Feeding behavior ofCryptolaemus montrouzieri on mealybugs parasitized byAnagyrus pseudococci

The citrus mealybugPlanococcus citri (Risso) and the vine mealybugPlanococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are two worldwide polyphagous pests of citrus, vineyards and ornamental plants in greenhouses. Biological control of these pests may rely on the combined release of parasites and predators, which can be affected by intraguild predation (IGP). This study investigated the feeding behavior of different stages ofCryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on mealybugs parasitized byAnagyrus pseudococci (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days. The study was conducted in a climate-controlled room at 28±1° C, 16L:8D, and 65±10% r.h. The highest consumption values for all stages ofC. montrouzieri occurred with 2- and 4-day parasitized mealybugs, whereas the predator did not feed on either species of mealybug parasitized for longer periods, due to the onset of mummification. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting August 4, 2008.     

Can facultative parthenogenesis occur in biparental mealybug species?

The existence of facultative parthenogenesis in mealybugs has been reported by different authors and questioned by others in relation to certain species. We tested the hypothesis of facultative parthenogenesis in relation to three mealybug species, Planococcus citri (Risso), Pseudococcus calceolariae (Maskell) and Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret). The results suggest that these mealybug species are obligate amphimictic.     

Laboratory assay of the effectiveness of the entomopathogenic fungus Isaria farinosa (Holmsk.) Fries (Sordariomycetes: Hypocreales) against the vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), even under the use of fungicides

The vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is one of the main pests in vineyards. At present biological control of the pest is based on the release of hymenopterous parasitoids and coccinellid predators. The effectiveness of an entomopathogenic fungus, Isaria farinosa, as an alternative biological control agent on vine mealybug P. ficus was investigated by using different inoculum densities and different relative humidity levels. The fungus caused more than 80% mortality at 95% relative humidity and at 1 × 10⁸ conidia ml^?1 inoculum density. The mortality effects of the fungus decreased in lower humidity levels and lower spore densities. The inhibitory effects of common fungicides, used in vineyards, on I. farinosa were also investigated. Sulphur, copper oxychloride, fosetyl-Al and chlorothalonil did not decrease the effectiveness of I. farinosa as a pathogen of vine mealybug. With the application of tebuconazole, penconazole and mancozeb, the most inhibitory fungicides on the entomopathogen, the mortality rates of mealybugs, inoculated with I. farinosa, decreased from 86% to 42%, 34% and 45%, respectively, in the adult females; from 94% to 51%, 45% and 45%, respectively, in the first nymphal stages; and from 86% to 56%, 49% and 63%, respectively, in ovisacs.     

“以螨治螨”生防技术在南丰蜜桔上的应用

2005-2007年,在南丰蜜桔上建立了以人工释放捕食螨控制柑桔害螨为核心,辅以配套的农业、物理和药剂防治措施的桔园虫害控制技术体系。试验证明该技术对防治以柑桔害螨为主的柑桔虫害效果显著。6月中旬以后,生防区红蜘蛛平均虫口密度仅为0.15头/叶,其他主要害虫如粉虱、蚧虫和蚜虫等的发生量均显著少于化防区和对照区。随着该技术的示范和推广,已逐渐展现出巨大的经济效益,每亩可节本增效600元以上,累计增加经济效益达900万元以上。同时提高了桔农素质,提升了生产水平;减少施用有毒农药60%以上,改善了生态环境,进而创造了良好的社会效益和生态效益,为加快推动南丰蜜桔无公害标准化生产进程,保障南丰蜜桔产业的可持续发展提供了技术支撑。     

Temporal dynamics of the arthropod community in pear orchards intercropped with aromatic plants

BACKGROUND: Increasing attention has been paid to enhancing biological control through habitat management in agricultural systems for enhanced pest management. Pest management benefits can be realised by intercropping, which can increase natural enemy abundance and, in turn, reduce pest abundance. In this study, the composition and temporal dynamics of arthropod communities in pear orchards when intercropped with aromatic plants were investigated, and the effectiveness and applicability of aromatic plants as intercrops for enhancing insect control were assessed. RESULTS: When compared with natural grasses or clean tillage, intercropping significantly reduced pest abundance and increased the ratio of natural enemies to pests. Intercropping also shortened the occurrence duration and depressed the incidence peak in annual dynamics curves of the pest subcommunity and the arthropod community, mainly because of the repellent effects of aromatic plants. Equally important, intercropping significantly reduced the numbers of major pests, such as Psylla chinensis, Aphis citricola and Pseudococcus comstocki, while their incidence period was delayed to varying degrees, and the numbers of their dominant natural enemies (Coccinella septempunctata, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Chrysoperla sinica) increased. CONCLUSION: Intercropping with aromatic plants led to a considerable improvement in arthropod pest management by enhancing the activity of the beneficial arthropod community within the pear orchard ecosystem. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Biological Control of the Hibiscus Mealybug, Maconellicoccus Hirsutus Green (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in the Caribbean

The hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green, was first reported in the Caribbean in 1994 in Grenada. This was the first record of the insect as a major pest in the New World. By the beginning of 2001, the pest had spread to over 25 territories from Guyana and Venezuela in the South to Bahamas in the North. The pest has also extended its distribution to Central America (Belize) and North America (California, USA). Early attempts to control the pest using pesticides resulted in failure and a classical biological control approach was adopted. Several exotic natural enemies were introduced but control was attributed to Anagyrus kamali Moursi and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant. In all countries where biological control was implemented, this resulted in success. This paper reviews the remarkable success story. Information is provided on the distribution and factors leading to rapid spread of the pest, its pest status and resultant economic losses, and implementation of the biological control effort.     

Investigation of mealybug (hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) species from Turkey by RAPD

Molecular markers are commonly used for determining the relationship between insect species. In this study, we investigated the relationship of six mealybug species,Planococcus citri (Risso),Planococcus ficus (Signoret),Planococcus vovae (Nasonov),Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni Tozzetti),Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret) andPhenacoccus aceris (Signoret), sampled from Turkey, using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR). Of the 50 RAPD primers tested, 18 identified a total of 256 fragments of which all were polymorphic. Sufficient discrimination betweenP. citri andP. ficus was provided by several RAPD primers. The genetic distance values calculated for each pair-wise comparison ranged from 0.156 to 0.504. Cluster analyses of RAPD data clearly separated the species into two groups. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 4, 2007.     

Current Status of Integrated Control of Citrus Pests in Israel1)

Following the spectacular biological control of the Florida ted scale, an effective program of integrated control was developed on citrus in Israel. In recent years, a gradual increase of various pests has brought about a marked increase in the amounts of non-selective pesticides applied on citrus, which has in turn triggered still heavier pest resurgences. Intensive efforts are now being made to break that vicious cycle and restore the upset natural balance in the citrus eco-system. A vigorous biological control program has been embarked upon. The prospects for successful integrated control are very good, especially if more realistic tolerances for insect damage on citrus fruit are adopted.     

Bt maize and integrated pest management ‐ a European perspective

The European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), the Mediterranean corn borer (Sesamia nonagrioides) and the western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) are the main arthropod pests in European maize production. Practised pest control includes chemical control, biological control and cultural control such as ploughing and crop rotation. A pest control option that is available since 1996 is maize varieties that are genetically engineered (GE) to produce insecticidal compounds. GE maize varieties available today express one or several genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that target corn borers or corn rootworms. Incentives to growing Bt maize are simplified farm operations, high pest control efficiency, improved grain quality and ecological benefits. Limitations include the risk of resistance evolution in target pest populations, risk of secondary pest outbreaks and increased administration to comply with licence agreements. Growers willing to plant Bt maize in the European Union (EU) often face the problem that authorisation is denied. Only one Bt maize transformation event (MON810) is currently authorised for commercial cultivation, and some national authorities have banned cultivation. Spain is the only EU member state where Bt maize adoption levels are currently delivering farm income gains near full potential levels. In an integrated pest management (IPM) context, Bt maize can be regarded as a preventive (host plant resistance) or a responsive pest control measure. In any case, Bt maize is a highly specific tool that efficiently controls the main pests and allows combination with other preventive or responsive measures to solve other agricultural problems including those with secondary pests. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

应用楝科植物防治柑桔害虫试验

本文应用楝科植物(印楝、川楝、苦楝)种籽油及其抽提物对柑桔木虱及其他害虫进行一系列的忌避拒食及触杀作用试验,证明印楝油有明显的忌避及拒食作用。印楝油对柑桔潜叶蛾有良好的防效。印楝、川楝及苦楝油对柑桔红蜘蛛也有较强的触杀作用。应用楝科植物杀虫剂可兼治几种害虫,对人畜安全,不污染环境,不会引起抗药性的产生,而且对害虫天敌也比较安全。     

Introduction,release and recovery of several exotic natural enemies for biological control of the citrus leaf miner,Phyllocnistis citrella,in Israel

The citrus leafminer,Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, was first discovered in citrus groves in Israel in 1994. A biological control project was launched immediately and six species of natural enemies of the pest were introduced from Thailand, China, Australia and Florida. These were reared and released in citrus groves. At present, most have been recovered from the release sites and some seem to have become established, with relatively high rates of parasitization. The current status of the pest and of its indigenous and introduced natural enemies is briefly discussed.     

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.     

Present status of Phytophthora species in the Mediterranean area,especially in relation to citrus1

Of the 44 currently accepted species of Phytophthora, 18 have been reported in the Mediterranean area. The status of each is briefly reviewed. On citrus, P. citrophthora and P. nicotianae var. parasitica are mainly responsible for foot rot and gummosis, and in addition P. hibernalis, P. syringae, P. cifricola and P. cactorum for brown rot of fruits. The incidence of these species is closely linked to their temperature requirements. The use of sour orange as a resistant rootstock has long provided satisfactory control of foot rot and gummosis, while chemical treatments are effective against brown rot. However, there are indications that, with changingcultural practices, the resistance of sour orange is less well expressed, and the species is incidentally also susceptible to citrus tristeza closterovirus. Alternative rootstocks are therefore being sought.     

南瓜饲养榕树粉蚧的发育历期与生物学特征初报

榕树粉蚧是一种重要的入侵害虫,对果蔬和园林植物存在巨大的潜在威胁.为满足开展检疫处理、防控、生物学和生理学等研究的需要,本研究以南瓜为饲养材料,在室温条件下(26±1℃,RH 65％±5％)观察榕树粉蚧的生物学特性与发育历期.结果 表明,榕树粉蚧具有典型的雌雄二型现象.雄虫主要经历卵、1～2龄若虫、预蛹、蛹、雄成虫阶段...     

Variation in the laboratory susceptibility of turf‐infesting white grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) to biological,biorational and chemical control products

BACKGROUND: White grubs are the most widespread and damaging pests in turfgrass habitats of the northeast USA, and their management is highly dependent on chemical pesticides. Because this complex includes at least eight species, opportunities for pest management would be enhanced by understanding how susceptibility to control products varies across taxa. The objective of this laboratory study was to measure variation in the susceptibility of four species to 18 biological, biorational and chemical insecticides used as curative controls. RESULTS: Across species, the most efficacious biological and chemical insecticide alternatives were Steinernema scarabaei and chlorpyrifos respectively. For biorational and chemical insecticides, the European chafer [Amphimallon majale (Razoumowsky)] was the least susceptible species. For biologicals, the Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica Newman) was the least susceptible. Considering all control products, the oriental beetle [Anomala orientalis (Waterhouse)] was the most susceptible. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of variation in susceptibility supports the idea that a single product will not reliably suppress populations of all taxa, and highlights the need for pest management practitioners to identify white grub species before intervention. This differential susceptibility could have broader consequences for grub management if a numerically dominant target species is more completely suppressed than a co‐occurring species. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Overwintering,oversummering, and the effect of extreme temperature and humidity levels on the parasitic waspHungariella peregrina compere (Hymenoptera,Encyrtidae)

Hungariella (Tetracnemus) peregrina Compere 1939 is an internal parasite of the long-tailed mealybugPseudococcus longispinus (Targ. Tozz.) (=P. adonidum L.), which attacks the mealybug chiefly in instars I and II. Development through the egg, larval and pupal stages lasts an average of 29.75 days at 30°C and 79.54 days at 17°C. The sex ratio is 1.3 females to 1 male. The wasp persists in avocado orchards throughout the year and overwinters inside the mealybugs or as an adult. The survival depends on the level and duration of low temperatures, since the wasp's tolerance of high temperatures increases as humidity rises, and high humidity greatly increases the life span. In none of the above respects were females found to differ significantly from males.     

Biological control of exotic pests in Italy: recent experiences and perspectives1

In Italy, successful application of classical biological control began in the 20th century, when Berlese released the predator Rodolia cardinalis in 1901 and the parasitoid Encarsia berlesei in 1906. Later, the ‘inoculative’ method was applied many times, limiting the misuse of insecticides and therefore achieving very positive effects for both the agricultural economy and environmental protection. When the establishment of new natural enemies failed, some exotic pests continued to damage important crops, sometimes disrupting any possibility of applying Integrated Pest Management (IPM). In other cases, new associations between exotic pests and native natural enemies occurred spontaneously and the importation of new species was not necessary: when no broad-spectrum plant protection products are applied, some palaearctic parasitoids, such as Diglyphus isaea, naturally control the imported American leafminers Liriomyza trifolii and L. huidobrensis and some native predators (mainly Orius spp.) often control the exotic western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis. However, the introduction of natural enemies from the area of origin of the exotic pest is often the only alternative to chemical insecticides. Since its introduction in 1979, the American Flatid, Metcalfa pruinosa, has been spreading annually into new areas of the Mediterranean, causing severe damage to many crops because none of the indigenous natural enemies are sufficiently effective. Therefore, only the introduction of exotic natural enemies, such as the parasitoid Neodryinus typhlocybae, may reduce the outbreaks.     

Influence of pesticide information sources on citrus farmers' knowledge,perception and practices in pest management,Mekong Delta,Vietnam

In 1998-99, about 150 citrus farmers and 120 pesticide sellers were interviewed in Can Tho and Dong Thap province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Media, pesticide sellers and extension staff had different influences on farmers' pest perception and management practices depending on the region and intensity of the cropping system. Pesticide sellers were notified by about 95% of the farmers about their major pest problems, and the type of pesticides sold in their shop was primarily based on farmers' demand (87%) and then on company promotion (56%). Those farmers relying on pesticide sellers used more of the banned insecticide methyl parathion. Probably for fear of being accused of illegal practices, none of the pesticide sellers mentioned that they recommended this product or that farmers asked for it. In the intensive Tieu mandarin cropping system, media and extension activities increased farmers' knowledge of difficult-to-observe pests such as the citrus red mite Panonychus citri and thrips, Thrips sp. and Scirtothrips sp. Since extension was weak in sweet orange, those farmers exposed to media only reported the damage symptom of mites, not knowing the causal agent. Media alone seemingly did not suffice to acquaint farmers with these small organisms. Farmers getting advice from the media advertisements applied more different pesticide products and sprayed insecticides more frequently, whereas the extension has stimulated the use of acaricides and increased the number of both insecticide and fungicide sprays. The traditional practice of biological control with the ant Oecophylla smaragdina might be endangered with growing media influence and when extension activities remain confined to chemical pest control. Constraints and potentials of different information sources are discussed in relation to developing IPM programmes for citrus.     

昆虫病原线虫生物防控草地贪夜蛾的室内及田间效果和影响因素

联合国粮食及农业组织2018年向全球发布草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda是重要的预警害虫。据报道,2019年我国已有26个省（区、市）的作物受到草地贪夜蛾为害。目前已经发现草地贪夜蛾幼虫对某些化学农药产生抗性的现象,为缓解其抗药性产生,具有主动寻找寄主害虫的昆虫病原线虫为草地贪夜蛾的生物防治提供了应用潜能。该文从昆虫病原线虫高效侵染种（品系）及其浓度、共生菌、草地贪夜蛾幼虫易感龄期、田间致死力及影响防控效果的因素等方面进行综述,以期为田间有效利用昆虫病原线虫防治草地贪夜蛾提供参考。     

Major pests of man-made forests in israel: origin,biology, damage and control

The important pests of the three main tree genera used in afforestation in Israel are described. The pine pests are the Israeli bast scale,Matsucoccus josephi; the pine processionary caterpillar,Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni; the bark beetlesOrthotomicus erosus, Pityogenes calcaratus andTomicus destruens; and the Mediterranean shoot moth,Rhyacionia buoliana thurificana. The cypress pests are the bark beetlesPhloeosinus armatus andP. aubei. The eucalypt borerPhoracantha semipunctata is the sole significant pest of eucalypts. All of these pests, except for the last, are considered endemic species which maintained themselves in the natural relict stands. Routine chemical control operations are conducted only againstT. wilkinsoni. Natural enemies are capable of keeping the other pest populations under good control if appropriate silvicultural measures and practices are in use.