Avian regulation of crop and forest pests,a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Birds have been shown to reduce pest effects on various ecosystem types. This study aimed to synthesize the effect of birds on pest abundance, product damage and yield in agricultural and forest systems in different environments. Our hypothesis is that birds are effective pest regulators that contribute to a reduction in pest abundance, enhancement of yield quality and quantity and economic profit, and that pest regulation may depend on moderators such as the type of ecosystem, climate, pest, and indicator (ecological or economic).

RESULTS

We performed a systematic literature review of experimental and observational studies related to biological control in the presence and absence of regulatory birds. We retained 449 observations from 104 primary studies that were evaluated through qualitative and quantitative analyses. Of the 79 studies with known effects of birds on pest regulation, nearly half of the 334 observations showed positive effects (49%), 46% showed neutral effects, and very few (5%) showed negative effects. Overall effect sizes were positive (mean Hedges’ d = 0.38 ± 0.06). A multiple model selection retained only ecosystem and indicator types as significant moderators.

CONCLUSION

Our results support our hypothesis that there is a positive effect of avian control of pests for each analyzed moderator and this effect was significant for both ecological and economic indicators. Avian regulation of pests is a potential effective approach for environmentally friendly pest management that can reduce pesticide use regardless of the context of implementation. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Status of pesticide resistance in arthropod pests in Israel

A complex of events and factors, pertinent to a specific insect and insecticide, governs the development of resistance to insecticides. In Israel, resistance to conventional and novel insecticides occurred in insect pests such asBemisia tabaci andSpodoptera littoralis (that damage agricultural crops),Tribolium castaneum and other flour beetles (that contaminate stored products), andPediculus humanus spp., house flies and mosquitoes (that threaten public health). In the mid-1980s an insecticide resistance management (IRM) strategy was established for all cotton grown in Israel and is being adjusted on a yearly basis as needed. At present, insect pest management and IRM strategies are being developed and implemented area-wide for three regions in Israel: Bet She’an Valley, western Galilee, and western Negev. There are several research groups now working in Israel on various aspects of resistance including occurrence, mechanisms, and management practices. This paper offers a tentative review of the status of insecticide and acaricide resistance in pests in Israel.     

Species of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oligonychus</Emphasis> infesting date palm cultivars in the Southern Arava Valley of Israel

In a study of date fruit damage caused byOligonychus spp., we investigated whether the cultivar affects phenology, and on what hosts the mites over-winter. Samples were taken from ‘Deglet Noor’, ‘Barhi’ and ‘Medjool’ trees from mid-April through mid-September during the years 1999–2002. In the ground-cover mites were monitored by collecting Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) under each sampling tree. Over 99% of the mites collected on Deglet Noor and Barhi fruit were identified asO. afrasiaticus. Mean population levels ofO. afrasiaticus reached ten mites or more (initiation of infestation) on Medjool in the second half of May, whereas on Deglet Noor this did not occur before the first week of July. On Barhi the initiation of infestation varied between plots and years, ranging from the second half of May to the beginning of July, but always occurred earlier than Deglet Noor. Mite populations on the pinnae remained low from June through October, not exceeding seven mites per pinna, whereas on fruit strands they reached peak populations of approximately 4000 mites per strand. The sex ratio (proportion of females) ofO. afrasiaticus on fruit of all three cultivars was highly female-biased, usually above 0.85. During winter,O. afrasiaticus was found on Bermuda grass in the orchard ground-cover as well as on fronds of all three cultivars. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 30, 2003.     

生物防治——害虫综合防治的重要内容

本文阐述了生物防治在综合防治中的重要性和如何全面正确认识生物防治技术。指出生物防治技术在生产上的成功应用,必须要注意与其他植保技术协调。文章还介绍了国内外成功的生防实例和生防必须遵循的基本原则。     

巴基斯坦棉花主要害虫及其综合治理

棉花是巴基斯坦重要的经济作物,棉花产品出口是该国外汇收入的主要来源。在过去10年中巴基斯坦棉花种植面积大幅减少,棉花产量也从2011年的261万t下降至2021年的154万t。烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci及其传播的棉花曲叶病和棉红铃虫Pectinophora gossypiella等有害生物危害是棉花产量下降的主要原因之一。目前,棉花害虫的防治主要依靠背负式喷雾器或机车式喷雾器喷施杀虫剂,无人机施药的政策及大规模推广应用尚处于起始阶段。害虫对杀虫剂抗性上升是目前害虫治理的主要问题。由于信德省和旁遮普省等传统植棉区棉花害虫发生比较严重,巴基斯坦政府计划在俾路支省和开伯尔-普赫图赫瓦省扩大棉花种植面积。为了恢复棉花的生产,政府制定了一系列计划来提高害虫综合治理水平,如研发生物杀虫剂、转基因品种等。针对当前棉花生产过程中所面临的虫害问题,未来应更新害虫治理策略,加强对农业部门技术人员的培训,为巴基斯坦棉花的可持续生产提供技术支持。     

Plant training for induced defense against insect pests: a promising tool for integrated pest management in cotton

Enhancing cotton pest management using plant natural defenses has been described as a promising way to improve the management of crop pests. We here reviewed various studies on cotton growing systems to illustrate how an ancient technique called plant training, which includes plant topping and pruning, may contribute to this goal. Using examples from cotton crops, we show how trained plants can be brought to a state of enhanced defense that causes faster and more robust activation of their defense responses. We revisit the agricultural benefits associated with this technique in cotton crops, with a focus on its potential as a supplementary tool for integrated pest management (IPM). In particular, we examine its role in mediating plant interactions with conspecific neighboring plants, pests and associated natural enemies. We propose a new IPM tool, plant training for induced defense, which involves inducing plant defense through artificial injury. Experimental evidence from various studies shows that cotton training is a promising technique, particularly for smallholders, which can be used as part of an IPM program to significantly reduce insecticide use and to improve productivity in cotton farming. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Insect pests and their management in yam production and storage: a world review

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a tropical tuber crop produced for food and medicinal purposes. Yams are infested by a broad taxonomic diversity of insect pests. We reviewed a total of 73 insect species associated with Dioscorea species in different parts of the world. Yam is infested by 48 species when the crop is in the field, and after harvest (i.e. in storage) the tubers are attacked by 27 species. The majority of these insects belong to the order Coleoptera (35 species) followed by the orders Hemiptera (15), Lepidoptera (13), Isoptera (5), Hymenoptera (2), Diptera (1), and Thysanoptera (1). Yam scales, mealybugs, and a few beetles cause significant losses to tubers both in the field and in storage. We review various methods of management for these insect pests. An integrated approach towards managing these pests, both in the field and in storage, is essential. Post-harvest losses in storage of yam can be reduced, partly, by using biocontrol agents for mealybugs and scales. Alternative strategies for the management of insect pests of tubers in storage are discussed.     

Current options in integrated management of plant-parasitic nematodes

Efficient management of plant-parasitic nematodes requires the carefully integrated combination of several methods. Although each individual method of management has a limited use, together, they help in reducing the nematode populations in agricultural soils or in plants. A public desire for methods of managing plant pests in ways that do not pollute or otherwise degrade the environment has increased concomitantly with progress in research. Integrated pest management (IPM) provides a working methodology for pest management in sustainable agriculutural systems. In this paper, current methods for the management of plant-parasitic nematodes are discussed within the guidelines of IPM. The emphasis is on the methods by which decisions are made to manage nematode problems with the most effective and widely used management strategies. The advantages and difficulties associated with nematicidal chemicals (i.e. cost, reinfestation of soil after harvest, contamination of ground water and residues in fruits and vegetables), biological control (by predatory or parasitic fungi and nematodes) and management with cultural methods (including the use of uncontaminated plants or seeds, crop rotation, modification of sowing and/or harvesting times, trap crops and resistant varieties etc.) are considered     

Integrated pest management for oil palm in Papua New Guinea

The global production ofpalm oil has increased very rapidly, more than doubling between1970 and 1980. Oil palm is the second most important cash crop inPapua New Guinea (PNG), and in 1995 its export value wasUS$128 million. The principal pests of oil palm in PNG are agroup of tettigonids, collectively known as Sexava, which causedamage by defoliating the oil palm tree. Severe defoliationcauses reductions in photosynthesis and fruit production,resulting in yield losses. Control of these pests is currentlyreliant upon the use of trunk-injected monocrotophos. Because ofdifficult application methods, poor monitoring procedures, andthe difficult environment, chemical control usually occurs toolate to prevent significant yield losses. Furthermore theapplication of chemicals is expensive and environmentallyundesirable. There is enormous potential to improve the currentpest management practices, and several biological control agentscould be used in an integrated pest management (IPM) system.Agronomic practices directed towards developing biodiversitywithin the oil palm cropping system, and improved pest monitoringand surveying could also be components of this IPMscheme     

利用化学激发子防控作物害虫研究进展

诱导防御反应是植物抵御害虫为害的一种重要机制。在这一防御机制中,各种化学激发子,包括植食性昆虫相关分子模式、植物激素及其类似物、植物激发子多肽等发挥着重要作用。合理开发利用这些化学激发子,可望帮助植物建立一种天然的防御体系,从而降低害虫种群密度、减轻害虫为害,减少化学农药使用量。本文将主要对诱导植物抗虫性的化学激发子的最新研究成果进行概述,并展示利用化学激发子防控田间作物害虫的最新研究案例,提出亟待解决的问题,以促进化学激发子在作物害虫防控中的应用。     

广东省部分龙眼产区主要害虫调查及其防控策略

系统调查了粤西与珠三角地区龙眼园内的害虫种类,共记录到6目18科33种。对各类害虫的发生比例与危害程度进行了分析。结果表明在我省危害严重的龙眼害虫主要有荔枝蝽、龙眼角颊木虱、荔枝蛀蒂虫、荔枝尖细蛾和龙眼亥麦蛾等几种害虫。针对我省生产实际,提出了龙眼害虫综合防控的策略。     

21种化学药剂对新疆棉田主要害虫毒力及对多异瓢虫的安全性

为明确现阶段棉田常用化学杀虫剂对新疆维吾尔自治区（简称新疆）棉花主要害虫的毒力以及对新疆本地优势天敌多异瓢虫Hippodamia variegata的安全性,于室内分别测定当前21种棉田常用化学药剂对新疆棉田3种主要害虫棉蚜Aphis gossypii、截形叶螨Etranychus truncatus和棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera以及优势天敌多异瓢虫的毒力,比较不同药剂对各种害虫和天敌的相对毒力指数以及益害毒性比。结果表明,药剂处理24 h后,10种蚜虫防治药剂对棉蚜成蚜的半致死浓度LC₅₀由高到低依次为氟啶虫胺腈、啶虫脒、吡虫啉、环氧虫啶、噻虫嗪、丁硫克百威、烯啶虫胺、呋虫胺、螺虫乙酯和吡蚜酮,其中益害毒性比较高的药剂主要有氟啶虫胺腈和螺虫乙酯;5种叶螨防治药剂对截形叶螨成螨的LC₅₀从高到低依次为阿维菌素、哒螨灵、四螨嗪、噻螨酮和炔螨特,其中益害毒性比较高的药剂主要有四螨嗪、噻螨酮和阿维菌素;6种鳞翅目害虫幼虫防治药剂对棉铃虫3龄幼虫的LC₅₀由高到低顺次为甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐（简称甲维盐）、氯虫苯甲酰胺、茚虫威、灭多威、毒死蜱和高效氯氰菊酯,其中益害毒性比较高的药剂主要有甲维盐和氯虫苯甲酰胺。综合上述2个方面结果,氟啶虫胺腈、阿维菌素、甲维盐和氯虫苯甲酰胺不仅对棉花害虫毒力效果强,而且对有益天敌安全性高。     

Impact of four turf management regimes on arthropod abundance in lawns

BACKGROUND: Turfgrass management practices, especially the use of chemical pesticides, may be detrimental to beneficial arthropods such as predators and decomposers. However, little is known about the impact of other practices or pest control products on these beneficials. The impact of four different management regimes, consisting of synthetic pesticide cover sprays or combinations of more targeted applications of natural pesticides, on selected groups of non‐targeted arthropods in lawns of different age was studied over 3 years. The short‐term effect of diazinon and carbaryl on Carabidae and Collembola was also evaluated. RESULTS: Formicidae and Araneae were the most abundant taxa at both sites, representing 74–80% of total captures. With a few short‐term exceptions, no persistent and significant difference between turfgrass management regimes on arthropod abundance was observed over the 3 year study. Diazinon and carbaryl significantly reduced Carabidae abundance, but only one year out of three, while Collembola abundance was only transiently affected by carbaryl application in 2003. CONCLUSION: The study showed that practices and products used in the four management regimes did not disrupt the populations of specific groups of arthropods. These results provide useful information to professionals for the development of ecological turf practices to maintain beneficial arthropod abundance and diversity in urban landscapes. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

药用植物地下害虫发生现状与无公害综合防治策略

近年来,药用植物地下害虫为害日益突出,严重降低中草药的产量和品质。由于地下害虫在土壤中活动,取食药用植物的地下部分,给防治带来很大的困难。同时,农药的过度使用也给中草药安全带来了隐患。本文对药用植物地下害虫的主要种类、为害特点、发生规律和防治中存在的问题进行了综述,重点阐述了不同药用植物上常见的地下害虫种类,并提出了相应的无公害综合防治措施。     

Current status of red palm weevil infestation in date palm plantations in Israel

The red palm weevilRhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (RPW) is the most serious pest of date palms in the Middle East. Weevil infestation was first detected in Israel in the summer of 1999 in date plantations in the Jordan Valley, on the west bank of the Jordan River and in the northern area of the Dead Sea. For 2 years following the discovery of the pest, prophylactic insecticide chemical treatments as well as adult weevil trapping were carried out over 450 ha of date palm plantations. Traps loaded with a commercial aggregation pheromone, ferrugineol, supplemented with ethyl acetate and a fermenting mixture of dates and sugarcane molasses, were posted in high trap density (approx. ten traps per ha) in order to monitor weevil infestation and reduce the RPW population by mass trapping. A significant decrease in number of trapped beetles and infested trees was observed in 2001 and continued in the following years. No infested trees have been found since 2002, indicating a decrease in RPW population. The sex ratio of trapped adults during 3 years of study was significantly female-biased (∼2.5:1). Therefore, mass trapping might have played a significant role in the suppression of RPW populations in date plantations. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 19, 2004.     

Fire blight of pears in Israel: infection, prevalence, intensity and efficacy of management actions

The pear production area in Israel is 1500 ha, most of which(ca 1200 ha) is located in the northern part of the country. Fire blight (caused by the bacteriumErwinia amylovora (Burrill) Winslowet al.) was first observed in Israel in that region (in 1985) and the disease has prevailed there since then. In a comprehensive survey conducted in Israel in 1996–1999, data were collected and observations were made yearly in one-third to one-half of the pear production area. The aim was to document the prevalence and intensity of fire blight in commercial orchards and to use the data to evaluate the efficacy of management measures employed for its suppression. Regionwise, a severe fire blight epidemic developed in 1996, moderate epidemics developed in 1998 and 1999, and a mild epidemic developed in 1997. The intensity of fire blight in the preceding season in a specific orchard was more influential on current season severity in a season with a mild epidemic than in a season with a moderate epidemic. Analysis of disease onset records and weather data revealed that only a few (1– 3) infection episodes occurred in individual orchards each year. Comparison of fire blight intensity in orchard-plots treated before green tip with copper hydroxide with nontreated plots revealed that the treatment had no effect on disease intensity during bloom. The efficacy of bactericide sprays applied during bloom was not related to the number of sprays applied but to the timing of spraying. Adequate control was achieved in orchard-plots sprayed soon before or after the occurrence of infection episodes. Contribution no. 508/00 from the Inst. of Plant Protection, ARO, Bet Dagan, Israel.     

Bacillus thuringiensis as a biofertilizer in crops and their implications in the control of phytopathogens and insect pests

BACKGROUND

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a spore-forming bacterium that produces insecticidal proteins and other virulence factors and is considered one of the most successful bioinsecticides available to control pests in agriculture. Currently, some Bt strains have been reported as endophyte or rhizospheric bacteria.

RESULTS

Little is known about the implications of plant-Bt interaction in crop protection. Here, we review if Bt can establish as an endophyte/rhizobacterium and evaluate if Bt as an endophyte/rhizobacterium can simultaneously act against different phytopathogens (fungi, bacteria, insects and viruses) plus promote plant growth.

CONCLUSION

Although Bt produce an arsenal of proteins with toxic effects against insect, the current knowledge suggests that Bt can be considered as a promising new plant growth promotion bacterium (PGPB). The implications of the proposed review will broaden our understanding of Bt as a versatile entomopathogen that may be able to exhibit differential behavior depending on context. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Derelomus piriformis Hoffmann (Curculionoidea: Curculionidae: Curculioninae: Derelomini), a new invasive species in Israel

Derelomus piriformis (Hoffmann), a weevil species developing onPhoenix canariensis, is recorded from Israel for the first time. The species belongs to the group of weevils that are pollinators of palms.D. piriformis is a pollinator ofP. canariensis, but at the same time is injurious to male flowers and occasionally also to female flowers. This group of weevils has not been previously recorded from Israel and adjacent countries. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 19, 2006     

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.     

Induced plant defences in biological control of arthropod pests: a double‐edged sword

Biological control is an important ecosystem service delivered by natural enemies. Together with breeding for plant defence, it constitutes one of the most promising alternatives to pesticides for controlling herbivores in sustainable crop production. Especially induced plant defences may be promising targets in plant breeding for resistance against arthropod pests. Because they are activated upon herbivore damage, costs are only incurred when defence is needed. Moreover, they can be more specific than constitutive defences. Nevertheless, inducible defence traits that are harming plant pest organisms may interfere with biological control agents, such as predators and parasitoids. Despite the vast fundamental knowledge on plant defence mechanisms and their effects on natural enemies, our understanding of the feasibility of combining biological control with induced plant defence in practice is relatively poor. In this review, we focus on arthropod pest control and present the most important features of biological control with natural enemies and of induced plant defence. Furthermore, we show potential synergies and conflicts among them and, finally, identify gaps and list opportunities for their combined use in crop protection. We suggest that breeders should focus on inducible resistance traits that are compatible with the natural enemies of arthropod pests, specifically traits that help communities of natural enemies to build up. © 2017 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.