Impact of Platysoma parallelum and Plegaderus transversus (Coleoptera: Histeridae) Predation on Developing Ips calligraphus and Ips grandicollis (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) Brood

2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
William P. Shepherd ◽  
Richard A. Goyer

As a group, arthropod natural enemies have been shown to substantially reduce within-tree pine bark beetle populations. However, little is known about the impacts of individual species on bark beetle mortality. In a controlled laboratory study, we measured the effects of two predaceous histerid species, Platysoma parallelum (Say) and Plegaderus transversus (Say), on Ips calligraphus (Germar) and Ips grandicollis (Eichhoff) brood mortality. Platysoma parallelum was found to have a greater impact on I. grandicollis mortality than Ple. transversus when only one histerid and prey species were present. No significant differences in I. calligraphus mortality were observed for either of the two histerid species. More I. grandicollis brood was killed per introduced Pla. parallelum adult than per introduced Ple. transversus adult likely as a result of the larger size and biomass requirements of Pla. parallelum. The results of this experiment indicate that histerids, by themselves, have the ability to lower within-tree bark beetle populations and could have potential use in a bark beetle biological control program.

2017 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. Li ◽  
S.V. Triapitsyn ◽  
C. Wang ◽  
W. Zhong ◽  
H.-Y. Hu

AbstractThe flee-weevil Orchestes steppensis Korotyaev (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a steppe eastern Palaearctic species, notable as a serious pest of elms (Ulmus spp., Ulmaceae), by feeding on the leaves (adults) or mining them heavily (larvae), especially of Ulmus pumila L. in Xinjiang, China. We have corrected the previous misidentifications of this weevil in China as O. alni (L.) or O. mutabilis Boheman and demonstrated that it is likely to be an invasive species in Xinjiang. Prior to this study, natural enemies of O. steppensis were unknown in Xinjiang. Resulting from field investigation and rearing in the laboratory during 2013–2016, seven parasitoid species were found to be primary and solitary, attacking larval and pupal stages of the host weevil. Pteromalus sp. 2 is the dominant species and also is the most competitive among the seven parasitoids, which could considered to be a perspective biological control agent of O. steppensis. Yet, the current control of this pest by the local natural enemies in Xinjiang is still currently inefficient, even though in 2016 parasitism was about 36% on U. pumila in Urumqi, so the potential for a classical biological control program against it needs to be further investigated, including an assessment of its parasitoids and other natural enemies in the native range of O. steppensis. The presented information on the natural enemies of this weevil can be also important for a potential classical biological control program against it in North America (Canada and USA), where it is a highly damaging and rapidly spreading invasive species.


1988 ◽  
Vol 3 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 102-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joop C. van Lenteren

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.


2013 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fazila Yousuf ◽  
Geoff M. Gurr ◽  
Angus J. Carnegie ◽  
Robin A. Bedding ◽  
Richard Bashford ◽  
...  

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). [...]


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