228 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS RELEASE AND ESTABLISHMENT OF HARMONIA AXYRIDIS (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE) IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 1 W. L. Tedders 2 , Paul W. Schaefer 3 ABSTRACT: Hannoma cixyridis were laboratory reared and 87,810 specimens were released (1978-81) primarily in pecan orchards containing leguminous cover crops at Byron, Georgia. The first major recovery indicating establishment in Georgia was in 1990 at Buchanan, 174 km from the Byron release site. By 1992, the population had spread throughout Georgia to northern Florida and eastern South Carolina. H. axyridis is now the dominant coccinellid species (54.4%) in the Byron pecan orchard and appears influenced by the legume cover crop. Numerous pecan growers in Georgia reported control of pecan aphids (Monellia caryella and Monelliopsis pecanis) during 1993. Adult H. axyridis were more attracted to white traps than to similar dark grey, brown, or black traps. During rearing, total development required ca. 36 d. Recorded prey include 36 species of Aphididae, 12 species from 7 other homopteran families, and 3 species from two other insect orders. Aphids appear to be preferred prey but all may be acceptable, indicating polyphagy and suggesting an extended control potential for this generally arboreal coccinellid. Lady beetles in the genus Harmonia occur in Asia and Australia and prey on aphids, psyllids, and scale insects (Gordon 1985). Widely distributed in Asia, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) is recorded from Formosa, China, Korea, Japan, Manchuria, southern Siberia and the Ryukyu and Bonin Islands (Chapin and Brou 1991). This arboreal species occurs in orchard and forest habitats and preys mostly on various aphids, but it will also accept certain scales and two species of chrysomelids. It inhabits various trees, including maple, walnut, willow, and oak (Chapin and Brou 1991). Harmonia axyridis is highly polymorphic, very prolific, and may live up to three years (Hodek 1973). ' Several attempts have been made to introduce H. axyridis into North America. Inclusive dates for recorded releases include: California -1916, 1964 and 1965; Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Washington, D.C. -1978 to 1982; and Connecticut -1985 (Coulson el al. 1981, Gordon 1985, McClure 1987; USDA, Beneficial Introduction Res. Lab., unpubl. records). Recently, Chapin and Brou (1991) reported the establishment of H. axy-ridis in Louisiana and Mississippi. Releases in that area consisted of a single ' Received February 4, 1994. Accepted February 26, 1994. 2 Southeastern Fruit and Tree Nut Research Laboratory, 1 1 1 Dunbar Road, Byron, Georgia 31008. 3 Beneficial Insects Introduction Research, 501 Chapel Street, Newark, Delaware 19713. ENT. NEWS 105(4): 228-243, September & October 1994
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