scholarly journals How effective are frogs in regulating crop pest population in a natural multi-trophic system??

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deyatima Ghosh ◽  
Sabyasachi Chatterjee ◽  
Parthiba Basu
Keyword(s):  
Pest Control ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Growth Models ◽  
Habitat Diversity ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Crop Pest ◽  
Agricultural Intensity ◽  
Predator Abundance ◽  
Natural Pest Control

Potential of frogs as important natural pest control agents has been highlighted earlier. But the effectiveness of frogs in regulating the pest load in intensive agricultural landscape in a multi-trophic system is not clear. We performed controlled field experiment in paddy field with a varying density (observed in high and low agricultural intensity (AI) areas) of a commonly found frog species and compared the pest and pest predator build-up. The consumption rate of the model amphibian was studied using enclosure experiment. The consequent trophic cascade effect of frogs on both crop pest and other arthropod pest predator was analyzed using mathematical population growth models. Although frogs consumed pests, they could not reduce crop pest abundance. Although a lesser frog density found in high AI areas significantly affected the pest predator abundance. Based on the functional response result, mathematical growth models demonstrated that with a constant harvesting factor (Holling Type II) frogs will always have a negative impact on the beneficial natural enemy population due to intraguild predation thereby limiting its potential as a pest regulator. Our study challenges the notion of frogs as an effective pest control agent and argues that increasing habitat diversity might improve overall biological pest suppression.

scholarly journals Acetamiprid Affects Destruxins Production but Its Accumulation in Metarhizium sp. Spores Increases Infection Ability of Fungi

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 587
Author(s):  
Monika Nowak ◽  
Przemysław Bernat ◽  
Julia Mrozińska ◽  
Sylwia Różalska
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolism ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Growth Environment ◽  
Anthropogenic Pollutants ◽  
Control Factors ◽  
Natural Pest Control ◽  
First Time

Metarhizium sp. are entomopathogenic fungi that inhabit the soil environment. Together, they act as natural pest control factors. In the natural environment, they come into contact with various anthropogenic pollutants, and sometimes, they are used together and interchangeably with chemical insecticides (e.g., neonicotinoids) for pest control. In most cases, the compatibility of entomopathogens with insecticides has been determined; however, the influence of these compounds on the metabolism of entomopathogenic fungi has not yet been studied. Secondary metabolites are very important factors that influence the fitness of the producers, playing important roles in the ability of these pathogens to successfully parasitize insects. In this study, for the first time, we focus on whether the insecticide present in the fungal growth environment affects secondary metabolism in fungi. The research revealed that acetamiprid at concentrations from 5 to 50 mg L−1 did not inhibit the growth of all tested Metarhizium sp.; however, it reduced the level of 19 produced destruxins in direct proportion to the dosage used. Furthermore, it was shown that acetamiprid accumulates not only in plant or animal tissues, but also in fungal cells. Despite the negative impact of acetamiprid on secondary metabolism, it was proofed to accumulate in Metarhizium spores, which appeared to have a stronger infectious potential against mealworm Tenebrio molitor, in comparison to the insecticide or the biological agent alone.

scholarly journals Identifying the landscape drivers of agricultural insecticide use leveraging evidence from 100,000 fields

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (21) ◽  
pp. 5473-5478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley E. Larsen ◽  
Frederik Noack
Keyword(s):  
Pest Control ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Crop Diversity ◽  
Field Size ◽  
Kern County ◽  
Crop Types ◽  
Natural Pest Control ◽  
The Relationship

Agricultural landscape intensification has enabled food production to meet growing demand. However, there are concerns that more simplified cropland with lower crop diversity, less noncrop habitat, and larger fields results in increased use of pesticides due to a lack of natural pest control and more homogeneous crop resources. Here, we use data on crop production and insecticide use from over 100,000 field-level observations from Kern County, California, encompassing the years 2005–2013 to test if crop diversity, field size, and cropland extent affect insecticide use in practice. Overall, we find that higher crop diversity does reduce insecticide use, but the relationship is strongly influenced by the differences in crop types between diverse and less diverse landscapes. Further, we find insecticide use increases with increasing field size. The effect of cropland extent is distance-dependent, with nearby cropland decreasing insecticide use, whereas cropland further away increases insecticide use. This refined spatial perspective provides unique understanding of how different components of landscape simplification influence insecticide use over space and for different crops. Our results indicate that neither the traditionally conceived “simplified” nor “complex” agricultural landscape is most beneficial to reducing insecticide inputs; reality is far more complex.

scholarly journals Agricultural landscape simplification reduces natural pest control: A quantitative synthesis

2016 ◽  
Vol 221 ◽  
pp. 198-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrien Rusch ◽  
Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer ◽  
Mary M. Gardiner ◽  
Violetta Hawro ◽  
John Holland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pest Control ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Quantitative Synthesis ◽  
Natural Pest Control

Coarse and nano emulsions for effective delivery of the natural pest control agent pulegone for stored grain protection

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 820-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilad Golden ◽  
Elazar Quinn ◽  
Eli Shaaya ◽  
Moshe Kostyukovsky ◽  
Elena Poverenov
Keyword(s):  
Pest Control ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Stored Grain ◽  
Effective Delivery ◽  
Natural Pest Control ◽  
Grain Protection

scholarly journals Inventory of refugia plants potentially medicinal in the agricultural area of Plandaan Subdistrict, Jombang Regency, East Java Province

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-19
Author(s):  
Anggun Wulandari ◽  
Fadhilatus Syarifah
Keyword(s):  
Pest Control ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Skin Diseases ◽  
Agricultural Area ◽  
Crop Pest ◽  
Plot Size ◽  
Synthetic Chemicals ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Natural Pest Control ◽  
Field Plots

Agricultural and plantation areas dominate the Plandaan subdistrict, so the majority of the livelihoods of its residents are engaged in agriculture. In practice, in addition to using pesticides, crop pest control in the Plandaan subdistrict is to make use of refugia plants. The refugia technique is economical and environmentally friendly because it does not use synthetic chemicals that damage the environment. In addition to acting as natural pest control, refugia plants are also known to have potential as medicines. This study aimed to inventory or collect medicinal plants refugia in the agricultural area of ​​the Plandaan subdistrict. This study used descriptive explorative methods. Data collection techniques were carried out through observation and directly documenting species of refugia plants with potential drugs found in the area of observation plots. In this study, the subject was a potentially medicinal refugia plant found on an observational plot with a plot size of 10 × 10 meters. The observations were three plots of agriculture fields and three plots of telajakan (open space). The frequency of refugia plants found from the study on the plot of agriculture fields as many as 1035 plants, while in the plot of telajakan as many as 1007 plants consisting of 37 types of species that each has different medicinal potentials, such as heat and fever lowering, treating cough, flu, skin diseases, and wounds. Agriculture field plots had more frequency of potentially medicinal refugia plants than telajakan plots.

scholarly journals Cuticle degrading enzyme production by some isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.)

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 25-32
Author(s):  
N Sapna Bai ◽  
OK Remadevi ◽  
TO Sasidharan ◽  
M Balachander ◽  
Priyadarsanan Dharmarajan
Keyword(s):  
Pest Control ◽  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Enzyme Production ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Mechanical Pressure ◽  
Degrading Enzyme ◽  
Insect Pest Control ◽  
Degrading Enzymes

Context: Entomopathogenic fungi have been recognized as viable alternate options to chemicals in insect pest control. Unlike other potential biocontrol agents, fungi do not have to be ingested to infect their hosts but invade directly through the cuticle. Entry into the host involves both enzymic degradation of the cuticle barrier and mechanical pressure. Production of a range of cuticle degrading enzymes is an important event in the interaction of entomopathogenic fungi and host. Enzyme secretion is believed to be a key contributor for the virulence of a fungal isolate. Objectives: The potentiality of nine isolates of M. anisopliae were tested to produce to produce three important cuticle degrading enzymes, viz., chitinase, protease and lipase. Materials and Methods: Nine isolates of M. anisopliae were evaluated for chitinase, protease and lipase enzyme production by determining the enzyme index and activities. Results: Chitinase index of these isolates were ranged from 1.5 to 2.2 and chitinolytic activity from 0.525 to 1.560 U/ml. The isolates showed protease index in the range of 1.2 to 3.3 and the activity ranged from 0.020 to 0.114 U/ml. Lipase index ranged from 1.15 to 7.0 and the enzyme activity ranged from 0.153 to 0.500 U/ml. A strong relationship was observed between virulence of the isolates and cuticle degrading enzyme production as increased enzyme production was observed for virulent isolates. Conclusion: In the present study three isolates as (MIS2, MIS7 and MIS13) demonstrated cuticle degrading enzyme (CDE) that indicate higher virulence based on the bioassay conducted earlier by the authors as strongly substantiating the role of CDEs is considered the virulence of Metarhizium isolates. So, these isolates may be as ecofriendly insect-pest control agent in future. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbs.v20i0.17648 J. bio-sci. 20: 25-32, 2012

scholarly journals Prey removal in cotton crops next to woodland reveals periodic diurnal and nocturnal invertebrate predation gradients from the crop edge by birds and bats

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi L. Kolkert ◽  
Rhiannon Smith ◽  
Romina Rader ◽  
Nick Reid
Keyword(s):  
Pest Control ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Optimal Foraging Theory ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Crop Cover ◽  
Foraging Preferences ◽  
Experimental Feeding ◽  
Natural Pest Control

AbstractFactors influencing the efficacy of insectivorous vertebrates in providing natural pest control services inside crops at increasing distances from the crop edge are poorly understood. We investigated the identity of vertebrate predators (birds and bats) and removal of sentinel prey (mealworms and beetles) from experimental feeding trays in cotton crops using prey removal trials, camera traps and observations. More prey was removed during the day than at night, but prey removal was variable at the crop edge and dependent on the month (reflecting crop growth and cover) and time of day. Overall, the predation of mealworms and beetles was 1-times and 13-times greater during the day than night, respectively, with predation on mealworms 3–5 times greater during the day than night at the crop edge compared to 95 m inside the crop. Camera traps identified many insectivorous birds and bats over crops near the feeding trays, but there was no evidence of bats or small passerines removing experimental prey. A predation gradient from the crop edge was evident, but only in some months. This corresponded to the foraging preferences of open-space generalist predators (magpies) in low crop cover versus the shrubby habitat preferred by small passerines, likely facilitating foraging away from the crop edge later in the season. Our results are in line with Optimal Foraging Theory and suggest that predators trade-off foraging behaviour with predation risk at different distances from the crop edge and levels of crop cover. Understanding the optimal farm configuration to support insectivorous bird and bat populations can assist farmers to make informed decisions regarding in-crop natural pest control and maximise the predation services provided by farm biodiversity.

scholarly journals Organic Farming and Cover-Crop Management Reduce Pest Predation in Austrian Vineyards

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 220
Author(s):  
Jo Marie Reiff ◽  
Sebastian Kolb ◽  
Martin H. Entling ◽  
Thomas Herndl ◽  
Stefan Möth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Integrated Management ◽  
Lobesia Botrana ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Natural Pest Control ◽  
Predation Rates

Habitat simplification and intensive use of pesticides are main drivers of global arthropod declines and are, thus, decreasing natural pest control. Organic farming, complex landscapes, and local vineyard management practices such as implementation of flower-rich cover-crop mixtures may be a promising approach to enhance predator abundance and, therefore, natural pest control. We examined the effect of organic versus integrated management, cover-crop diversity in the vineyard inter-rows, and landscape composition on the natural pest control of Lobesia botrana eggs and pupae. Predation of L. botrana pupae was reduced by organic farming and species-poor cover-crops by about 10%. Predation rates of L. botrana eggs did not differ significantly in any of the studied management options. Dominant predators were earwigs (Forficulidae), bush crickets (Tettigoniidae), and ants (Formicidae). Negative effects of organic viticulture are most likely related to the negative nontarget effects on arthropods related to the frequent sulfur and copper applications in combination with the avoidance of strongly damaging insecticides by integrated winegrowers. While a 10% difference in predation rates on a single pest stage is unlikely to have strong practical implications, our results show that the assumed effectiveness of environmentally friendly agriculture needs to be evaluated for specific crops and regions.

Network data acquisition method based on crop pest control knowledge

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Chunyu ◽  
Fang Jiandong ◽  
Li Bajin ◽  
Zhao Yudong
Keyword(s):  
Data Acquisition ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Network Data ◽  
Crop Pest ◽  
Control Knowledge ◽  
Acquisition Method
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