Methyl Salicylate Attracts Natural Enemies and Reduces Populations of Soybean Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Soybean Agroecosystems

2011 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel E. Mallinger ◽  
David B. Hogg ◽  
Claudio Gratton
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven E Naranjo ◽  
James R Hagler ◽  
John A Byers

Abstract Conservation biological control is a fundamental tactic in integrated pest management (IPM). Greater biological control services can be achieved by enhancing agroecosystems to be more favorable to the presence, survival, and growth of natural enemy populations. One approach that has been tested in numerous agricultural systems is the deployment of synthetic chemicals that mimic those produced by the plant when under attack by pests. These signals may attract arthropod natural enemies to crop habitats and thus potentially improve biological control activity locally. A 2-yr field study was conducted in the cotton agroecosystem to evaluate the potential of synthetic methyl salicylate (MeSA) to attract native arthropod natural enemies and to enhance biological control services on two key pests. Slow-release packets of MeSA were deployed in replicated cotton plots season long. The abundance of multiple taxa of natural enemies and two major pests were monitored weekly by several sampling methods. The deployment of MeSA failed to increase natural enemy abundance and pest densities did not decline. Predator to prey ratios, used as a proxy to estimate biological control function, also largely failed to increase with MeSA deployment. One exception was a season-long increase in the ratio of Orius tristicolor (White) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) to Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring (= Bemisia tabaci MEAM1) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) adults within the context of biological control informed action thresholds. Overall results suggest that MeSA would not likely enhance conservation biological control by the natural enemy community typical of U.S. western cotton production systems.


Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordano Salamanca ◽  
Brígida Souza ◽  
Vera Kyryczenko-Roth ◽  
Cesar Rodriguez-Saona

Methyl salicylate (MeSA) is an herbivore-induced plant volatile (HIPV) known to attract the natural enemies of herbivores in agro-ecosystems; however, whether this attraction leads to an increase in natural enemy functioning, i.e., predation, remains largely unknown. Here, we monitored for 2 years (2011–2012) the response of herbivores and natural enemies to MeSA lures (PredaLure) by using sticky and pitfall traps in cranberry bogs. In addition, European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, egg masses were used to determine whether natural enemy attraction to MeSA leads to higher predation. In both years, MeSA increased adult hoverfly captures on sticky traps and augmented predation of O. nubilalis eggs. However, MeSA also attracted more phytophagous thrips and, in 2012, more plant bugs (Miridae) to sticky traps. Furthermore, we used surveillance cameras to record the identity of natural enemies attracted to MeSA and measure their predation rate. Video recordings showed that MeSA lures increase visitation by adult lady beetles, adult hoverflies, and predatory mites to sentinel eggs, and predation of these eggs doubled compared to no-lure controls. Our data indicate that MeSA lures increase predator attraction, resulting in increased predation; thus, we provide evidence that attraction to HIPVs can increase natural enemy functioning in an agro-ecosystem.


2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-145
Author(s):  
Rosma Hasibuan ◽  
Jamalam Lumbanraja

Soil nutrition management and predation by Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) impacts on Aphis glycines (Homoptera: Aphididae).  Understanding how soil nutrient availability and natural enemies impacts on aphid populations are important for soybean aphid,  Aphis glycines Matsumura (Homoptera: Aphididae), management. Studies were conducted to examine the effect of soil nutrient management and predaceous coccinellid beetle, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabr.), (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on A. glycines population.  The plot size of 300 m2 was set up into 12 plots consisting four treatments and three replications.   The treatments were the combination of NPK (urea 100 kg ha-1 + SP-36 200 kg ha-1 + KCl 200 kg ha-1) levels, dolomite (4 ton ha-1), compost  (10 ton ha-1), and chicken manure (10 ton ha-1). While, the predator’s potential of C. sexmaculata was measured both in the field and laboratory conditions.  The results of the studies indicated that soil nutrition treatments had significant effects on the plant performances: leaf numbers; pod numbers; and plant height. In line with this result, there were significant effects of soil nutrient treatments on the amount of plant nutrient: C, N, P, K, C, Ca, and Mg.  The positive correlation coefficient was observed between the aphid population and nitrogen content, while the significant negative correlation found on between aphid population and the calcium and magnesium content.  Meanwhile, the mean number of soybean aphids (A. glycines)  consumed by C. sexmaculata increased from 8.915 to 40.64  aphids, with an average  26.35 ± 3.16 aphids.  The mean numbers of aphids consumed by predator were significantly influenced by prey densities.   The exclosure study result showed that the densities of A. glycines  in caged plants was higher than that in un-caged plants. In the no-cage treatments, natural enemies had complete access to soybean aphids and caused the total reduction (100%) of A. glycines density by the 8th wk sample period. These findings suggest that reducing the amount of synthetic chemical fertilizer NPK can be supplemented with natural organic materials such as composts and chicken manure and natural occurring predator, C. sexmaculata, is an important natural enemy of the soybean aphid.


EDIS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
James P. Cuda ◽  
Patricia Prade ◽  
Carey R. Minteer-Killian

In the late 1970s, Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae), was targeted for classical biological control in Florida because its invasive properties (see Host Plants) are consistent with escape from natural enemies (Williams 1954), and there are no native Schinus spp. in North America. The lack of native close relatives should minimize the risk of damage to non-target plants from introduced biological control agents (Pemberton 2000). [...]


2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
SMA Hossain ◽  
MA Baque ◽  
MR Amin

The Imidacloprid insecticide, Gaucho 70 WS at 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 g/kg seed was used as seed treatment and monocrotophos 40 WSC at 1120 ml/ha was applied as foliar spray on CB9 cotton cultivar to suppress aphid, whitefly and thrips, and impact on their natural enemies during 2008-2011 at the Regional Cotton Research Station, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. The activity of natural enemies, such as ladybird beetle, lacewing, syrphid, and spider population on the sucking pests attacking cotton cultivar CB9 and yield of cotton were recorded. Imidacloprid significantly reduced aphid, whitefly, and thrips population on cotton crops compared to untreated control or foliar spray of monocrotophos 40 WSC at 1120 ml/ha. Ladybird beetles, lacewings, syrphids, and spiders were abundant in the field but their population decreased in the treated plots compared to untreated control. The CB9 cotton cultivar produced significantly higher yield (1.73 t/ha) with a benefit cost ratio 12.47 when seeds were treated with Imidacloprid at 5.5 g/kg fuzzy seed. This study indicated that Imidacloprid (Gaucho 70 WS) used as a seed treatment may be suggested to the cotton growers for controlling sucking pests. Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 38(1): 61-70, March 2013 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v38i1.15190


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