Selecting non-target species for arthropod biological control agent host range testing: Evaluation of a novel method

2016 ◽  
Vol 93 ◽  
pp. 84-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.I.P. Barratt ◽  
J.H. Todd ◽  
L.A. Malone
2007 ◽  
Vol 60 ◽  
pp. 286-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.A. Berndt ◽  
S. Mansfield ◽  
T.M. Withers

Uraba lugens (gum leaf skeletoniser) is a serious pest of Eucalyptus spp in Australia It is now well established in the greater Auckland region and is spreading Two parasitoid species are under consideration as potential biological control agents of U lugens This paper describes host range testing methods developed using one of these species (Cotesia urabae) against two nontarget species Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera litura Using sequential nochoice tests to test the response of mated C urabae females clear preferences were observed for U lugens over both nontarget test species Some females did attempt to attack the nontarget species but no evidence of parasitism was observed when nontarget hosts were reared or dissected This method elucidated both behavioural responses and physiological development of C urabae and it is proposed to be a suitable host range testing method for full evaluation of this species


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.


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