (Homoptera: Diaspididae), was funded by USDA-Forest Service (FHTET) with work centered at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst. The objectives of the project are to (1) assess current pattern of scale abundance, parasitism, and survival in eastern North America, (2) test the previously proposed hypothesis that host-parasitoid asynchrony accounts for low parasitism and high scale abundance in the northeastern U. S., (3) locate, study, and import new species of parasitoids from Japan and perhaps China as classical biological control agents, and (4) assess host ranges of new parasitoids, followed by their release and an evaluation of their impact on scale density. In 2004, a regional scale survey was conducted, field sites with scale were located, a laboratory scale colony was established, and one trip to Japan made during which scale and parasitoids were found at three locations.