scholarly journals Evaluating a trait‐based approach to compare natural enemy and pest communities in agroforestry vs. arable systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Staton ◽  
Richard J. Walters ◽  
Jo Smith ◽  
Tom D. Breeze ◽  
Robbie D. Girling
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemy

scholarly journals Contrasting Competitor and Predator Responses to a Short-Lived Southern Pine Beetle Outbreak: A Case Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen R Clarke ◽  
Jessica Hartshorn
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemy ◽  
Bark Beetles ◽  
Southern Pine Beetle ◽  
National Forest ◽  
Population Fluctuations ◽  
Thanasimus Dubius ◽  
Southern Pine ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Pine Beetle

Abstract The southern pine beetle (SPB) Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, is the most important insect pest of pines in the southeastern United States, with outbreaks often resulting in thousands of hectares of pine mortality. Natural enemies and competitors have been cited as significant regulators of SPB populations and, therefore, outbreaks. A recent outbreak on the Homochitto National Forest (NF) in Mississippi provided an opportunity to undertake a case study comparing population fluctuations of SPB, its major predator Thanasimus dubius, and its competitors, Ips bark beetles. Trap catches of all three were tracked through the course of the outbreak on the Homochitto NF as well as in two other forests with low or no SPB activity. The number of predators collected initially increased on the Homochitto NF in response to the SPB outbreak, but their impact on reducing infestation numbers was unclear. Numbers of Ips trapped were similar across all three forests, indicating that other factors were regulating SPB populations. The outbreak only lasted a single year, and its brevity likely limited the availability of host resources for natural enemy and competitor populations. Additional studies are warranted to explore the mechanisms affecting the extent and duration of SPB outbreaks, such as active forest management. Study Implications: The widespread application of cut-and-leave treatments during a short duration southern pine beetle (SPB) outbreak on the Homochitto National Forest did not result in immediate increased collections of Ips bark beetles, competitors of SPB. Similar population trends of Ips bark beetles in areas with and without SPB infestations suggest that other factors, such as climate, regulate population numbers. Low numbers of the main SPB predator, Thanasimus dubius, immediately preceded an outbreak, and trap collections increased after outbreak onset, reaffirming the importance of this natural enemy in SPB population fluctuations.

scholarly journals Intercropping Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) with Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annum) Reduces Major Pest Population Densities without Impacting Natural Enemy Populations

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Xiao-wei Li ◽  
Xin-xin Lu ◽  
Zhi-jun Zhang ◽  
Jun Huang ◽  
Jin-ming Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Pest Management ◽  
Pest Management ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Natural Enemy ◽  
Sweet Pepper ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Pest Population ◽  
Major Pest ◽  
Population Suppression

Intercropping of aromatic plants provides an environmentally benign route to reducing pest damage in agroecosystems. However, the effect of intercropping on natural enemies, another element which may be vital to the success of an integrated pest management approach, varies in different intercropping systems. Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae), has been reported to be repellent to many insect species. In this study, the impact of sweet pepper/rosemary intercropping on pest population suppression was evaluated under greenhouse conditions and the effect of rosemary intercropping on natural enemy population dynamics was investigated. The results showed that intercropping rosemary with sweet pepper significantly reduced the population densities of three major pest species on sweet pepper, Frankliniella intonsa, Myzus persicae, and Bemisia tabaci, but did not affect the population densities of their natural enemies, the predatory bug, Orius sauteri, or parasitoid, Encarsia formosa. Significant pest population suppression with no adverse effect on released natural enemy populations in the sweet pepper/rosemary intercropping system suggests this could be an approach for integrated pest management of greenhouse-cultivated sweet pepper. Our results highlight the potential of the integration of alternative pest control strategies to optimize sustainable pest control.

Using fine-scale relatedness to infer natural enemy movement

2021 ◽  
pp. 104662
Author(s):  
Zhen Fu ◽  
Michael S. Crossley ◽  
Brendan Epstein ◽  
Cassandra Bates ◽  
David W. Crowder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemy ◽  
Fine Scale
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document