Global invasion history with climate-related allele frequency shifts in the invasive Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera, Tephritidae: Ceratitis capitata).

The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) is a globally invasive species and an economically significant pest of fruit crops. Understanding the evolutionary history and local climatic adaptation of this species is crucial for developing effective pest management strategies. We conducted a comprehensive investigation using whole genome sequencing to explore (i) the invasion history of C.

Mycorrhiza-induced resistance in citrus against Tetranychus urticae is plant species dependent and inversely correlated to basal immunity.

Background: Mycorrhizal plants show enhanced resistance to biotic stresses, but few studies have addressed mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR) against biotic challenges in woody plants, particularly citrus. Here we present a comparative study of two citrus species, Citrus aurantium, which is resistant to Tetranychus urticae, and Citrus reshni, which is highly susceptible to T. urticae.

Identification of potential invasive alien species in Spain through horizon scanning.

Invasive alien species have widespread impacts on native biodiversity and ecosystem services. Since the number of introductions worldwide is continuously rising, it is essential to prevent the entry, establishment and spread of new alien species through a systematic examination of future potential threats. Applying a three-step horizon scanning consensus method, we evaluated non-established alien species that could potentially arrive, establish and cause major ecological impact in Spain within the next 10 years.

Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Triggers Local Resistance in Citrus Plants Against Spider Mites.

Citrus plants are a highly mycotrophic species with high levels of fungal colonization. rootstocks typically show abundant root colonization by three weeks after inoculation. Mycorrhizal symbiosis protects plants against multiple biotic stressors, however, such protection against spider mites remains controversial.

Opposing roles of plant laticifer cells in the resistance to insect herbivores and fungal pathogens.

More than 12,000 plant species (ca. 10% of flowering plants) exude latex when their tissues are injured. Latex is produced and stored in specialized cells named "laticifers".

Plant-feeding may explain why the generalist predator Euseius stipulatus does better on less defended citrus plants but Tetranychus-specialists Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus persimilis do not.

The generalist predator Euseius stipulatus (Athias-Henriot) and the Tetranychidae-specialist predators Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot play a key role in the regulation of Tetranychus urticae Koch in Spanish citrus orchards. Previous studies have shown that sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) and Cleopatra mandarin (Citrus reshni hort.

Practices to Conserve Pollinators and Natural Enemies in Agro-Ecosystems.

Intensive agriculture has put great pressure on populations of beneficial arthropods such as natural enemies and pollinators, especially through adverse effects of pesticide use and the impact on resources in the agricultural landscape, i [...

Molecular characterization of Cardinium, Rickettsia, Spiroplasma and Wolbachia in mite species from citrus orchards.

Tetranychidae spider mites are considered key citrus pests in some production areas, especially Tetranychus urticae Koch. Over the past decades, pesticide overuse seems to have promoted T. urticae population selection in citrus orchards.

Tracking mite trophic interactions by multiplex PCR.

Background: A thorough knowledge of trophic webs in agroecosystems is essential to achieve successful biological pest control. Phytoseiid mites are the most efficient natural enemies of tetranychid mites, which include several important pests worldwide. Nevertheless, phytoseiids may feed on other food sources including other microarthropods, plants and even other phytoseiids (intraguild predation), which can interfere with biological control services.

Zoophytophagous mites can trigger plant-genotype specific defensive responses affecting potential prey beyond predation: the case of Euseius stipulatus and Tetranychus urticae in citrus.

Background: Zoophytophagous predators can trigger plant defenses affecting prey populations beyond predation. Euseius stipulatus is a presumed zoophytophagous phytoseiid common in citrus. The response of citrus to one of its potential prey, Tetranychus urticae, is genotype dependent, with Citrus reshni and C.

Can Plant Defence Mechanisms Provide New Approaches for the Sustainable Control of the Two-Spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae?

() Koch is a cosmopolitan, polyphagous mite which causes economic losses in both agricultural and ornamental plants. Some traits of hamper its management, including a short life cycle, arrhenotokous parthenogenesis, its haplodiploid sex determination system, and its extraordinary ability to adapt to different hosts and environmental conditions. Currently, the use of chemical and biological control are the major control methods used against this mite.

Development of an attract-and-infect system to control Rhynchophorus ferrugineus with the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana.

Background: A new Beauveria bassiana-based attract and infect device (AID) to control Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was developed. The virulence and persistence of the fungal formulation used in the AID were evaluated in the laboratory. Semi-field and field trials were carried out to validate the results and establish the potential of this device as a control tool.

Zoophytophagous mirids provide pest control by inducing direct defences, antixenosis and attraction to parasitoids in sweet pepper plants.

Background: In addition to their services as predators, mirid predators are able to induce plant defences by phytophagy. However, whether this induction occurs in sweet pepper and whether it could be an additional benefit to their role as a biological control agent in this crop remain unknown. Here, these questions were investigated in two model insects, the mirids Nesidiocoris tenuis and Macrolophus pygmaeus.

Mite diversity (Acari: Tetranychidae, Tydeidae, Iolinidae, Phytoseiidae) and within-tree distribution in citrus orchards in southern Spain, with special reference to Eutetranychus orientalis.

Mite diversity of selected citrus orchards in Andalusia (southern Spain) was studied during 2002-2007. The following species were found: Eutetranychus orientalis, Tetranychus urticae, Panonychus citri (Tetranychidae), Tydeus californicus, Lorryia formosa (Tydeidae), Pronematus ubiquitus (Iolinidae), Euseius stipulatus, Typhlodromus phialatus, Neoseiulus californicus, Euseius scutalis, Phytoseiulus persimilis, Paraseiulus talbii and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Phytoseiidae). Eutetranychus orientalis was the dominant tetranychid species in orange and lemon trees, whereas T.

When do predatory mites (Phytoseiidae) attack? Understanding their diel and seasonal predation patterns.

Predatory mites of the Phytoseiidae family are considered one of the most important groups of natural enemies used in biological control. The behavioral patterns of arthropods can differ greatly daily and seasonally; however, there is a lack of literature related to Phytoseiidae diel and seasonal predation patterns. The predatory activity of three phytoseiid species (two Tetranychidae-specialists, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus, and one omnivore, Euseius stipulatus) that occur naturally in Spanish citrus orchards was observed under laboratory conditions in winter and summer.

Systemic resistance in citrus to Tetranychus urticae induced by conspecifics is transmitted by grafting and mediated by mobile amino acids.

Recent research suggests that systemic signalling and communication between roots and leaves plays an important role in plant defence against herbivores. In the present study, we show that the oviposition of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae in the systemic leaves of citrus rootstock Citrus aurantium (sour orange) was reduced by 50% when a lower leaf was previously infested with conspecifics. Metabolomic and gene expression analysis of the root efflux revealed a strong accumulation of glutamic acid (Glu) that triggered the expression of the citrus putative glutamate receptor (GRL) in the shoots.

Stage-Related Defense Response Induction in Tomato Plants by Nesidiocoris tenuis.

The beneficial effects of direct predation by zoophytophagous biological control agents (BCAs), such as the mirid bug Nesidiocoris tenuis, are well-known. However, the benefits of zoophytophagous BCAs' relation with host plants, via induction of plant defensive responses, have not been investigated until recently. To date, only the females of certain zoophytophagous BCAs have been demonstrated to induce defensive plant responses in tomato plants.

Disentangling mite predator-prey relationships by multiplex PCR.

Gut content analysis using molecular techniques can help elucidate predator-prey relationships in situations in which other methodologies are not feasible, such as in the case of trophic interactions between minute species such as mites. We designed species-specific primers for a mite community occurring in Spanish citrus orchards comprising two herbivores, the Tetranychidae Tetranychus urticae and Panonychus citri, and six predatory mites belonging to the Phytoseiidae family; these predatory mites are considered to be these herbivores' main biological control agents. These primers were successfully multiplexed in a single PCR to test the range of predators feeding on each of the two prey species.

Tetranychus urticae-triggered responses promote genotype-dependent conspecific repellence or attractiveness in citrus.

The citrus rootstocks sour orange and Cleopatra mandarin display differential resistance against Tetranychus urticae. Sour orange plants support reduced oviposition, growth rates and damage compared with Cleopatra mandarin plants. Jasmonic acid signalling and flavonoid accumulation have been revealed as key mechanisms for the enhanced resistance of sour orange plants.