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Member Symposium

Plant-Insect Ecosystems

Insect Ecology and Management in Ornamental Landscapes

The impact of ants on augmentative biological control efficacy against crapemyrtle bark scale

Sunday, November 9, 2025
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM Pacific
Location: Oregon Convention Center, D139-140, OCC
Oral Presentation
Crapemyrtle bark scale (CMBS; Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae (Kuwana), Hemiptera: Eriococcidae) has become a common non-native pest of crapemyrtles. Systemic insecticides, which are currently the most effective form of management against CMBS, can have unintended consequences if used inappropriately as they can move into pollen and nectar of crapemyrtles. Therefore, augmentative biological control would be a valuable alternative tool to control CMBS. However, many biotic and abiotic factors can impact the efficacy of predatory insect releases in a landscape setting, including various species of ants that tend CMBS. Here, we summarize the impact of ants on the performance of augmentative biological control against CMBS during two studies: (1) a two-year trial to measure the efficacy of Rhyzobius lophanthae (Blaisdell) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Chrysoperla rufilabris Burmeister (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) on CMBS population growth and (2) a field study to measure the residency of R. lophanthae on CMBS infested crapemyrtles. Through these efforts, we determined that ants can promote CMBS population growth, potentially by deterring predators. Our findings also highlight ways in which ant-predator interactions might be altered to improve CMBS management regimes. These results provide a framework in which augmentative biological control may be incorporated into an integrated pest management program for CMBS in the presence of ants.