Field trials of Trichomalopsis sarcophagae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) in cattle feedlots: a potential biocontrol agent of filth flies (Diptera: Muscidae)

2003 ◽  
Vol 135 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.D. Floate
Keyword(s):  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
House Fly ◽  
Stable Fly ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Potential Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Paired Control

AbstractA field study was performed in southern Alberta, Canada, to assess the native wasp, Trichomalopsis sarcophagae (Gahan), as a potential biocontrol agent for house fly, Musca domestica L., and stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.). The wasp was readily reared in large numbers, which allowed for the cumulative release of an estimated 4.63 million wasps into three commercial feedlots during the 2-year study. Each of several releases predictably and repeatedly enhanced parasitism of sentinel house fly pupae, whereas parasitism remained low in three paired control feedlots where wasps were not released. Releases every 2nd week had a disproportionately greater effect than releases every 2nd month. In 1998, 1.2 million wasps were released into treatment feedlots resulting in the recovery of 3 952 T. sarcophagae from 31 500 sentinel pupae (0.13 wasps/pupa). In 1999, 3.43 million wasps were released into treatment feedlots, with the recovery of 37 763 wasps from 47 720 sentinel pupae (0.79 wasps/pupa). Hence, a 2.8-fold increase in the number of wasps released in 1999 resulted in a 6.1-fold increase in the recovery of wasps. This result supports industry recommendations of regular, repeated releases of wasps every 2nd or 4th week versus one or infrequent releases throughout the summer. There was no evidence that releases augmented overwintering populations of the wasp in subsequent years. These results provide proof-of-concept for the mass-rearing and release of T. sarcophagae as an inundative biocontrol agent for the control of pest flies in cattle confinements. Further studies will be required to assess the effect of T. sarcophagae releases on natural populations of pest flies.

scholarly journals A Preliminary Assessment of Amblyseius andersoni (Chant) as a Potential Biocontrol Agent against Phytophagous Mites Occurring on Coniferous Plants

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 664
Author(s):  
Ewa Puchalska ◽  
Stanisław Kamil Zagrodzki ◽  
Marcin Kozak ◽  
Brian G. Rector ◽  
Anna Mauer
Keyword(s):  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Predator Population ◽  
Preliminary Assessment ◽  
Amblyseius Andersoni ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Oligonychus Ununguis ◽  
Potential Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Pine Pollen ◽  
Survival And Reproduction

Development, survival and reproduction of Ambyseius andersoni (Chant), a predatory mite widely distributed in Europe, were assessed on different food items. These included two key pests of ornamental coniferous plants, i.e., Oligonychus ununguis (Jacobi) and Pentamerismus taxi (Haller) and pollen of Pinus sylvestris L. The rationale behind these experiments was to provide a preliminary assessment of the potential of A. andersoni as a biocontrol agent of the above phytophagous arthropods and evaluate pine pollen as an alternative food source for the predator. Under laboratory conditions (23 ± 0.5 °C, 70 ± 10% RH and 16L:8D) A. andersoni was able to feed, develop and reproduce on all tested diets. The shortest development time (egg to female) was obtained when the predator fed on P. taxi (mean = 5.12 d) and the longest was on pine pollen (mean = 6.55 d). The rm value was significantly higher on both tested prey (0.166 on P. taxi and 0.160 on O. ununguis) than on pollen (0.139). Thus, we do not recommend pine pollen for mass rearing of A. andersoni; however, we conclude that pollen may provide sufficient sustenance for the predator population under field conditions when prey are absent. The potential of A. andersoni as a biocontrol agent of O. ununguis and P. taxi is discussed.

Validation of a methodology for rearingSpalangia cameroni(Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) onCeratitis capitata(Diptera: Tephritidae)

2014 ◽  
Vol 146 (6) ◽  
pp. 676-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Tormos ◽  
B. Sabater-Muñoz ◽  
J.D. Asís ◽  
F. Beitia
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Ceratitis Capitata ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Sex Ratios ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Laboratory Rearing ◽  
Pupal Parasitoid ◽  
Mass Rear ◽  
Laboratory Colony ◽  
Potential Biocontrol Agent

AbstractSpalangia cameroniPerkins (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is a pupal parasitoid of the Medfly,Ceratitis capitata(Wiedmann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), one of the principal pests of Spanish agriculture.Spalangia cameroniis a potential biocontrol agent for this pest if methods can be developed to mass-rear it effectively onC. capitata. Here, we report on the use of freeze-killed pupae ofC. capitatato maintain a laboratory colony ofS. cameroni, with a view to setting up a mass-rearing protocol. Realised fecundity, adult progeny, sex ratio, and superparasitism level were the principal parameters analysed. No significant differences were found in respect of these parameters between living or freeze-killed Medfly pupae used as hosts, although sex ratios showed a bias towards females in the case of freeze-killed pupae. Freeze-killed pupae were concluded to present the best option for the laboratory-rearing ofS. cameroni, on account of ease of rearing, and avoidance of the emergence of Medfly adults.

scholarly journals Beauveria brongniartii a potential biocontrol agent for use against manuka beetle larvae damaging dairy pastures on Cape Foulwind

2010 ◽  
Vol 63 ◽  
pp. 224-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.J. Townsend ◽  
T.L. Nelson ◽  
T.A. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Larval Mortality ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Beauveria Brongniartii ◽  
Rate Dependent ◽  
Potential Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Selection Of

Manuka beetles (Pyronota sp; Scarabaeidae) are serious and persistent pests of dairy pastures on Cape Foulwind Westport When a selection of scarabactive fungal isolates were tested against 3rd instar larvae of two Pyronota species a locally sourced Beauveria brongniartii (F636) isolate consistently achieved the fastest and highest levels of larval mortality Topical application of F636 caused an average of 80 larval mortality 6 weeks posttreatment Mortality was shown to be dose rate dependent for both Pyronota species When treatments were applied by incorporating rice grains colonised by the fungus into soil simulating field application F636 again produced the fastest and highest levels of larval mortalities averaging 70 6 weeks postapplication Mortalities of both Pyronota species reached 100 after 8 weeks when the assay medium was a grey sand based soil (ex Cape Foulwind) Isolate F636 shows promise as a biological control agent for this pest and field trials have been carried out in the autumn of 2010

Insecticidal control of Melanterius servulus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a potential biocontrol agent of Paraserianthes lophantha (Leguminosae), in commercial seed orchards of black wattle, Acacia mearnsii(Leguminosae)

1992 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Donnelly ◽  
F.J. Calitz ◽  
I.M.R. Van Aarde
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Host Specificity ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Acacia Mearnsii ◽  
Pyrethroid Insecticides ◽  
Seed Orchards ◽  
Potential Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Black Wattle ◽  
Two Stages

AbstractA seed-feeding weevil, Melanterius servulus Pascoe, is considered suitable for release against the weed Paraserianthes lophantha. However, host specificity tests have indicated that M. servulus may also develop on the seeds of Acacia mearnsii (black wattle), which is both a weed and a crop plant in South Africa. Seed orchards, which supply the black wattle industry, may therefore need to be protected. The aim of this study was to determine whether the two pyrethroid insecticides presently used in wattle plantations against the wattle bagworm (Kotochalia junodi Heylaerts (Lepidoptera: Psychidae)) are effective against M. servulus. Since M. servulus has not yet been released in South Africa, field trials were not possible, and evidence that black wattle seed orchards can be protected from M. servulus was obtained indirectly, in two stages. Firstly, field trials showed that the two insecticides effectively protect the weed Acacia longifolia from a closely related weevil, Melanterius ventralis Lea, which has already been established as a biocontrol agent. Secondly, quarantine laboratory trials demonstrated that M. ventralis and M. servulus showed similar avoidance responses and similar levels of mortality when exposed to the insecticides. All the evidence indicates that the chemical protection of A. mearnsii seed orchards from M. servulus is possible.

Re-adaptation from alternative prey to target prey increased predation of predator on target mite

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Su ◽  
An-Di Zhu ◽  
Guo-Dong Han ◽  
Fang Dong ◽  
Jing Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemy ◽  
Spider Mite ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Predatory Mites ◽  
Alternative Prey ◽  
Tyrophagus Putrescentiae ◽  
Potential Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Tetranychus Turkestani

Neoseiulus bicaudus (Wainstein) is a natural enemy of spider mite and thrip and also a potential biocontrol agent for Tetranychus turkestani (Tetranychidae). Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) is an important alternative prey of N. bicaudus for mass rearing. We aimed to determine whether previous long-term feeding history, rearing on alternative prey versus target prey affected the performance of N. bicaudus. Therefore, the prey preference and functional response of predatory mites were compared between three strains: N. bicaudus fed on T. turkestani (TTS); N. bicaudus fed on T. putrescentiae (TPS); and N. bicaudus re-adapted from T. putrescentiae to T. turkestani (TPRS). When fed with the target prey, the preference rate and consumption of the TPS strain were significantly lower than the TTS strain. In addition, after 3-day-re-adaptation, the predatory mites (TPRS) increased their preference rate and consumption to target prey. The results suggested that re-adaptation before release could improve the ability of N. bicaudus to control its target prey.

scholarly journals Ooctonus vulgatus (Hymenoptera, Mymaridae), a potential biocontrol agent to reduce populations of Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera, Aphrophoridae) the main vector of Xylella fastidiosa in Europe

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e8591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Mesmin ◽  
Marguerite Chartois ◽  
Guénaëlle Genson ◽  
Jean-Pierre Rossi ◽  
Astrid Cruaud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
Parasitoid Wasp ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Philaenus Spumarius ◽  
Parasitism Rates ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Potential Biocontrol Agent

As a vector of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells, 1987) in Europe, the meadow spittlebug Philaenus spumarius (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hemiptera, Aphrophoridae) is a species of major concern. Therefore, tools and agents to control this ubiquitous insect that develops and feeds on hundreds of plant species are wanted. We conducted a field survey of P. spumarius eggs in Corsica and provide a first report of Ooctonus vulgatus Haliday, 1833 (Hymenoptera, Mymaridae) as a potential biocontrol agent of P. spumarius in Europe. To allow species identification, we summarized the main characters distinguishing O. vulgatus from other European species of Ooctonus and generated COI DNA barcodes. Parasitism rates were variable in the four localities included in the survey but could reach 69% (for an average number of eggs that hatched per locality of 109). Based on the geographic occurrences of O. vulgatus obtained from the literature, we calibrated an ecological niche model to assess its potential distribution in the Holarctic. Obviously, several questions need to be addressed to determine whether O. vulgatus could become an effective biocontrol agent of P. spumarius in Europe. So far, O. vulgatus has been reared only from P. spumarius eggs, but its exact host-range should be evaluated to ensure efficiency and avoid non-target effect. The top-down impact of the parasitoid on vector populations should also be assessed on large data sets. Finally, the feasibility of mass rearing should be tested. We hope this report serves as a starting point to initiate research on this parasitoid wasp to assess whether it could contribute to reduce the spread and impact of X. fastidiosa in Europe.

Pathogenicity of wild-type and albino strains of the fungus Ceratocystis resinifera, a potential biocontrol agent against bluestain

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 919-930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantal Morin ◽  
Solajo Couturier ◽  
Louis Bernier
Keyword(s):  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Pathogenic Potential ◽  
Potential Biocontrol Agent

To verify the environmental innocuousness of large-scale applications of an albino strain (Kasper) of Ceratocystis resinifera Harrington & Wingfield, a potential biocontrol agent against bluestain, we tested the pathogenicity of this fungal species in greenhouse and field trials. In the greenhouse, the development of C. resinifera was negligible in deciduous seedlings, whereas the fungus was able to colonize the three conifer species tested. Ceratocystis resinifera induced only small lesions in white pine ( Pinus strobus L.) but colonized more extensively white spruce ( Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) seedlings. Black spruce was the most affected species and showed the highest mean mortality rate (40%). However, the pathogenicity of C. resinifera seemed to be conditional, since no mortality was observed in one experiment. In the field trial, C. resinifera induced longer lesions than Ophiostoma piceae (Münch) Syd. & P. Syd. 1919 (a weak pathogen) as well as mortality in one mature black spruce tree. However, Kasper was less virulent than the wild type isolate tested, since it induced significantly smaller lesions and no mortality. In spite of its ability to colonize spruce trees, C. resinifera showed a weak tolerance to low oxygen levels, which, together with the lack of a primary bark beetle vector associate, may reduce its pathogenic potential.

What habitat does spiny snout mite occupy in Tasmania

2015 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 446-446
Author(s):  
D.J. Wilson ◽  
P.J. Gerard
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Sand Dune ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Predatory Mites ◽  
Mite Species ◽  
Predatory Mite ◽  
Habitat Specificity ◽  
Nontarget Organisms ◽  
Flea Control ◽  
Potential Biocontrol Agent

Spiny snout mite (Neomolgus capillatus) is a potential biocontrol agent for clover flea (Sminthurus viridis) a white clover pest on dairy farms in warmer and wetter parts of New Zealand In the 1990s this mite was introduced from Brittany France into Tasmania for clover flea control Results during the release programme were highly promising and subsequent anecdotal farmer reports indicate widespread decreases in damage As N capillatus is a predatory mite and already known to attack nontarget organisms habitat specificity will determine whether it could be introduced into New Zealand without risk to native insects To assess this pastures on nine of the original Tasmanian release farms and adjacent nontarget habitats ranging from bush wetlands eucalypt stands to sand dune country were sampled in April 2014 Litter samples were collected heat extracted and mite species identified Neomolgus capillatus was found at effective densities in pastures that had good clover cover Where present it displaced Bdellodes spp mites that are ineffective against clover flea No N capillatus were found in the nontarget habitats all of which lacked clover and contained other predatory mites including Bdellodes spp Therefore the preference by N capillatus for lush pastures makes it an excellent prospect for introduction as a biocontrol agent into clover flea prone regions of New Zealand

scholarly journals Genetic Dissection of an Elite Rice Hybrid Revealed That Heterozygotes Are Not Always Advantageous for Performance

Genetics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 162 (4) ◽  
pp. 1885-1895
Author(s):  
J P Hua ◽  
Y Z Xing ◽  
C G Xu ◽  
X L Sun ◽  
S B Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Trials ◽  
Genetic Dissection ◽  
F2 Population ◽  
Genetic Components ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Marker Loci ◽  
Component Traits ◽  
Single Locus Analysis ◽  
Immortalized F2 ◽  
Heterotic Hybrid

Abstract We introduced an experimental design that produced an “immortalized F2” population allowing for complete dissection of genetic components underlying quantitative traits. Data for yield and three component traits of the immortalized F2 were collected from replicated field trials over 2 years. Using 231 marker loci, we resolved the genetic effects into individual components and assessed relative performance of all the genotypes at both single- and two-locus levels. Single-locus analysis detected 40 QTL for the four traits. Dominance effects for about one-half of the QTL were negative, resulting in little “net” positive dominance effect. Correlation between genotype heterozygosity and trait performance was low. Large numbers of digenic interactions, including AA, AD, and DD, were detected for all the traits, with AA as the most prevalent interaction. Complementary two-locus homozygotes frequently performed the best among the nine genotypes of many two-locus combinations. While cumulative small advantages over two-locus combinations may partly explain the genetic basis of heterosis of the hybrid as double heterozygotes frequently demonstrated marginal advantages, double heterozygotes were never the best genotypes in any of the two-locus combinations. It was concluded that heterozygotes were not necessarily advantageous for trait performance even among genotypes derived from such a highly heterotic hybrid.

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