Effects of Freezing Egg Masses on Nymph Emergence and Parasitization by .

(White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), native to China, was first detected in Pennsylvania, U.S. in 2014. This polyphagous pest can feed on over 70 plant species including agricultural crops, like grapes, that have high economic value. Yang and Choi (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) is an egg parasitoid associated with egg masses in China that is being evaluated for possible introduction into the U.S. for classical biological control of . In support of this program, the suitability of frozen eggs for parasitization by was evaluated in a quarantine laboratory. Host egg masses held for four different cold storage periods (5°C for <1, 4, 8 and 11 months) were frozen at -40°C for 1 hour or 24 hours and exposed to female for parasitization for seven days. Following this experimental exposure period, rates of nymph emergence and parasitism were assessed for each of the eight different cold storage treatments. Host acceptance and suitability of frozen eggs by was assessed in terms of percentage parasitism, offspring sex ratio, and hind tibia length of emerged parasitoids. Results indicated that nymphs failed to emerge from eggs that were exposed to -40°C for 1 hour and 24 hours and could successfully parasitize eggs regardless of cold storage and freezing treatment. These results add a new tool for long term maintenance of egg masses and rearing methods for egg parasitoids of this pest. Additionally, it may be possible to field deploy sentinel eggs of frozen at -40°C to survey for resident natural enemy species capable of parasitizing eggs of this pest in advance of anticipated invasions into new areas.