scholarly journals Description of four new species of Eadya (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), parasitoids of the Eucalyptus Tortoise Beetle (Paropsis charybdis) and other Eucalyptus defoliating leaf beetles

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 141-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan D. Ridenbaugh ◽  
Erin Barbeau ◽  
Barbara J. Sharanowski
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Species ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Phylogenetic Study ◽  
Economic Resource ◽  
Leaf Beetles

EucalyptusL’Héritier, 1789 (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) plantations are a global economic resource with a wide array of uses. As this forestry crop grows in popularity around the world, the exotic introduction of pests such as the leaf beetles belonging to the generaParopsisOliver, 1807 andParopsisternaMotschulsky, 1860 increases in frequency. These pest introductions have spurred a need to understand the natural enemies of these pests for use in classical biological control programs. One such enemy,EadyaparopsidisHuddleston & Short, 1978 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), has shown potential as a biological control agent againstParopsischarybdis, an exotic pest of New ZealandEucalyptusplantations. However, observations made by biocontrol researchers have raised concerns thatE.paropsidisis a complex of cryptic species. A comprehensive large-scale phylogenetic study utilizing both host and molecular data (Peixoto et al. 2018), as well as a morphological multivariate ratio analysis, was utilized to ensure accurate delimitation of the species ofEadya. Here we formally describe the three new species (EadyaannleckieaeRidenbaugh, 2018,sp. n.,EadyadaenerysRidenbaugh, 2018,sp. n.,EadyaspitzerRidenbaugh, 2018,sp. n.), and one additional new species discovered in the Australian National Insect Collection (EadyaduncanRidenbaugh, 2018,sp. n.). All distributions and host associations forEadyaare listed as well as a redescription of the originally describedE.paropsidisandE.falcata. An illustrated key to all known species is included to assist biological control researchers. The value of citizen science observations is discussed, along with the need for a further understanding of mainlandEadyapopulations given the recent spread of paropsine pests. Finally, we discuss the subfamilial placement ofEadya, and suggest it belongs within Euphorinae based on morphological characters.

scholarly journals Advances in Mass Rearing Pseudophilothrips ichini (Hood) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), a Biological Control Agent for Brazilian Peppertree in Florida

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 790
Author(s):  
Dale A. Halbritter ◽  
Min B. Rayamajhi ◽  
Gregory S. Wheeler ◽  
Jorge G. Leidi ◽  
Jenna R. Owens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Mass Production ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Field Release ◽  
Rearing Methods

Pseudophilothrips ichini is a recently approved biological control agent for the highly invasive Brazilian peppertree in Florida, USA. Prior to approval for field release in 2019, thrips colonies used for host specificity testing were produced and maintained in small cylinders to fit in restricted quarantine spaces. This next segment in the classical biological control pipeline is mass production and distribution of P. ichini. To accomplish this, we developed novel techniques to expand from small colony maintenance to large-scale production. We first quantified the productivity of the small cylinders, each containing a 3.8 L potted plant and producing an average of 368 thrips per generation. Given the amount of maintenance the cylinders required, we investigated larger cages to see if greater numbers of thrips could be produced with less effort. Acrylic boxes (81.5 × 39.5 × 39.5 cm) each contained two 3.8 L plants and produced an average of 679 thrips per generation. The final advancement was large, thrips-proof Lumite® screen cages (1.8 × 1.8 × 1.8 m) that each held six plants in 11.4 L pots and produced 13,864 thrips in as little as 5 wk. Screen cages and cylinders had the greatest thrips fold production, but screen cages required ten times less labor per thrips compared to either cylinders or boxes. The efficiency of these large screen cages ensured sustained mass production and field release capacity in Schinus-infested landscapes. The screen cage method is adapted and used by collaborators, and this will expand the literature on beneficial thrips mass rearing methods.

scholarly journals Limited host range in the idiobiont parasitoid Phymasticus coffea, a prospective biological control agent of the coffee pest Hypothenemus hampei in Hawaii

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fazila Yousuf ◽  
Peter A. Follett ◽  
Conrad P. D. T. Gillett ◽  
David Honsberger ◽  
Lourdes Chamorro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Environmental Safety ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Hypothenemus Hampei ◽  
Parasitism Rate ◽  
Limited Host Range ◽  
Parasitoid Development

AbstractPhymastichus coffea LaSalle (Hymenoptera:Eulophidae) is an adult endoparasitoid of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera:Curculionidae:Scolytinae), which has been introduced in many coffee producing countries as a biological control agent. To determine the effectiveness of P. coffea against H. hampei and environmental safety for release in Hawaii, we investigated the host selection and parasitism response of adult females to 43 different species of Coleoptera, including 23 Scolytinae (six Hypothenemus species and 17 others), and four additional Curculionidae. Non-target testing included Hawaiian endemic, exotic and beneficial coleopteran species. Using a no-choice laboratory bioassay, we demonstrated that P. coffea was only able to parasitize the target host H. hampei and four other adventive species of Hypothenemus: H. obscurus, H. seriatus, H. birmanus and H. crudiae. Hypothenemus hampei had the highest parasitism rate and shortest parasitoid development time of the five parasitized Hypothenemus spp. Parasitism and parasitoid emergence decreased with decreasing phylogenetic relatedness of the Hypothenemus spp. to H. hampei, and the most distantly related species, H. eruditus, was not parasitized. These results suggest that the risk of harmful non-target impacts is low because there are no native species of Hypothenemus in Hawaii, and P. coffea could be safely introduced for classical biological control of H. hampei in Hawaii.

Rostropria, a new genus of Opisthognathous Diapriine wasp from Australia, and notes on the genus Neurogalesus (Hymenoptera : Proctotrupoidea : Diapriidae)

1989 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 523 ◽  
Author(s):  
JW Early ◽  
ID Naumann
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Species ◽  
Sugar Cane ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Eastern Australia

Rostropria, gen. nov., comprising six new species (casta, garbo, gondola, inopicida, simplex and spiniventris) from eastern Australia, is most closely related to Neurogalesus Kieffer. The palpal formula is variable within Rostropria. R. inopicida is a parasite of the sugarcane soldier fly, Inopus rubriceps (Macquart) (Stratiomyidae), and a potential biological control agent for this pest of pastures and sugar cane. Euhoplopria Dodd is synonymised with Neurogalesus and the three described species (E. carinatifrons Dodd, E. lativentris Dodd, E. emargipennis Dodd) are transferred to Neurogalesus.

Taxonomic modifications in Tylospilus Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae): redescription of T. nigrobinotatus (Berg), description of a new species and an updated identification key for the genus 

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4766 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-138
Author(s):  
RICARDO BRUGNERA ◽  
MARCELO REGINATO PAIM ◽  
TALITA ROELL ◽  
GIMENA DELLAPÉ ◽  
JOCELIA GRAZIA
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Species ◽  
New World ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Stink Bugs ◽  
Common Occurrence ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
A New Species

The systematics of the New World Asopinae genera is still not completely understood, thus hampering their study in many areas of biological science. Tylospilus Stål is one of the less known genera among New World predatory stink bugs, despite its common occurrence and potential as a biological control agent in crops. Here, we make a contribution to the knowledge of Tylospilus; the species Tylospilus nigrobinotatus (Berg, 1879) is redescribed, and based upon the examination of type specimens, T. armatus Thomas, 1992 is considered to be a junior synonym of the above species. Furthermore, a new species is herein described, and an updated identification key for the species of Tylospilus is provided. 

scholarly journals Identification and host-plant associations of Australian Sericothripinae (Thysanoptera, Thripidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 1983 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAURENCE A. MOUND ◽  
DESLEY TREE
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Species ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Complex Surface ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Weed Biological Control ◽  
European Species ◽  
Plant Associations

The Sericothripinae is a largely tropical group of about 140 species that are often strikingly bicoloured and have complex surface sculpture, but for which the biology is poorly known. Although 15 genera have been described in this subfamily, only three of these are currently recognised, with five new generic synonymies indicated here. In Australia, Sericothrips Haliday is introduced, with one European species deployed as a weed biological control agent. Hydatothrips Karny comprises 43 species worldwide, with six species found in Australia, of which two are shared with Southeast Asia, and four are associated with the native vine genus, Parsonsia. Neohydatothrips John comprises 96 species worldwide, with nine species in Australia, of which one is shared with Southeast Asia and two are presumably introduced from the Americas. Illustrated keys are provided to the three genera and 16 species from Australia, including six new species [Hydatothrips aliceae; H. bhattii; H. williamsi; Neohydatothrips barrowi, N. bellissi, N. katherinae]. One new specific synonym is recognised [Hydatothrips haschemi Girault (=H. palawanensis Kudo)], also four new generic synonyms [Neohydatothrips John (=Faureana Bhatti; Onihothrips Bhatti; Sariathrips Bhatti; Papiliothrips Bhatti); Sericothrips Haliday (=Susserico- thrips Han)].

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document