Southern
Research Station

Definitive New Book on Saproxylic Insects

By Sarah Farmer, SRS Science Communications    October 18, 2018

“About a third of all forest insect species are saproxylic,” says USDA Forest Service research entomologist Michael Ulyshen.

Ulyshen recently edited a definitive new book called Saproxylic Insects: Diversity, Ecology and Conservation and wrote four chapters.

Presentation: The Diversity, Conservation and Ecological Importance of Saproxylic Insects

By Dr. Michael Ulyshen    August 30, 2018

Approximately one third of all forest insect species worldwide depend directly or indirectly on dying or dead wood (i.e., saproxylic) and these organisms are known to be sensitive to forest management decisions. The loss of saproxylic insect diversity in Europe due to reductions in the amount of dead wood and old trees across the landscape serves as a cautionary tale for researchers and land managers working in other parts of the world. This presentation will provide a broad overview of these insects, their conservation and the ecosystem services they provide, with a focus on the southeastern United States.

Go get ‘em silver flies!

By Field Notes Blog    May 16, 2018

We are busy this spring releasing our new biological control agent, the silver fly.

Do you remember that hemlock woolly adelgid has 2 generations each year? Our best predators so far all feed on the fall/winter generation. So, unless all the adelgid are eaten or die, come spring time a whole new generation emerges to feed and reproduce. We are hopeful that theses silver flies will put a real hurtin' on that spring generation so we can reduce adelgid levels and relieve the pest pressure on our hemlock trees year round.