scholarly journals Hyperparasitoids (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae and Signiphoridae) of Hypogeococcus spp. mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Argentina and Paraguay

2020 ◽  
pp. 148-165
Author(s):  
Serguei V. Triapitsyn ◽  
María B. Aguirre ◽  
Guillermo A. Logarzo ◽  
Stephen D. Hight
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Taxonomic Identification ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Natural Control ◽  
Columnar Cacti ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Unknown Male

Identified and reviewed taxonomically are the hyperparasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) in Argentina and Paraguay associated with Hypogeococcus spp. (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), mealybugs that feed on various native cacti (Cactaceae) as well as some Amaranthaceae and Portulacaceae. The following genera and species were collected and reared in the course of surveys conducted in Argentina during 2010–2019 and in Paraguay during 2016–2019: Chartocerus argentinus (Brèthes) stat. rev. [reinstated as a valid species from the previous synonymy with Chartocerus niger (Ashmead)] and Chartocerus axillaris De Santis from Argentina (Signiphoridae), an undescribed Cheiloneurus sp. from Paraguay and Prochiloneurus argentinensis (De Santis) from Argentina (Encyrtidae). These are secondary parasitoids via Encyrtidae primary parasitoids of Hypogeococcus sp., candidate biological control agents against a Hypogeococcus sp. (commonly called the Harrisia cactus mealybug) that is devastating the native columnar cacti in Puerto Rico. The previously unknown male of Chartocerus argentinus is described, and a lectotype is designated for  Signiphora argentina Brèthes. Taxonomic notes are provided for Ablerus platensis (Brèthes) (Hymenoptera:Azotidae), for which a lectotype is designated (for Dimacrocerus platensis Brèthes); it is newly recorded from Paraguay. Hyperparasitoids can be detrimental to biological control programs, but their impact has often been unknown or underestimated. Taxonomic identification of the hyperparasitoids is the first step in assessing the potential negative impact to the natural control of Hypogeococcus spp. in South America.

scholarly journals Innate positive chemotaxis to pollen from crops and banker plants in predaceous biological control agents: towards new field lures?

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu Li ◽  
Xiaoling Tan ◽  
Nicolas Desneux ◽  
Giovanni Benelli ◽  
Jing Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Field Trapping ◽  
Effective Field ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Banker Plant ◽  
Arthropod Predators

Abstract Predator-prey interactions form the core of biological control of arthropod pests. Which tools can be used to monitor and collect carnivorous arthropods in natural habitats and targeted crops? Eco-friendly and effective field lures are urgently needed. In this research, we carried out olfactometer experiments assess innate positive chemotaxis to pollen of seven crop and banker plant by two important predatory biological control agents: the coccinellid Propylea japonica (Thunberg) and the anthocorid Orius sauteri (Poppius). We compared the attractiveness of pollens from crops and banker plants to that of common prey homogenates (aphids and thrips, respectively). Attractiveness of the tested odor sources was checked via field trapping experiments conducted in organic apple orchards and by release-recapture assays in organic greenhouse tomato crops. Maize and canola pollen were attractive to both P. japonica and O. sauteri, in laboratory and field assays. P. japonica was highly attracted by balm mint pollen, whereas O. sauteri was attracted by alfalfa pollen. Our results encourage the use of pollen from crops and banker plants as low-cost and eco-friendly attractors to enhance the monitoring and attraction of arthropod predators in biological control programs.

Predicting the Outcome of Biological Control

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith H. Myers
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Exotic Species ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Native Communities ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Native Habitat

The movement of humans around the earth has been associated with an amazing redistribution of a variety of organisms to new continents and exotic islands. The natural biodiversity of native communities is threatened by new invasive species, and many of the most serious insect and weed pests are exotics. Classical biological control is one approach to dealing with nonindigenous species. If introduced species that lack natural enemies are competitively superior in exotic habitats, introducing some of their predators (herbivores), diseases, or parasitoids may reduce their population densities. Thus, the introduction of more exotic species may be necessary to reduce the competitive superiority of nonindigenous pests. The intentional introduction of insects as biological control agents provides an experimental arena in which adaptations and interactions among species may be tested. We can use biological control programs to explore such evolutionary questions as: What characteristics make a natural enemy a successful biological control agent? Does coevolution of herbivores and hosts or predators (parasitoids) and prey result in few species of natural enemies having the potential to be successful biological control agents? Do introduced natural enemies make unexpected host range shifts in new environments? Do exotic species lose their defense against specialized natural enemies after living for many generations without them? If coevolution is a common force in nature, we expect biological control interactions to demonstrate a dynamic interplay between hosts and their natural enemies. In this chapter, I consider biological control introductions to be experiments that might yield evidence on how adaptation molds the interactions between species and their natural enemies. I argue that the best biological control agents will be those to which the target hosts have not evolved resistance. Classical biological control is the movement of natural enemies from a native habitat to an exotic habitat where their host has become a pest. This approach to exotic pests has been practiced since the late 1800s, when Albert Koebele explored the native habitat of the cottony cushion scale, Icrya purchasi, in Australia and introduced Vadalia cardinalis beetles (see below) to control the cottony cushion scale on citrus in California. This control has continued to be a success.

scholarly journals Establishment and distribution of exotic biological control agents for silverleaf whitefly in Puerto Rico

1969 ◽  
Vol 89 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 67-73
Author(s):  
Alberto Pantoja ◽  
Matthew A. Ciomperlik ◽  
Leyinska Wiscovitch ◽  
Norberto Gabriel ◽  
Pedro Vázquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Silverleaf Whitefly ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Encarsia Sophia ◽  
Local Species

The establishment and distribution of exotic biological control agents for the silverleaf whitefly in Puerto Rico was evaluated. Five hundred thirty parasitoids were recovered from 99 sample sites. Encarsia spp. represented over 90% of the total samples profiled, whereas Eretmocerus spp. represented only 9.5%. Eretmocerus hayati, from Pakistan, represented 56% of the total of that genus, followed by Er. mundus from Spain (38%). An Encarsia sophia species from Pakistan was the most abundant, representing 29.6% of the total number of specimens from that group and 26.8% of the total number of specimens recovered during the study. Five unidentified, and possibly undescribed, species from Puerto Rico were detected during the study. Two of the local species represent about 23% of the total number of specimens collected. 

Detection and Identification of Viruses in Economically Important Insects

2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (S2) ◽  
pp. 666-667
Author(s):  
E. L. Styer ◽  
J. J. Hamm
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Detection And Identification ◽  
Zoo Animals ◽  
Viruslike Particles ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Insect Viruses

Economically important insects include pests of plants, animals and stored products as well as insects produced commercially (honey bees, silkworms, insects for fish bait and food for birds and zoo animals). Other insects are produced in large numbers for experimental purposes, biological control of insect pests and weeds and the production of sterile insects for population suppression. Insect viruses may affect morphology, physiology and behavior, often reducing longevity and reproductive potential. Thus insect viruses can be used as biological control agents of pest insects. Insect viruses may also interfere with the production or function of biological control agents (e.g., parasitoids and predators) and insects used for research purposes. Therefore, it is advantageous to screen commercial and research colonies and imported insects for viruses.Electron microscopy of negatively stained specimens (NS EM) offers a relatively rapid and inexpensive means of screening populations of insects for the presence of viruses or viruslike particles and to monitor the progress of virus control programs.

scholarly journals Further addition to the braconid fauna of Iran (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neveen S. Gadallah ◽  
Hassan Ghahari ◽  
Donald L. J. Quicke
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biocontrol Agents ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Regional Studies ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Important Group ◽  
Western Palaearctic ◽  
First Time

Abstract Background The cosmopolitan family Braconidae is one of the largest in the order Hymenoptera. Many of its members are important as biological control agents against more than 120 pest species belonging it four insect orders (Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera) that cause economic damage to various agricultural, horticultural, and forestry plants and trees. Due to the lack of regional studies, as well as taxonomic complexities compared with well-studied other western Palaearctic countries, the faunistic knowledge of this family is still largely incomplete. Results Based on specimens collected from different localities in Iran, as well as material deposited in different Iranian collections, twenty-five braconid species are recorded for the first time from Iran. Collectively, these belong to ten subfamilies (Alysiinae, Brachistinae, Braconinae, Cheloninae, Euphorinae, Exothecinae, Hormiinae, Ichneutinae, Microgastrinae, and Rogadinae). Two genera, Pentatermus Hedqvist (Rogadinae) and Stenobracon Szépligeti (Braconinae), are reported in the present study for the first time. Specimens are identified with the help of specialists, as well as using the available keys for each subfamily. A faunistic list comprising the valid species names and the extralimital distribution are given. Conclusions In the present study, a list of 25 species and two genera, Pentatermus Hedqvist (Rogadinae) and Stenobracon Szépligeti (Braconinae), are newly recorded from Iran, thus raising the total number of this important group as biocontrol agents to reach 1038 species.

Taxonomic revision of the genus Trichopoda Berthold, 1827 (Diptera: Tachinidae: Phasiinae), with emphasis on the Neotropical fauna

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4870 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-104
Author(s):  
RODRIGO DE VILHENA PEREZ DIOS ◽  
SILVIO SHIGUEO NIHEI
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Hind Tibia ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Nominal Species ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Neotropical Fauna ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Almost All

Trichopoda Berthold, 1827 is a tachinid genus belonging to the subfamily Phasiinae and natively distributed in the Americas. Species of Phasiinae are parasitoids of Hemiptera, especially Heteroptera, and are greatly important as biological control agents. Trichopoda is included in the “Trichopoda typica” group sensu Sabrosky, along with the genera Eutrichopoda Townsend, 1908 and Ectophasiopsis Townsend, 1915a. The genus Trichopoda includes several nominal species, many of which have been synonymized, whereas others have been transferred to different genera. Even though the group is morphologically remarkable for its bright colors and feather-like setae on the hind tibia and is important from an agricultural point of view, there have been no revisionary works dealing with its species. Before the present study, 22 valid species were included in Trichopoda, divided into two subgenera: Galactomyia Townsend, 1908 and Trichopoda s. str. In the current study, 25 species of Trichopoda are considered valid, of which twelve are described as new: Trichopoda (Galactomyia) auricauda sp. n., T. (G.) castannea sp. n., T. (G.) curvicercus sp. n., T. (G.) dupuisi sp. n., T. (G.) elongata sp. n., T. (G.) eupilipes sp. n., T. (G.) goiana sp. n., T. (G.) splendida sp. n., T. (G.) tenebrosa sp. n., T. (G.) tschorsnigi sp. n., T. (G.) urucurytuba sp. n. and T. (Trichopoda) sabroskyi sp. n. We also propose two new synonymies: Trichopoda (Galactomyia) giacomellii (Blanchard, 1966) syn. n. of T. (G.) pennipes (Fabricius, 1781) and T. (G.) nigripes Wulp, 1892 syn. n. of T. (G.) pennipes (Fabricius, 1781); the synonymies of T. ciliata (Fabricius, 1805) and T. haitensis Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 with T. (G.) pennipes (Fabricius, 1781) are confirmed. We resurrect one species, T. (Galactomyia) limbata (Blanchard, 1966), which was previously synonymized under T. giacomellii (= T. pennipes). We also propose two new subgeneric combinations: T. alipes Wulp, 1892 and T. squamipes Wulp, 1892 are moved from the subgenus Galactomyia to the subgenus Trichopoda. The species aurantiaca Townsend, 1891 is considered as unrecognized within the genus Trichopoda, whereas T. mexicana Macquart, 1846 and T. subcilipes Macquart, 1844 are considered incertae sedis within the tribe Gymnosomatini. Three species are removed from the genus Trichopoda and placed in the genus Homogenia Wulp, 1892: Homogenia apicalis (Wiedemann, 1830), comb. n., H. decisa (Walker, 1853), comb. n. and H. luteipennis (Wiedemann, 1830), comb. n. We provide an identification key to Trichopoda species; due to lack of material, T. flava Röder, 1885 was not included in the key. The compositions of the two subgenera of Trichopoda are redefined for the Neotropical species, whereby all species previously placed in the subgenus Trichopoda by Guimarães, with the exception of T. alipes Wulp, 1892, T. indivisa Townsend, 1897 and T. squamipes, are transferred to the subgenus Galactomyia. On the other hand, the subgeneric placement of the Nearctic species stays the same. We also comment on and try to clarify possible misidentifications, notably for use of species in biological control programs. We present photographs of males and females of all examined species, as well as illustrations of almost all male and female terminalia. 

Aphid parasitoids in biological control

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy Boivin ◽  
Thierry Hance ◽  
Jacques Brodeur
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Production Cost ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Mass Rear ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Aphid Parasitoids

Boivin, G., Hance, T. and Brodeur, J. 2012. Aphid parasitoids in biological control. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 1–12. Aphids are important pests of most cultivated crops worldwide. Among the natural enemies that regulate their populations, aphid parasitoids are commonly used in biological control programs in greenhouses and field situations. They belong to the Hymenoptera (Braconidae and Aphelinidae), and a few species are Diptera (Cecidomyiidae). Aphid parasitoids are themselves exposed to a variety of natural enemies including predators, fungi and hyperparasitoids. The most important impediment to the use of aphid parasitoids as biological control agents remains the production cost to mass-rear parasitoids. Rearing either aphids or directly aphid parasitoids in artificial media could be a solution to produce large quantities of aphid parasitoids at low cost, but such an approach still faces numerous challenges related to the nutritional and physiological requirements of developing aphid parasitoids.

scholarly journals Further records of phytoseiid (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) species for Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. ec03048
Author(s):  
Marina F. C. Barbosa ◽  
Peterson R. Demite ◽  
Antonio C. Lofego ◽  
Geraldo J. N. de Vasconcelos ◽  
Gilberto J. de Moraes
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Records ◽  
Predatory Mites ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Santa Catarina ◽  
Plant Parts

Phytoseiidae Berlese (Acari: Mesostigmata) is a family of predatory mites found mostly on the aerial plant parts. Several phytoseiid species are commercialized as biological control agents. Even though Brazil is the fifth country with the highest number of valid species, knowledge about the phytoseiid fauna in different Brazilian states is highly variable. The objective of this paper is to report unpublished records of phytoseiids on different Brazilian states. The list includes 20 species belonging to 13 genera. New records are reported for 11 states; the largest number of new records is reported for Santa Catarina (7), followed by Paraná (4).

scholarly journals The prospect of applying chemical elicitors and plant strengtheners to enhance the biological control of crop pests

2014 ◽  
Vol 369 (1639) ◽  
pp. 20120283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Islam S. Sobhy ◽  
Matthias Erb ◽  
Yonggen Lou ◽  
Ted C. J. Turlings
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Cultivated Plants ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Protection And Utilization ◽  
And Performance

An imminent food crisis reinforces the need for novel strategies to increase crop yields worldwide. Effective control of pest insects should be part of such strategies, preferentially with reduced negative impact on the environment and optimal protection and utilization of existing biodiversity. Enhancing the presence and efficacy of native biological control agents could be one such strategy. Plant strengthener is a generic term for several commercially available compounds or mixtures of compounds that can be applied to cultivated plants in order to ‘boost their vigour, resilience and performance’. Studies into the consequences of boosting plant resistance against pests and diseases on plant volatiles have found a surprising and dramatic increase in the plants' attractiveness to parasitic wasps. Here, we summarize the results from these studies and present new results from assays that illustrate the great potential of two commercially available resistance elicitors. We argue that plant strengtheners may currently be the best option to enhance the attractiveness of cultivated plants to biological control agents. Other options, such as the genetic manipulation of the release of specific volatiles may offer future solutions, but in most systems, we still miss fundamental knowledge on which key attractants should be targeted for this approach.

Yellow Brazilian Pepper-tree Leaf Galler (suggested common name) Calophya latiforceps Burckhardt (Insecta: Hemiptera: Calophyidae: Calophyinae)

EDIS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
James P. Cuda ◽  
Patricia Prade ◽  
Carey R. Minteer-Killian
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
North America ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Pepper Tree ◽  
Brazilian Pepper ◽  
Close Relatives ◽  
Tree Leaf

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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