Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022

1pm-2:30pm

Via Zoom

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Hosted by the Eastern Lake Ontario Swallow-wort Collaborative, this webinar will showcase swallow-wort biocontrol research that is currently underway in New York state and beyond. Researchers from New York, Rhode Island, and Michigan will provide an overview of their work, along with an overview of the results of the swallow-wort cage monitoring project that SLELO PRISM participated in.  Presentations will be followed by a panel discussion where researchers and attendees can ask questions and learn from each other.

• Dr. Lisa Tewksbury- University of Rhode Island Biocontrol Lab
• Dr. Marianna Szucs- Michigan State University
• Dr. Dylan Parry- SUNY ESF
• Robert Smith-SLELO PRISM

Biographies and Presentation Descriptions: 

Dr. Lisa Tewksbury, lisat@uri.edu

University of Rhode Island Biocontrol Lab

Presentation Description: Lisa Tewksbury will give an update on releases of the moth Hypena opulenta conducted for management of invasive swallow-worts by the URI biocontrol lab in RI, CT, and MA since 2017.

Biography: Lisa Tewksbury received her Bachelor’s Degree in Plant Science and Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Rhode Island and her M.S. degree in Entomology from the University of Delaware.  She has worked at the University of Rhode Island for over 36 years and is currently the director of the URI biocontrol lab.  This facility includes a USDA-certified containment facility to facilitate biocontrol research.  The lab conducts research and implementation of biological control using insect natural enemies of invasive insect and weed species; among the current projects are biocontrol of swallow-worts, common reed (Phragmites), and Japanese Knotweed.

Dr. Marianna Szucs,  szucsmar@msu.edu

Michigan State University

Presentation Description: An overview of the swallow-wort biocontrol research being done at Michigan State University. This includes field releases of Hypena opulenta using both laboratory colonies and populations derived by crossing field collected moths from Canada with lab colonies to learn if crossing enhances fecundity and survival of the biocontrol agent. In addition, with a restoration experiment, different methods for restoring swallow-wort infested sites are compared, and phenology and impact experiments are conducted to better understand the likelihood that Hypena opulenta could complete two generations in a season. At this time the data from these research objectives are preliminary but can help to understand the various processes that may contribute to establishment success and could be helpful to those who are working with swallow-wort biocontrol.

Biography: Dr. Marianna Szucs is an entomologist and evolutionary ecologist trained at the University of Idaho for her Ph.D. and at Colorado State University for her postdoctoral research. She joined Michigan State University as an assistant professor in 2018, where she specializes in the biological control of exotic weeds and insects. Their research integrates contemporary ecological and evolutionary theory with biological control to increase establishment success and the effectiveness of biocontrol programs. Currently, they work with four invasive species in the lab, including agricultural pests such as the brown marmorated stink bug and spotted wing drosophila, invasive knotweeds, and swallow-worts.

Dr. Dylan Parry, dparry@esf.edu

Professor at SUNY ESF

Presentation Description: Dylan Parry will provide an update on the New York State releases of the biological control agent Hypena opulenta in 2020 and 2021 and highlight some of the successes as well as challenges in establishing this species in this ongoing project.

Biography: Dylan received his Bachelor of Science (Biology) and M.S. in Entomology from the University of Alberta (Canada).  He has a Ph.D. from Michigan State University (dual degree program Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior / Entomology).  He has been a professor at the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry for 20 years conducting research on invasive insects such as the Sirex woodwasp and gypsy moth, biological control of forest pests, and invasive plants. He also has extensive interests in the conservation of threatened insects.  Dylan teaches courses in biological control, the ecology and management of invasive species, and insects and global change.

Robert Smith robert.l.smith@tnc.org

SLELO PRISM

Terrestrial Restoration & Resiliency Coordinator

Presentation Description: From 2020-2021 SLELO PRISM assisted a cages Hypena opulenta release research project. This session will provide an overview of this research project and the results of the cages we monitored.

Biography: Robert Smith holds a Master of Science from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and brings with him extensive experience in terrestrial invasive species identification and management including ecosystem restoration and dendrology.