Challenges and opportunities of unmanned aerial vehicles as a new tool for crop pest control

The application of pesticides is not simply delivering chemicals to the target area. It also involves considering the negative aspects and developing strategies to deal with them during the application process, to ensure the maximization of pesticides use efficiency and the maintenance of the ecosystem. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sprayers demonstrate unique advantages compared to traditional ground sprayers, particularly in terms of maneuverability and labor intensity reduction, showed great potential for chemical application in pest control. It is undeniable that there exist challenges in the practice of UAV spraying, such as higher potential risks of pesticide drift or pathogen transmission, uncertainty canopy deposition for different crops, and unexpected leaf breakage induced by downwash flow. Maximizing the utilization of downwash flow while avoiding lateral air movement outside the intended target crop area is a major issue for chemical application with UAV sprayers, particularly in light of the increasingly apparent consensus on the need for enhanced environmental protection during the chemical application process. It must be considered that the operation strategy in different scenarios and for different crop targets is not the same, unique requirements should be given on nozzle atomization, flight parameters, adjuvants and aircraft types in specific working situations. In future, the implementation of spray drift prediction, technical procedures development, and other solutions aimed at reducing pesticide drift and improving deposition quality, is expected to promote the adoption of UAV sprayers by more farmers. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.     

Being exposed to low concentrations of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr has detrimental effects on the mobility of Trogoderma granarium

BACKGROUND

Sublethal effects of insecticides may negatively affect several biological and behavioral traits of insects. The lethal effects of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr have been previously showed on Trogoderma granarium, but little knowledge is available about their sublethal effects at low concentrations on both sexes. Herein, the sublethal effects of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr on the mobility of T. granarium males and females were investigated.

RESULTS

Lethal concentration (LC) values of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr were lower for T. granarium females than males. LC values on males were LC₁₀ = 0.000788 and 0.00139 mg active ingredient (a.i.) cm⁻², LC₃₀ = 0.00350 and 0.00535 mg a.i. cm⁻², and LC₅₀ = 0.00986 and 0.0136 mg a.i. cm⁻² for pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr respectively. LC on females were LC₁₀ = 0.000704 and 0.00110 mg a.i. cm⁻², LC₃₀ = 0.00323 and 0.00428 mg a.i. cm⁻², and LC₅₀ = 0.00925 and 0.0110 mg a.i. cm⁻² for pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr respectively. The walking duration of beetles exposed to LC₃₀ of pirimiphos-methyl was significantly lower than the individuals exposed to LC₁₀ and LC₃₀ of both insecticides and control ones. Pirimiphos-methyl LC₃₀-exposed males remained more time on their back (101.7 s) than females (46.9 s), while the latter stayed immobile longer than males (381.7 s versus 371.9 s). The highest speed was recorded for control beetles (14.17 mm s⁻¹ females vs. 12.44 mm s⁻¹ males), while the lowest speed was observed in pirimiphos-methyl LC₃₀-treated males (8.36 mm s⁻¹) and females (9.66 mm s⁻¹).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, males and females exposed to low concentrations of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr showed reduced motility. This knowledge can be exploited further to unlock behavioral effects of insecticides for effective pest management programs in warehouses. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.     

昆虫病原真菌在害虫防治中对天敌生物的影响研究进展

昆虫病原真菌是一类重要的微生物杀虫剂,广泛应用于农林害虫的生物防治。由于寄主范围广和主动侵染的特点,昆虫病原真菌在侵染、致死靶标害虫的同时,对包括天敌昆虫在内的非靶标节肢动物等会产生潜在的致病或亚致死风险。本文总结了昆虫病原真菌在害虫防治中的研究进展及对天敌生物的影响,并展望了昆虫病原真菌作为极具潜力的生物农药与天敌生物联合防治害虫的未来发展方向。     

巨大芽胞杆菌YB-3的筛选、鉴定及其对生姜青枯病的生防效果研究

青枯病（bacterial wilt）是生姜上的一种细菌土传毁灭性病害,化学防治易污染环境且常规化学药剂很难在土壤中起到持续控病的作用,生物防治是其理想的防治方法。为开发对生姜青枯病有效的生防措施,对从生姜根际土壤中分离的一株生防细菌YB-3进行了鉴定,并对其生物学特性及生防效果进行了研究,以丰富生防菌株资源库。采用抑菌圈法筛选拮抗细菌,对效果最好的拮抗菌株做盆栽试验,测定其对生姜青枯病的防治效果,根据形态特征、生理生化特性以及16S rDNA序列对筛选得到的优良菌株进行鉴定。试验结果表明,该拮抗菌在平皿上对青枯菌的抑菌率为50.67%,盆栽试验对青枯病的防治效果为60.86%;经16S rDNA序列分析,并结合形态学和生理生化特征,将菌株YB-3鉴定为巨大芽胞杆菌Bacillus megaterium。YB-3是一株具有开发利用价值的姜青枯病生防菌株。     

基于生态管理的山东苹果无袋栽培“依历按需用药”病虫害综合防控方案

山东产区苹果实施无袋栽培首先要选择苹果轮纹病、苹果炭疽病、桃小食心虫、梨小食心虫等果实病虫发生基数较低的果园。实施无袋栽培前,治理果园内外环境,压低病虫基数,防止果园病虫大量繁殖蔓延。在此基础上,依据本地主要病虫害种类及其防治关键时期,设计周年监测与防治预案,即防治历:以10 d为1个周期,监测和预测病虫害的发生动态;当病虫需要用药防治时,选择相应药剂及时防治。苹果无袋栽培的病虫害防控可划分为休眠期、幼果期、雨季和果实采收前4个时期,各个时期的重点防控对象和目标各不相同。休眠期主要铲除在树体和周边环境中越冬的各种病虫,减轻生长期的防治压力;幼果期以防治苹果霉心病、苹果锈病、红蜘蛛、蚜虫、绿盲蝽等为主,兼治其他病虫;雨季以防治苹果轮纹病、苹果炭疽病、桃小食心虫、梨小食心虫为主,兼治其他病虫;采收前,病害以防止弱寄生菌在果面定殖为主,虫害主要防治各种危害果实的害虫。3年来在多个园片试验示范,绝大部分果园病虫果率控制在10%以下。     

十字花科蔬菜害虫种类及综合治理技术

针对近年来江门市蔬菜种植过程中害虫种类繁多、化学农药使用量增加,且抗药性不断增强,防治工作困难的现状,进行了多年实践,在分析江门市十字花科蔬菜害虫发生种类及发生特点的基础上,提出通过采用清除残株落叶、合理轮作等农业防治措施,设置杀虫灯、黄板、性诱剂等物理防治措施,释放寄生蜂、捕食性天敌等生物防治措施,辅之以合理使用高效、低毒、低残留化学农药的综合治理技术,实现了害虫防控总体防效达到90%、化学农药使用量减少30%以上、产量增加5%以上的良好效果,值得大面积推广。     

果树病虫害防治过程中生物农药的应用

生物农药是果树病虫害防治的主要农药之一,特别适宜于绿色、无公害果实的病虫害防治中使用。本文首先介绍了生物农药的优势,然后简介了生物农药的品种、种类,最后着重阐述了生物农药在果实病虫害防治过程中的应用。     

园艺植物害虫防治教学改革初探

在课时减少的情况下,为了保证和提高教学质量,探讨了园艺专业园艺植物害虫防治课程的教学内容、教学方法、教学手段、实践教学等方面的改革。结果表明,学生识别昆虫的能力、分析问题和解决生产实际等能力大大提高,得到了学生的一致好评。