Flowers in tri-trophic systems: mechanisms allowing selective exploitation by insect natural enemies for conservation biological control

1999 ◽  
pp. 155-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. R. Baggen ◽  
G. M. Gurr ◽  
A. Meats
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Conservation Biological Control

scholarly journals Multivariate ordination identifies vegetation types associated with spider conservation in brassica crops

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hafiz Sohaib Ahmed Saqib ◽  
Minsheng You ◽  
Geoff M. Gurr
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Conservation Biological Control ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Brassica Crops ◽  
Multivariate Ordination ◽  
Southern Chinese ◽  
Brassica Crop

Conservation biological control emphasizes natural and other non-crop vegetation as a source of natural enemies to focal crops. There is an unmet need for better methods to identify the types of vegetation that are optimal to support specific natural enemies that may colonize the crops. Here we explore the commonality of the spider assemblage—considering abundance and diversity (H)—in brassica crops with that of adjacent non-crop and non-brassica crop vegetation. We employ spatial-based multivariate ordination approaches, hierarchical clustering and spatial eigenvector analysis. The small-scale mixed cropping and high disturbance frequency of southern Chinese vegetation farming offered a setting to test the role of alternate vegetation for spider conservation. Our findings indicate that spider families differ markedly in occurrence with respect to vegetation type. Grassy field margins, non-crop vegetation, taro and sweetpotato harbour spider morphospecies and functional groups that are also present in brassica crops. In contrast, pumpkin and litchi contain spiders not found in brassicas, and so may have little benefit for conservation biological control services for brassicas. Our findings also illustrate the utility of advanced statistical approaches for identifying spatial relationships between natural enemies and the land uses most likely to offer alternative habitats for conservation biological control efforts that generates testable hypotheses for future studies.

scholarly journals Methyl Salicylate Fails to Enhance Arthropod Predator Abundance or Predator to Pest Ratios in Cotton

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven E Naranjo ◽  
James R Hagler ◽  
John A Byers
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Natural Enemy ◽  
Methyl Salicylate ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Control Function ◽  
Conservation Biological Control ◽  
Cotton Production ◽  
Control Activity ◽  
Synthetic Chemicals

Abstract Conservation biological control is a fundamental tactic in integrated pest management (IPM). Greater biological control services can be achieved by enhancing agroecosystems to be more favorable to the presence, survival, and growth of natural enemy populations. One approach that has been tested in numerous agricultural systems is the deployment of synthetic chemicals that mimic those produced by the plant when under attack by pests. These signals may attract arthropod natural enemies to crop habitats and thus potentially improve biological control activity locally. A 2-yr field study was conducted in the cotton agroecosystem to evaluate the potential of synthetic methyl salicylate (MeSA) to attract native arthropod natural enemies and to enhance biological control services on two key pests. Slow-release packets of MeSA were deployed in replicated cotton plots season long. The abundance of multiple taxa of natural enemies and two major pests were monitored weekly by several sampling methods. The deployment of MeSA failed to increase natural enemy abundance and pest densities did not decline. Predator to prey ratios, used as a proxy to estimate biological control function, also largely failed to increase with MeSA deployment. One exception was a season-long increase in the ratio of Orius tristicolor (White) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) to Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring (= Bemisia tabaci MEAM1) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) adults within the context of biological control informed action thresholds. Overall results suggest that MeSA would not likely enhance conservation biological control by the natural enemy community typical of U.S. western cotton production systems.

scholarly journals Multivariate ordination identifies vegetation types associated with spider conservation in brassica crops

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hafiz Sohaib Saqib ◽  
Minsheng You ◽  
Geoff M Gurr
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Conservation Biological Control ◽  
Active Species ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Brassica Crops ◽  
Multivariate Ordination ◽  
Southern Chinese

Conservation biological control emphasizes the importance of vegetation other than the focal crop for providing natural enemies with refuge and shelter against disturbance. There is an unmet need for better methods to identify types of vegetation that are optimal to support specific natural enemies that may colonize into crops. Here we explore the commonality of the spider fauna of brassica crops with that of adjacent crops of other species and non-crop vegetation, employing spatial-based multivariate ordination approaches, hierarchical clustering and spatial eigenvector analysis. The small-scale mixed cropping and high disturbance frequency of southern Chinese vegetation farming offered a setting to test the role of alternate vegetation for spider conservation. Our findings indicate that spider families differ markedly in occurrence with respect to vegetation type. Grassy field margins, non-crop vegetation, taro and sweetpotato offer the best opportunity for promoting spider taxa that are also brassica-active species. In contrast, pumpkin and litchi contain species not found in brassicas, and so may have little benefit for conservation biological control services for brassicas. Our findings also illustrate the potential utility of advanced statistical approaches for identifying spatial relationships of species and identify the land uses most likely to offer alternative habitats for spider conservation biological control efforts and generates testable hypotheses for future studies.

scholarly journals Multivariate ordination identifies vegetation types associated with spider conservation in brassica crops

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hafiz Sohaib Saqib ◽  
Minsheng You ◽  
Geoff M Gurr
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Conservation Biological Control ◽  
Active Species ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Brassica Crops ◽  
Multivariate Ordination ◽  
Southern Chinese

Conservation biological control emphasizes the importance of vegetation other than the focal crop for providing natural enemies with refuge and shelter against disturbance. There is an unmet need for better methods to identify types of vegetation that are optimal to support specific natural enemies that may colonize into crops. Here we explore the commonality of the spider fauna of brassica crops with that of adjacent crops of other species and non-crop vegetation, employing spatial-based multivariate ordination approaches, hierarchical clustering and spatial eigenvector analysis. The small-scale mixed cropping and high disturbance frequency of southern Chinese vegetation farming offered a setting to test the role of alternate vegetation for spider conservation. Our findings indicate that spider families differ markedly in occurrence with respect to vegetation type. Grassy field margins, non-crop vegetation, taro and sweetpotato offer the best opportunity for promoting spider taxa that are also brassica-active species. In contrast, pumpkin and litchi contain species not found in brassicas, and so may have little benefit for conservation biological control services for brassicas. Our findings also illustrate the potential utility of advanced statistical approaches for identifying spatial relationships of species and identify the land uses most likely to offer alternative habitats for spider conservation biological control efforts and generates testable hypotheses for future studies.

scholarly journals Predators and Parasitoids-in-First: From Inundative Releases to Preventative Biological Control in Greenhouse Crops

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliette Pijnakker ◽  
Dominiek Vangansbeke ◽  
Marcus Duarte ◽  
Rob Moerkens ◽  
Felix L. Wäckers
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Control Strategy ◽  
Conservation Biological Control ◽  
Resident Population ◽  
Greenhouse Crops ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Resident Populations ◽  
Inoculative Biological Control ◽  
Inundative Releases

Repeated mass introductions of natural enemies have been widely used as a biological control strategy in greenhouse systems when the resident population of natural enemies is insufficient to suppress the pests. As an alternative strategy, supporting the establishment and population development of beneficials can be more effective and economical. The preventative establishment of predators and parasitoids, before the arrival of pests, has become a key element to the success of biological control programs. This “Predators and parasitoids-in-first” strategy is used both in Inoculative Biological Control (IBC), and in Conservation Biological Control (CBC). Here, we provide an overview of tools used to boost resident populations of biocontrol agents.

scholarly journals Stability and Resiliency of Biological Control of the Twospotted Spider Mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) in Hop

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 894-902 ◽  
Author(s):  
A E Iskra ◽  
J L Woods ◽  
D H Gent
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilization ◽  
Spider Mite ◽  
Fertilization Rate ◽  
Conservation Biological Control ◽  
Spider Mites ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Twospotted Spider Mite ◽  
Twospotted Spider

Abstract The twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) is a common pest in agricultural and ornamental crops. This pest can be controlled by resident predatory arthropods in certain situations. This research quantified the stability and resiliency of established conservation biological control of the twospotted spider mite in hop over a 5-yr period associated with nitrogen fertilization rate and use of a broad-spectrum insecticide. Biological control generally was stable and resilient over a sixfold range of nitrogen fertilization rates, and in only 1 of 5 yr did elevated nitrogen rates significantly affect populations of spider mites. In contrast, one application of the insecticide bifenthrin was associated with disruption of biological control and a severe outbreak of spider mites. The complex of natural enemies suppressed the outbreak during the same year in which bifenthrin was applied, but only after populations of spider mites exceeded levels associated with economic damage. However, in the following year the system returned to an equilibrium state where spider mites were suppressed below economically damaging levels. Therefore, conservation biological control in hop appears stable and robust to factors such as nitrogen fertilization that increase reproductive rates of spider mites but may be sensitive to factors such as nonselective insecticides that are lethal to natural enemies. Conservation biological control can be considered resilient to a single use of a nonselective insecticide in the year following the application, but not within the year of application.

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