Evaluation of non-target effects of OMRI-listed insecticides for management of Drosophila suzukii Matsumura in berry crops

The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, is an invasive pest of many fruit crops throughout North America, South America and Europe. The presence of this destructive pest has led to an increase in the number of insecticide applications. While conventional growers have an arsenal of different insecticides at their disposal, organic growers have a limited selection of effective options and rely heavily on applications of Entrust^®, the organic formulation of spinosad. An important part of research is to develop more tools for organic growers and evaluate the effects of insecticides intended to target D. suzukii on natural enemies in the system. The effects of six organic pesticides alone and in combination with three adjuvants and two phagostimulants were tested in laboratory bioassays on three common natural enemies in berry production systems including two predators, Chrysoperla rufilabris and Orius insidiosus, and a parasitoid wasp, Aphidius colemani. Under the IOBC toxicity rating scale, spinosad was rated consistently from slightly harmful to harmful across natural enemy species and residue age (the effects of pesticides over time). Sabadilla alkaloids caused mortality to O. insidiosus equal to that of spinosad. All tested pesticides were at least slightly harmful to A. colemani, and the adjuvant polyether-polymethylsiloxane-copolymer polyether caused mortality that was not significantly different from spinosad. In general, neither the addition of adjuvants nor phagostimulants increased the mortality of the insecticides tested. The exception was polyether-polymethylsiloxane-copolymer polyether, but it is unclear whether it increased the toxicity of the pesticides or was simply toxic itself since it caused high mortality to A. colemani when applied alone. Sublethal effects were measured for two predatory species by measuring eggs laid and % egg hatch. Minimal sublethal effects were observed in C. rufilabris. In contrast, all tested insecticides caused reduced egg hatch in O. insidiosus compared with the control.     

The influence of intraguild competitors on reproductive decisions by two predatory Heteroptera,Orius insidiosus (Anthocoridae) and Nabis americoferus (Nabidae)

The relationship between the oviposition site preferences of predators in the face of intraguild competitors has received little attention, but it likely shapes the reproductive ecology of predatory species. In this study, oviposition intensity and the within-plant distribution of Orius insidiosus (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) and Nabis americoferus (Heteroptera: Nabidae) eggs on Phaseolus vulgaris plants was studied when the two species were present independently or in combination. Both predators laid more eggs in the presence of the other species relative to when they were only exposed to conspecifics. When only exposed to conspecifics, O. insidiosus preferred to lay eggs on leaves and petioles on the upper half of the plant, whereas N. americoferus laid eggs mostly on the petioles and petiolules equally throughout the height of the plant. But when both species were present, O. insidiosus preferred to lay eggs on the leaf, whereas N. americoferus altered their behavior to lay an even greater proportion of their eggs on the petioles and petiolules. They altered their preferences for different plant strata too: N. americoferus laid more eggs on the upper quarter of the plant when O. insidiosus was present, and O. insidiosus was marginally more likely to lay eggs lower on the plant in the presence of N. americoferus. This study indicates that these two Cimicomorpha can detect the presence of one another, and that they adjust their reproductive decisions, presumably to avoid potential competitive interactions.     

Implications of alternative prey on biocontrol of pests by arthropod predators in strawberry

A range of naturally occurring predator species or commercially produced predators can be used in biocontrol strategies for pests. However, multiple potential prey species or other alternative food sources are often present for predatory insects at any one time. The availability of this ‘alternative’ prey may affect specific pest control by predators and thus influence the release rates of predators required for economic pest control. Strawberry aphid (Chaetosiphon fragaefolii), western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and European tarnished plant bug (Lygus rugulipennis) are important and damaging pests in strawberry. In this study, laboratory, glasshouse and field experiments were undertaken to assess the effects of the availability of multiple prey species on biocontrol of specific pests. Results indicated that two of the predators tested showed preferences for prey species such that biocontrol of a particular pest was often less effective when a combination of pest species was present than would have been expected from results of experiments with single prey species alone. The experiments indicated that Orius laevigatus preferred C. fragaefolii to F. occidentalis or to L. rugulipennis, and preferred L. rugulipennis to F. occidentalis. Chrysoperla carnea was shown to prefer C. fragaefolii to L. rugulipennis, and C. fragaefolii over F. occidentalis. Therefore, it is important to consider the effects of alternative prey on suppression of pest species when deciding on management strategies and release rates of predators.     

南方小花蝽在不同试验空间对西花蓟马的捕食及搜寻效应

【背景】南方小花蝽是一类很有利用前景的捕食性天敌,而有关其在不同捕食空间下对我国局部地区暴发成灾的重要入侵害虫西花蓟马捕食控制效能的研究较少。【方法】在实验室条件下比较研究了南方小花蝽成虫在不同试验空间对西花蓟马成虫、若虫的捕食选择性、捕食功能反应与搜寻效应。【结果】南方小花蝽成虫对西花蓟马若虫的捕食选择性强于成虫;在相同的试验空间,南方小花蝽成虫的日均捕食量随猎物数量的增加而增大,其对西花蓟马成虫和若虫的捕食量在猎物数量为每指形管中60头时最大,分别为15.90和19.30头;而搜寻效应随猎物数量的增加而降低。在各供试条件下,捕食功能反应均符合Holling Ⅱ型方程;南方小花蝽成虫在小饲养容器中对西花蓟马若虫的瞬时攻击率最大,为1.2794;而在大饲养容器中对西花蓟马成虫的瞬时攻击率最小,仅为0.3506,其处理1头西花蓟马成虫的时间约需0.0402d,而处理1头若虫的时间仅需0.0242d。在相同的猎物数量下,南方小花蝽成虫在大饲养容器中对西花蓟马的日均捕食量均低于其在小饲养容器中对西花蓟马的日均捕食量。【结论与意义】南方小花蝽对西花蓟马有很强的捕食效能,对西花蓟马的种群消长具有一定控制作用。本研究旨在为应用南方小花蝽防治西花蓟马积累资料,同时为西花蓟马的综合治理奠定理论基础。     

南方小花蝽对西花蓟马和蚕豆蚜的捕食作用

南方小花蝽Orius similis是多种小型害虫的重要天敌昆虫,为了掌握其控制潜能,本文研究了南方小花蝽对西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis和蚕豆蚜Aphis craccivora的捕食作用。研究结果表明南方小花蝽3～5龄若虫和雌成虫对西花蓟马和蚕豆蚜的功能反应均符合HollingⅡ型方程,南方小花蝽3～5龄若虫和雌成虫对西花蓟马2龄若虫的瞬时攻击率均高于蚕豆蚜。南方小花蝽5龄若虫对蚕豆蚜的控制能力比雌成虫强,而对西花蓟马的控制能力比雌成虫差。南方小花蝽5龄若虫对西花蓟马2龄若虫和蚕豆蚜的捕食率（E）随着捕食者自身的密度（P）的增加而下降,其干扰反应方程分别为E=0.412P-1.623和E=0.416P-1.639。南方小花蝽5龄若虫对西花蓟马2龄若虫和蚕豆蚜有明显的选择性,5龄若虫喜欢取食西花蓟马2龄若虫,但前期取食的猎物对其选择性有明显的影响,更喜欢选择前期取食过的猎物。     

五种植物作为南方小花蝽储蓄植物的适合性评价

储蓄植物系统作为一种开放式的天敌饲养系统,越来越多地应用到温室及田间的害虫防治.南方小花蝽 Orius similis Zheng可捕食蓟马、蚜虫等多种害虫,是农业上一类极具应用价值的捕食性天敌.为提高南方小花蝽的控害效果,建立南方小花蝽储蓄植物系统是一种极为有效的方法.为了筛选适用于南方小花蝽保育和增殖的储蓄植物,进而构建南方小花蝽储蓄植物系统,本研究选择了月季Rosa chinensis、长寿花Narcissus jonquilla、辣椒Capsicum annuum、黄瓜Cucumis sativus和蚕豆Vicia faba作为候选的储蓄植物,通过六臂嗅觉仪分析了南方小花蝽对5种植物花朵的气味选择性,同时分析了南方小花蝽在5种植物上的繁殖系数、发育历期、存活率等生物学参数.结果表明43.33％的南方小花蝽雌虫偏好辣椒花朵气味,其次为蚕豆(26.67％);南方小花蝽卵的孵化率在辣椒上最高达到95.59％,其次为蚕豆为80.74％;同时,南方小花蝽卵在蚕豆上的发育历期显著低于另外4种植物,仅有4.92 d.综上所述,本研究初步认为辣椒和蚕豆比较适合用来构建南方小花蝽储蓄植物系统.     

Cage evaluation of augmentative biological control of Thrips palmi with Wollastoniella rotunda in winter greenhouses

Cage trials of an anthocorid predator, Wollastoniella rotunda Yasunaga et Miyamoto, as a biological control agent of Thrips palmi Karny were conducted in Fukuoka, Japan, under winter greenhouse production conditions. Females of W. rotunda were released on caged eggplants, and placed in two greenhouses on 27 October. The development, population growth, and effectiveness of W. rotunda were observed until early March. Results from the cage trials showed that W. rotunda successfully developed, reproduced, and suppressed T. palmi populations under the conditions found in winter greenhouses. During the experiment, one full generation and a second generation of adult predators occurred. The T. palmi population which was exposed to predators remained at a low density throughout the trial period, but it increased dramatically on eggplants without W. rotunda. The maximum difference between predator treatments and controls was approximately 10‐fold by the end of January. Wollastoniella rotunda has the potential to be an effective control agent for T. palmi on eggplant, even during the winter in temperate regions.     

The influence of pollen on combining predators to control Frankliniella occidentalis in ornamental chrysanthemum crops

Small scale glasshouse trials showed that second instar nymphs of Orius laevigatus reduced Frankliniella occidentalis numbers (78-92%) more than Neoseiulus cucumeris (0-30%). Combining the predators did not increase reduction of thrips numbers (84-93%). Pollen did not increase thrips control, but led to an increase in the number of thrips.     

Effect of pollen supplement on intraguild predatory interactions between two omnivores: The importance of spatial dynamics

Arthropods often engage in complex trophic interactions such as intraguild predation (IGP), true omnivory (i.e., feeding on plants and prey), and apparent competition. Theoretical treatments of the effects of such interactions on herbivore populations have been concerned almost entirely with equilibrium conditions. Yet these interactions are common in non-equilibrium settings such as agroecosystems, where they are likely to have a strong influence on pest populations. We therefore tested short-term effects of IGP and food supplementation on interactions between two predators (the phytoseiid mite Neoseiulus cucumeris and the anthocorid bug Orius laevigatus) and their shared prey, Frankliniella occidentalis, on strawberry plants. All three consumers feed on strawberry pollen, both mites and bugs prey on thrips, and the bug also feeds on the mites (IGP). Strong IGP on mites (IG prey) by the bugs (IG predator) was recorded in structurally-simple arenas. In a more complex setting (whole-plants), however, the intensity of IGP differed among plant structures. Likewise, pollen supplementation reduced both IGP and predation on thrips in a structurally simple setting. In the whole-plant experiment, IGP was more intense on pollen-bearing than pollen-free flowers. The study illustrated how spatial dynamics, generated when consumers track food sources differently in the habitat and possibly when herbivorous and IG prey alter their distribution to escape predation, led to site-specific configuration of interacting populations. The intensity of resulting trophic interactions was weakened by food supplementation and by increased complexity of the habitat.     

Exposure of arthropod predators to Cry1Ab toxin in Bt maize fields

Abstract.  1. To assess the risks of an insect-resistant transgenic plant for non-target arthropods, it is important to investigate the exposure of non-target species to the transgene product. Exposure of predators in the field depends on the toxin levels in food sources, their feeding ecology and that of their prey.
2. To verify the transmission of Cry1Ab toxin through the food chain, and thus exposure of predators in the field, samples from different plant tissues, herbivores, and predators in Bt maize fields in Spain (Event 176) were collected at different periods over the season and the toxin content was measured using ELISA. Complementary laboratory studies were performed with the omnivorous predator Orius majusculus to assess the toxin uptake and persistence after feeding on variable Bt-containing food sources.
3. Field results revealed that toxin content in some herbivores was negligible (aphids, thrips, leafhoppers) compared with those in spider mites. The latter herbivore only occurred after pollen shed and contained three times greater toxin levels than Bt maize leaves.
4. Data confirmed that the Bt toxin can be transferred to predators, that is to say to Orius spp., Chrysoperla spp., and Stethorus sp. This only applied when Bt maize pollen or spider mites were available. The passage of Bt toxin to O. majusculus via these two food sources was also confirmed in the laboratory. Contrastingly, some predators in the field (hemerobiids, Nabis sp., Hippodamia sp., Demetrias sp.) contained no or negligible toxin levels even when pollen or spider mites were present.
5. Besides essential information for exposure assessment of numerous arthropod predators, this study provides an insight into the feeding ecology of different arthropods in the maize system.