scholarly journals The potential use of drones to help natural pest control - an example using carabids

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gábor Lövei ◽  
Annie Enkegaard ◽  
Erik Hansen ◽  
Anders Petersen
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Control Release ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Physical Damage ◽  
Anchomenus Dorsalis ◽  
Fast Development ◽  
Drop Tests ◽  
Natural Pest Control ◽  
Inoculative Biological Control ◽  
Potential Use

Small automated flying vehicles (drones, by common name) are undergoing very fast development, and the range of their potential use is also fast expanding. One possible application in agriculture is to disperse biological control agents in areas that are otherwise inaccessible, or the distribution of natural enemies is uneconomic for various reasons. We develop the use of multirotor type drones (DJI S-900) as a possible vehicle to field-disperse carabid beetle adults as an inoculative biological control release against oilseed rape pests. We selected Pterostichus cupreus as a representative of common, larger species, and Anchomenus dorsalis as a similar representative of smaller species. To test the robustness of these species to being dispersed by drones, we subjected the two carabid species to simulated "drop tests", using a specially modified 1 L-sized dispenser that can be fitted to the drone. We mixed 15-20 adults with two media, buckwheat bran and vermiculite and allowed the machine "dispersing" them under laboratory conditions. Subsequently, we checked the "distributed" beetles for mortality, bodily damage, and feeding capacity. Our first tests show that A.dorsalis is suitable for drone-based distribution while the larger species likely requires further modification of the dispensing system, due to the larger size and motility of this species. The dropping caused no mortality or physical damage to A.dorsalis but some of the P.cupreus lost tarsal segments. Feeding was not impaired in either species, though. In summary, drone technology opens promising possibilities for the widening of biological control possibilities in various situations in agriculture.

The family Bombyliidae in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Diptera: Brachycera: Asiloidea)

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4590 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
MAGDI S. EL-HAWAGRY ◽  
HATHAL M. AL DHAFER
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Saudi Arabian ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia ◽  
Old World ◽  
The Family ◽  
Potential Use

Bombyliidae, also known as "Bee flies", is one of the dipteran families that have species of potential use as biological control agents, as their larvae are predators or parasitoids of eggs, larvae, prepupae or pupae of other insects. The hosts of Bombyliidae are found within six orders of insects: Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, and Neuroptera, in addition to the arachnid order Araneae (Spiders). However, almost half of all host records are from bees and wasps (Hymenoptera). The present work provides a catalogue of bee flies (Family Bombyliidae) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Old World synonymies, type localities, world distributions by biogeographic realm(s) and country, Saudi Arabian localities and dates of collection are provided. A total of 116 species belonging to 40 genera, 12 tribes and 10 subfamilies has been catalogued. Hosts and/or habitat data, where known, are given under the proper genera and/or species. Colored photographs of some species are provided.

Reduction in Aflatoxin Content of Maize by Atoxigenic Strains of Aspergillus flavus

1991 ◽  
Vol 54 (8) ◽  
pp. 623-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBERT L. BROWN ◽  
PETER J. COTTY ◽  
THOMAS E. CLEVELAND
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Aspergillus Flavus ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Field Plot ◽  
Toxigenic Strain ◽  
Aflatoxin Content ◽  
Potential Use

In field plot experiments, an atoxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus interfered with preharvest aflatoxin contamination of corn when applied either simultaneously with or one day prior to a toxigenic strain. The atoxigenic strain reduced preharvest aflatoxin contamination 80 to 95%. The atoxigenic strain was also effective in reducing postharvest aflatoxin contamination caused by both an introduced toxigenic strain and by strains resident on the kernels. The results suggest that atoxigenic strains of A. flavus may have potential use as biological control agents directed at reducing both preharvest and postharvest aflatoxin contamination of corn.

EVALUATION OF COMMERCIALLY PRODUCED TRICHOGRAMMA SPP. (HYMENOPTERA: TRICHOGRAMMATIDAE) FOR CONTROL OF TOMATO PINWORM, KEIFERIA LYCOPERSICELLA (LEPIDOPTERA: GELECHIIDAE), ON GREENHOUSE TOMATOES

1998 ◽  
Vol 130 (5) ◽  
pp. 721-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.L. Shipp ◽  
K. Wang ◽  
G. Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Host Feeding ◽  
Trichogramma Pretiosum ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Trichogramma Brassicae ◽  
Greenhouse Tomatoes ◽  
Tomato Pinworm ◽  
Potential Use ◽  
Inundative Releases

AbstractStudies were conducted to evaluate the ability of six commercially available species of Trichogramma to parasitize eggs of tomato pinworm (TPW), Keiferia lycopersicella (Walsingham), and their potential use for biological control of TPW eggs. Of the six species, Trichogramma pretiosum Riley and Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenk parasitized the most TPW eggs (40–50%). Further studies assessed the effectiveness of T. pretiosum and T. brassicae as biological control agents for TPW eggs under controlled environmental conditions which simulated conditions that could be found during the greenhouse crop production season. Trichogramma pretiosum caused significantly higher mortality of TPW eggs than did T. brassicae at all parasitoid to host egg (P:H) ratios. Mortality caused by host feeding and stinging increased significantly with increasing P:H ratios for both species. Parasitism by T. pretiosum on TPW eggs was reduced significantly and mortality caused by feeding and stinging increased significantly at 28 °C, compared with those at 20 and 25 °C. No differences were found in parasitoid-induced mortality when T. pretiosum were offered 1-, 2-, or 3-day-old TPW eggs, but parasitoid-induced mortality was reduced significantly when parasitoids were offered 4- and 5-day-old TPW eggs. Based on these trials, a P:H ratio of between 1:1 and 10:1 is recommended for inundative releases of T. pretiosum for control of TPW on greenhouse tomatoes.

scholarly journals Pathogenicity of commercial entomopathogenic fungal strains on the avocado seed borer (ASB), Heilipus lauri (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) under laboratory conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1059-1067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea P. Clavijo ◽  
Claudia M. Holguin
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Beauveria Bassiana ◽  
Metarhizium Anisopliae ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Fruit Intake ◽  
Initiation Time ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Direct Inoculation ◽  
Potential Use ◽  
Avocado Seed

Abstract The avocado seed borer, (ASB) Heilipus lauri Boheman 1845 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an official quarantine pest limiting avocado production and fruit exports from Colombia to pest-free countries. To provide alternatives to manage ASB, the objective of this study was to determine the potential use of commercial strains of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae as biological control agents of this pest. Pathogenicity of the strains was evaluated by complete immersion of the insect in a spore solution (direct inoculation) or by insect contact with inoculated fruit (indirect inoculation). The B. bassiana strain caused higher mortality (DF = 3, F = 25.7, P = 0.0002), showing an almost eight-fold increase, 55% and 79% mortality, for both concentrations used, 2.5 × 108 spores/mL or 2.5 × 109 spores/mL, respectively. Additionally, the B. bassiana strain showed shorter median survivorship using direct inoculation (15.8 to 8.7 days), a longer delay in the feeding initiation time (50 h), and a decrease in the fruit intake (Anti-feeding index above 50) after indirect inoculation. To our knowledge, this is the first report about the pathogenicity of a commercial B. bassiana strain against ASB in Colombia.

scholarly journals Potential use of Beauveria bassiana in combination with Scleroderma guani for improved control of Apriona germari

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-15
Author(s):  
Huiping Li ◽  
Xu Han ◽  
Yanqin Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Beauveria Bassiana ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Parasitization Rate ◽  
Entomogenous Fungus ◽  
Potential Value ◽  
Two Agents ◽  
Potential Use

Beauveria bassiana, an important entomogenous fungus, and Scleroderma guani, a hymenopteran parasitoid, are the two main biological control agents for managing the spread of Apriona germari. The aim of the present study was to assess the potential value of combining the two agents for the purpose of controlling A. germari. First, the relative virulence of B. bassiana against both A. germari and S. guani was determined. The results showed that among the seven strains of B. bassiana, isolate BI05, which was isolated from another cerambycid, was far more virulent against A. germari (mortality, 71.75%) than it was against S. guani (mortality, 34.82%). The parasitic efficiency of S. guani against the larvae of A. germari was significantly affected by the size of the host and the host to parasitoid ratio. In this study, third-instar A. germari larvae and a 1:3 host:parasitoid ratio of inoculation were used to evaluate the parasitization rate achieved by S. guani that were previously exposed to B. bassiana BI05. The mortality of A. germari treated with the previously inoculated S. guani was 73.30%. This was significantly greater than that of S. guani alone or B. bassiana alone (57.20% and 46.21%, respectively). The results indicated that the efficiency of both S. guani and B. bassiana are improved when used in combination, and this is promising for future control of A. germari.

scholarly journals Biocontrol of Phytopathogens under Aquaponics Systems

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomás Rivas-García ◽  
Ramsés Ramón González-Estrada ◽  
Roberto Gregorio Chiquito-Contreras ◽  
Juan José Reyes-Pérez ◽  
Uriel González-Salas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Control Plant ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Economic Resource ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Chemical Inputs ◽  
Potential Use

Aquaponics is an alternative method of food production that confers advantages of biological and economic resource preservations. Nonetheless, one of the main difficulties related to aquaponics systems could be the outbreak and dissemination of pathogens. Conventional treatments need to be administrated carefully because they could be harmful to human, fish, plants and beneficial microorganisms. Aquaponics practitioners are relatively helpless against plant diseases when they occur, especially in the case of root pathogens. Biological control agents (BCAs) may be an effective alternative to chemical inputs for dealing with pathogens of plants under aquaponics systems. Research of BCAs on aquaponics systems is limited, but there are numerous publications on the use of BCAs to control plant pathogens under soilless systems which confirm its potential use on aquaponics systems. The present review summarized the principal plant pathogens, the conventional and alternative BCA treatments on aquaponics systems, while considering related research on aquaculture and soilless systems (i.e., hydroponic) for its applicability to aquaponics and future perspectives related to biological control. Finally, we emphasized the case that aquaponics systems provide relatively untapped potential for research on plant biological control agents. Biological control has the potential to reduce the perturbation effects of conventional treatments on microbial communities, fish and plant physiology, and the whole function of the aquaponics system.

Yellow Brazilian Pepper-tree Leaf Galler (suggested common name) Calophya latiforceps Burckhardt (Insecta: Hemiptera: Calophyidae: Calophyinae)

EDIS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
James P. Cuda ◽  
Patricia Prade ◽  
Carey R. Minteer-Killian
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
North America ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Pepper Tree ◽  
Brazilian Pepper ◽  
Close Relatives ◽  
Tree Leaf

In the late 1970s, Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae), was targeted for classical biological control in Florida because its invasive properties (see Host Plants) are consistent with escape from natural enemies (Williams 1954), and there are no native Schinus spp. in North America. The lack of native close relatives should minimize the risk of damage to non-target plants from introduced biological control agents (Pemberton 2000). [...]

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