Coarse and nano emulsions for effective delivery of the natural pest control agent pulegone for stored grain protection

Potential of frogs as important natural pest control agents has been highlighted earlier. But the effectiveness of frogs in regulating the pest load in intensive agricultural landscape in a multi-trophic system is not clear. We performed controlled field experiment in paddy field with a varying density (observed in high and low agricultural intensity (AI) areas) of a commonly found frog species and compared the pest and pest predator build-up. The consumption rate of the model amphibian was studied using enclosure experiment. The consequent trophic cascade effect of frogs on both crop pest and other arthropod pest predator was analyzed using mathematical population growth models. Although frogs consumed pests, they could not reduce crop pest abundance. Although a lesser frog density found in high AI areas significantly affected the pest predator abundance. Based on the functional response result, mathematical growth models demonstrated that with a constant harvesting factor (Holling Type II) frogs will always have a negative impact on the beneficial natural enemy population due to intraguild predation thereby limiting its potential as a pest regulator. Our study challenges the notion of frogs as an effective pest control agent and argues that increasing habitat diversity might improve overall biological pest suppression.

Cuticle degrading enzyme production by some isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.)

Journal of Bio-Science ◽

10.3329/jbs.v20i0.17648 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

pp. 25-32

Author(s):

N Sapna Bai ◽

OK Remadevi ◽

TO Sasidharan ◽

M Balachander ◽

Priyadarsanan Dharmarajan

Keyword(s):

Pest Control ◽

Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽

Enzyme Production ◽

Insect Pest ◽

Strong Relationship ◽

Control Agent ◽

Mechanical Pressure ◽

Degrading Enzyme ◽

Insect Pest Control ◽

Degrading Enzymes

Context: Entomopathogenic fungi have been recognized as viable alternate options to chemicals in insect pest control. Unlike other potential biocontrol agents, fungi do not have to be ingested to infect their hosts but invade directly through the cuticle. Entry into the host involves both enzymic degradation of the cuticle barrier and mechanical pressure. Production of a range of cuticle degrading enzymes is an important event in the interaction of entomopathogenic fungi and host. Enzyme secretion is believed to be a key contributor for the virulence of a fungal isolate. Objectives: The potentiality of nine isolates of M. anisopliae were tested to produce to produce three important cuticle degrading enzymes, viz., chitinase, protease and lipase. Materials and Methods: Nine isolates of M. anisopliae were evaluated for chitinase, protease and lipase enzyme production by determining the enzyme index and activities. Results: Chitinase index of these isolates were ranged from 1.5 to 2.2 and chitinolytic activity from 0.525 to 1.560 U/ml. The isolates showed protease index in the range of 1.2 to 3.3 and the activity ranged from 0.020 to 0.114 U/ml. Lipase index ranged from 1.15 to 7.0 and the enzyme activity ranged from 0.153 to 0.500 U/ml. A strong relationship was observed between virulence of the isolates and cuticle degrading enzyme production as increased enzyme production was observed for virulent isolates. Conclusion: In the present study three isolates as (MIS2, MIS7 and MIS13) demonstrated cuticle degrading enzyme (CDE) that indicate higher virulence based on the bioassay conducted earlier by the authors as strongly substantiating the role of CDEs is considered the virulence of Metarhizium isolates. So, these isolates may be as ecofriendly insect-pest control agent in future. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbs.v20i0.17648 J. bio-sci. 20: 25-32, 2012

Pathogenicity of Pakistani isolates of Steinernema bifurcatum and S. affine (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) in management of stored grain pests Lasioderma serricorne and Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Ptinidae, Tenebrionidae)

Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control ◽

10.1186/s41938-021-00418-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tabassum Ara Khanum ◽

Salma Javed

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Tribolium Castaneum ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Economic Loss ◽

Research Area ◽

Control Agent ◽

Lasioderma Serricorne ◽

Stored Grain ◽

Insect Infestations ◽

Stored Grain Pests

Abstract Background Stored grain products suffer a considerable economic loss due to insect infestations. The resistance of pests to insecticide, and residues on crops are produced by the application of insecticide. Nowadays, incremental necessity has been occurred to find out alternatives to chemicals. As biological control agents, entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) attract attention increasingly in the research area recently. Results The aim of the study was to evaluate the pathogenicity of Pakistani isolates Steinernema bifurcatum and S. affine against the stored grain pests, Tribolium castaneum and Lasioderma serricorne, under laboratory conditions. Suspensions of nematodes were applied at 4 different concentrations 0, 50, 100, and 200 IJs/ml and 3 variable temperatures 15, 30, and 45°C. Pathogenicity rate was recorded after 48 h of application. The larval stage is found more susceptible than the adult. At 200 IJs, S. bifurcatum showed high mortality of L. serricorne larva (92%) and T. castaneum larva (93%), whereas S. affine showed 90 and 95% mortality of L. serricorne and T. castaneum larva, respectively, at 200 IJs. The results revealed that both species of EPN were able to control and reproduce on L. serricorne and T. castaneum. Maximum mortality was recorded at 45 °C from S. bifurcatum whereas S. affine at 15 °C. Conclusions Therefore, S. bifurcatum and S. affine could be suggested as a biological control agent for hot and cold climatic zones, respectively.

Prey removal in cotton crops next to woodland reveals periodic diurnal and nocturnal invertebrate predation gradients from the crop edge by birds and bats

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-84633-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Heidi L. Kolkert ◽

Rhiannon Smith ◽

Romina Rader ◽

Nick Reid

Keyword(s):

Pest Control ◽

Open Space ◽

Optimal Foraging Theory ◽

Time Of Day ◽

Camera Traps ◽

Generalist Predators ◽

Crop Cover ◽

Foraging Preferences ◽

Experimental Feeding ◽

Natural Pest Control

AbstractFactors influencing the efficacy of insectivorous vertebrates in providing natural pest control services inside crops at increasing distances from the crop edge are poorly understood. We investigated the identity of vertebrate predators (birds and bats) and removal of sentinel prey (mealworms and beetles) from experimental feeding trays in cotton crops using prey removal trials, camera traps and observations. More prey was removed during the day than at night, but prey removal was variable at the crop edge and dependent on the month (reflecting crop growth and cover) and time of day. Overall, the predation of mealworms and beetles was 1-times and 13-times greater during the day than night, respectively, with predation on mealworms 3–5 times greater during the day than night at the crop edge compared to 95 m inside the crop. Camera traps identified many insectivorous birds and bats over crops near the feeding trays, but there was no evidence of bats or small passerines removing experimental prey. A predation gradient from the crop edge was evident, but only in some months. This corresponded to the foraging preferences of open-space generalist predators (magpies) in low crop cover versus the shrubby habitat preferred by small passerines, likely facilitating foraging away from the crop edge later in the season. Our results are in line with Optimal Foraging Theory and suggest that predators trade-off foraging behaviour with predation risk at different distances from the crop edge and levels of crop cover. Understanding the optimal farm configuration to support insectivorous bird and bat populations can assist farmers to make informed decisions regarding in-crop natural pest control and maximise the predation services provided by farm biodiversity.

Organic Farming and Cover-Crop Management Reduce Pest Predation in Austrian Vineyards

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12030220 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 220

Author(s):

Jo Marie Reiff ◽

Sebastian Kolb ◽

Martin H. Entling ◽

Thomas Herndl ◽

Stefan Möth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Farming ◽

Pest Control ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Management Practices ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Lobesia Botrana ◽

Management Options ◽

Natural Pest Control ◽

Predation Rates

Habitat simplification and intensive use of pesticides are main drivers of global arthropod declines and are, thus, decreasing natural pest control. Organic farming, complex landscapes, and local vineyard management practices such as implementation of flower-rich cover-crop mixtures may be a promising approach to enhance predator abundance and, therefore, natural pest control. We examined the effect of organic versus integrated management, cover-crop diversity in the vineyard inter-rows, and landscape composition on the natural pest control of Lobesia botrana eggs and pupae. Predation of L. botrana pupae was reduced by organic farming and species-poor cover-crops by about 10%. Predation rates of L. botrana eggs did not differ significantly in any of the studied management options. Dominant predators were earwigs (Forficulidae), bush crickets (Tettigoniidae), and ants (Formicidae). Negative effects of organic viticulture are most likely related to the negative nontarget effects on arthropods related to the frequent sulfur and copper applications in combination with the avoidance of strongly damaging insecticides by integrated winegrowers. While a 10% difference in predation rates on a single pest stage is unlikely to have strong practical implications, our results show that the assumed effectiveness of environmentally friendly agriculture needs to be evaluated for specific crops and regions.

Economic valuation of natural pest control of the summer grain aphid in wheat in South East England

Ecosystem Services ◽

10.1016/j.ecoser.2018.02.019 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 30 ◽

pp. 149-157 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Han Zhang ◽

Michael P.D. Garratt ◽

Alison Bailey ◽

Simon G. Potts ◽

Tom Breeze

Keyword(s):

Pest Control ◽

Economic Valuation ◽

Grain Aphid ◽

South East England ◽

Natural Pest Control

Effects of Temporal Crop β Diversification of a Cereal-Based Cropping System on Generalist Predators and Their Biocontrol Potential

Frontiers in Agronomy ◽

10.3389/fagro.2021.704979 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Giovanni Antonio Puliga ◽

Jan Thiele ◽

Hauke Ahnemann ◽

Jens Dauber

Keyword(s):

Crop Rotation ◽

Pest Control ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Generalist Predators ◽

Activity Density ◽

Biocontrol Potential ◽

Natural Pest Control ◽

Predation Rates

In agroecosystems, crop diversification plays a fundamental role in maintaining and regenerating biodiversity and ecosystem services, such as natural pest control. Temporal diversification of cropping systems can affect the presence and activity of natural enemies by providing alternative hosts and prey, food, and refuges for overwintering. However, we still lack studies on the effects of temporal diversification on generalist predators and their biocontrol potential conducted at field scale in commercial agricultural settings. Here, we measured proxies of ecosystem functions related with biological pest control in 29 commercial agricultural fields characterized by cereal-based cropping system in Lower-Saxony, northern Germany. The fields differed in the number of crops and cover crops cultivated during the previous 12 years. Using the Rapid Ecosystem Function Assessment approach, we measured invertebrate predation, seed predation and activity density of generalist predators. We aimed at testing whether the differences in the crop rotations from the previous years would affect activity of predators and their predation rates in the current growing season. We found that the length of the crop rotation had neutral effects on the proxies measured. Furthermore, predation rates were generally lower if the rotation comprised a higher number of cover crops compared to rotation with less cover crops. The activity density of respective taxa of predatory arthropods responded differently to the number of cover crops in the crop rotation. Our results suggest that temporal crop diversity may not benefit the activity and efficiency of generalist predators when diversification strategies involve crops of very similar functional traits. Adding different resources and traits to the agroecosystems through a wider range of cultivated crops and the integration of semi-natural habitats are aspects that need to be considered when developing more diverse cropping systems aiming to provide a more efficient natural pest control.

Evaluation of a contraction flow field on hydrodynamic damage to entomopathogenic nematodes?A biological pest control agent

Biotechnology and Bioengineering ◽

10.1002/bit.10879 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 86 (1) ◽

pp. 96-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Jane P. Fife ◽

Richard C. Derksen ◽

H. Erdal Ozkan ◽

Parwinder S. Grewal ◽

Jeffrey J. Chalmers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Flow Field ◽

Pest Control ◽

Entomopathogenic Nematodes ◽

Control Agent ◽

Contraction Flow ◽

Biological Pest Control

Acetamiprid Affects Destruxins Production but Its Accumulation in Metarhizium sp. Spores Increases Infection Ability of Fungi

Toxins ◽

10.3390/toxins12090587 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 587

Author(s):

Monika Nowak ◽

Przemysław Bernat ◽

Julia Mrozińska ◽

Sylwia Różalska

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolism ◽

Pest Control ◽

Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Fungal Growth ◽

Growth Environment ◽

Anthropogenic Pollutants ◽

Control Factors ◽

Natural Pest Control ◽

First Time

Metarhizium sp. are entomopathogenic fungi that inhabit the soil environment. Together, they act as natural pest control factors. In the natural environment, they come into contact with various anthropogenic pollutants, and sometimes, they are used together and interchangeably with chemical insecticides (e.g., neonicotinoids) for pest control. In most cases, the compatibility of entomopathogens with insecticides has been determined; however, the influence of these compounds on the metabolism of entomopathogenic fungi has not yet been studied. Secondary metabolites are very important factors that influence the fitness of the producers, playing important roles in the ability of these pathogens to successfully parasitize insects. In this study, for the first time, we focus on whether the insecticide present in the fungal growth environment affects secondary metabolism in fungi. The research revealed that acetamiprid at concentrations from 5 to 50 mg L−1 did not inhibit the growth of all tested Metarhizium sp.; however, it reduced the level of 19 produced destruxins in direct proportion to the dosage used. Furthermore, it was shown that acetamiprid accumulates not only in plant or animal tissues, but also in fungal cells. Despite the negative impact of acetamiprid on secondary metabolism, it was proofed to accumulate in Metarhizium spores, which appeared to have a stronger infectious potential against mealworm Tenebrio molitor, in comparison to the insecticide or the biological agent alone.

VIABILITY OF A BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL AGENT THROUGH HYDRAULIC NOZZLES

Transactions of the ASAE ◽

10.13031/2013.17939 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 45-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

J. P. Fife ◽

H. E. Ozkan ◽

R. C. Derksen ◽

P. S. Grewal ◽

C. R. Krause

Keyword(s):

Pest Control ◽

Control Agent ◽

Biological Pest Control