Do releases of the mirid predator Macrolophus basicornis (Hemiptera: Miridae) together with the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) improve biological control of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in tomato?

During the past decade, the use of predatory mirids alone or combined with releases of egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma have been tested in Europe for biological control of the worldwide invasive pest, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick). Here, we evaluated the control of this pest by the release of the Neotropical mirid Macrolophus basicornis (Stal), the Neotropic/Nearctic parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, and by combined releases of the predator and the parasitoid. Tests were conducted in greenhouse compartments during the summer and fall season.

The pest kill rate of thirteen natural enemies as aggregate evaluation criterion of their biological control potential of Tuta absoluta.

Ecologists study how populations are regulated, while scientists studying biological pest control apply population regulation processes to reduce numbers of harmful organisms: an organism (a natural enemy) is used to reduce the population density of another organism (a pest). Finding an effective biological control agent among the tens to hundreds of natural enemies of a pest is a daunting task. Evaluation criteria help in a first selection to remove clearly ineffective or risky species from the list of candidates.

Changes in insecticide resistance and host range performance of planthoppers artificially selected to feed on resistant rice.

Host plant resistance has received considerable attention for the management of insect herbivores on crop plants. However, resistance is threatened by the rapid adaptation of target herbivores towards virulence (the ability to survive, develop and damage a host with major resistance genes). This study examines the potential costs and benefits of adaptation for virulence in herbivores.

Contrasting effects of heat pulses on different trophic levels, an experiment with a herbivore-parasitoid model system.

Under predicted global climate change, species will be gradually exposed to warmer temperatures, and to a more variable climate including more intense and more frequent heatwaves. Increased climatic variability is expected to have different effects on species and ecosystems than gradual warming. A key challenge to predict the impact of climate change is to understand how temperature changes will affect species interactions.

Altered volatile profile associated with precopulatory mate guarding attracts spider mite males.

Proximate factors affecting animal behavior include stimuli generated by conspecifics. In spider mites of the genus Tetranychus (Acari: Tetranychidae), males guard pre-reproductive quiescent females, because only the first mating results in fertilization. In a dual-choice experiment, more adult males of T.

Comment on "Invasive harlequin ladybird carries biological weapons against native competitors".

We comment on the implications that Vilcinskas et al. (Reports, 17 May 2013, p. 862) attach to the finding that the exotic, invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis carries microsporidia to which this species is insensitive but that is lethal to species that are native to the invaded areas.

Genetic linkage between melanism and winglessness in the ladybird beetle Adalia bipunctata.

We report a case of genetic linkage between the two major loci underlying different wing traits in the two-spot ladybird beetle, Adalia bipunctata (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): melanism and winglessness. The loci are estimated to be 38.

Rapid establishment of a regular distribution of adult tropical Drosophila parasitoids in a multi-patch environment by patch defence behaviour.

Females of the larval parasitoid of Drosophila, Asobara citri, from sub-Saharan Africa, defend patches with hosts by fighting and chasing conspecific females upon encounter. Females of the closely related, palearctic species Asobara tabida do not defend patches and often search simultaneously in the same patch. The effect of patch defence by A.

AFLP markers for the R-gene in the flea beetle, Phyllotreta nemorum, conferring resistance to defenses in Barbarea vulgaris.

A so-called R-gene renders the yellow-striped flea beetle Phyllotreta nemorum L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae) resistant to the defenses of the yellow rocket Barbarea vulgaris R.Br.

THE GENETICS AND COST OF CHEMICAL DEFENSE IN THE TWO-SPOT LADYBIRD (ADALIA BIPUNCTATA L.).

Ladybirds (Coccinellidae) defend themselves against attack by vertebrate predators by exuding a fluid from the femero-tibial joints. This fluid carries a noxious or toxic alkaloid. The amount of fluid produced during a single attack can be very high (up to 20% of fresh body weight), and the weight of the self-synthesized alkaloid can amount to several percent of the weight of the fluid.