scholarly journals Old Parasitoids for New Mealybugs: Host Location Behavior and Parasitization Efficacy of Anagyrus vladimiri on Pseudococcus comstocki

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 257
Author(s):  
Renato Ricciardi ◽  
Valeria Zeni ◽  
Davide Michelotti ◽  
Filippo Di Giovanni ◽  
Francesca Cosci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Hind Tibia ◽  
Developmental Time ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Parasitoid Behavior ◽  
Host Preferences ◽  
Parasitization Rate ◽  
Choice Tests ◽  
Pseudococcus Comstocki ◽  
Comstock Mealybug

The Comstock mealybug, Pseudococcus comstocki (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is a primary pest of orchards in the North and Northwest of China. This pest appeared recently in Europe, including Italy, where it is infesting mainly vineyards as well as apple and pear orchards. The present study investigated the efficacy of Anagyrus vladimiri, a known biological control agent (BCA) of Planococcus ficus, on P. comstocki to evaluate a potential use for the management of this new pest. No-choice tests were conducted to quantify the parasitoid behavior against P. ficus and P. comstocki. The parasitoid successfully parasitized both species (parasitization rate: 51% and 67% on P. comstocki and P. ficus, respectively). The A.vladimiri developmental time (19.67 ± 1.12 vs. 19.70 ± 1.07 days), sex ratio (1.16 ± 1.12 vs. 1.58 ± 1.07) and hind tibia length of the progeny showed no differences when P. comstocki and P. ficus, respectively, were exploited as hosts. Two-choice tests, conducted by providing the parasitoid with a mixed population of P. ficus and P. comstocki, showed no host preference for either of the two mealybug species (23 vs. 27 first choices on P. comstocki and P. ficus, respectively). The parasitization rate (61.5% and 64.5% in P. comstocki and P. ficus, respectively) did not differ between the two hosts. Overall, our study adds basic knowledge on parasitoid behavior and host preferences and confirms the use of this economically important encyrtid species as an effective BCA against the invasive Comstock mealybug.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Physiological Host Range for the Parasitoid Ooencyrtus mirus, a Potential Biocontrol Agent of Bagrada hilaris

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Power ◽  
Fatemeh Ganjisaffar ◽  
Thomas M. Perring
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Developmental Time ◽  
Egg Parasitoid ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Plant Debris ◽  
Brassica Plant ◽  
Potential Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Choice Tests ◽  
The Mean

The thelytokous egg parasitoid Ooencyrtus mirus Triapitsyn and Power (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) was recovered from brassica plant debris in Pakistan in an effort to find a biological control agent of the invasive bug Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in North America. As the first step in determining the overall host range of this parasitoid, adult females were exposed to the eggs of eight alternate pentatomid host species, two non-pentatomid heteropterans, and two lepidopterans, in choice and no-choice tests. Although O. mirus was more successful on B. hilaris than the other species in terms of the number of the eggs laid, the number of emerged progeny, and the developmental time of the progeny, it was able to reproduce on all of the alternate hosts except for one of the lepidopterans, whose eggs appeared too small for this parasitoid. The results show O. mirus to be a generalist parasitoid species with a preference for B. hilaris. The results also indicate that there is a linear relationship between the mean body length of O. mirus females and the mean host egg weight with an adjusted R 2 of 0.90. The implications of this study on the release of O. mirus for the control of B. hilaris are discussed.

Productivity of Neoseiulus bicaudus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) Reared on Natural Prey, Alternative Prey, and Artificial Diet

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Su ◽  
Fang Dong ◽  
Si-min Liu ◽  
Yan-hui Lu ◽  
Jian-ping Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Diet ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Intrinsic Rate ◽  
Developmental Time ◽  
Reproductive Rate ◽  
Intrinsic Rate Of Increase ◽  
Alternative Prey ◽  
Net Reproductive Rate ◽  
Natural Prey ◽  
Rate Of Increase

Abstract The predatory mite, Neoseiulus bicaudus (Wainstein), is a potential biological control agent against spider mites and thrips. The objective of this experiment was to compare the effects of three diets on the life table of N. bicaudus. The three diets were 1) Tetranychus turkestani (Ugarov & Nikolskii) (Acari: Tetranychidae), the natural prey of N. bicaudus; 2) Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae), an alternative prey; and 3) artificial diet primarily consisting of decapsulated shrimp cysts, egg yolk, and honey. The computer simulation was used to project the population growth of N. bicaudus fed on different diets. The preadult developmental time (3.83 d) of N. bicaudus was shortest, and the intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.2782 d−1) and the net reproductive rate (R0 = 18.98 offspring) were highest when reared on the alternative prey Ty. putrescentiae. The total development time (7.37 d) was longest, and the population parameters were the lowest (r = −0.0081 d−1, R0 = 0.85 offspring) when N. bicaudus was reared on artificial diet. The population projection showed that the population of N. bicaudus reared on Ty. putrescentiae could increase fast. Our results showed that the Ty. putrescentiae was the most suitable prey for mass rearing of N. bicaudus. The artificial diet could not support the N. bicaudus population and needs to be improved.

HOST SPECIFICITY OF LIRIOMYZA SONCHI HENDEL (DIPTERA: AGROMYZIDAE), A POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL AGENT FOR THE CONTROL OF WEEDY SOW-THISTLES, SONCHUS SPP., IN CANADA

1988 ◽  
Vol 120 (6) ◽  
pp. 593-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diether P. Peschken ◽  
Jo-Anne L. Derby
Keyword(s):  
Host Specificity ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Taraxacum Officinale ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Economic Importance ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Choice Tests ◽  
Sonchus Arvensis ◽  
Helichrysum Bracteatum

AbstractLiriomyza sonchi Hendel was screened for its host specificity as a potential biological control agent against sow-thistles (Sonchus spp.). Recent literature indicated that L. sonchi is recorded frequently from Sonchus spp., but also from Arnoseris minima Schweigger and Koerte and Reichardia arabicum Hochstetter and Steudel. A total of 78 plant species were tested, including 37 species in the Cichorieae (Compositae). In no-choice tests, feeding punctures were observed on species in the closely related genera Aetheorrhiza, Crepis, Lactuca, and Taraxacum, and such distantly related species as Helichrysum bracteatum Andrews var. monstrosum Hortorum (Inuleae tribe, Compositae) and Pisum sativum L. (Leguminosae). From 0.04 to 0.67 adults per female were produced on Aetheorrhiza bulbosa (L.), Crepis dioscordis L., C. rubra L., Leontodon hispidus L., and Taraxacum officinale Weber as compared with about 23 per female on its host, Sonchus arvensis L. No species in these genera other than Sonchus are reported as hosts in the field in Europe and they are therefore considered to be cage-induced hosts. Because of its economic importance, 10 cultivars of lettuce, Lactuca sativa L., were exposed to a total of 837 females in no-choice tests. One puparium and one adult (0.006 per female) were produced. In one replicated choice test with 150 females, no mines were produced on lettuce. It is concluded that the field host range of L. sonchi is restricted to Sonchus spp.

Optimizing Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) as a biological control agent: mathematical models for predicting its development as a function of temperature

2015 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Héctor Martínez-García ◽  
Luis R Román-Fernández ◽  
María G Sáenz-Romo ◽  
Ignacio Pérez-Moreno ◽  
Vicente S Marco-Mancebón
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Mathematical Models ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Developmental Rate ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Developmental Time ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Developmental Models ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Nesidiocoris Tenuis

AbstractFor optimal application of Nesidiocoris tenuis as a biological control agent, adequate field management and programmed mass rearing are essential. Mathematical models are useful tools for predicting the temperature-dependent developmental rate of the predator. In this study, the linear model and nonlinear models Logan type III, Lactin and Brière were estimated at constant temperatures and validated at alternating temperatures and under field conditions. N. tenuis achieved complete development from egg to adult at constant temperatures between 15 and 35°C with high survivorship (>80%) in the range 18–32°C. The total developmental time decreased from a maximum at 15°C (76.74 d) to a minimum at 33°C (12.67 d) and after that, increased to 35°C (13.98 d). Linear and nonlinear developmental models all had high accuracy (Ra2 >0.86). The maximum developmental rate was obtained between 31.9°C (Logan type III and Brière model for N1) and 35.6°C (for the egg stage in the Brière model). Optimal survival and the highest developmental rate fell within the range 27–30°C. The field validation revealed that the Logan type III and Lactin models offered the best predictions (95.0 and 94.5%, respectively). The data obtained on developmental time and mortality at different temperatures are useful for mass rearing this predator, and the developmental models are valuable for using N. tenuis as a biological control agent.

scholarly journals Sex Pheromone of the Comstock Mealybug, Pseudococcus comstocki KUWANA : Isolation and Identification

1980 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 328-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsutomu NEGISHI ◽  
Minoru UCHIDA ◽  
Yoshio TAMAKI ◽  
Kenji MORI ◽  
Taketoshi ISHIWATARI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Isolation And Identification ◽  
Pseudococcus Comstocki ◽  
Comstock Mealybug

Body size as an indicator of parasitoid quality in male and female Anagyrus kamali (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

2001 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 363-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.A. Sagarra ◽  
C. Vincent ◽  
R.K. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Hind Tibia ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Large Male ◽  
Mating Preference ◽  
Small Female ◽  
Maconellicoccus Hirsutus ◽  
Anagyrus Kamali ◽  
Tibia Length

AbstractThe parasitoid Anagyrus kamali Moursi was recently introduced into the Caribbean as a biological control agent against the hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green. In the laboratory, parasitoid size, as measured by left hind tibia length, was positively correlated several indicators of the parasitoid‘s fitness: longevity, mating preference, fecundity, reproductive longevity, progeny emergence and sex-ratio. When fed ad libidum with honey drops, large male parasitoids lived significantly longer (29.1 ± 6.5 days) than small ones ± 5.7 days). Large females also lived significantly longer (35.4 ± 10 days) than small females (27.9 ± 9.6 days). Females showed no significant mating preference between large and small males. Lifetime fecundity was positively correlated with the size of adult females ranged from 37 ± 21 eggs for small females to 96 ± 43 eggs for large ones. The reproductive longevity, daily oviposition rate, and number of progeny were also higher among large parasitoids. The sex ratio of progeny from small female parasitoids was higher (0.76 ± than that of large individuals (0.47 ± 0.18).

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