A Bombardier Beetle Pheropsophus aequinoctialis (L.) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Pheropsophus aequinoctialis (L.) is a ground beetle in the tribe, Brachinini, native to parts of South and Central America. Ground beetles of this tribe are commonly referred to as bombardier beetles due to their ability to produce a powerful and hot defensive chemical spray directed at would-be predators. This spray is capable of harming humans, resulting in discomfort, physical burns (due to the spray temperature), and possibly contact dermatitis. The adults of this species are nocturnal and believed to be generalist predators and scavengers. However, larval stages appear to depend on an exclusive diet of mole cricket eggs. As such, Pheropsophus aequinoctialis may have potential use as a biological control agent against certain invasive mole cricket pests in North America. This article describes this insects biology, development, and behavior. Also published on the Featured Creatures website at http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/Creatures/BeneFICIAL/beetles/Pheropsophus_aequinoctialis.html

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Observations on the predatory potential of Lutzia fuscana on Aedes aegypti larvae: implications for biological control (Diptera: Culicidae)

Fragmenta Entomologica ◽

10.4081/fe.2016.176 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 137

Author(s):

Soujita Pramanik ◽

Sampa Banerjee ◽

Soumyajit Banerjee ◽

Goutam K. Saha ◽

Gautam Aditya

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Instar Larva ◽

Control Agent ◽

The Body ◽

Larval Habitats ◽

Larval Stages ◽

Augmentative Release ◽

Predatory Potential

Among the natural predators, larval stages of the mosquito Lutzia fuscana (Wiedemann, 1820) (Diptera: Culicidae) bear potential as a biological control agent of mosquitoes. An estimation of the predatory potential of the larva of L. fuscana against the larva of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) (Diptera: Culicidae) was made to highlight its use in vector management. Laboratory experiments revealed that the larva of L. fuscana consumes 19 to 24 A. aegypti larvae per day, during its tenure as IV instar larva. The consumption of A. aegypti larvae was proportionate to the body length (BL) and body weight (BW) of the predatory larva L. fuscana as depicted through the logistic regressions: y = 1 / (1 + exp(-(-2.09 + 0.35*BL))) and y = 1 / (1 + exp(-(0.4+ 0.06*BW))). While the prey consumption remained comparable among the days, the net weight gained by the L. fuscana larva showed a decreasing trend with the age. On the basis of the results, it is apparent that the larva of the mosquito L. fuscana can be used in the regulation of the mosquito A. aegypti through augmentative release, particularly, in the smaller mosquito larval habitats.

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Fungi of entomopathogenic potential in Chytridiomycota and Blastocladiomycota, and in fungal allies of the Oomycota and Microsporidia

IMA Fungus ◽

10.1186/s43008-021-00074-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Agata Kaczmarek ◽

Mieczysława I. Boguś

Keyword(s):

Biological Control Agent ◽

Sister Group ◽

Control Agent ◽

Scale Insects ◽

Black Flies ◽

Larval Stages ◽

Phylogenetic Studies ◽

Lady Beetles ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

The Relationship

AbstractThe relationship between entomopathogenic fungi and their insect hosts is a classic example of the co-evolutionary arms race between pathogen and target host. The present review describes the entomopathogenic potential of Chytridiomycota and Blastocladiomycota fungi, and two groups of fungal allies: Oomycota and Microsporidia. The Oomycota (water moulds) are considered as a model biological control agent of mosquito larvae. Due to their shared ecological and morphological similarities, they had long been considered a part of the fungal kingdom; however, phylogenetic studies have since placed this group within the Straminipila. The Microsporidia are parasites of economically-important insects, including grasshoppers, lady beetles, bumblebees, colorado potato beetles and honeybees. They have been found to display some fungal characteristics, and phylogenetic studies suggest that they are related to fungi, either as a basal branch or sister group. The Blastocladiomycota and Chytridiomycota, named the lower fungi, historically were described together; however, molecular phylogenetic and ultrastructural research has classified them in their own phylum. They are considered parasites of ants, and of the larval stages of black flies, mosquitoes and scale insects.

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

Nematology ◽

10.1163/15685411-bja10063 ◽

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.

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Life Cycle and Behavior of Neochetina eichhorniae Warner (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Louisiana: A Biological Control Agent of Waterhyacinth

Environmental Entomology ◽

10.1093/ee/12.1.147 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 147-150 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

John D. Stark ◽

Richard A. Goyer

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Control Agent ◽

Neochetina Eichhorniae ◽

And Behavior

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Establishment and Persistence of Steinernema scapterisci (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) in Field Populations of Scapteriscus spp. Mole Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae)

Journal of Entomological Science ◽

10.18474/0749-8004-28.2.182 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 182-190 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

J. P. Parkman ◽

W. G. Hudson ◽

J. H. Frank ◽

K. B. Nguyen ◽

G. C. Smart

Keyword(s):

Biological Control Agent ◽

Entomopathogenic Nematode ◽

Control Agent ◽

Trap Catch ◽

Infection Level ◽

Mole Cricket ◽

Alachua County ◽

Inadequate Knowledge ◽

Exotic Pests ◽

Mole Crickets

The first successful inoculative releases of an entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema scapterisci Nguyen and Smart, for the control of exotic pests, Scapteriscus spp. mole crickets, were made at three pasture sites in Alachua County, Florida in 1985. Based on the evaluation of field-collected crickets, the nematode was established at all sites and persisted for over 5 years. Mean yearly percentage of infected crickets ranged from 0 to 21.4% for individual release sites. Mean adult infection level for all years combined, 10.9%, was significantly greater than that for nymphs (2.5%) and infection levels for Scapteriscus borellii Giglio-Tos, 12.7%, was significantly greater than that for Scapteriscus vicinus Scudder (4.5%) for all years combined. Although 24 h trap catch results indicate mole cricket populations were significantly reduced, the nematode's effect on pest abundance could not be adequately assessed because of the variation in trap catch results and inadequate knowledge about the relationship between trap catch and the mole cricket field populations being sampled. Despite inadequacies in estimating pest abundance, the results indicate S. scapterisci has potential as a biological control agent for pest mole crickets in the genus Scapteriscus.

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PARASITISM OF MOSQUITO LARVAE BY THE NEMATODE, DD136 (NEMATODA: NEOAPLECTANIDAE)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z62-102 ◽

1962 ◽

Vol 40 (7) ◽

pp. 1263-1268 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

H. E. Welch ◽

Joan F. Bronskill

Keyword(s):

Laboratory Tests ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Adult Emergence ◽

Control Agent ◽

Body Cavity ◽

Host Reaction ◽

Nematode Larvae ◽

Potential Use ◽

Host Death

In laboratory tests the nematode, DD136, was quickly encapsulated after it penetrated the gut wall and invaded the prothoracic body cavity of larvae of Aedes aegypti (L.). When few nematodes were present, most became encapsulated, but when many were present, few were encapsulated. Similar encapsulation of the nematode occurred in tests of local Aedes spp. An undetermined diplogasterid nematode was found to be naturally encapsulated by A. stimulans (Walker). Encapsulation usually does not postpone host death from the pathogenic bacteria transported by the nematode. Larvae that survive and contain capsules take longer to become adults, and often die at pupation or adult emergence. Host reaction inactivates the nematode but the nematode and its bacteria have potential use as a biological control agent.

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Fecundity, Development, and Behavior of Ceratapion basicorne (Coleoptera: Apionidae), a Prospective Biological Control Agent of Yellow Starthistle

Environmental Entomology ◽

10.1603/0046-225x(2006)35[1366:fdaboc]2.0.co;2 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 35 (5) ◽

pp. 1366-1371 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

L. Smith ◽

A. E. Drew

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Control Agent ◽

Yellow Starthistle ◽

And Behavior

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Rearing of chelifers for potential biocontrol of varroa mites

New Zealand Plant Protection ◽

10.30843/nzpp.2012.65.5401 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 65 ◽

pp. 290-290

Author(s):

S. Read ◽

B.G. Howlett ◽

B.J. Donovan ◽

W.R. Nelson ◽

R.F. Van_Toor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Fruit Fly ◽

Control Agent ◽

Food Sources ◽

Generalist Predators ◽

Breeding Populations ◽

In Captivity ◽

Varroa Mites

Honeybee colonies infested with the varroa mite (Varroa destructor) usually collapse unless they have been treated with acaracides Resistance to the most commonly used acaracides is increasing and no biological control options are yet available Chelifers (pseudoscorpions) are generalist predators and may have potential as a biological control agent This poster describes an attempt to establish breeding populations of native chelifers which have been shown to actively feed on varroa with the ultimate aim of testing their ability as a biological control of varroa Two species of chelifers (Nesochernes gracilis and Heterochernes novaezealandiae) collected from honeybee hives and in leaf litter near apiaries at Katikati (Bay of Plenty) are being maintained in the laboratory They are surviving on a variety of different food sources such as Drosophila sp larvae (fruit fly) aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and moth larvae (Helicoverpa armigera Spodoptera litura and Plodia interpunctella) With little known about raising these chelifers in captivity their diet preferences and feeding periods are being obtained as a first step to obtaining the basic information necessary for potential commercial propagation of chelifers for varroa control in honeybee hives

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Temperature and Photoperiodic Response of Diapause Induction in Anastatus japonicus, an Egg Parasitoid of Stink Bugs

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12100872 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 872

Author(s):

Can Zhao ◽

Yi Guo ◽

Zixin Liu ◽

Yue Xia ◽

Yuyan Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Control Agent ◽

Developmental Regulation ◽

Exposure Period ◽

Instar Larva ◽

Egg Parasitoid ◽

Control Agent ◽

Photoperiodic Response ◽

Stink Bugs ◽

Larval Stages ◽

Long Term Storage

Anastatus japonicus Ashmead is a widely used biological control agent against stink bugs that can be successfully reared using the large eggs of the Chinese silkworm. In this study, environmental factors responsible for the induction of diapause in A. japonicus were investigated on host eggs of the Chinese silkworm. A. japonicus exhibited a facultative, mature larval diapause within its host eggs. Second–third instar larva are the most sensitive stages to diapause stimuli. The accumulation of diapause stimuli during all the larval stages maximized the diapause response. A short photoperiod of 10L:14D and temperature of 17 °C led to the occurrence of the highest diapause response, while a long photoperiod (14L:10D) and low temperatures (11 and 14 °C) prevented the diapause. A specific exposure period was required to reach high diapause incidence. Diapausing mature larvae had a significantly higher survival rate after 180 days storage at 10 °C than that of nondiapausing mature larvae. Taken together, results suggest methods that could be exploited in the developmental regulation, field-release pretreatment technology, and long-term storage of A. japonicus.

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