Optimizing Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) as a biological control agent: mathematical models for predicting its development as a function of temperature

2015 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Héctor Martínez-García ◽  
Luis R Román-Fernández ◽  
María G Sáenz-Romo ◽  
Ignacio Pérez-Moreno ◽  
Vicente S Marco-Mancebón
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Mathematical Models ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Developmental Rate ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Developmental Time ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Developmental Models ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Nesidiocoris Tenuis

AbstractFor optimal application of Nesidiocoris tenuis as a biological control agent, adequate field management and programmed mass rearing are essential. Mathematical models are useful tools for predicting the temperature-dependent developmental rate of the predator. In this study, the linear model and nonlinear models Logan type III, Lactin and Brière were estimated at constant temperatures and validated at alternating temperatures and under field conditions. N. tenuis achieved complete development from egg to adult at constant temperatures between 15 and 35°C with high survivorship (>80%) in the range 18–32°C. The total developmental time decreased from a maximum at 15°C (76.74 d) to a minimum at 33°C (12.67 d) and after that, increased to 35°C (13.98 d). Linear and nonlinear developmental models all had high accuracy (Ra2 >0.86). The maximum developmental rate was obtained between 31.9°C (Logan type III and Brière model for N1) and 35.6°C (for the egg stage in the Brière model). Optimal survival and the highest developmental rate fell within the range 27–30°C. The field validation revealed that the Logan type III and Lactin models offered the best predictions (95.0 and 94.5%, respectively). The data obtained on developmental time and mortality at different temperatures are useful for mass rearing this predator, and the developmental models are valuable for using N. tenuis as a biological control agent.

Mass Rearing of the Stem-Galling Wasp Tetramesa romana, a Biological Control Agent of the Invasive Weed Arundo donax

2014 ◽  
pp. 163-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick J. Moran ◽  
John A. Goolsby ◽  
Alexis E. Racelis ◽  
Allen C. Cohen ◽  
Matthew A. Ciomperlik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Arundo Donax ◽  
Invasive Weed

scholarly journals Advancements in Mass Rearing the Air Potato Beetle Lilioceris cheni

Insects ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Emily C. Kraus ◽  
Rosemary Murray ◽  
Cassandra Kelm ◽  
Ryan Poffenberger ◽  
Eric Rohrig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Potato Vine ◽  
Potato Beetle ◽  
Production And Distribution ◽  
Consumer Services ◽  
Distribution Studies

The air potato beetle, Lilioceris cheni Gressitt and Kimoto (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae), is a successful biological control agent of the air potato vine, Dioscorea bulbifera L. (Dioscoreales: Dioscoreaceae), in the southern United States. Lilioceris cheni is currently being mass-reared by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry (FDACS-DPI) for biological control releases and research. The facility rears and releases over 50,000 adult beetles annually at approximately 1000 different locations. In addition to data on beetle production and distribution, studies on alternative larval and adult diets are described. Adults fed bulbils as the sole food source had reduced life spans compared with beetles given fresh air potato leaves. Adults survived without air potato leaves or bulbils for several days to two weeks depending on availability of leaves at emergence. Larvae did not survive on a modified artificial Colorado potato beetle diet containing fresh air potato vine leaves. Adults survived while consuming artificial diet but ceased oviposition. They, however, resumed egg laying less than one week after being returned to a diet of fresh air potato vine leaves.

scholarly journals Lifecycle, Biology, and Descriptions of Greenhouse Biological Control Agent, Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter, 1895) (Hemiptera: Miridae)

2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-318
Author(s):  
Jung Gon Kim ◽  
Wang Hee Lee ◽  
Youg Man Yu ◽  
Chisa Yasunaga-Aoki ◽  
Chisa Yasunaga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Nesidiocoris Tenuis

scholarly journals Jekyll or Hyde? The genome (and more) of Nesidiocoris tenuis, a zoophytophagous predatory bug that is both a biological control agent and a pest

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. B. Ferguson ◽  
S. Visser ◽  
M. Dalíková ◽  
I. Provazníková ◽  
A. Urbaneja ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Genome Sequencing ◽  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
Population Genomics ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Control Research ◽  
Nesidiocoris Tenuis ◽  
Sequencing Strategy

AbstractNesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) is an efficient predatory biological control agent used throughout the Mediterranean Basin in tomato crops but regarded as a pest in northern European countries. Belonging to the family Miridae, it is an economically important insect yet very little is known in terms of genetic information – no published genome, population studies, or RNA transcripts. It is a relatively small and long-lived diploid insect, characteristics that complicate genome sequencing. Here, we circumvent these issues by using a linked-read sequencing strategy on a single female N. tenuis. From this, we assembled the 355 Mbp genome and delivered an ab initio, homology-based, and evidence-based annotation. Along the way, the bacterial “contamination” was removed from the assembly, which also revealed potential symbionts. Additionally, bacterial lateral gene transfer (LGT) candidates were detected in the N. tenuis genome. The complete gene set is composed of 24,688 genes; the associated proteins were compared to other hemipterans (Cimex lectularis, Halyomorpha halys, and Acyrthosiphon pisum), resulting in an initial assessment of unique and shared protein clusters. We visualised the genome using various cytogenetic techniques, such as karyotyping, CGH and GISH, indicating a karyotype of 2n=32 with a male-heterogametic XX/XY system. Additional analyses include the localization of 18S rDNA and unique satellite probes via FISH techniques. Finally, population genomics via pooled sequencing further showed the utility of this genome. This is one of the first mirid genomes to be released and the first of a mirid biological control agent, representing a step forward in integrating genome sequencing strategies with biological control research.

Effect of Temperature on the Survival and Developmental Rate of Immature Ooencyrtus mirus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 1675-1684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy A Power ◽  
Fatemeh Ganjisaffar ◽  
Thomas M Perring
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Developmental Rate ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Invasive Pest ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Thermal Constant ◽  
Developmental Threshold ◽  
Slow Development ◽  
Immature Development

Abstract Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) is an invasive pest of cole crops in the southwestern United States. To find potential biocontrol agents of B. hilaris, three egg parasitoids were imported from Pakistan, including Ooencyrtus mirus, a recently described uniparental species. We investigated the effect of temperature on survival and developmental rate in O. mirus from egg to adult. At 14 and 16°C, no adults emerged unless the immatures were transferred later to a warmer temperature. At constant 18°C, a low percentage emerged, but again more emerged if the immatures were transferred to a warmer temperature. Survival ranged from 80 to 96% at 20–37°C and did not differ significantly among these temperatures. No adults emerged at 38°C. Regardless of the amount of time the parasitized eggs were held at 14 and 16°C, the developmental times after returning the eggs to 26°C were similar, suggesting a quiescence process rather than simply slow development. At higher temperatures, the developmental rate increased linearly from 18 to 36°C and then declined at 37°C. The Wang model provided the best fit of the data and estimated a lower developmental threshold at 13.0°C, an optimal temperature at 35.6°C, and an upper developmental threshold of 38.3°C. The thermal constant for total immature development is 168.4 degree-days. The results show 36°C to be the best temperature for rearing O. mirus, and that O. mirus-parasitized eggs can be stored at 14°C for months without losing viability. These are crucial data to consider when mass rearing this biological control agent.

scholarly journals Advances in Mass Rearing Pseudophilothrips ichini (Hood) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), a Biological Control Agent for Brazilian Peppertree in Florida

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 790
Author(s):  
Dale A. Halbritter ◽  
Min B. Rayamajhi ◽  
Gregory S. Wheeler ◽  
Jorge G. Leidi ◽  
Jenna R. Owens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Mass Production ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Field Release ◽  
Rearing Methods

Pseudophilothrips ichini is a recently approved biological control agent for the highly invasive Brazilian peppertree in Florida, USA. Prior to approval for field release in 2019, thrips colonies used for host specificity testing were produced and maintained in small cylinders to fit in restricted quarantine spaces. This next segment in the classical biological control pipeline is mass production and distribution of P. ichini. To accomplish this, we developed novel techniques to expand from small colony maintenance to large-scale production. We first quantified the productivity of the small cylinders, each containing a 3.8 L potted plant and producing an average of 368 thrips per generation. Given the amount of maintenance the cylinders required, we investigated larger cages to see if greater numbers of thrips could be produced with less effort. Acrylic boxes (81.5 × 39.5 × 39.5 cm) each contained two 3.8 L plants and produced an average of 679 thrips per generation. The final advancement was large, thrips-proof Lumite® screen cages (1.8 × 1.8 × 1.8 m) that each held six plants in 11.4 L pots and produced 13,864 thrips in as little as 5 wk. Screen cages and cylinders had the greatest thrips fold production, but screen cages required ten times less labor per thrips compared to either cylinders or boxes. The efficiency of these large screen cages ensured sustained mass production and field release capacity in Schinus-infested landscapes. The screen cage method is adapted and used by collaborators, and this will expand the literature on beneficial thrips mass rearing methods.

scholarly journals UV-LED lights enhance the establishment and biological control efficacy of Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0245165
Author(s):  
Young-gyun Park ◽  
Joon-Ho Lee
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Growth Chamber ◽  
Led Light ◽  
Greenhouse Crops ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Uv Led ◽  
Nesidiocoris Tenuis ◽  
Mirid Bug

The zoophytophagous mirid Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) is one of the biological control agents against the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), a major pest of greenhouse crops. The successful establishment of a biological control agent and its co-occurrence with the target pests increases the efficacy of biological control programs in greenhouses. In this study, we explored the effects of different wavelengths of LED light on establishment of N. tenuis in laboratory condition, with the goal of enhancing the biological control of B. tabaci in greenhouse crops. Nesidiocoris tenuis was most strongly attracted by LED light at a wavelength of 385 nm. This same wavelength was also highly attractive to B. tabaci in Y-tube experiments with lights of specific wavelengths provided is each arm of the apparatus. In trials in growth chambers, we verified the attraction of N. tenuis to 385 nm wavelength. When LED light at a wavelength of 385 nm was used in a growth chamber for 6 hours out of 24 hours, it significantly increased the remaining number of N. tenuis in growth chamber and level of predation compared to treatment with white LED light or without LED light. In conclusion, UV-LED light at a wavelength of 385 nm attracts both B. tabaci and N. tenuis. Thus, it would be used for enhancing early establishment of this mirid bug, better spatial congruence of both mirid bug and whitefly, and better control of the whitefly.

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