Parasitoids as biological control agents – a fundamental approach

Parasitology ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 241-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Waage ◽  
M. P. Hassell
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Larval Survival ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Inundative Release ◽  
Control Factors ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Parasitoid Foraging

SUMMARYThis review begins with a description of the parasitoid life-style and the ecological and evolutionary factors which generate the remarkable diversity of insect parasitoids. We then describe the various ways that parasitoids have been used in the biological control of insect pests, and survey their success to date. The use of parasitoids remains largely an art, aided by past experience of success and failure. A more fundamental approach, involving basic research and theory, has not as yet contributed significantly to practical biological control. We explore the potential for such a science of parasitoid use and review basic research on parasitoid ecology and evolution which is of particular relevance to biological control. Mathematical models are used to identify and examine those parasitoid and host attributes which lead to successful biological control. Factors such as parasitoid foraging behaviour, fecundity, larval survival and sex ratio are shown to be important in influencing the depression of host populations and/or the stability of host–parasitoid interactions after depression. Multiple release is discussed and a model for inundative release of parasitoids is explored.

Releases of biological control agents of insect pests on Easter Island (Pacific Ocean)

Entomophaga ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 40 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 427-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. Ripa ◽  
P. S. Rojas ◽  
G. Velasco
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Easter Island ◽  
Biological Control Agents

Identification of Aspergillus flavus Isolates as Potential Biocontrol Agents of Aflatoxin Contamination in Crops

2013 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 1051-1055 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. ROSADA ◽  
J. R. SANT'ANNA ◽  
C. C. S. FRANCO ◽  
G. N. M. ESQUISSATO ◽  
P. A. S. R. SANTOS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Aspergillus Flavus ◽  
Filamentous Fungus ◽  
Microscopic Examination ◽  
Genetic Recombination ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Biocontrol Agents ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Nit Mutants ◽  
The Stability

Aspergillus flavus, a haploid organism found worldwide in a variety of crops, including maize, cottonseed, almond, pistachio, and peanut, causes substantial and recurrent worldwide economic liabilities. This filamentous fungus produces aflatoxins (AFLs) B1 and B2, which are among the most carcinogenic compounds from nature, acutely hepatotoxic and immunosuppressive. Recent efforts to reduce AFL contamination in crops have focused on the use of nonaflatoxigenic A. flavus strains as biological control agents. Such agents are applied to soil to competitively exclude native AFL strains from crops and thereby reduce AFL contamination. Because the possibility of genetic recombination in A. flavus could influence the stability of biocontrol strains with the production of novel AFL phenotypes, this article assesses the diversity of vegetative compatibility reactions in isolates of A. flavus to identify heterokaryon self-incompatible (HSI) strains among nonaflatoxigenic isolates, which would be used as biological controls of AFL contamination in crops. Nitrate nonutilizing (nit) mutants were recovered from 25 A. flavus isolates, and based on vegetative complementation between nit mutants and on the microscopic examination of the number of hyphal fusions, five nonaflatoxigenic (6, 7, 9 to 11) and two nontoxigenic (8 and 12) isolates of A. flavus were phenotypically characterized as HSI. Because the number of hyphal fusions is reduced in HSI strains, impairing both heterokaryon formation and the genetic exchanges with aflatoxigenic strains, the HSI isolates characterized here, especially isolates 8 and 12, are potential agents for reducing AFL contamination in crops.

scholarly journals Parasitoids of Delia planipalpis (Meigen) and Delia platura (Stein) (Diptera, Anthomyiidae) in Mexico

ZooKeys ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1046 ◽  
pp. 177-187
Author(s):  
Paulina Nava-Ruiz ◽  
Ricardo Meraz-Álvarez ◽  
Jorge Valdez-Carrasco ◽  
Onésimo Chávez-López ◽  
Néstor Bautista-Martínez
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Brassica Campestris ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Raphanus Raphanistrum ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Yield Quality ◽  
Sisymbrium Irio ◽  
Delia Platura

Among the insect pests that affect crucifer crops in Mexico are Delia planipalpis (Meigen) and D. platura (Stein). They are a threat to the production of these vegetables since the damage they cause directly and indirectly affects yield, quality, and commercialization of these crops. Nevertheless, the existence of natural enemies of these dipterans is still unknown. It is fundamental to determine which parasitoids or predators can be considered possible biological control agents in an integrated pest management program. The sampling sites were located in Guanajuato, Puebla, and the State of Mexico, where plants of Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenk and capitata L., B. napus L., and Raphanus sativus L. infested with Delia spp. were selected. The symptoms observed were wilting, yellowish, flaccid leaves and individuals less developed than the rest of the crop. These plants were extracted with their root and the surrounding soil. Also, wild crucifers were collected, such as Raphanus raphanistrum L., Brassica campestris L., and Sisymbrium irio L. The first records of Aphaereta pallipes Say (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), Trybliographa rapae (Westwood) (Hymenoptera, Figitidae), and Aleochara bimaculata Gravenhorst (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) are reported parasitizing the puparia of these anthomyiid flies on cultivated and wild crucifers. This represents only a starting point for the continuous study of these parasitoids, which is needed to consider them useful for the biological control of D. planipalpis and D. platura.

scholarly journals Interactions between Two Biological Control Agents on Lygodium microphyllum

Insects ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 180
Author(s):  
Ian Jones ◽  
Ellen Lake
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Oviposition Behavior ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Larval Survival ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Oviposition Choice ◽  
Choice Tests ◽  
Feeding Trials ◽  
Antagonistic Interactions ◽  
Over Time

Lygodium microphyllum (Lygodiaceae) is an invasive climbing fern in peninsular Florida. Two classical biological control agents are currently being released against L. microphyllum: a leaf galling mite, Floracarus perrepae (Acariformes: Eriophyidae), and a moth, Neomusotima conspurcatalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Little is known about how the two species interact in the field; thus we conducted oviposition choice tests to determine the effects of F. perrepae presence on oviposition behavior in N. conspurcatalis. Further, we conducted feeding trials with N. conspurcatalis larvae to establish the effects of gall presence on larval survival and rate of development, and determine whether N. conspurcatalis larvae would directly consume F. perrepae galls. Neomusotima conspurcatalis laid significantly more eggs on mite galled (52.66 ± 6.211) versus ungalled (34.40 ± 5.587) L. microphyllum foliage. Feeding trials revealed higher mortality in N. conspurcatalis larvae raised on galled (60%) versus ungalled (36%) L. microphyllum material. In gall feeding trials, N. conspurcatalis larvae consumed or damaged 13.52% of galls, and the rate of direct gall feeding increased over time as leaf resources were depleted. Our results suggest that, where N. conspurcatalis and F. perrepae co-occur, competitive interactions could be more frequent than previously anticipated; however, we do not expect these antagonistic interactions to affect the establishment of either agent.

scholarly journals Oviposition Strategies of Tachinid Parasitoids: Two Exorista Species as Case Studies

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 117954331875749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Luisa Dindo ◽  
Satoshi Nakamura
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Lymantria Dispar ◽  
Host Selection ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Artificial Substrates ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Northern United States ◽  
Oviposition Strategies ◽  
Hymenopteran Parasitoids

Oviposition strategies and mechanisms of host selection in parasitoids may be crucial for the success of parasitization and parasitoid production. These aspects are far less known in tachinid parasitoids than in hymenopteran parasitoids. Depending on the species, parasitoid flies may adopt direct or indirect oviposition strategies. The ‘direct type’ females lay eggs on or, in relatively a few species, inside the host body. This review describes cues involved in host selection by tachinid parasitoids and their oviposition strategies and presents 2 case studies in more detail, focusing on Exorista larvarum and Exorista japonica. These 2 polyphagous parasitoids of Lepidoptera lay macrotype eggs directly on the host cuticle. Both species have been used as biological control agents in inoculative release against the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar in the Northern United States. Improved knowledge of the mechanisms involved in host selection and oviposition strategies may increase the possibility of eliciting oviposition by these tachinids on target lepidopterous hosts (and even artificial substrates), thus facilitating their rearing and ultimately making their exploitation as regulators of target insect pests more feasible and efficient.

scholarly journals Draft Genome Sequence of Chromobacterium subtsugae MWU12-2387 Isolated from a Wild Cranberry Bog in Truro, Massachusetts

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Vöing ◽  
Alisha Harrison ◽  
Scott D. Soby
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Genome Sequence ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Draft Genome ◽  
Draft Genome Sequence ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bog Soils

ABSTRACT Chromobacterium subtsugae MWU12-2387 was isolated from the rhizosphere of cranberry plants. While it is unknown what environmental role these bacteria play in bog soils, they hold potential as biological control agents against nematodes and insect pests. Potential virulence genes were identified, including the violacein synthesis pathway, siderophores, and several chitinases.

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