scholarly journals Exotic predators are not better biocontrol agents: the harlequin ladybird is not the most voracious in Mexico

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12503
Author(s):  
Morelia Camacho-Cervantes ◽  
Wendy Mendoza-Arroyo ◽  
Daniela Arellano-Sánchez ◽  
Ek del-Val
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Harmonia Axyridis ◽  
Biocontrol Agents ◽  
Foraging Efficiency ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Harlequin Ladybird ◽  
Ecological Requirements ◽  
Exotic Invasive ◽  
Aphid Biocontrol ◽  
Eggs And Larvae

The use of exotic species for pest biocontrol has been a common pathway for introduction and dispersal of invasive species that may have undesired outcomes. Biocontrol agents are believed to be a less damaging alternative than pesticides, but some species may also prey on or parasitize native species or outcompete them for resources. The harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) is a well-known biocontrol agent originally from Asia that has established invasive populations in 59 countries around the globe. Harlequin ladybirds are generalist predators that in addition to pests prey on an array of different species including other coccinelids’ eggs and larvae. In Mexico, native ladybirds that share ecological requirements with harlequin ladybirds are at risk of being outcompeted and predated upon. The aim of our study was to compare the foraging efficiency of harlequin ladybirds against three species of native coccinelids when preying on aphids. We investigated the foraging behaviour of ladybirds alone and in pairs with a conspecific, a native heterospecific or an exotic heterospecific. We found that the native Cycloneda sanguinea was the species that consumed the most aphids, while Hippodamia convergens was the fastest to find and consume each aphid. Harlequin ladybirds and H. convergens consumed the same number of aphids while P. vittigera consumed less. Conspecific competition was stronger than heterospecific competition. We discuss the suitability of using the exotic invasive harlequin ladybird for aphid biocontrol in comparison with native coccinelids.

Does the non-native Harlequin ladybird disrupt the feeding behaviour of the native two-spot ladybird?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Jade A. Hemsley ◽  
John M. Holland
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Harmonia Axyridis ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Harlequin Ladybird ◽  
Direct Competition ◽  
Aphid Prey ◽  
Behavioural Interactions ◽  
Interactive Behaviour ◽  
Prey Items

Abstract Since its arrival in 2004, the non-native Harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) has rapidly spread throughout Britain, and it is now the most common coccinellid in England. There have since been concerns about the detrimental effects it may have on native coccinellids because there is a strong correlation between the arrival of H. axyridis and the decline in native species, including the two-spot ladybird, Adalia bipunctata. However, there have been few studies of the behavioural interactions between these two species, which occupy a high-niche overlap. This study investigated if the presence of H. axyridis impacts the feeding behaviour of A. bipunctata through direct competition for aphid prey. Foraging and interactive behaviour of A. bipunctata and H. axyridis were investigated within microcosms. Adalia bipuncata exhibited a similar consumption rate and time in the presence of H. axridis, yet H. axyridis consumed 3.5 times more prey items and were seven times faster compared to A. bipuncata. Observations showed that H. axyridis does not directly disrupt the feeding behaviour of A. bipunctata, but rather indirectly excludes the native species through being a superior competitor for prey items. Results indicate that the decline in native coccinellid species may be a consequence of H. axyridis competitive advantage, but that the concept of coexistence should not be dismissed.

scholarly journals Transgenerational Effects of a Neonicotinoid and a Novel Sulfoximine Insecticide on the Harlequin Ladybird

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 681
Author(s):  
Changchun Dai ◽  
Michele Ricupero ◽  
Zequn Wang ◽  
Nicolas Desneux ◽  
Antonio Biondi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Harmonia Axyridis ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Generalist Predator ◽  
Cotton Aphid ◽  
Transgenerational Effects ◽  
Harlequin Ladybird

The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is a generalist predator and an effective biocontrol agent of various insect pests that has been exploited for the control of aphid pests in the greenhouse and field. However, insecticides are widely used to control aphid pests worldwide and the potential non-target effects of sulfoxaflor and imidacloprid for controlling aphid pests towards this biocontrol agent are little known. Although both sulfoxaflor and imidacloprid act on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of insects, sulfoxaflor has a novel chemical structure compared with neonicotinoids. We assessed the lethal, sublethal and transgenerational effects of sulfoxaflor and imidacloprid on H. axyridis simultaneously exposed via ingestion of contaminated prey and via residual contact on the host plant at LC20 and LC50 doses estimated for the cotton aphid. Imidacloprid significantly reduced the survival of H. axyridis adults compared to sulfoxaflor at the same lethal concentration against cotton aphid. Both concentrations of imidacloprid and sulfoxaflor reduced the proportion of ovipositing females, and both concentrations of imidacloprid and sulfoxaflor, except LC20 dose of sulfoxaflor, reduced the fecundity and fertility of the parental generation. In the progeny of imidacloprid- and sulfoxaflor-exposed parents, both tested LC50 concentrations significantly decreased the juvenile survival rate, and both concentrations of imidacloprid and sulfoxaflor, except LC20 dose of sulfoxaflor, prolonged the development time. Our findings provide evidence of the negative influence of imidacloprid and sulfoxaflor at low lethal concentrations on the harlequin ladybird and on the progeny of exposed individuals, i.e., transgenerational effects. Hence, these findings stress the importance of optimizing the applications of imidacloprid and sulfoxaflor for the control of aphid pests, aiming at preserving the biocontrol services provided by H. axyridis throughout the integrated pest management approach.

scholarly journals Invasion history of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Ecuador

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia ◽  
Emilia Peñaherrera-Romero
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Harmonia Axyridis ◽  
Economic Impacts ◽  
Invasion History ◽  
Museum Specimens ◽  
Agricultural Pest ◽  
Harlequin Ladybird ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of ◽  
Harmonia Axyridis Pallas

AbstractHarmonia axyridis is a ladybird extensively used around the world for biological control of agricultural pest. However, it has become invasive in several countries, producing negative ecological and socio-economic impacts. Herein, we review the invasion history of the Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) in Ecuador. Although first reported in Ecuador in 2012, museum specimens date back to 2004 and it is currently established across the country, especially along the Andean region. Due to its invasive nature, further studies are urgently needed to evaluate possible impacts of H. axyridis on the Ecuadorian biodiversity and agroindustry.

scholarly journals Social wasps are effective biocontrol agents of key lepidopteran crop pests

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1914) ◽  
pp. 20191676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin J. Southon ◽  
Odair A. Fernandes ◽  
Fabio S. Nascimento ◽  
Seirian Sumner
Keyword(s):  
Pest Management ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Fall Armyworm ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Biocontrol Agents ◽  
Paper Wasp ◽  
Crop Pests ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Management Scheme

Biocontrol agents can help reduce pest populations as part of an integrated pest management scheme, with minimal environmental consequences. However, biocontrol agents are often non-native species and require significant infrastructure; overuse of single agents results in pest resistance. Native biocontrol agents are urgently required for more sustainable multi-faceted approaches to pest management. Social wasps are natural predators of lepidopteran pests, yet their viability as native biocontrol agents is largely unknown. Here, we provide evidence that the social paper wasp Polistes satan is a successful predator on the larvae of two economically important and resilient crop pests, the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (on sugarcane Saccharum spp.) and the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (on maize Zea mays ); P. satan wasps significantly reduce crop pest damage. These results provide the much-needed baseline experimental evidence that social wasps have untapped potential as native biocontrol agents for sustainable crop production and food security.

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