Characteristics of successful natural enemies in models of biological control of insect pests

Nature ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 273 (5663) ◽  
pp. 513-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Beddington ◽  
C. A. Free ◽  
J. H. Lawton
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Insect Pests

Improvement on Natural Enemies of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Using Extracts of Agrimonia pilosa

2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 1581-1586
Author(s):  
Huifang Guo ◽  
Yufeng Qu
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Bemisia Tabaci ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Ethanol Extract ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Melia Azedarach ◽  
Encarsia Formosa ◽  
Ethanol Extracts ◽  
And Control

Abstract Compared with the numerous natural enemies against insect pests that have been identified, the commercialization of natural biological control resources remains very limited. To increase the use of natural enemies for biological control, determining how to improve the low efficacy, slow speed, and high cost of natural enemies is very important. Mediterranean species of The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodoidea), increasingly threatens many crops in China, and control primarily depends on chemical insecticides. Here, the effect of ethanol extracts from two plants, Agrimonia pilosa (Ledeb) (Rosales: Rosaceae) and Melia azedarach (Linn) (Meliaceae: Melia), on predominant natural enemies of B. tabaci was investigated using a leaf dipping or spraying method. The results showed that the ethanol extract of A. pilosa significantly improved the infectivity of the fungus Isaria javanica (Friedrichs & Bally) (Ascomycota: Hypocreales), and the mortality of whiteflies caused by the combination of fungus (105 spores/mL) with the extract of A. pilosa (2 mg/mL dried powder of A. pilosa containing 0.0942 mg/mL total polyphenols) was 81.6%, which was significantly higher than that caused by the fungus only. However, the ethanol extract of M. azedarach had no effect on fungus infectivity. Additionally, insecticide tolerance of the predator Pardosa pseudoannulata was also significantly improved by the extract of A. pilosa. The longevity of the parasitoid Encarsia formosa was not affected by the extracts. These findings indicate that the extract of A. pilosa played a dual role that included improving pathogenic fungi infectivity and insecticidal tolerance of a predator and thus could be a synergist in the biological control of B. tabaci.

Implementation of biological control

1988 ◽  
Vol 3 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 102-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joop C. van Lenteren
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
Industry Policy ◽  
Chemical Pesticides ◽  
Inoculative Biological Control

AbstractThe number of species of insect pests, estimated to be maximally 10,000 worldwide, forms only a small part of the millions of species of plant-eating insects. Chemical pest control is becoming increasingly difficult and objectionable in terms of environmental contamination so that other methods of pest control need to be developed. One of the best alternatives is biological control. Natural and inoculative biological control has already proven successful against a variety of pests over large areas. One is inclined to forget, however, how successful a biological control program has been as soon as the pest problem has been solved. Other types of biological control involving the regular introduction or augmentation of natural enemies are better known, although these have been applied on a much smaller scale; a survey of the present-day application of these latter types of biological control is presented here. Phases in the implementation of biological control are illustrated and needed future developments in research are discussed. The main limitation on the development of biological control is not the research, since natural enemies are easier found and with a much lower investment than new chemical pesticides, but rather the attitudes held by growers and disinterest on the part of industry, policy-makers, and politicians. The first priority for those concerned with the development and application of safer pest control should, therefore, be to change the perceptions that these other groups have of biological control.

scholarly journals Potential of Predatory Natural Enemies for Biological Control of Sap-Sucking Insect Pests in Paraguay

2002 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi NODA ◽  
Yutaka KIMURA ◽  
Maria B. R. de LÓPEZ ◽  
Mirian T. de EVERT ◽  
Carlos PALACIO
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Insect Pests

Some Concepts on the Ecological Basis of Biological Control of Weeds

1962 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 507-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. B. Huffaker
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Natural Enemy ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Natural Scene ◽  
Biological Control Of Weeds ◽  
Ecological Relationships ◽  
Ecological Basis

Contrary to a common conception, employment of biological control of weeds is fundamentally the same as the employment of biological control of insect pests. The goal in each case is not eradication but the reduction of pest populations to non-injurious levels. The ecological relationships which apply in the regulation of any organism by natural enemies in the undisturbed natural scene also apply when we attempt to introduce a natural enemy not already present. While it is true that our work has an economic or applied objective, the pursuit of objectives in biological control in general takes us deeply into fundamental considerations – fundamentals which constitute the broad science of ecology.

scholarly journals Attract, reward and disrupt: responses of pests and natural enemies to combinations of habitat manipulation and semiochemicals in organic apple

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joakim Pålsson ◽  
Mario Porcel ◽  
Teun Dekker ◽  
Marco Tasin
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Ecosystem Service ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Insect Community ◽  
Biological Pest Control

AbstractThe widespread use of pesticides along with the simplification of the landscape has had undesirable effects on agroecosystems, such as the loss of biodiversity and the associated ecosystem service biological control. How current production systems can be remodelled to allow for a re-establishment of biological pest control, while preserving productivity, is a major challenge. Here, we tested whether a combination of tools could augment or synergize biological control of insect pests in apple (Malus domestica), comprised of a tortricid pest complex, a geometrid pest complex and the rosy apple aphid. The tools aimed at disrupting mating behaviour of multiple pest species (multispecies mating disruption, “Disrupt”, MMD), attracting natural enemies (a blend of herbivory-induced volatiles, “Attract”, A), or providing refuge and rewards for a diverse insect community (perennial flower strip, “Reward”, R) over a 3-year period. Suction samples were consistently richer in generalist predators but not in parasitoids when multiple tools including MMD + A + R or MMD + A were employed. In addition, lepidopteran pest levels were significantly lower in these plots than in MMD or MMD + R at the end of the 3-year experiment. This was, however, not reflected in survival of artificially established aphid colonies. Our data indicates that multiple, complementary tools can greatly enhance natural enemy level, but also that long-term implementation is needed to fully realize the augmentatory or synergistic potential of complementary components and restore biological control as an ecosystem service of practical relevance.

scholarly journals Biological Control May Fail on Pests Applied with High Doses of Insecticides: Effects of Sub-Lethal Concentrations of a Pyrethroid on the Host-Searching Behavior of the Aphid Parasitoid Aphidius colemani (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) on Aphid Pests

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 539
Author(s):  
Armando Alfaro-Tapia ◽  
Jeniffer K. Alvarez-Baca ◽  
Eduardo Fuentes-Contreras ◽  
Christian C. Figueroa
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Oviposition Behavior ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Parasitoid Wasp ◽  
Host Searching ◽  
Aphid Parasitoid ◽  
Aphidius Colemani ◽  
Lethal Doses

The use of synthetic insecticides may cause failures in the biological control of insect pests due to undesired side effects on natural enemies and the rapid evolution of insecticide resistance in agroecosystems. Residues of neurotoxic insecticides can interfere with the recognition of chemical cues used by natural enemies to find pests. We investigated the effects of sub-lethal concentrations of the pyrethroid lambda-cyhalothrin on the interaction between the aphid parasitoid wasp Aphidius colemani and the peach potato aphid Myzus persicae. We studied changes in host-searching and oviposition behavior through laboratory bioassays when susceptible and kdr-resistant aphids are offered to parasitoid females, evaluating the effect of applying insecticides on the interacting species. The patch residence time, exploration, oviposition, and grooming were significantly disturbed when the parasitoids were offered resistant aphids sprayed with sub-lethal doses, but not when the parasitoids were offered susceptible M. persicae exposed to sub-lethal doses. We discuss how the effects of insecticides on parasitism behavior may result in failures of biological control if natural enemy populations are not adequately managed, particularly for the management of insecticide-resistant pest populations. Efforts to introduce biological control in integrated pest management (IPM) programs are also discussed.

scholarly journals Natural Pest Regulation and Its Compatibility with Other Crop Protection Practices in Smallholder Bean Farming Systems

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 805
Author(s):  
Baltazar J. Ndakidemi ◽  
Ernest R. Mbega ◽  
Patrick A. Ndakidemi ◽  
Philip C. Stevenson ◽  
Steven R. Belmain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Aphis Fabae ◽  
Sources Of Resistance ◽  
Resistant Varieties ◽  
Natural Pest Regulation ◽  
Cultural Tools

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production and storage are limited by numerous constraints. Insect pests are often the most destructive. However, resource-constrained smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) often do little to manage pests. Where farmers do use a control strategy, it typically relies on chemical pesticides, which have adverse effects on the wildlife, crop pollinators, natural enemies, mammals, and the development of resistance by pests. Nature-based solutions —in particular, using biological control agents with sustainable approaches that include biopesticides, resistant varieties, and cultural tools—are alternatives to chemical control. However, significant barriers to their adoption in SSA include a lack of field data and knowledge on the natural enemies of pests, safety, efficacy, the spectrum of activities, the availability and costs of biopesticides, the lack of sources of resistance for different cultivars, and spatial and temporal inconsistencies for cultural methods. Here, we critically review the control options for bean pests, particularly the black bean aphid (Aphis fabae) and pod borers (Maruca vitrata). We identified natural pest regulation as the option with the greatest potential for this farming system. We recommend that farmers adapt to using biological control due to its compatibility with other sustainable approaches, such as cultural tools, resistant varieties, and biopesticides for effective management, especially in SSA.

Natural enemies and forest pest management

1991 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 500-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. G. Nealis
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Pest Management ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Renewable Resource ◽  
Forest Environment ◽  
Forest Insect ◽  
Forest Practices

Forest insect pest management differs from pest management in other renewable-resource industries because of the relative complexity and stability of the forest environment. An important component of this complexity is the rich fauna of natural enemies attacking most forest insect pests. Understanding the relationship between forest insect pests and their natural enemies would permit better insight into the dynamics of pest populations.The active release of natural enemies in inoculative or inundative release strategies is a direct application of biological control to pest management. The conservation of resident natural enemies is an indirect biological control method with great potential. Knowledge of the ecology of natural enemies can be used to modify other forest practices such as reforestation and insecticide use to conserve or enhance the action of natural enemies.

scholarly journals Quantitative impacts of different planting arrangements on the populations of natural enemies in soybean

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 42605
Author(s):  
Marina Mouzinho Carvalho ◽  
Leidiane Coelho Carvalho ◽  
Regiane Cristina Oliveira de Freitas Bueno
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Population Survey ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Beneficial Arthropods ◽  
Soybean Cultivars ◽  
Crop Harvest ◽  
Growth Habits

Natural biological control is an important alternative for the control of insect pests using natural enemies that occur naturally in agroecosystems. The potential of these insects can increase when they are adequately managed. Thus, the objective of this study was to quantify the populations of natural enemies in soybean cultivars with different growth habits planted in different arrangements. The experiment consisted of eight treatments: four planting arrangements and two soybean cultivars, with four replicates. The populations of natural enemies were evaluated from the vegetative stage V3 to crop harvest using a shaking-cloth. A population survey of the beneficial arthropods present on the soil surface was performed in the reproductive stages R2 and R3 with the installation of modified pitfall traps. The main natural enemies that occurred in the culture were Class Arachnida, Order Heteroptera, Order Hymenoptera, Order Coleoptera and Order Dermaptera. The populations of the natural enemies assessed using the shaking-cloth did not show significant differences. However, in the evaluations with the modified pitfall traps in the reproductive stage R3 in the crossed arrangement, the populations of the Coleoptera and Dermaptera orders were higher in the determinate cultivar than in the indeterminate cultivar.

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