is an invasive pest and economic threat to berry crops in Europe and the Americas. Current methods of control of this pest rely primarily on frequent applications of insecticides; therefore, there is a need for alternative control methods to reduce insecticide reliance. In this study, we evaluated the biological control potential of three parasitoid wasps: , and , and four predators: , , and . Experiments were conducted for 15 days under controlled conditions in experimental arenas with females and raspberries, allowing for all life stages of to be available to natural enemies. Results showed the first evidence of 's ability to parasitize , resulting in a 40% reduction. , and were also efficient, reducing numbers by 49%, 43% and 32%, respectively. Predator preferences for each life stage were assessed. The clutch size, sex ratio and adult size variability of pupal parasitoids were also evaluated. This study expands the list of species that can effectively parasitize and provides new insights into the biological responses of to pupae.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/insects10030068 | DOI Listing |
Bull Entomol Res
January 2025
Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Albany, CA, USA.
Bagrada bug, (Burmeister) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an invasive pest of cole crops in the United States. Because it also feeds on widespread weeds and persists in natural habitats surrounding crop fields, conventional control strategies are often ineffective at providing long-term control. One egg parasitoid, Talamas (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), is a promising biological control candidate because of its ability to parasitise buried eggs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPest Manag Sci
December 2024
Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
J Insect Sci
November 2024
Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA.
In parasitoid wasps, body size is a key predictor of reproductive success, as size is often correlated with increased gamete production. In Hymenoptera, due to haplodiploid sex determination, sperm are required to produce daughters but not sons, so sex allocation relies on a female's ability to obtain and manage a finite supply of sperm. Body size may, therefore, affect sex allocation if smaller males provide fewer sperm, or if larger, more fertile females deplete their sperm supplies by fertilizing more eggs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInsects
November 2024
Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
The oriental fruit fly, (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a notable agricultural pest that undergoes pupation in the soil. Mortality risk from predation and parasitism decreases as the depth of the pupal location increases from the ground surface, with a one-centimetre increase in depth causing a significant change. Soil properties, such as moisture and hardness, influence pupation depth, but the effect of temperature has not been fully tested.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Opin Insect Sci
November 2024
State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding & Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
Currently, a wealth of genomic data are now accessible for numerous insect natural enemies, serving as valuable resources that deepen our understanding of the genetic basis of biocontrol traits in these organisms. We summarize the current state of genome sequencing and highlight candidate genes related to biocontrol traits that hold promise for genetic improvement. We also review the recent population genomic studies in biological control and the discovery of potential insecticidal genes in parasitoid wasps.
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