SBIR-STTR Award

The European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar L.) (EGM) is a non-native insect pest the larvae of which feed on leaves of over 300 broad-leaved species including forest shade ornamental and fruit trees as well as shrubs. It has defoliated over 98 million acres of U.S. forests from 1924 to2018. NanoSUR's RNAi-based insecticide technology will contribute to the sustainable management of forests with minimal use of non-selective insecticides and their harmful impacts to non-target organisms. The successful execution of this grant will open an entirely new approach to combating infestation by EGM and prevent the spread of this pest. To achieve these goals we will show that we can accomplish the following objectives: 1) Synthesisof≥ 1 mg each and testing of 8 MdsRNA preparations as well as controls on an artificial diet assay using a qPCR assay and 2) Synthesis of ≥ 5 mg and leaf assay testing of best preparation advanced from Objective 1. To accomplish this technical challenge we will build on prior research funded by NSF and work in collaboration with the Invasive Insect Biocontrol & Behavior Laboratory of the Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville Maryland through a CRADA with th