scholarly journals Variability in weed biological control : effects of foliar nitrogen on larval development and dispersal of the alligatorweed flea beetle, Agasicles hygrophila

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harms Nathan ◽  
Cronin James
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Larval Development ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Flea Beetle ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Developmental Time ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Weed Biological Control ◽  
Foliar Nitrogen

Host quality can have dramatic effects on performance of biological control agents but its importance is understudied. We used a combination of field measurements and laboratory experiments to determine the range of foliar nitrogen (FN) that larvae of the alligatorweed flea beetle (Agasicles hygrophila) are exposed to in the field and its importance to larval development and dispersal. Seasonal variability in FN was assessed at field sites spanning southern to northern Louisiana every 2–3 weeks during the growing season for four years. In a series of laboratory experiments, alligatorweed FN was manipulated to examine its influence on larval development and survival (under different temperature regimes), adult biomass, and dispersal of the biological control agent, A. hygrophila. Foliar nitrogen and rearing temperature had strong independent effects on larval development rate. We demonstrated that increasing nitrogen in leaf tissues shortens larval A. hygrophila developmental time and increases survival to adulthood, regardless of exposure temperature during development. It also suggests that foliar nitrogen may have important effects on biological control of alligatorweed, particularly as a result of seasonal variation in temperature and plant nutrition at field sites and could contribute to observed variation in A. hygrophila efficacy in the field.

Is Phasmarhabditis papillosa (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) a possible biological control agent against the Spanish slug, Arion vulgaris (Gastropoda: Arionidae)?

Nematology ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Žiga Laznik ◽  
Ivana Majić ◽  
Stanislav Trdan ◽  
Antoinette P. Malan ◽  
Annika Pieterse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
First Record ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Parasitic Nematodes ◽  
Arion Vulgaris ◽  
Potential Use

Summary In the period from August to October 2018, 140 specimens of the Spanish slug, Arion vulgaris, were collected from Podbrezje, Slovenia. Slugs were dissected and examined for the presence of parasitic nematodes within the cadavers. Identification of the nematodes was conducted using morphological and molecular techniques and confirmed the presence of Phasmarhabditis papillosa. This is the first record of P. papillosa from the mollusc host, A. vulgaris. Laboratory experiments aimed at testing the efficacy of P. papillosa against A. vulgaris were conducted using nematodes grown in vivo. Nematodes were applied at concentration rates of 50, 100 and 200 nematodes slug−1, respectively. Three weeks following treatment, the mortality of slugs was confirmed in all treatments (50 nematodes slug−1, 37.4 ± 2.7%; 100 nematodes slug−1, 48.4 ± 2.7%; 200 nematodes slug−1, 50.6 ± 2.7%). However, the pathogenesis of P. papillosa was observed first in the treatments with the lowest nematode dose at 4 days after treatments, while a decrease in the feeding behaviour of slugs was noted first in the treatments with the highest nematode dose. Future opportunities for the potential use of P. papillosa as a biological control agent against slugs are discussed. This is the first report of P. papillosa from Slovenia, and of its virulence against A. vulgaris.

scholarly journals Identification and host-plant associations of Australian Sericothripinae (Thysanoptera, Thripidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 1983 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAURENCE A. MOUND ◽  
DESLEY TREE
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Species ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Complex Surface ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Weed Biological Control ◽  
European Species ◽  
Plant Associations

The Sericothripinae is a largely tropical group of about 140 species that are often strikingly bicoloured and have complex surface sculpture, but for which the biology is poorly known. Although 15 genera have been described in this subfamily, only three of these are currently recognised, with five new generic synonymies indicated here. In Australia, Sericothrips Haliday is introduced, with one European species deployed as a weed biological control agent. Hydatothrips Karny comprises 43 species worldwide, with six species found in Australia, of which two are shared with Southeast Asia, and four are associated with the native vine genus, Parsonsia. Neohydatothrips John comprises 96 species worldwide, with nine species in Australia, of which one is shared with Southeast Asia and two are presumably introduced from the Americas. Illustrated keys are provided to the three genera and 16 species from Australia, including six new species [Hydatothrips aliceae; H. bhattii; H. williamsi; Neohydatothrips barrowi, N. bellissi, N. katherinae]. One new specific synonym is recognised [Hydatothrips haschemi Girault (=H. palawanensis Kudo)], also four new generic synonyms [Neohydatothrips John (=Faureana Bhatti; Onihothrips Bhatti; Sariathrips Bhatti; Papiliothrips Bhatti); Sericothrips Haliday (=Susserico- thrips Han)].

scholarly journals Field demonstration of a semiochemical treatment that enhances Diorhabda carinulata biological control of Tamarix spp.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander M. Gaffke ◽  
Sharlene E. Sing ◽  
Tom L. Dudley ◽  
Daniel W. Bean ◽  
Justin A. Russak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Aggregation Pheromone ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
The United States ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Weed Biological Control ◽  
Single Well ◽  
Tamarix Spp

Abstract The northern tamarisk beetle Diorhabda carinulata (Desbrochers) was approved for release in the United States for classical biological control of a complex of invasive saltcedar species and their hybrids (Tamarix spp.). An aggregation pheromone used by D. carinulata to locate conspecifics is fundamental to colonization and reproductive success. A specialized matrix formulated for controlled release of this aggregation pheromone was developed as a lure to manipulate adult densities in the field. One application of the lure at onset of adult emergence for each generation provided long term attraction and retention of D. carinulata adults on treated Tamarix spp. plants. Treated plants exhibited greater levels of defoliation, dieback and canopy reduction. Application of a single, well-timed aggregation pheromone treatment per generation increased the efficacy of this classical weed biological control agent.

Comparative Life Histories of 2 Species of Notonomus (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in Victoria

1992 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
PA Horne
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Larval Development ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Peak Activity

The distributions and life histories of two species of carabid beetles, Notonomus gravis and Notonomus philippi, are compared. N. gravis inhabits the western grassland plains of Victoria and N. philippi inhabits woodland in the Otway Ranges and areas east of Melbourne. Adults of both species show peak activity in summer after emergence, with larval development from autumn to spring. The development of N. philippi occurs approximately one month earlier than that of N. gravis. Both species readily accept larval Lepidoptera as food, are nocturnal and are the dominant carabids in their respective habitats. N. gravis has potential as a biological control agent, and the carabid communities may be used as environmental indicators.

Parasitism of a successful weed biological control agent, Neogalerucella calmariensis

2009 ◽  
Vol 141 (6) ◽  
pp. 609-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Norman ◽  
Naomi Cappuccino ◽  
Mark R. Forbes
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Purple Loosestrife ◽  
Weed Biological Control ◽  
Eastern Ontario

AbstractWe investigated parasitism of the purple loosestrife beetle, Neogalerucella calmariensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), an introduced weed biological control agent, at 13 sites in eastern Ontario and western Quebec, Canada. Beetles were parasitized by gregarine gut protozoans (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida) and much less commonly by nematodes (Nematoda: probably Mermithidae) and ectoparasitic mites (Acari: Erythraeidae). Female beetles had more gregarines than did males and the gregarine load was marginally higher in individuals from the original release sites than in individuals from recently colonized sites. Despite its overall success as a biological control agent, N. calmariensis harbours a substantial parasite load.

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