Testing banker plants for biological control of mites on roses

We tested whether plant species used in a banker plant system influence the success of a biological control program with predatory mites. Banker plants (BP) may sustain a reproducing population of predators and provide long-term pest suppression. In an experiment lasting 12 weeks, we analyzed the responses of the predatory mite Amblyseius californicus and the pest mite Tetranychus urticae to eight species of potential BP with different morphological structures. Every BP was paired with a rose plant and infested with pest and predatory mites. The measured parameters were vitality and growth of the plants and numbers of predators, pests and their eggs. Reproduction and establishment of the pest and predatory mites differed among plant species as well as plant growth and vitality. Vitis riparia and Viburnum tinus were the most efficient BP in this combination of pest–predator species. Their presence resulted in best health of the rose crops, highest number of predatory mites and lowest number of pests. Both these BP possess domatia which may be responsible for the efficiency in hosting predatory mites. Overall, the species which fulfilled the requirements of a BP best was the local shrub V, tinus, which bore no pests and a very large number of predators and has a compact growth form suited for application in greenhouses. Although our study gives only evidence for an artificial system with a high BP:crop ratio, high numbers of introduced predators and short distances between plants, this study contributes to knowledge of BP systems and to improve the understanding of the criteria for the choice of local plant species to be used as BP for biological control in IPM.     

The Successful Development and Implementation of an Integrated Pest Management System for Oil Palm in Papua New Guinea

Production and trade in oil crops has expanded in response to an increasing world population and improved living standards. The global production of oil palm has increased rapidly over the last 30 years, and palm oil is now the world's second most important vegetable oil after soybean. Oil palm is an important cash crop in Papua New Guinea (PNG), with about 80,000ha in cultivation, grown both on large-scale plantations and by smallholders. The principal pests of oil palm in PNG are a group of insect species from the Tettigoniidae family (Orthoptera), known collectively as sexava. Three species of sexava are pests of oil palm in PNG, Segestes decoratus, Segestidea defoliaria and Segestidea novaeguineae. These insects cause damage by feeding on oil palm fronds and defoliation levels can be very severe where high populations occur. Severe defoliation causes reductions in photosynthesis resulting in yield loss from lower fruit production. During the last five years an integrated system has been developed for the management of sexava. This integrated pest management (IPM) system has the following components: (1) a knowledge of the biology and ecology of the pest, (2) economic thresholds, (3) monitoring system for the pest, (4) precise targeting of chemical control agents, (5) biological control, and (6) cultural control. The IPM system is sustainable and environmentally acceptable to the industry.     

Advances in insect phototaxis and application to pest management: a review

Many insects, especially nocturnal insects, exhibit positive phototaxis to artificial lights. Light traps are currently used to monitor and manage insect pest populations, and play a crucial role in physical pest control. Efficient use of light traps to attract target insect pests is an important topic in the application of integrated pest management (IPM). Phototactic responses of insects vary among species, light characteristics and the physiological status of the insects. In addition, light can cause several biological responses, including biochemical, physiological, molecular and fitness changes in insects. In this review, we discuss several hypotheses on insect phototaxis, factors affecting insect phototaxis, insect‐sensitive wavelengths, biological responses of insects to light, and countermeasures for conserving beneficial insects and increasing the effect of trapping. In addition, we provide information on the different sensitivities to wavelengths causing positive phototactic behavior in > 70 insect pest and beneficial insect species. The use of advanced light traps equipped with superior light sources, such as light‐emitting diodes (LEDs), will make physical pest control in IPM more efficient. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Poultry Integrated Pest Management: Status and Future

Modern commercial poultry production under large companies is expanding worldwide with similar methods and housing, and the accompanying arthropod and rodent pest problems. The pests increase the cost of production and are factors in the spread of avian diseases. The biology, behavior and control of ectoparasites and premise pests are described in relation to the different housing and production practices for broiler breeders, turkey breeders, growout (broilers and turkeys), caged-layers, and pullets. Ectoparasites include Ornithonyssus fowl mites, Dermanyssus chicken mites, lice, bedbugs, fleas, and argasid fowl ticks. Premise pests include Alphitobius darkling beetles, Dermestes hide beetles, the house fly and several related filth fly species, calliphorid blow flies, moths, cockroaches, and rodents. Populations of these pests are largely determined by the housing, waste, and flock management practices. An integrated pest management (IPM) approach, tailored to the different production systems, is required for satisfactory poultry pest control. Biosecurity, preventing the introduction of pests and diseases into a facility, is critical. Poultry IPM, based on pest identification, pest population monitoring, and methods of cultural, biological, and chemical control, is elucidated. The structure of the sophisticated, highly integrated poultry industry provides a situation conducive to refinement and wider implementation of IPM.     

诱虫作物在害虫治理中的应用

诱虫作物主要从物理特性和化学特性两个方面形成比主栽作物更强的引诱力,使主栽作物得以保护。诱虫作物在生产中主要用来诱集害虫、给天敌提供避难和繁殖场所,其作用效果与诱虫作物的品种、播期和田间管理、害虫行为、对天敌的调控、与其他害虫防治方法的有机配合等有重要关系。采用引诱-排斥多策略相结合的方法,研究利用对害虫同时具有诱集和杀灭作用的植物作为诱虫作物,将大大增强诱虫作物在害虫治理中应用的可行性。     

Integrated pest management of coffee for small-scale farmers in East Africa: needs and limitations

Coffee in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) is an important cash and export crop for small-scale farmers. The crop suffers heavy yield losses due to damage caused by a wide range of indigenous pests (insects, diseases, nematodes and weeds). Current recommended pest control measures include a combination of cultural, resistant/tolerant cultivars and the use of broad spectrum chemical pesticides. Chemical pesticides are far more popular at the farm level than any of the other recommended pest control measures. Coffee pest control strategies are often aimed at individual pests with little consideration of the implications for the total coffee pest complex and its agro-ecosystem. This unilateral approach has resulted in increased pest pressure on coffee and some of its companion crops, outbreak of new pests of coffee, development of pest strains resistant to the cheap and commonly available chemical pesticides, increased environmental problems, increased health risks to man and livestock and an overall increase in the costs of coffee production, thus forcing many farmers to neglect their coffee plantations. Measures to alleviate the above problems, particularly the high production costs, are needed to improve coffee production and increase the cash return to the small-scale farmer. Integrated pest management (IPM) offers the best prospects for solving the above problems. However, lack of national IPM policies, poor extension systems, inefficient research-extension-farmer linkage and the lack of a holistic approach will delay the development and implementation of appropriate, acceptable and sustainable IPM practices.     

捕食性蝽防治草地贪夜蛾的研究进展

捕食性蝽是重要的天敌昆虫类群,可用于农林害虫的生物防治,具有广阔的应用前景。本文汇总了国内外利用捕食蝽防治草地贪夜蛾的相关报道,概括了捕食蝽对草地贪夜蛾的捕食能力、取食草地贪夜蛾后捕食蝽的生命参数、植物及化学农药对捕食蝽防控草地贪夜蛾的影响,归纳了捕食蝽规模化饲养工艺,分析了当前利用捕食蝽防治草地贪夜蛾存在的问题,并提出了相应的改进建议。     

转cry1Ac+cry2Ab基因棉对棉田节肢动物群落的影响

以Bt棉和常规棉为对照,研究了转cry1Ac+cry2Ab棉对棉田节肢动物群落的影响。研究结果表明,转cry1Ac+cry2Ab棉田、转cry1Ac棉田和常规棉田节肢动物群落、害虫亚群落和天敌亚群落的结构与组成无明显差异;转cry1Ac+cry2Ab棉田刺吸类害虫、蛀食类害虫和食叶类害的数量均低于转cry1Ac棉田和常规棉田;转cry1Ac+cry2Ab棉田蜘蛛类、瓢虫类和捕食类天敌的数量均低于转cry1Ac棉田和常规棉田;转cry1Ac+cry2Ab棉田节肢动物群落、害虫亚群落和天敌亚群落的多样性指数与转cry1Ac棉田和常规棉田相比均无明显差异,说明转cry1Ac+cry2Ab棉田节肢动物群落、害虫亚群落和天敌亚群落的稳定性和转cry1Ac棉和常规棉相比均无明显差异。     

害虫种群区域性生态调控的系统策略

害虫种群的区域性分布特征和生态调控已经成为近十年来综合治理研究的热点问题。经过几十年的发展,害虫生态调控的防控技术表现了可持续和绿色等特征,但从田块到区域尺度的生态调控系统策略还不完善,很多仍需依赖传统的化学防治为辅助。面对农业害虫区域性灾变的重大农业生态学问题,本文总结了害虫种群的区域性分布特征,包括区域性、异质性、扩散性、突发性、协同性五大特征;重点阐述了害虫种群区域性生态调控的系统策略,形成了预防性管理、靶向式调控、成灾后治理三位一体的害虫“防控治”生态调控体系,协调多种生态调控技术在区域水平内“防控治”才能有效遏制害虫种群的持续暴发;对害虫种群的区域性管理进行了展望,未来害虫种群的区域性生态调控不仅要考虑经济指标,还需要具备安全、高效、精准、可持续四大核心特点。因此,害虫种群的区域化生态调控是未来保障农业生产和生态安全的必然选择。     

First record of Asian grey weevil (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Myllocerus undatus)</Emphasis> on coconut from Kerala,India

The occurrence of Asian grey weevil Myllocerus undatus (Curculionidae: Coleoptera) damaging coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) seedlings is reported for the first time from Kerala, India. A mild to moderate level of infestation damaging 5–10% leaf lamina of un-split leaves with a typical notching-like symptom along the leaf margins is noticed on the majority of the coconut seedlings belonging to different coconut varieties, viz., ‘Chowghat Orange Dwarf’, ‘Chowghat Green Dwarf’, ‘Malayan Green Dwarf’, ‘West Coast Tall’ and Dwarf x Tall hybrids. M. undatus has not been reported as a destructive pest on any of the crops from India and is considered to be a pest of quarantine significance. Adult weevils have a characteristic tri-spined hind femur and elytra strongly angled broader than the prothorax.     

Bt Transgenic Crops: Risks and Benefits

Bt crops, predominantly maize and cotton hybrids, transgenically expressing cry genes derived from Bacillus thuringiensis, were planted on approximately 14 million hectares (worldwide) in 1999. Preliminary reports suggest that in most cases pesticide use was reduced, and in some situations there were significant increases in yields and profits. However, assemblages of secondary pests – such as aphids, plant bugs and thrips – also exist in Bt crops, and although the overall need for scouting and chemical control is reduced in Bt crops, there may be a requirement for additional, conventionally applied chemicals to control such non-target pests.Naturally-occurring Bt toxins with activity against a wide variety of pest species have been discovered and are thus potentially available for engineering into Bt crops to control a broader spectrum of pests than are currently targeted. New Bt crops and second-generation products incorporating an expanding range of Cry toxins and other arthropod targeted genes are in development and could become available for introduction to the market within the next few years.Insecticide resistance management (IRM) strategies for Bt crops are reviewed in the context of studies on selection pressures and the potential for resistance development in target populations. The so-called, high dose strategy, combined with the use of refuges, is widely agreed to be the best technical approach for managing resistance, and evidence is accumulating that separate refuges are more effective at conserving pest susceptibility than mixed refuges. A widespread consensus on the necessity for such measures, and an appreciation of the importance of multi-tactical approaches, has developed. Monitoring programmes, protocols and studies relevant to detecting the early development of resistance to Bt Cry toxins are described.Field monitoring of non-target entomofauna has not revealed significant differences in the abundance or biodiversity of beneficial insects associated with Bt maize. Indeed, laboratory studies of effects on parasitoids suggest that Bt plants may even have an environmental advantage over broad spectrum pesticides. However, more complex, multi-trophic, long-term experiments are needed to thoroughly assess the compatibility of Bt crops with non-target invertebrates and to define the complex relationship between IRM, target species and their natural enemy assemblages. Studies on the effects of transgenically-expressed Cry toxins on non-target insects, and their persistence in soil and on leaves, is reviewed. It is suggested that there is currently no generally agreed framework, or methodology, within which ad hoc experimental results can be accommodated, and each crop-transgene combination has to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Studies proposing a conceptual approach to evaluating risks associated with Bt crops are highlighted and potential benefits and hazards are reviewed.     

生态工程控害技术提高稻纵卷叶螟天敌功能团的种群数量

随着水稻病虫害绿色防控技术的不断发展,应用生态工程控制害虫技术已取得较大进展。本研究对实施生态工程控害技术稻田中的稻纵卷叶螟天敌功能团的种群数量及时空动态进行了连续5年的跟踪调查,分别于2009、2011和2013年用扫网法进行系统采样调查分析,以探明生态工程技术对稻纵卷叶螟天敌功能团的动态影响。结果表明,尽管年份之间以及不同水稻生育期的天敌功能团数量有差异,但实施生态工程防控技术稻田中的蜻蜓目天敌功能团、肖蛸科天敌功能团和幼虫寄生蜂天敌功能团的种群数量均显著高于农民自防田,分别提高了1.63~8.94、0~3.69和1.20~2.47倍,且数量逐年递增或维持较高水平。本研究结果说明通过实施水稻生态工程控害技术可以有效提高稻田稻纵卷叶螟天敌功能团的种群数量,这对减少化学农药使用和提高水稻生长中后期的天敌控害作用有重要的意义。     

Should I fight or should I flight? How studying insect aggression can help integrated pest management

Aggression plays a key role all across the animal kingdom, as it allows the acquisition and/or defence of limited resources (food, mates and territories) in a huge number of species. A large part of our knowledge on aggressive behaviour has been developed on insects of economic importance. How can this knowledge be exploited to enhance integrated pest management? Here, I highlight how knowledge on intraspecific aggression can help IPM both in terms of insect pests (with a focus on the enhancement of the sterile insect technique) and in terms of biological control agents (with a focus on mass‐rearing optimisation). Then, I examine what implications for IPM can be outlined from knowledge about interspecific aggressive behaviour. Besides predator–pest aggressive interactions predicted by classic biological control, I focus on what IPM can learn from (i) interspecific aggression among pest species (with special reference to competitive displacement), (ii) defensive behaviour exhibited by prey against predaceous insects and (iii) conflicts among predaceous arthropods sharing the same trophic niche (with special reference to learning/sensitisation practices and artificial manipulation of chemically mediated interactions). © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

A web‐based decision support system to enhance IPM programs in Washington tree fruit

BACKGROUND: Integrated pest management (IPM) decision‐making has become more information intensive in Washington State tree crops in response to changes in pesticide availability, the development of new control tactics (such as mating disruption) and the development of new information on pest and natural enemy biology. The time‐sensitive nature of the information means that growers must have constant access to a single source of verified information to guide management decisions. RESULTS: The authors developed a decision support system for Washington tree fruit growers that integrates environmental data [140 Washington State University (WSU) stations plus weather forecasts from NOAA], model predictions (ten insects, four diseases and a horticultural model), management recommendations triggered by model status and a pesticide database that provides information on non‐target impacts on other pests and natural enemies. A user survey in 2008 found that the user base was providing recommendations for most of the orchards and acreage in the state, and that users estimated the value at $ 16 million per year. CONCLUSIONS: The design of the system facilitates education on a range of time‐sensitive topics and will make it possible easily to incorporate other models, new management recommendations or information from new sensors as they are developed. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

我国天敌昆虫与生防微生物资源引种三十年成就与展望

本文汇总了30年来由中国农业科学院植物保护研究所(原生物防治研究所)引进的天敌昆虫及生防微生物资源,系统介绍了引进生防资源的种类、数量、来源国家、引种单位和应用情况,并对未来资源引种提出建议。30年来,累计引进境外天敌昆虫及生防微生物资源至少89种、232批次,提供给国内至少21家教学、科研及生产单位。据统计,引进境外天敌昆虫至少69种、212批次,包括茧蜂、瓢虫、草蛉、赤眼蜂、蚜茧蜂、蚜小蜂、跳小蜂、姬小蜂、绒茧蜂、捕食蝽、捕食螨、古巴蝇、食蚜瘿蚊、防杂草象甲、防杂草实蝇等;引进境外生防微生物资源至少20种、20批次,包括耳霉、疫霉、白僵菌、绿僵菌、轮枝菌、虫霉菌、多角体病毒、生防线虫等。这些引进资源的一部分,如广赤眼蜂、甘蓝夜蛾赤眼蜂、丽蚜小蜂、桨角蚜小蜂、半闭弯尾姬蜂、小黑瓢虫、孟氏隐唇瓢虫、黄瓜新小绥螨、智利小植绥螨等已在我国商业化生产,广泛应用于农作物、蔬菜、水果、茶叶、林业的病虫害防控,部分天敌昆虫已成功定殖,成为国际生物防治资源引进与利用的成功案例。显著提升了我国生物防治科研、教学和生产水平,促进了我国生物防治事业的进步。在"转方式、调结构"的新型农业生产形势下,发展生物防治,加强生物防治资源引进与利用,具有重要的科学和生产意义。     

玉米地捕食性节肢动物群落结构及动态分析

对广西南宁地区玉米地捕食性节肢动物群落的结构组成及数量动态、多样性变动等进行了研究。结果表明，由7目35科167种组成，其中捕食性昆虫亚群落占16科86种，以瓢虫科和隐翅虫科为主体；蜘蛛亚群落19科81种，皿蛛科、肖蛸科、球蛛科及狼蛛科为优势类群。各优势类群表现一定的季节变动规律。捕食性天敌种类组成多且结构复杂，对玉米害虫有很好的跟随控制作用，生产上应该加强保护利用。     

Review: Date palm arthropod pests and their management in Israel

This review summarizes the current knowledge on the distribution, natural history, economic importance and management of 16 major species of date palm pests in Israel. Another 15, rarely occurring, pest species are also identified. Research on the date palm pests in Israel was initiated against a background of severe outbreaks of scale insects in the late 1950s. These outbreaks were caused mainly by unrestrained use of organophosphates. This situation led to the gradual development of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, which was implemented first against scale insects and later against fruit pests. The IMP approach resulted in successful control of the scale insects, up to the present, whereas agrotechnical and crop management procedures, including covering the fruit bunches with plastic nets and early harvesting of several date cultivars, were successfully applied to achieve efficient control of the fruit moths. In addition, the use of chemical compounds in date plantations was drastically reduced and restricted to heavy foci of pest infestation. In time, microbial control, mainly application ofBacillus thuringiensis products against the lesser date moth, and the use of pheromone traps for monitoring and controlling red palm weevil, enabled further reductions in the use of synthetic insecticides. The overall change in pest management also significantly improved the preservation of natural enemies of the pests in the plantations. Whereas in the 1950s the major problems were caused by the parlatoria date scale and the green scale, in the early 2000s the key pests in date plantations in Israel are the lesser date moth and sap beetles in most of the date-growing areas, and spider mites which are restricted to the Arava Valley. Future management of the first two of these pests should rely on an improved monitoring system and integration of pheromone application for reduction of the population and damage. Efforst should be made to prevent the red palm weevil, which currently is a potential pest, from becoming an actual key pest in date plantations.     

Integrated Pest management in Forage Alfalfa

Alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., is among the most prized of forages, and is grown worldwide as a feed for all classes of livestock. It is one of man's oldest crops, and its cultivation probably predates recorded history. In addition to its versatility as a feed, alfalfa is well known for its ability to improve soil structure and, as a legume, is an effective source of biological nitrogen. As a perennial crop, alfalfa has a lifespan approaching 5 years, but in some areas of the world fields may remain productive for considerably longer. Such a long stand life affords ample time for the establishment and development of a diverse community structure by an abundance of organisms. In spite of system perturbations caused by frequent harvests and occasional pesticide applications, an alfalfa field provides a temporal stability which is uncommon among field crops. As a result of this stability, alfalfa supports an immense diversity of flora and fauna which, at times, exceeds that of riparian ecosystems. While most of alfalfa's inhabitants have little or no impact on it as a crop, a few are capable of causing extensive damage. Arthropods, plant pathogens, weeds, vertebrates, and plant parasitic nematodes can all cause significant yield and/or quality reductions and frequently contribute to shortening the productive life of the stand. This paper reviews the major strategies which have been developed to manage many of these alfalfa pests including: host plant resistance; cultural controls, such as harvest strategies, irrigation management, sanitation, planting schedules, and crop rotation; mechanical and physical controls; chemical control; and biological controls. Multiple pest interactions, e.g. insect-insect; insect-disease; insect-weed, and their management are discussed. Potential conflicts arising from the use of strategies which may reduce one pest but exacerbate others are also examined. A cross index of management strategies and their role in managing multiple pests is provided. Computer models, both ecological and economic, and their role in alfalfa pest management are discussed. Selected information sources on alfalfa and alfalfa IPM available over the Internet are listed. Alfalfa's role in the agricultural landscape, as it relates to pests, natural enemies, and pest management in other cropping systems as well as its role in crop rotation, is considered.     

A systematic review of the literature reveals trends and gaps in integrated pest management studies conducted in the United States

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a broad‐based approach for addressing pests that negatively affect human and environmental health and economic profitability. Weeds, insects and disease‐causing pathogens (diseases) are the pests most often associated with IPM. A systematic review, widely used in other scientific disciplines, was employed to determine the most commonly studied IPM topics and summarize the reasons for these trends and the gaps. In a field synopsis of the literature, 1679 relevant published papers were identified and categorized into one of the following five broad areas: IPM and organic (organic), climate change and pests (climate), rural and urban IPM (rural and urban), next‐generation education (education) and advanced production systems (technology). Papers were examined in greater detail for at least one of the three main pests in a systematic review. A majority (85%) of IPM papers have been in the area of rural and urban IPM, primarily addressing agriculture (78%). Professionals, landowners and the general public were the focus of a majority (95%) of IPM papers on education. Technology is an increasing area of focus in the literature. Over the past 40 years, IPM papers have primarily (75%) addressed insects and been limited mostly to rural and urban settings. Climate change, technology and education specific to pest management studies are increasingly being published and will help broaden the focus that could result in increased adoption and development of IPM. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Genetic engineering of insect viruses for insect biological control

Insect viruses can be exploited for the biological control of insect pests and serve as well as vehicles for the introduction of ‘foreign genes’ into insect cells and insects. The present work describes some of the molecular events that take place during the replication of theGalleria mellonella densonucleosis virus in the insect host. Viral RNA and protein synthesis were monitored. An understanding of the virus biology is essential for further implementation of these viruses for biological control purposes.