scholarly journals Current Distribution of the Olive Psyllid, Euphyllura olivina, in California and Initial Evaluation of the Mediterranean Parasitoid Psyllaephagus euphyllurae as a Biological Control Candidate

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 146
Author(s):  
Evelyne Hougardy ◽  
Xingeng Wang ◽  
Brian N. Hogg ◽  
Marshall W. Johnson ◽  
Kent M. Daane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Current Distribution ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Central Valley ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Host Feeding ◽  
Euphyllura Olivina ◽  
Choice Tests ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Production Areas

The olive psyllid, Euphyllura olivina, is a newly invasive species to California with the potential to become an economical pest if it reaches the olive production regions of California’s Central Valley. Here, we report on surveys undertaken in California to assess the psyllid’s current distribution and the occurrence of parasitism. Additionally, we present results of foreign collections of its parasitoids and initial non-target studies of a possible biological control agent, the Mediterranean parasitoid Psyllaephagus euphyllurae. The current distribution of the psyllid appears to be limited to the California coast between Monterey and San Diego; there have been no reports of infestations on olives in the major production areas of central and northern California. Psyllaephagus euphyllurae was the major primary parasitoid found in our foreign collections. The potential non-target impact of P. euphyllurae was tested on three native North American psyllid species: Neophyllura arctostaphyli, Euglyptoneura nr. robusta, and Calophya nigrella. No P. euphyllurae developed on the non-target species during no-choice tests. Behavioral observations in choice tests confirmed no attack on the non-target hosts, although the parasitoid did remain longer on N. arctostaphyli-infested manzanita plants, and revealed no host feeding behavior.

scholarly journals Host Range and Impact of Dichrorampha aeratana, the First Potential Biological Control Agent for Leucanthemum vulgare in North America and Australia

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 438
Author(s):  
Sonja Stutz ◽  
Rosemarie De Clerck-Floate ◽  
Hariet L. Hinz ◽  
Alec McClay ◽  
Andrew J. McConnachie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
North America ◽  
Larval Development ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Larval Feeding ◽  
Invasive Weed ◽  
Choice Tests

We evaluated the potential of the European root-feeding moth Dichrorampha aeratana as a biological control agent for the invasive weed Leucanthemum vulgare (oxeye daisy) in North America and Australia. The taxonomic proximity of the ornamental Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum) to L. vulgare and its popularity in North America made finding sufficiently host-specific biological control agents a challenge. No-choice tests conducted with 74 non-target species revealed partial or complete larval development on 11 species. In multiple-choice oviposition and larval development tests that were conducted in field cages, larvae were found on five of these, however in multiple-choice tests conducted under open-field conditions, larvae were only found on the ornamentals Shasta daisy and creeping daisy (Mauranthemum paludosum). Larval feeding by D. aeratana had no measurable impact on Shasta daisy, but larval feeding and plant competition reduced the biomass and number of flower heads of L. vulgare. We conclude that D. aeratana is a suitable biological control agent because it will not affect the ornamental value of Shasta or creeping daisies and because it is unlikely to feed on any other economically important or native species. We also expect D. aeratana to contribute to the suppression of L. vulgare populations.

scholarly journals Life History and Rearing of Anastatus orientalis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), an Egg Parasitoid of the Spotted Lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah J Broadley ◽  
Juli R Gould ◽  
Liam T Sullivan ◽  
Xiao-yi Wang ◽  
Kim A Hoelmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Egg Parasitoid ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Host Feeding ◽  
Potential Efficacy ◽  
Parasitism Rates ◽  
Total Progeny ◽  
Biocontrol Program

Abstract To support efforts to manage and contain spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula White (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), research is being conducted to develop classical biological control methods. To date, two potential biocontrol agents from China have been identified: an egg parasitoid, Anastatus orientalis, and a nymphal parasitoid, Dryinus sinicus Olmi (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae). The research detailed here focuses on investigating the biology and rearing of A. orientalis to assess its potential efficacy in a biocontrol program and optimize its rearing. Female wasps lived significantly longer than male wasps (68 and 23 d, respectively) and females produced an average of 94 total progeny that successfully emerged as adults, with most progeny produced between weeks one and four of the females’ lives. The sex ratio of the progeny, with no re-mating, was initially highly female-biased but became progressively more male-biased, likely due to sperm depletion. There was no evidence of additional mortality to SLF eggs from wasp host feeding, but the data were highly variable and the sample size was small. There was high parasitoid emergence when oviposition conditions mimicked mid-September Beijing temperature and photoperiod; however, there was little emergence under 25°C and long-day conditions because most progeny entered a diapause. Storage of parasitized eggs in 5°C chill lowered parasitoid emergence rates. Lastly, there was no evidence that storing field-collected SLF egg masses in 5°C for 10 mo prior to parasitization affected parasitism rates. These findings inform our rearing protocol for A. orientalis and facilitate our testing of this species as a potential biological control agent for SLF.

PARASITOID COMPLEX OF ZEIRAPHERA CANADENSIS (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE) AND EVALUATION OF TYCHERUS OSCULATOR (HYMENOPTERA: ICHNEUMONIDAE) AS A BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT

1999 ◽  
Vol 131 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.J. West ◽  
M. Kenis ◽  
G.W. Butt ◽  
S.M. Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Natural Host ◽  
Host Feeding ◽  
Ovarian Maturation ◽  
Parasitoid Complex ◽  
Zeiraphera Diniana ◽  
Nearctic Region ◽  
European Populations

AbstractA survey of larval and pupal populations of the spruce bud moth, Zeiraphera canadensis Mutuura and Freeman (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), conducted from 1994 to 1996 in eastern Newfoundland, disclosed that the incidence of endemic parasitism by Hymenoptera was up to 50% for Tycherus osculator (Thünberg) (Ichneumonidae), up to 15% for Earinus zeirapherae (Walley), under 3% for Ascogaster (Wesmael 1835) sp. and Clinocentrus (Haliday 1833) sp. (Braconidae), and under 1% for Lamachus (Foerster 1868) sp. and Triclistus (Foerster 1868) sp. (Ichneumonidae). Tycherus osculator, E. zeirapherae, Ascogaster sp., and Clinocentrus sp. represent new distributional range extensions to Newfoundland, and to the nearctic region in the case of T. osculator. The biology of European populations of T. osculator was studied on a natural host, Zeiraphera diniana (Guenée). Only females overwintered and ovarian maturation did not occur until after several months of exposure to near-freezing temperatures. Tycherus osculator successfully parasitized prepupae and pupae of Z. diniana of all ages but, in the laboratory, appeared to prefer pupae. Host feeding by T. osculator was common but not necessary for ovarian maturation. Tycherus osculator imported from Europe attacked and successfully developed within the spruce bud moth host in laboratory screenings. Morphological comparisons indicated that T. osculator reared from Z. canadensis were smaller than those reared from Z. diniana. Tycherus osculator obtained from either Newfoundland or Europe may have potential as a biological control of Z. canadensis in mainland Canada, where it is presently absent.

Biological control of yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) byEteobalea serratellain peppermint (Mentha piperita)

Weed Science ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 226-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean S. Volenberg ◽  
Herbert J. Hopen ◽  
Gaetano Campobasso
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Mentha Piperita ◽  
Yellow Toadflax ◽  
The Family ◽  
Choice Tests ◽  
Natural Range

Yellow toadflax is an introduced ornamental perennial that has become a serious weed in Wisconsin peppermint production. Glyphosate is the only labeled herbicide that controls yellow toadflax in peppermint. Other control strategies, either mechanical or cultural, have little effect on the weed in solid stands of peppermint. Previous research has suggested that the root mining mothEteobalea serratellaTr. (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae) may provide effective biological control of yellow toadflax. Therefore, experiments were conducted to determine the host specificity ofE. serratellaand to quantifyE. serratellaroot mining of yellow toadflax. In larval and adult no-choice tests,E. serratellaattacked only yellow toadflax. Other plant species collected fromE. serratella'snatural range were not attacked, neither those closely related to yellow toadflax in the family Scrophulariaceae, nor those closely related to peppermint in the family Labiatae. Root mining byE. serratellareduced root biomass an average of 20% compared to nontreated plants. Peppermint competition alone or in conjunction with root mining byE. serratellareduced root biomass 52 and 65%, respectively, compared to nontreated plants under noncompetitive conditions.E. serratellais host specific for yellow toadflax and demonstrates potential as a biological control agent by contributing to the reduced competitive ability of yellow toadflax in peppermint.

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