scholarly journals Attract, reward and disrupt: responses of pests and natural enemies to combinations of habitat manipulation and semiochemicals in organic apple

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joakim Pålsson ◽  
Mario Porcel ◽  
Teun Dekker ◽  
Marco Tasin
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Ecosystem Service ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Insect Community ◽  
Biological Pest Control

AbstractThe widespread use of pesticides along with the simplification of the landscape has had undesirable effects on agroecosystems, such as the loss of biodiversity and the associated ecosystem service biological control. How current production systems can be remodelled to allow for a re-establishment of biological pest control, while preserving productivity, is a major challenge. Here, we tested whether a combination of tools could augment or synergize biological control of insect pests in apple (Malus domestica), comprised of a tortricid pest complex, a geometrid pest complex and the rosy apple aphid. The tools aimed at disrupting mating behaviour of multiple pest species (multispecies mating disruption, “Disrupt”, MMD), attracting natural enemies (a blend of herbivory-induced volatiles, “Attract”, A), or providing refuge and rewards for a diverse insect community (perennial flower strip, “Reward”, R) over a 3-year period. Suction samples were consistently richer in generalist predators but not in parasitoids when multiple tools including MMD + A + R or MMD + A were employed. In addition, lepidopteran pest levels were significantly lower in these plots than in MMD or MMD + R at the end of the 3-year experiment. This was, however, not reflected in survival of artificially established aphid colonies. Our data indicates that multiple, complementary tools can greatly enhance natural enemy level, but also that long-term implementation is needed to fully realize the augmentatory or synergistic potential of complementary components and restore biological control as an ecosystem service of practical relevance.

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 A Way Forward to Combat Insect Pest in Rice

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
MP Ali ◽  
B Nessa ◽  
MT Khatun ◽  
MU Salam ◽  
MS Kabir
Keyword(s):  
Yield Loss ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Brown Planthopper ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Rice Production ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Management Options

The damage caused by insect pest is the continual factor for the reduction of rice production. To date, 232 rice insect pest species are identified in Bangladesh and more than 100 species of insects are considered pests in rice production systems globally, but only about 20 - 33 species can cause significant economic loss. The major goal of this study is to explore all the possible ways of developed and proposed technologies for rice insect pests management and minimize economic losses. Insect pests cause 20% average yield loss in Asia where more than 90% of the world's rice is produced. In Bangladesh, outbreak of several insects such as rice hispa, leafroller, gallmidge, stem borers and brown planthopper (BPH) occurs as severe forms. Based on previous reports, yield loss can reach upto 62% in an outbreak situation due to hispa infestation. However, BPH can cause 44% yield loss in severe infestested field. To overcome the outbreaks in odd years and to keep the loss upto 5%, it is necessary to take some preventive measures such as planting of resistant or tolerant variety, stop insecticide spraying at early establishment of rice, establish early warning and forecasting system, avoid cultivation of susceptible variety and following crop rotation. Subsequent quick management options such as insecticidal treatment for specific insect pest should also be broadcasted through variety of information systems. Advanced genomic tool can be used to develop genetically modified insect and plants for sustainable pest management. In addition, to stipulate farmers not use insecticides at early crop stgae and minimize general annualized loss, some interventions including training rice farmers, regular field monitoring, digitalization in correct insect pests identification and their management (example; BRRI rice doctor mobile app), and demonstration in farmers field. Each technology itself solely or combination of two or more or all the packages can combat the insect pests, save natural enemies, harvest expected yield and contribute to safe food production in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Rice J. 25 (1) : 1-22, 2021

scholarly journals Conserving carnivorous arthropods: an example from early-season cranberry (Ericaceae) flooding

2018 ◽  
Vol 150 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-273
Author(s):  
J. van Zoeren ◽  
C. Guédot ◽  
S.A. Steffan
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Pest Management ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Cultural Control ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Early Season ◽  
Insecticide Application ◽  
Insecticide Spray

AbstractBiological control plays an important role in many integrated pest management programmes, but can be disrupted by other control strategies, including chemical and cultural controls. In commercial cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton; Ericaceae) production, a spring flood can replace an insecticide application, providing an opportunity to study the compatibility of the flood (a cultural control) with biological control. We suspect that chemical controls will tend to reduce the number of natural enemies, while the flood, through removal of detritus and detritivores, may cause generalist predators to prey-switch to consume proportionally more pest individuals. We measured the abundance of herbivores (Lepidoptera), detritivores, Arachnida, and parasitoids (Hymenoptera) every week for six weeks in Wisconsin (United States of America) cranberry beds following either an insecticide spray or a cultural control flood. We found that detritivore populations rapidly declined in both flood and spray treatments; conversely, carnivore populations (spiders and parasitoids) were more abundant in the flooded beds than in sprayed beds. Populations of key cranberry pests were similar between flooded and sprayed beds. Our results showed that early-season flooding preserved more natural enemies than an insecticide application. This increase in natural enemy abundance after the flood may allow for greater continuity in herbivore suppression, potentially providing a basis for long-term cranberry pest management.

Improvement on Natural Enemies of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Using Extracts of Agrimonia pilosa

2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 1581-1586
Author(s):  
Huifang Guo ◽  
Yufeng Qu
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Bemisia Tabaci ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Ethanol Extract ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Melia Azedarach ◽  
Encarsia Formosa ◽  
Ethanol Extracts ◽  
And Control

Abstract Compared with the numerous natural enemies against insect pests that have been identified, the commercialization of natural biological control resources remains very limited. To increase the use of natural enemies for biological control, determining how to improve the low efficacy, slow speed, and high cost of natural enemies is very important. Mediterranean species of The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodoidea), increasingly threatens many crops in China, and control primarily depends on chemical insecticides. Here, the effect of ethanol extracts from two plants, Agrimonia pilosa (Ledeb) (Rosales: Rosaceae) and Melia azedarach (Linn) (Meliaceae: Melia), on predominant natural enemies of B. tabaci was investigated using a leaf dipping or spraying method. The results showed that the ethanol extract of A. pilosa significantly improved the infectivity of the fungus Isaria javanica (Friedrichs & Bally) (Ascomycota: Hypocreales), and the mortality of whiteflies caused by the combination of fungus (105 spores/mL) with the extract of A. pilosa (2 mg/mL dried powder of A. pilosa containing 0.0942 mg/mL total polyphenols) was 81.6%, which was significantly higher than that caused by the fungus only. However, the ethanol extract of M. azedarach had no effect on fungus infectivity. Additionally, insecticide tolerance of the predator Pardosa pseudoannulata was also significantly improved by the extract of A. pilosa. The longevity of the parasitoid Encarsia formosa was not affected by the extracts. These findings indicate that the extract of A. pilosa played a dual role that included improving pathogenic fungi infectivity and insecticidal tolerance of a predator and thus could be a synergist in the biological control of B. tabaci.

scholarly journals Ichneumonids (Hymenoptera) and Tachinid Flies (Diptera) Associated to Leptidopterans in Soybean Crops

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angélica Massarolli ◽  
Ana Regina Lucena Hoffmann ◽  
Bruna Magda Favetti ◽  
Alessandra Regina Butnariu
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Species ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Neotropical Region ◽  
The State ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Lepidopteran Pest

Studies on natural enemies are important to find new species and to develop management strategies to preserve them to help control pests in biological control programs. For the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, which comprises the Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal biomes, few studies have been conducted on the diversity of these parasitoids, possible endemic and/or new species, as well as their potential as natural enemies. Thus, the present study was aimed at describing the diversity of parasitoids of the families Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) and Tachinidae (Diptera) associated with pest lepidopterans in soybean crops. Weekly sampling of pest lepidopterans was carried out during four soybean seasons (2009/2010, 2010/2011, 2011/2012 and 2012/2013). Parasitoid larvae were observed in the main lepidopteran pest species of soybean during the four soybean seasons. Three genera of the Ichneumonidae family, belonging to the genera Microcharops Roman, Ophionellus Westwood, and Podogaster Brullé. Six genera of the Tachinidae family occur in the state of Mato Grosso in soybean fields. The following genera were recorded: Archytas spp. Jaennicke, Phorocera spp. Robineau-Desvoidy, Gymnocarcelia spp. Townsend, Lespesia spp. Robineau-Desvoidy, Eucelatoria spp. Townsend, Chetogena spp. Rondani. These parasitoids were found parasitizing caterpillars of the Noctuidae (Lepidoptera), in species that had not yet been reported as hosts for the Neotropical region. Further studies are needed on the beneficial entomofauna and their preservation in agricultural environments.

Implementation of biological control

1988 ◽  
Vol 3 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 102-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joop C. van Lenteren
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
Industry Policy ◽  
Chemical Pesticides ◽  
Inoculative Biological Control

AbstractThe number of species of insect pests, estimated to be maximally 10,000 worldwide, forms only a small part of the millions of species of plant-eating insects. Chemical pest control is becoming increasingly difficult and objectionable in terms of environmental contamination so that other methods of pest control need to be developed. One of the best alternatives is biological control. Natural and inoculative biological control has already proven successful against a variety of pests over large areas. One is inclined to forget, however, how successful a biological control program has been as soon as the pest problem has been solved. Other types of biological control involving the regular introduction or augmentation of natural enemies are better known, although these have been applied on a much smaller scale; a survey of the present-day application of these latter types of biological control is presented here. Phases in the implementation of biological control are illustrated and needed future developments in research are discussed. The main limitation on the development of biological control is not the research, since natural enemies are easier found and with a much lower investment than new chemical pesticides, but rather the attitudes held by growers and disinterest on the part of industry, policy-makers, and politicians. The first priority for those concerned with the development and application of safer pest control should, therefore, be to change the perceptions that these other groups have of biological control.

scholarly journals Beneficial Insects for Biological Pest Control in Greenhouse Cannabis Production

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Gerasimos GRAMMENOS ◽  
Varvara KOUNELI ◽  
Antonios MAVROEIDIS ◽  
Ioannis ROUSSIS ◽  
Ioanna KAKABOUKI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Pest Management ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Visual Estimation ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
Main Method ◽  
Beneficial Insects

A greenhouse cannabis cultivation took place in Agriculture university of Athens in order to quantify the efficiency of beneficial insects as a main method of pest management. Cannabis plants grown in two greenhouses and beneficial insects were released only in one greenhouse as a means to investigate the efficacy against pests by the comparison with the control greenhouse. Measurements included the visual estimation of infestation, the recording of pest species and populations, and the comparison of infestations and yields amongst greenhouses. Our results indicate that beneficial insects could control pest populations up to 100%. Even though the environmental conditions were not optimal and consecutive pest infestations were observed throughout the duration of our study, the beneficial insects successfully managed the pest populations. In conclusion, biological control with beneficial insects is a very effective method for pest management in greenhouse cannabis production.

scholarly journals Potential of Predatory Natural Enemies for Biological Control of Sap-Sucking Insect Pests in Paraguay

2002 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi NODA ◽  
Yutaka KIMURA ◽  
Maria B. R. de LÓPEZ ◽  
Mirian T. de EVERT ◽  
Carlos PALACIO
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Insect Pests

Characteristics of successful natural enemies in models of biological control of insect pests

Nature ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 273 (5663) ◽  
pp. 513-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Beddington ◽  
C. A. Free ◽  
J. H. Lawton
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Insect Pests

EFFECTS OF PRECIPITATION ON CROP INSECTS

1970 ◽  
Vol 102 (11) ◽  
pp. 1360-1373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan P. Beirne
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Mechanical Factor ◽  
Annual Crops

Abstract A review and analysis of the literature showed that precipitation, or its absence, can regulate the numbers of or the damage by insect pests of annual crops in Canada in essentially four main ways: as soil moisture, when the insects are in the ground; as a mechanical factor that impinges directly on them when they are exposed; through its effects on foodplants; and through its effects on natural enemies of the pests. Though any one pest species may be influenced by two or more of these processes and in different ways by each depending on the stage of its life cycle that is affected, usually only one way is significant. Precipitation is so far of little value in forecasting pest situations reliably, but water in various forms has much potential for use as a pest control agent.

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