RELEASES OF CALOSOMA-SYCOPHANTA (COLEOPTERA, CARABIDAE) NEAR THE EDGEOF GYPSY-MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA, LYMANTRIIDAE) DISTRIBUTION

Approximately 100 Calosoma sycophanta L. adults were released in each of 5 plots located near the leading edge of gypsy moth, Lymantria disp ar (L.), expansion in Delaware, Michigan, and West Virginia. Before re lease, naturally occurring beetle populations were present in West Vir ginia, but not in the other states. Gypsy moth pupal numbers and numbe rs of pupae eaten by larval C. sycophanta were counted under burlap ba nds in both release and paired control plots to assess the effectivene ss of the beetle. There was a significant positive partial correlation between pupal survival and abundance of beetle larvae; gypsy moth pup al survival was high when predator population densities were high. Thi s is not what would be expected if C. sycophanta were controlling the pest, but the data show that the beetle was capable of reproducing in release areas. These results indicate that it may be useful to release the beetle into other parts of the leading edge of gypsy moth infesta tion and in other areas where the beetle is not abundant.