Reminder: Tues 8 Dec. - Evening of Biocontrol with Insects
Maria Aliberti Lubertazzi
To all Cambridge Entomological Club members and entomology enthusiasts,
I am pleased to announce that our December meeting (Tuesday
the 8th) will be an “Evening of Biocontrol with Insects in New
England”. We will have two
speakers, each on a different biocontrol issue and approach. The meeting will be held at the Museum of Comparative
Zoology, room 101 (26
Oxford Street, Harvard
University) at 7:30pm, preceded by
dinner at the Law
School cafeteria (2nd
floor of Harkness Commons) at 6:15pm.
Lisa Tewksbury will speak about her ongoing research on “Implementing a biological control program for the lily leaf beetle in New England” (insect-based biocontrol of an invasive insect), and Aaron Weed will present his research on biocontrol of an invasive plant using insects, “Biological control of swallow-worts (Vincetoxicum): an emerging environmental and agricultural weed”.
The lily leaf beetle has destroyed ornamental lilies in New England over the last decade, and poses potential threats to our three native lily species. With years of laboratory-based study of potential species interactions, Lisa is implementing the careful introduction of insect parasitoids in certain areas of New England, and evaluating their immediate and potential long-term effects.
Black and pale swallow-worts are weeds in the milkweed family that have invaded many natural and semi-natural habitats within the northeastern to midwestern United States and into Canada. Dense swallow-wort monocultures threaten native biodiversity and both species are emerging into major ornamental and agricultural pests. Aaron started his research by looking for specific insect herbivores of swallow-worts in their native range across Europe. He has determined the potential effectiveness of a few insect herbivores to control the spread of swallow-worts in North America while considering their potential interactions with native plants and insects.
Lisa Tewksbury is a Research Associate and Aaron is finishing his PhD at the URI/USDA Biological Control Lab, Department of Plant Science & Entomology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI.
CEC meetings are free and open to the public. Snacks will be provided. Please distribute this announcement to other individuals or groups who might be interested in this topic.
We hope to see you on Tuesday!
Maria Aliberti Lubertazzi
Co-President