DIFFERENTIAL ENCAPSULATION OF TWO BATHYPLECTES PARASITOIDS AMONG ALFALFA WEEVIL STRAINS, HYPERA POSTICA (GYLLENHAL)

1991 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Maund ◽  
T.H. Hsiao
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Control Strategy ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Alfalfa Weevil ◽  
Hypera Postica ◽  
Biological Differences

AbstractEncapsulation of Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson) and B. anurus (Thomson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) was investigated by dissecting parasitized larvae of three strains of the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). In laboratory studies, there was no encapsulation of B. curculionis in the western strain of the weevil, a significant level of encapsulation in the eastern strain of the weevil, and nearly complete encapsulation in the Egyptian strain of the weevil. The rickettsia, Wolbachia postica Hsiao and Hsiao, found only in the western strain, was not involved in encapsulation. Variation in encapsulation was due to biological differences between weevil strains. Encapsulation rates among field populations of the western and Egyptian weevils were lower than in the laboratory. Encapsulation rates of weevil populations from zones in which western and Egyptian strains overlap in southern Utah, and between eastern and western strains in Colorado, were intermediate to rates of parental strains. These results imply that B. curculionis effectiveness against the western alfalfa weevil will decline with mixing of weevil strains. Bathyplectes anurus did not evoke encapsulation and was able to develop equally well in all three weevil strains. Our findings illustrate the importance of investigating the compatibility between alfalfa weevil strains and their parasitoids in devising a sound biological control strategy.

Effects of Dormancy and Photoperiod on Alfalfa Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Reproductive Diapause

1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. C. Elden
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Efficient Method ◽  
Mass Production ◽  
Continuous Production ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Reproductive Diapause ◽  
Dormant Period ◽  
Alfalfa Weevil ◽  
Hypera Postica ◽  
Inactive State

Alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), adults reared as larvae in the laboratory under an 8-h photophase were subjected to three storage conditions and two photoperiods to determine their effects on female reproductive diapause and fecundity. Contrary to previous reports, weevils reared in the laboratory as larvae and adults under a short-day photoperiod remained in a partial reproductive diapause. Newly-emerged weevil adults subjected to a 5-wk dormant period followed by an 8-h photophase had a rate of oviposition nearly twice that of adults reared under an 8-h photophase without a dormant period. Adults reared under a 15-h photophase after the dormant period also remained in a partial reproductive diapause. Results demonstrate that alfalfa weevil reproductive diapause is influenced by dormancy (an inactive state) and photoperiod. This is the first report of an efficient method to break reproductive diapause in the alfalfa weevil which will enable continuous production of nondiapausing laboratory-reared weevils for research and mass production of predators and parasites for biological control.

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF THE ALFALFA WEEVIL HYPERA POSTICA (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE) IN NEW YORK

1971 ◽  
Vol 103 (12) ◽  
pp. 1653-1658 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Larry Richardson ◽  
Dean E. Nelson ◽  
Alan C. York ◽  
George G. Gyrisco
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Biological Control ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Critical Levels ◽  
Alfalfa Weevil ◽  
Hypera Postica ◽  
Late Fall ◽  
Natural Dispersal

AbstractTwo hymenopterous parasites Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson) and Tetrastichus incertus (Ratzeburg) parasitized 16.5% of their principal host the alfalfa weevil Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) in 1970. A total of 2703 parasites was reared and released in localities where their activity was reported low or non-existent prior to this study. Maximum parasitism by T. incertus and B. curculionis occurred later than periods of peak weevil larvae activity; however, T. incertus emerged earlier in several areas possibly as a natural adjustment of its life cycle, and B. curculionis persisted in multiple non-diapausing generations until late fall. The braconid parasite Microtonus aethiops (Nees) shows promise in becoming a very effective control agent through its ability to prevent weevil oviposition now that it is rapidly dispersing throughout New York. Having parasites established statewide through both releases and natural dispersal has lowered weevil populations below critical levels, and will increase parasite effectiveness in dealing with future alfalfa weevil generations.

MICROCTONUS STELLERI (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE, EUPHORINAE), A NEW PARASITE OF THE ALFALFA WEEVIL INTRODUCED INTO THE UNITED STATES

1972 ◽  
Vol 104 (9) ◽  
pp. 1445-1456 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Drea ◽  
R. J. Dysart ◽  
L. W. Coles ◽  
C. C. Loan
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New Species ◽  
Instar Larva ◽  
The United States ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Alfalfa Weevil ◽  
Hypera Postica ◽  
First Instar ◽  
Parasite Larva ◽  
A New Species

AbstractMicroctonus stelleri Loan is described as a new species. This euphorine braconid occurs in France, Germany, Sweden, and Russia. It is umvoltine and its only known host is the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal). In the spring the mature parasite larva issues from the overwintered adult host and forms a white cocoon in the ground litter. In about 2 weeks the adult parasite emerges, mates, and oviposits in larva of the alfalfa weevil. The parasite egg hatches and the first-instar larva remains within the host until the following spring. In northern France M. stelleri was the dominant parasite in overwintering adults of H. postica. Parasitism ranged from 0 to 13% though it was usually less than 6%. Laboratory studies showed that M. stelleri females live longer, have a higher rate of oviposition, and parasitize more hosts than females of M. colesi Drea, a parasite of the weevil in the United Slates. A technique is described for the recovery of M. stelleri from adult alfalfa weevils. From 1966 to 1970, 4387 parasites were imported from France and released at 24 localities in the United States.

Evaluating the establishment success of Microctonus aethiopoides (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of the alfalfa weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), across the northern Great Plains of North America

2018 ◽  
Vol 150 (2) ◽  
pp. 274-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatyana A. Rand ◽  
Makenzie Pellissier ◽  
Randa Jabbour ◽  
Jonathan G. Lundgren ◽  
Debra K. Waters
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Alfalfa Weevil ◽  
Hypera Postica ◽  
Microctonus Aethiopoides

AbstractThe alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica (Gyllenhal); Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a destructive pest of alfalfa (Medicago sativa Linnaeus; Fabaceae) worldwide. The biological control parasitoid, Microctonus aethiopoides Loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), was successfully introduced, and considered highly effective, in the eastern and mid-western United States of America. Redistribution efforts carried out throughout the 1980s reported initial establishment in the northern Great Plains, however follow-up studies to assess long-term persistence and efficacy are lacking. We resurveyed the counties in which M. aethiopoides had been initially recovered following redistribution in Montana (Flathead and Petroleum counties), Wyoming (Platte County), and South Dakota (Brookings County), to gauge whether this species has become permanently established and, if so, assess levels of parasitism in the field. We collected adult weevils from five fields in each county, and reared them in the laboratory to assess parasitism. Despite rearing more than 1000 weevils, no parasitoids were recovered from any of the locations sampled in our study, suggesting a widespread failure of M. aethiopoides to persist in the region. Thus, M. aethiopoides does not currently appear to be an important biological control agent of alfalfa weevil in the northern Great Plains. More intensive surveys will be required to assess the extent of the distributional limits of this species throughout the region.

scholarly journals Efficacy of some native entomopathogenic nematodes against the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and the lucerne beetle, Gonioctena fornicata (Brüggemann) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), adults under laboratory conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayşegül Çağlayan ◽  
Turgut Atay ◽  
İlker Kepenekci
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
Entomopathogenic Nematodes ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Heterorhabditis Bacteriophora ◽  
Steinernema Carpocapsae ◽  
Alfalfa Weevil ◽  
Hypera Postica ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
The World

Abstract Background Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have more important role in biological control of economic insect pests. The effect of native EPNs on adults of the lucerne beetle, Gonioctena fornicata (Brüggemann, 1873) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), and the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal, 1813) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), which are important alfalfa pests in Turkey and around the world, was investigated. Results Dose-mortality assays were carried out with 5 isolates [Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser, 1955) (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) (Black sea isolate), S. feltiae Filipjev, 1934 (isolate 09-31), Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar, 1976 (Nematoda: Heterorhabditidae) (isolate 09-43), H. bacteriophora Tokat-Songut, and S. carpocapsae Tokat-Ulas] using doses of 500, 1000, and 2000 IJs ml−1 under the laboratory conditions. Studies showed that all isolates had an effect 90% and more at 2000 IJs ml−1 and at the end of 112 h [except, H. bacteriophora (isolate 09-43) and H. bacteriophora Tokat-Songut isolates against H. postica]. In addition, LT30, LT50, and LT90 values at 1000 IJs ml−1 were determined. Conclusions According to the results, G. fornicata adults were susceptible to all isolates tested in the study and H. postica adults were susceptible to the isolates S. carpocapsae (Black sea isolate), S. feltiae (isolate 09-31), and S. carpocapsae Tokat-Ulas. This is the first study conducted in Turkey for the virulence of EPNs against G. fornicata and H. postica.

scholarly journals “Predator-In-First”: A Preemptive Biological Control Strategy for Sustainable Management of Pepper Pests in Florida

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7816
Author(s):  
Vivek Kumar ◽  
Lucky Mehra ◽  
Cindy L. McKenzie ◽  
Lance S. Osborne
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Pest Management ◽  
Control Strategy ◽  
Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Polyphagotarsonemus Latus ◽  
Consistent Performance

The early establishment of a biocontrol agent in the production system, whether in the greenhouse, nursery, or field, is essential for the success of the biological control program, ensuring growers’ profitability. In an effort to develop a sustainable pest management solution for vegetable growers in Florida, we explored the application of a preemptive biological control strategy, “Predator-In-First” (PIF), in regulating multiple pepper pests, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, and Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks under greenhouse and field conditions during different growing seasons. In these studies, two bell pepper cultivars (7039 and 7141) and the phytoseiid mite Amblyseius swirskii Athias–Henriot were used as a model system. Pepper seedlings (~8 week) of each cultivar were infested with varying rates of A. swirskii (20 or 40 mites/plant or one sachet/10 plant) and allowed to settle on plant hosts for a week before planting in pots or field beds. Results showed a comparative consistent performance of the treatment with the high rate of phytoseiids (40 mites/plant) in regulating B. tabaci and F. occidentalis populations in greenhouse studies, and B. tabaci and P. latus pests under field conditions. During two fall field seasons, higher marketable yields of 12.8% and 20.1% in cultivar 7039, and 24.3% and 39.5% in cultivar 7141 were observed in the treatment with the high rate of phytoseiids compared to the untreated control, indicating yield benefits of the approach. The outcome of the study is encouraging and demonstrates that PIF can be an important tool for organic vegetable growers and a potential alternative to chemical-based conventional pest management strategies. The advantages and limitations of the PIF approach in Florida pepper production are discussed.

Assessing the role of generalist predators in the biological control of alfalfa weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

2017 ◽  
Vol 149 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatyana A. Rand
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Biological Control ◽  
Experimental Work ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
The United States ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Alfalfa Weevil ◽  
Exclusion Experiment ◽  
Predator Exclusion

AbstractAlfalfa weevil (Coleoptera:Curculionidae) is a major pest of alfalfa throughout the United States of America. Biological control research has disproportionately focussed on introduced parasitoids. Generalist predators may also be important, but experimental work evaluating their impacts is lacking. I combined a cross-site survey with a predator exclusion experiment to identify key predators, and test for impacts on weevil survival and plant defoliation levels in Montana and North Dakota, United States of America. Spiders (Araneae) dominated the complex, followed by Nabidae (Hemiptera) and Coccinellidae (Coleoptera). None of the dominant predators showed aggregative responses to weevil (Hypera postica (Gyllenhal); Coleoptera: Curculionidae) or pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris); Hemiptera: Aphididae) densities across 10 sites surveyed. However, weevil densities were positively correlated with both coccinellid and nabid densities across transects at the experimental site. Thus, predator groups traditionally associated with aphids can show strong aggregative numerical responses to alfalfa weevil larvae at smaller scales. Predator exclusion revealed no significant predator effects on larval survival or alfalfa damage. However, final densities of pea aphids were significantly higher in exclusion treatments relative to controls. The results suggest that even under conditions where predators exert significant pressure on aphids, they may still have minimal impacts on weevils. Additional experimental work is necessary to determine the broader potential of generalist predators as alfalfa weevil control agents.

EFFECTS OF CARBOFURAN ON ARTHROPOD POPULATIONS AND CROP YIELD IN HAYFIELDS

1972 ◽  
Vol 104 (9) ◽  
pp. 1433-1437 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. D. Dondale
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Alfalfa Weevil ◽  
Hypera Postica

AbstractCarbofuran was applied to three hayfields at a rate of 0.56 kg/ha in early June. This caused significant reductions of Thysanoptera, phytophagous Coleoptera larvae (including the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyl.)), and Cicadellidae. It caused similar reductions in Araneida and parasitoids. The differences between treated and untreated plots were no longer significant by September. Carbofuran did not significantly affect the yield of air-dried hay or of crude protein.

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