Predicting the host range of Nystalea ebalea: Secondary plant chemistry and host selection by a surrogate biological control agent of Schinus terebinthifolia

2014 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 39-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.S. Wheeler ◽  
M. Chawner ◽  
D.A. Williams
Author(s):  
Lucrezia Giovannini ◽  
Giuseppino Sabbatini-Peverieri ◽  
Leonardo Marianelli ◽  
Gabriele Rondoni ◽  
Eric Conti ◽  
...  

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 471
Author(s):  
Angelica M. Reddy ◽  
Paul D. Pratt ◽  
Brenda J. Grewell ◽  
Nathan E. Harms ◽  
Ximena Cibils-Stewart ◽  
...  

Exotic water primroses (Ludwigia spp.) are aggressive invaders in aquatic ecosystems worldwide. To date, management of exotic Ludwigia spp. has been limited to physical and chemical control methods. Biological control provides an alternative approach for the management of invasive Ludwigia spp. but little is known regarding the natural enemies of these exotic plants. Herein the biology and host range of Lysathia flavipes (Boheman), a herbivorous beetle associated with Ludwigia spp. in Argentina and Uruguay, was studied to determine its suitability as a biocontrol agent for multiple closely related target weeds in the USA. The beetle matures from egg to adult in 19.9 ± 1.4 days at 25 °C; females lived 86.3 ± 35.6 days and laid 1510.6 ± 543.4 eggs over their lifespans. No-choice development and oviposition tests were conducted using four Ludwigia species and seven native plant species. Lysathia flavipes showed little discrimination between plant species: larvae aggressively fed and completed development, and the resulting females (F1 generation) oviposited viable eggs on most plant species regardless of origin. These results indicate that L. flavipes is not sufficiently host-specific for further consideration as a biocontrol agent of exotic Ludwigia spp. in the USA and further testing is not warranted.


2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 897-908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanzhuo Zhang ◽  
James L. Hanula ◽  
Scott Horn ◽  
Cera Jones ◽  
S. Kristine Braman ◽  
...  

1990 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory J. Weidemann ◽  
David O. Tebeest

The determination of host range is an important component in developing a plant pathogen for use as a bioherbicide. The safety of non-target economic and wild plants must be assured before experimental release and commercial use. In contrast to other methods of weed control, the genetic variability and genetic stability of both the weed and the biological control agent must be considered. Schemes to determine host range generally assume a close phylogenetic relationship between the weed host and its co-evolved pathogens. Therefore, testing generally is based on inoculation of genetically related plant species and progresses to more distantly related species until the host range is circumscribed. Several potential weaknesses in these schemes will be illustrated with examples using specific biological control agents. Future tests must place greater emphasis on testing taxa representing the full range of genetic diversity within the biogeographic area of intended use.


1962 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Brown

A number of observations were made on parasites of certain Pentatomoids (sunn pest) attacking wheat in Middle East countries, during the course of other work on these pests. The principal host species studied were Eurygaster integriceps Put., E. maura (L.) and Aelia rostrata Boh. The data concern both Dipterous (Tachinid) endoparasites of the adult bugs, and also Hymenopterous (Scelionid) egg-parasites; the observations were made principally in central Turkey, and in the Varamine district of Iran. A few observations on predators were made also.The data concerning Tachinids consist of host records for six species of parasites. In no case observed by the author did these parasites appear to be of great importance in reducing the numbers of sunn pest; the same is true of the few instances of predators recorded.Observations were made on six species of Scelionid egg-parasites (five species of Asolcus and one of Hadronotus), five of which were bred from eggs of four species of Pentatomoid hosts collected in the field. The species concerning which the most comprehensive data were obtained were Asolcus rufiventris (Mayr), A. semistriatus (Nees) and A. vassilievi (Mayr). Egg-parasites are well known to be more efficacious in reducing sunn-pest populations, and A. semistriatus has been extensively used in Iran as a biological control agent. The data obtained enabled some ideas which are of importance for the use of egg-parasites in biological control to be formed and discussed. These concern principally (a) the susceptibilities of different hosts to parasitisation; (b) host selection by parasites; (c) the selection of a species of parasite most suitable for biological control in a particular area.


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