Ground cover management with mixtures of flowering plants to enhance insect pollinators and natural enemies of pests in olive groves

A vast majority of insects visit flowers for food, generally termed as floral rewards. Detailed insights on flowering phenology of plants could give a hint of habitat status and the extent to which such landscapes could support insect pollinators to render both direct and indirect ecosystem services. This study monitored flowering plants which could potentially provide both pollen and nectar sources to four African meliponine bee species (Apidae: Meliponini) naturally occurring in six diverse habitat gradients of the eastern arc mountains (Taita hills) of Kenya. Blooming sequences of identified flowering plants overlapped across seasons with approximately 80 different plant species belonging to 34 families recorded, with the highest proportions from Fabaceae and Asteraceae families dominating flowering plants that were visited (67% of the visits). A flowering calendar is presented to indicate the phenological pattern of all identified floral resources. Hypotrigona gribodoi being the most abundant species had the highest visitation rates on plants belonging to Fabaceae and Asteraceae families, followed by Meliponula ferruginea (black), Plebeina hildebrandti and Hypotrigona ruspolii. This indicates that such fragile habitat could invariably sustain nutritional requirements essential for the survival of insect pollinators such as native meliponine bee species, though bee abundance at flowers did not significantly correlate to food availability (expressed by flowering plant richness).

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A comparison of anesthesia techniques for entomological experimentation: Longevity of the leaf-mining fly pest Scaptomyza flava Fallén (Drosophilidae)

10.7287/peerj.preprints.2874v1 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Ryan Rayl ◽

Stephen Wratten

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Natural Enemies ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Ease Of Use ◽

Environmental Aspects ◽

Lethal Effects ◽

Leaf Mining ◽

Series Of Experiments ◽

Prophylactic Use ◽

Experimental Use

Historically, handling insects has usually involved their being killed, but non-lethal approaches are necessary when evaluating the biology of such organisms. Anesthesia has been used as one of these non-lethal approaches. Two common anesthetics used in this way have been carbon dioxide and chilling. These have been used frequently in the literature but have sub-lethal effects on insects that may affect further experimentation. An alternative anesthetic that has potential for experimental use is triethylamine (TEA). This shows promise because of its ease of use and potency as an insect anesthetic, but evidence, if any, of the sub-lethal effects is almost non-existent in the literature. Here, longevity was use as a proxy for fitness as this is a common approach to laboratory work of this type for pests and their natural enemies. A series of experiments were carried out to find the optimal rates for these three selected anesthetics. The organism selected for this work was the fly Scaptomyza flava (Fallén), the larvae of which mine the leaves of commercial brassica crops worldwide. It is a ‘cosmetic’ pest in that damage thresholds for crop rejection are very low and prophylactic use of insecticides is the norm. One way of mitigating the negative environmental aspects of this approach is to enhance biological control. One such way of enhancing biological control is the use of flowering plants, as they can provide alternative resources to natural enemies, which can enhance their ability to control pests. To evaluate these flowering plants, handling of the insects is necessary and anesthesia is used for this purpose. For each anesthetic an optimal rate was found, then these rates were compared to each other in a subsequent experiment. These anesthetics differed markedly in their value in terms of the duration of the anesthesia and other practical considerations. TEA had the longest effect, CO2 and chilling had the shortest. All three were similar in their effects on longevity (i.e. recovery time and mortality rates).

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Physiological effects of climate warming on flowering plants and insect pollinators and potential consequences for their interactions

Current Zoology ◽

10.1093/czoolo/59.3.418 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 59 (3) ◽

pp. 418-426 ◽

Cited By ~ 77

Author(s):

Victoria L. Scaven ◽

Nicole E. Rafferty

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Warming ◽

Scale Up ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Floral Resources ◽

Physiological Effects ◽

Pollination Success ◽

Insect Pollinators ◽

Pollinating Insects ◽

Plant Pollinator

Abstract Growing concern about the influence of climate change on flowering plants, pollinators, and the mutualistic interactions between them has led to a recent surge in research. Much of this research has addressed the consequences of warming for phenological and distributional shifts. In contrast, relatively little is known about the physiological responses of plants and insect pollinators to climate warming and, in particular, how these responses might affect plant-pollinator interactions. Here, we summarize the direct physiological effects of temperature on flowering plants and pollinating insects to highlight ways in which plant and pollinator responses could affect floral resources for pollinators, and pollination success for plants, respectively. We also consider the overall effects of these responses on plant-pollinator interaction networks. Plant responses to warming, which include altered flower, nectar, and pollen production, could modify floral resource availability and reproductive output of pollinating insects. Similarly, pollinator responses, such as altered foraging activity, body size, and life span, could affect patterns of pollen flow and pollination success of flowering plants. As a result, network structure could be altered as interactions are gained and lost, weakened and strengthened, even without the gain or loss of species or temporal overlap. Future research that addresses not only how plant and pollinator physiology are affected by warming but also how responses scale up to affect interactions and networks should allow us to better understand and predict the effects of climate change on this important ecosystem service.

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Bottom-up effects on arthropod communities in Platycyamus regnellii (Fabaceae) fertilized with dehydrated sewage sludge

Revista Colombiana de Entomología ◽

10.25100/socolen.v47i1.8943 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Gezilene Fernandes de Souza ◽

Germano Leão Demolin Leite ◽

Farley William Souza Silva ◽

Regynaldo Arruda Sampaio ◽

Júlia Letícia Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Organic Compound ◽

Sewage Sludge ◽

Natural Enemies ◽

Ground Cover ◽

Phytophagous Insect ◽

Arthropod Communities ◽

Bottom Up ◽

Disturbed Areas ◽

Arthropods Community

Sewage sludge is a nitrogen-rich organic compound, which can be used to aid development in plants such as Platycyamus regnellii (Fabaceae), in the recovery of degraded areas. This study aimed to assess the bottom-up effects on leaf mass and percentage ofground cover (leaf litter, herbaceous plants, and grasses) in P. regnellii trees fertilized (or not) with dehydrated sewage sludge and arthropod communities over 24 months. Platycyamus regnellii trees fertilized with dehydrated sewage sludge presented significantly more leavesper branch, branches per tree, and a higher percentage of ground cover compared to unfertilized trees. Phenacoccus sp. (Pseudococcidae) was the most abundant phytophagous insect associated with P. regnellii trees. Fertilization did not affect the abundance, diversity, and species richness of Hemiptera phytophagous on P. regnellii trees. However, fertilizedtrees presented higher abundance and species richness of trophobiont-tending ants compared to unfertilized trees, with Camponotus sp. being the most abundant regardless of the treatment. Fertilized P. regnellii trees also presented higher species richness of natural enemies compared to unfertilized ones, with Aranae and Dolichopodidae being the most abundant. We concluded that fertilization with dehydrated sewage sludge improved P. regnellii trees leafmass and ground cover and increased the diversity of trophobiont-tending ants and natural enemies. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the arthropods community associated withthis tree species. This suggests that upon fertilization, P. renellii trees are useful for ecological restoration in severely disturbed areas.

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Spittlebugs of Mediterranean Olive Groves: Host-Plant Exploitation throughout the Year

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11020130 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 130 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Nicola Bodino ◽

Vincenzo Cavalieri ◽

Crescenza Dongiovanni ◽

Matteo Alessandro Saladini ◽

Anna Simonetto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Ground Cover ◽

Philaenus Spumarius ◽

Precise Control ◽

Plant Exploitation ◽

Olive Groves ◽

Plant Families ◽

Olive Trees ◽

Production Areas

Spittlebugs are the vectors of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Wells in Europe, the causal agent of olive dieback epidemic in Apulia, Italy. Selection and distribution of different spittlebug species on host-plants were investigated during field surveys in 2016–2018 in four olive orchards of Apulia and Liguria Regions of Italy. The nymphal population in the herbaceous cover was estimated using quadrat samplings. Adults were collected by sweeping net on three different vegetational components: herbaceous cover, olive canopy, and wild woody plants. Three species of spittlebugs were collected: Philaenus spumarius L., Neophilaenus campestris (Fallén), and Aphrophora alni (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae). Philaenus spumarius was the predominant species both in Apulia and Liguria olive groves. Nymphal stages are highly polyphagous, selecting preferentially Asteraceae Fabaceae plant families, in particular some genera, e.g., Picris, Crepis, Sonchus, Bellis, Cichorium, and Medicago. Host-plant preference of nymphs varies according to the Region and through time and nymphal instar. In the monitored sites, adults peak on olive trees earlier in Apulia (i.e., during inflorescence emergence) than in Liguria (i.e., during flowering and beginning of fruit development). Principal alternative woody hosts are Quercus spp. and Pistacia spp. Knowledge concerning plant selection and ecological traits of spittlebugs in different Mediterranean olive production areas is needed to design effective and precise control strategies against X. fastidiosa vectors in olive groves, such as ground cover modifications to reduce populations of spittlebug vectors.

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Populations and Host/Non-Host Plants of Spittlebugs Nymphs in Olive Orchards from Northeastern Portugal

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11100720 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 720 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

María Villa ◽

Isabel Rodrigues ◽

Paula Baptista ◽

Alberto Fereres ◽

José Alberto Pereira

Keyword(s):

Host Plants ◽

Ground Cover ◽

Middle Part ◽

Bromus Diandrus ◽

Philaenus Spumarius ◽

Nymphal Development ◽

Development Period ◽

Olive Groves ◽

Ground Cover Plant ◽

Ground Cover Vegetation

The Aphrophoridae family contains important vectors of Xylella fastidiosa, a serious bacterial plant disease. In olive orchards, nymphs usually feed on the ground-cover vegetation. However, detailed information about their populations and host/non-host plants in some regions threatened by Xylella, such as the northeast of Portugal, is very limited. The goal of our work was to identify the vector species, nymphal development period, and their host and non-host herbaceous plants in olive orchards from northeastern Portugal. Ground-cover plant species hosting or not hosting nymphs were identified during the spring of 2017 to 2019 in olive orchards. Nymphal development period, nymph aggregation, and nymph’s preferred feeding height of the ground-cover plants were recorded. The most abundant Aphrophoridae species was Philaenus spumarius followed by Neophilaenus sp. Nymphs developed from April to early May and showed a low number of individuals per foam (generally between one and three). They preferred the middle part of the plants. Philaenus spumarius feeds preferentially on Asteraceae and Fabaceae, and Neophilaenus sp. on Poaceae. Some abundant plants, such as Bromus diandrus, Astragalus pelecinus, Chrysanthemum segetum, Trifolium spp., Caryophyllaceae, and Brassicaceae, were barely colonized by Aphrophoridae nymphs. This knowledge is essential for the selection of the species composition of ground-cover vegetation to minimize the presence of vectors of X. fastidiosa in olive groves.

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Attractiveness of flowering plants for natural enemies

Horticultural Science ◽

10.17221/26/2011-hortsci ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 39 (No. 2) ◽

pp. 89-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

T. Kopta ◽

R. Pokluda ◽

V. Psota

Keyword(s):

Natural Enemies ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Flowering Plant ◽

Tagetes Patula ◽

Anethum Graveolens ◽

Insect Communities ◽

Foeniculum Vulgare ◽

Beneficial Insects ◽

Predatory Bugs ◽

Flowering Plant Species

The set of 7 flowering plant species (Anethum graveolens, Calendula officinalis, Centaurea cyanus, Fagopyrum esculentum, Foeniculum vulgare, Tagetes patula and Vicia faba) was compared for their attractiveness to natural enemies such as ladybeetles (Coccinellidae), hoverflies (Syrphidae), ichneumon wasps (Ichneumonidae) and predatory bugs (Orius spp.) during the years 2008–2010. The trial was held in an organic open field located at the Faculty of Horticulture of Mendel University in Brno, Lednice, Czech Republic. The software Canoco (RDA analysis) was used in order to see the relations between plant and insect communities. Flowering plants A. graveolens, C. cyanus, C. officinalis, F. vulgare and F. esculentum were found to be the most attractive for the evaluated beneficial insects. The most abundant beneficial insects were hoverflies (562008, 1542009, 13242010) and ladybeetles (652008, 1162009, 5112010) followed by predatory bugs (142008, 472009, 1382010) and ichneumon wasps (202008, 142009, 822010).

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Synergistic effects of ground cover and adjacent vegetation on natural enemies of olive insect pests

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment ◽

10.1016/j.agee.2013.04.016 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 173 ◽

pp. 72-80 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Daniel Paredes ◽

Luis Cayuela ◽

Mercedes Campos

Keyword(s):

Natural Enemies ◽

Insect Pests ◽

Synergistic Effects ◽

Ground Cover

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Evaluation of native plant flower characteristics for conservation biological control ofPrays oleae

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485315001091 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 106 (2) ◽

pp. 249-257 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

A. Nave ◽

F. Gonçalves ◽

A.L. Crespí ◽

M. Campos ◽

L. Torres

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Natural Enemies ◽

Hypericum Perforatum ◽

Native Plant ◽

Raphanus Raphanistrum ◽

Parasitoid Species ◽

Foeniculum Vulgare ◽

Lavandula Stoechas ◽

Dittrichia Viscosa ◽

Olive Groves

AbstractSeveral studies have shown that manipulating flowering weeds within an agroecosystem can have an important role in pest control by natural enemies, by providing them nectar and pollen, which are significant sources of nutrition for adults. The aim of this study was to assess if the olive moth,Prays oleae(Bernard, 1788) (Lepidoptera: Praydidae), and five of its main natural enemies, the parasitoid speciesChelonus elaeaphilusSilvestri (Hymenoptera: Braconidae),Apanteles xanthostigma(Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae),Ageniaspis fuscicollis(Dalman) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) andElasmus flabellatus(Fonscolombe) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), as well as the predatorChrysoperla carnea(Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), can theoretically access the nectar from 21 flowering weeds that naturally occur in olive groves. Thus, the architecture of the flowers as well as the mouthpart structure and/or the head and thorax width of the pest and its enemies were analyzed. The results suggested that all beneficial insects were able to reach nectar of the plant species from Apiaceae family, i.e.Conopodium majus(Gouan) Loret,Daucus carotaL. andFoeniculum vulgareMill., as well asAsparagus acutifoliusL.,Echium plantagineumL.,Capsella bursa-pastoris(L.) Medik.,Raphanus raphanistrumL.,Lonicera hispanicaBoiss. et Reut.,Silene gallicaL.,Spergula arvensisL.,Hypericum perforatumL.,Calamintha baeticaBoiss. et Reut,Malva neglectaWallr. andLinaria saxatilis(L.) Chaz.P. oleaewas not able to access nectar from five plant species, namely:Andryala integrifoliaL.,Chondrilla junceaL.,Dittrichia viscosa(L.) Greuter,Sonchus asper(L.) Hill andLavandula stoechasL.

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