What is a cereal leaf beetle and what effects does it have on people and the ecosystem?

Also, why is it successful in its environment? And what issues for the future?What changes have been observed in the ecosystem since the specie has been there? How have the other organisms been effected?How do people use/interact with the Cereal Leaf Beetle, What consequences are there for people? Tell all info on the Cereal Leaf BeetleThanks :]

Cereal Leaf BeetleDamage Life Cycle and Description Monitoring Economic Threshold Host Plants: Biological Control Chemical Control Distribution Map United States Distribution Map Montana Source The cereal leaf beetle is a serious pest of barley and wheat in Montana. It is an introduced pest, first detected in Michigan in 1962, Utah in 1984, and Montana in 1989. Since its introduction the cereal leaf beetle has become widely distributed in the United States. In Montana it was first found in Yellowstone County and the following year was detected in Yellowstone, Stillwater, and Carbon Counties. Distribution currently, 1999, 1998, 1996. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------DamageBoth adults and larvae of the cereal leaf beetle damage grain crops through their foliar feeding. The larvae is the most damaging stage and the target of control measures. Generally, the newer plant tissue is preferred with feeding occurring on the upper leaf surface causing characteristic elongated slits (Damage). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Life Cycle and DescriptionAdults are the overwintering stage, moving into grain fields and feeding for about 10 days on small grain and grass foliage after they become active in the spring. Adults prefer spring grains over winter grains. The adults are about 1/4 inch in length with brightly colored orange-red thorax, yellow legs and metallic blue head and wing covers (A. elytra) (Adult). It is important to correctly identify the adults since other beetles, common in cropland, resemble the CLB. Eggs are laid end to end singly or in groups of 2 or 3 on the upper leaf surface near the base of the leaf. Newly laid eggs are bright yellow, darkening to orange-brown and finally to black before they hatch. Egg hatch may take from 4 to 23 days depending on temperatures (D. Egg). The larvae has a yellow body with brown head and legs. The body is protected by a layer of slimy, fecal material which makes them look like a slug. When working or walking in an infested field the slimy covering will rub off on your clothing. Although both adults and larvae cause feeding damage, the larvae is responsible for majority of the damage. They feed on the leaf surface between veins, removing all the green material down to the lower cuticle resulting in an elongated windowpane in the leaf. Severe feeding damage came give a frosted appearance to the field. The larvae has 3 pairs of legs located close to the head end of the immature insect (Larvae). When larvae have completed their feeding they shed their slimy covering and drop to the ground, hollowing out an earthen cell for pupation (E. Cell). The pupal stage takes from 10 to 14 days to complete. When new adults emerge from pupation they feed briefly on grasses, before leaving the field and finding a suitable protected overwintering site. Adults are strong, active flyers and can move some distance. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------MonitoringThe first sign of CLB activity in the spring is adult feeding damage on the plant foliage. While this is the first sign of adult activity, adults are not the target of control. Eggs and larvae are monitored by plant inspection since thresholds are expressed as egg and larvae numbers per plant or per stem. Examine 10 plants per location and select 1 location for every 10 acres of field. Count number of eggs and larvae per plant (small plants) or per stem (larger plants) and get an average number of eggs and larvae, based on the samples you have taken. Plant growth stage should be noted because the treatment threshold changes with plant growth stage (3 eggs and larvae or more per plant in tillering smaller plants; 1 larvae per flag leaf at boot stage). Both eggs and larvae can be found by examining the upper leaf surface. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Economic ThresholdBoot stage is a critical point in plant development and impact of cereal leaf beetle feeding damage can be felt on both yield and grain quality. Before boot stage, the threshold is: 3 eggs and larvae or more per plant (including all the tillers present before the emergence of the flag leaf). Larvae feeding in early growth stages can have a general impact on plant vigor. When the flag leaf emerges, feeding is generally restricted to the flag leaf which can signficiantly impact grain yield and quality. The threshold is decreased at the boot stage to: 1 larvae or more per flag leaf. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Host Plants:Cereal leaf beetle has a wide host range including cultivated grass hosts: barley, oats, wheat speltz, rye. Adults may feed on corn, sorghum and sudangrass. Beetles may use resident or grass weeds including; wild oats, quackgrass, timothy, canary grass, reed canary grass, annual and perrenial ryegrass, foxtail, orchard grass, wild rye, smooth brome and fescues. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Biological ControlUSDA-APHIS-PPQ has established an Insectary at the MSU Agricultural Reserach Center located in Huntley, MT. Parasitoids that have been released and recovered in the state include: Tetrastichus julis attacks larval CLB and has 1 to 2 generations per year. An average of 5 T. julis have been found inside a single CLB larvae. T. julis has been recovered in Montana. Anaphes flavipes is an egg parasite with 6 to 8 generations per year. This very small insect has good dispersal abilities and can build up to large numbers rapidly. An average of 3 eggs of A. flavipes can be laid inside a CLB egg. Visit the USDA, APHIS, PPQ Niles Laboratory Web site for more information. Other states include: Kentucky North Carolina --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chemical ControlTo maximize efficacy, treatment is suggested when there are 3 larvae or more per plant in tillering stages 1 larvae per flag leaf Registered chemicals for use in 1999: (Pesticide profiles) For Wheat, Barley, and OatsChemical Rate (/acre) Rate (/acre) Notes Lannate L 0.225-0.45 lb ai 0.75-1.5 pt 24 hrs to re-entry. 7 days to grain. 10 days to graze. Malathion 5EC 0.6-1.25 lb ai 1-2 pt 7 days to grain or graze Malathion ULV 0.3-0.6 lb ai. 4-8 oz 7 days to grain. Most effective at temperatures over 70F. Wheat OnlyChemical Rate Rate Notes Sevin XLR Plus,4F, 4-Oil 1.0 lb ai 2 pt 21 days to grain. 0 days to feed. Sevin 80S 1.0 lb ai 1.25 pt 21 days to grain. 0 days to feed. Warrior 1EC 0.02-0.03 lb ai 2.6-3.8 oz 30 days to grain. Do not apply more than 0.06 lb ai (7.6 pts)per season. For Barley and OatsChemical Rate (/acre) Rate (/acre) Notes Thiodan 3EC 0.25-0.5 lb ai Aerial application. 24 hrs to re-entry. Do not apply after heading. Do not feed treated forage to livestock.

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