Influence of cerrado fragments in the distribution of mites in rubber tree crop

The aim of this study was to verify whether fragments of cerrado influence the composition of the mite fauna on rubber trees. Five transects distant 50 m, being the first in the edge near the native areas and the last 200 m inside the crop, were established in each rubber tree crop in southern State of Mato Grosso. In each transect five plants were chosen, and seven leaves were collected from each plant. During one year, 25 quantitative samplings were conducted in two rubber tree crops. The lowest number of phytophagous mites occurred in the transect closer to the native vegetation, and the highest number, in the most distant from the native vegetation. The largest diversity was also observed in the transect closer to the neighboring vegetation. Ten species of predatory mites were also registered in neighboring native areas. These data suggest the movement of predatory mites from the native areas to the monoculture. These natural areas can possibly supply alternative food and habitat for natural enemies of phytophagous mites in the period of food scarceness in the rubber tree crop. The presence of native areas close to culture areas should be taken into account in the elaboration of programs of ecological management of pests.     

Flowers for better pest control? Effects of apple orchard groundcover management on mites (Acari), leafminers (Lepidoptera,Scitellidae), and fruit pests

Flowering companion plants provide nectar, pollen, alternative prey, shelter, and overwintering habitat for arthropod natural enemies and thus might increase their abundance and efficacy in pest control in agricultural fields. We report the results of a 6-year study on the effects of annual and perennial flowering herbs sown in alleys of an apple orchard on phytophagous and predacious mites, leafminer moths and their parasitoids and on pests causing fruit injury. Plots with weed-free bare ground and with regularly mowed grass served as controls. The abundance and diversity of predatory phytoseiid mites increased in the presence of flowering ground cover plants. However, this positive effect on phytoseiids was confined only to spring and autumn and intraguild predation (Typhlodromus pyri gradually displaced Amblyseius andersoni in the presence of flowers) also constrained their enhancement. Spider mites’ (Tetranychidae) abundance was low in all years and did not increase with the alley herb coverage. Incidence of the leafminer Leucoptera malifoliella was similar among the treatments despite the higher parasitism rate and parasitoid diversity in the plot with flowering herbs. We demonstrated that in the presence of flowering ground cover plants, the sex ratio of eulophid parasitoids' (mainly Chrysocharis pentheus) reared from L. malifoliella larvae and pupae shifted towards a male bias. Ground cover management had no effect on fruit injury caused by codling moth (Cydia pomonella) and summer fruit tortrix moth (Adoxophyes orana) and on the percentage of apples without insect damage.     

Plants,mites and mutualism: leaf domatia and the abundance and reproduction of mites on Viburnum tinus (Caprifoliaceae)

Associations between mites and leaf domatia have been widely reported, but little is known about their consequences for either plants or mites. By excising domatia from leaves of the laureltinus, Viburnum tinus L. (Caprifoliaceae), in the garden and laboratory, we showed that domatia alter the abundance, distribution, and reproduction of potential plant mutualists. Over 4 months, leaves with domatia on six garden shrubs had 2–36 times more predatory and microbivorous mites, and more mite eggs than leaves without domatia. However, this effect varied among plants and was weaker on one shrub with few mites on its leaves. Domatia also influenced the distribution of mites on leaves. A significantly higher fraction of mites, representing all life stages, was found in vein axils of leaves with domatia than in vein axils on leaves without domatia. Single-leaf experiments in the laboratory showed that domatia enhanced reproduction by the predatory mite, Metaseiulus occidentalis, especially at low relative humidity (30–38%). When domatia were removed, oviposition was reduced significantly only at low relative humidity, suggesting that domatia provide mites with refuge from environmental extremes on the leaf surface. Moreover, the use of domatia by predatory mites may reduce the impact of some plant enemies. In two experiments where prey consumption was measured, M. occidentalis ate significantly higher percentages of the eggs of the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae). Our results are consistent with the viewpoint that mite-domatia associations are mutualistic. By directly aiding and abetting the third trophic level, plants with leaf domatia may increase the efficiency of some predaceous and microbivorous mites in consuming plant enemies.     

Diversity and abundance of arthropods in subtropical rice growing areas in the Brazilian south

This paper describes a survey of arthropods in rice-growing areas of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, undertaken to identify the main groups of insect pests and their natural enemies present in three producing regions during the stages of crop development. The study was conducted during the crop years 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 in the municipalities of Cachoeira do Sul, Eldorado do Sul and Capivari do Sul. A total of 44,231 arthropods were collected: 26,821 in 2007/2008 and 17,410 in 2008/2009. Spatial and temporal patterns were analyzed utilizing the 28 principal families and applying the Morisita–Horn coefficient and the Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA). Both results demonstrated variances of abundance and richness from 1 year to the next in the evaluated areas. The results indicate that the arthropod communities in southern Brazilian rice crop agro-ecosystems are formed of a few families with high abundance and a large number of other smaller families. Among the phytophagous arthropods found, Pentatomidae, Orthoptera and planthoppers were predominant while the natural enemies were mainly predatory mites, spiders, Hymenoptera and Odonata. This study demonstrates that irrigated rice fields located in subtropical areas of the Brazilian South sustain a great variety of arthropods which facilitate studies on bio-diversity conservation and the development of sustainable management of the pests.     

Intercropping hampers the nocturnal biological control of aphids

Increasing plant diversity in agroecosystems (i.e. intercropping) has been widely accepted as a means of promoting conservation biological control of mites and insect pests. Nevertheless, the contribution from underlying mechanisms such as the provision of non‐prey alternative food (i.e. pollen and nectar) and shelter have not been properly disentangled; and additionally, it remains unexplored whether the performance of nocturnal and diurnal natural enemies is improved when provided with diverse plant communities. Using open field experiments and a greenhouse microcosm, we investigated whether intercropping collards with parsley could create shelter for natural enemies in the lower stratum (parsley), and whether or not nocturnal and diurnal natural enemies would carry out aphid biological control equally well in this increased plant diversity scenario (intercropping). The results showed that the shelter alone provided by the lower stratum/companion plants (parsley) mediated an increase in the abundance of natural enemies without involving the provision of non‐prey alternative food. However, the biological control of aphids exerted by nocturnal predators was negatively affected by intercropping. The lower stratum (parsley) appeared to hamper the ability of nocturnal predators to reach aphids more quickly on the collard host plants (higher stratum). In total, our findings indicate that intercropping non‐flowering companion plants is likely enough to mediate an increase of natural enemies via shelter provision. In addition, the results suggest that nocturnal predators, or non‐flying predators for that matter, are hampered by complex lower stratum vegetation. Thus, considering natural enemy behaviour and plant characteristics when designing polyculture systems are vital for attaining conservation biological control success.     

不同林分类型毛竹林节肢动物群落的多样性与稳定性

通过2001年9月到2002年7月对毛竹Phyllostachys heterocycla cv. pubescens与杉木Cunninghamia lanceolata、毛竹与马尾松Pinus massoniana、毛竹与阔叶树种混交林和毛竹纯林中节肢动物群落的定位与跟踪调查,分析和比较了上述4种不同类型林分中节肢动物群落的多样性与稳定性。结果表明：竹阔混交林中节肢动物群落的丰富度显著高于其他2种混交林和毛竹纯林,主要体现为林下层中同翅目、半翅目、鞘翅目和双翅目及竹冠层中蜱螨目、同翅目、半翅目和鞘翅目等植食性或捕食性物种明显较多;但各类林分中节肢动物群落之间的物种多样性、均匀度和优势集中性无显著差异。总体上混交林竹冠层和林下层中植食性和捕食性功能群的共有种较多,两个层次间的相似性均高于毛竹纯林。不同林分类型中节肢动物群落的稳定性具有显著差异,竹阔混交林和毛竹纯林竹冠层节肢动物类群的稳定性低,天敌对害虫的控制作用小,毛竹叶部植食性螨类和蠕须盾蚧Kuwanaspis vermiformis危害较重。因此认为在两种（类）害虫常发区,可考虑将林分改造为竹杉混交林或竹松混交林。     

苦李山茱萸或板栗与茶间作增进昆虫多样性的效应

为探讨间作对于茶园昆虫群落多样性和群落结构的影响,遂于皖南山区石台县选苦李-茶、山茱萸-茶、板栗-茶间作茶园,邻近每类间作茶园、选择相同品种和同样立地条件的纯茶园作为对照,2007年1月-2009年1月,每月上旬调查这6块茶园昆虫、蜘蛛和捕食螨种数和个体数。结果表明:①与对照茶园相比,间作茶园昆虫的总物种数、总多样性指数稍大,间作茶园的天敌个体数稍多、益害生物的个体数量比值稍大;②间作对茶园昆虫的总个体数有影响。结果表明茶园间作可在一定程度上增加昆虫多样性。     

Bioecology of some key cashew insect pests and diseases in diverse habitats and landscapes in Tanzania

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is an economically important cash crop for many rural households in Tanzania. However, its production is constrained by some insect pests and diseases. As a prerequisite for the development of a more sustainable integrated insect pest and disease management strategy for cashew, information on the biology and ecology of the key insect pests and diseases in a changing environment, and on influencing biotic and abiotic factors, is needed. Surveys were conducted in the major cashew nut‐producing areas of Tanzania for two seasons: August to December, 2009, and August to December, 2010. Data on number of infested and infected shoots by key insect pests and diseases, natural enemies and associated farmer practices, namely synthetic pesticide use and intercropping systems, were collected from different subzones within agroecological zones. Our data showed that abundance and diversity of key cashew insect pests and diseases were influenced by agroecological zones and subzones. Intercropping was more commonly practised in the northern than in the southern zone. Agrochemicals were most frequently used in the southern agroecological zone and affected the occurrence of natural enemies, notably the weaver ant that was more abundant in the northern zone. Furthermore, our findings revealed that Helopeltis sp. and the powdery mildew remained the major constraints to cashew nut production in Tanzania.     

Intergrated pest management in Swiss apple orchards: Stability and risks

In recent years, a system of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been introduced in many Swiss apple orchards. It is based on monitoring pests and natural enemies, on a package of selective pesticides and on biological control of phytophagous mites by typhlodromids. Some natural control has also been introduced for aphids and leafrollers. Stability of this approach is offered by natural control and by monitoring. Risks exist in two fields: Selective pesticides may disappear due to resistance and to other undesirable side effects. Outbreaks of secondary pests occur and will continue to do so in the future. In the past few years populations of scale insects and of Grapholita prunivorana (Rag.) have built up to damaging levels in some regions.     

植物-植食性昆虫-天敌三营养层次的相互作用及其研究方法

根据国内外的最新研究成果,从他感化合物和植物的营养物质、有毒物质、形态特征、密度、多样性以及分布等化学和物理因子两方面阐述了植物、植食性昆虫及其天敌三营养层次间直接和间接的相互关系,揭示了植物在三者关系中的核心作用,并就目前在该领域中的一些常用的研究方法作了介绍.     

Population dynamics of Aceodromus convolvuli (Acari: Mesostigmata: Blattisociidae) on spontaneous plants associated with Jatropha curcas in central Brazil

Spontaneously growing plants are commonly considered competitors of cultivated plants. Owing to the lack of specificity of many arthropods, spontaneous plants may be attacked by the same arthropods that attack cultivated plants and they may also harbor natural enemies of organisms harmful to cultivated plants. Aceodromus convolvuli Muma (Blattisociidae) has been reported recently in relatively large numbers in Tocantins state, central Brazil, mostly on Helicteres guazumifolia Kunth (Malvaceae). Very little has been reported about the population dynamics of blattisociid mites under field conditions. The objective of this work was to study the population dynamics of A. convolvuli in Gurupi, Tocantins state, to evaluate its possible interaction with associated mites. Monthly samples were taken from leaves of the 11 most abundant and frequent spontaneous plants in a Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) plantation. About 96.5 % of the specimens of A. convolvuli were collected in the rainy season. The patterns of variation of the population of A. convolvuli and of predators belonging to the family Phytoseiidae were similar, but A. convolvuli was much more numerous than all phytoseiid specimens combined. Highly significant correlations were observed between A. convolvuli densities and relative humidity or diversity of spontaneous plants. When only mites on H. guazumifolia were considered, highly significant correlation was also observed between densities of A. convolvuli and of mites of the family Tetranychidae. The results suggested that A. convolvuli could be a predator of tenuipalpid and/or tetranychid mites. Studies about its biology are needed to determine its preferred food sources and potential as biological control agent.     

植物—植食性昆虫—天敌三营养层次的相互作用及其研究方法

根据国内外的最新研究成果 ,从他感化合物和植物的营养物质、有毒物质、形态特征、密度、多样性以及分布等化学和物理因子两方面阐述了植物、植食性昆虫及其天敌三营养层次间直接和间接的相互关系 ,揭示了植物在三者关系中的核心作用 ,并就目前在该领域中的一些常用的研究方法作了介绍 .     

Leaf domatia mediate mutualism between mites and a tropical tree

Although associations between mites and leaf domatia have been widely reported, their consequences for plants, especially for natural tree populations, particularly in the tropics, are largely unknown. In experiments with paired Cupania vernalis (Sapindaceae) saplings in a semi-deciduous forest in south-east Brazil, we blocked leaf domatia to examine their effect: (1) on mites and other arthropods, and (2) on damage caused by fungi and herbivorous arthropods. In general, plants with resin-blocked domatia had fewer predaceous mites on leaves than control plants with unaltered domatia, but the total abundances of fungivorous and of phytophagous mites remained unchanged. However, phytophagous eriophyid mites, the most numerous inhabitants of domatia, decreased on leaf surfaces with the blocking treatment. In a second experiment, treated plants lacking functional domatia developed significantly greater numbers and areas of chlorosis, apparently due to increased eriophyid attacks, whereas fungal attack, epiphyll abundance and leaf-area loss were unaffected. This seems to be the first experimental study to demonstrate that leaf domatia can benefit plants against herbivory in a natural system. The possible stabilizing effect of leaf domatia on predator-prey interactions is discussed.     

桃园主要害虫、天敌种群动态及其群落结构的研究

系统研究了3月中旬～10月上旬桃园主要害虫、天敌的种群动态和昆虫群落的相对多度、丰富度、生态优势度、多样性指数、均匀度等群落特征指数的变动,分析了影响昆虫群落多样性的主要因素．     

Non-crop habitats concurrently drive crop colonization by the millet head miner and regulation by natural enemies

Non-crop habitats, depending on their composition, can enhance the abundance and diversity of natural enemies of crop pests, but also at the same time provide resources to pests, thereby reducing the effect on pest incidence and resulting yield losses. The objective of the present study was to test (1) the effect of semi-natural habitats in the landscape on crop colonization by pests and natural regulation, and (2) the relationship between natural regulation and pest incidence. The pearl millet head miner (MHM) was selected as a case study because it is a key pest of millet cultivated in traditional pesticide-free tree-crop agroforestry systems in which its control mostly relies on the action of natural enemies.A set of 24 millet fields were selected in a 20×20 km area in Senegal, from the analysis of high-resolution satellite images (Pléiades), and hypotheses on the relative abundance of semi-natural habitats (here trees and rangelands) in the agricultural landscape. Millet fields were monitored for pest infestation of panicles and pest natural regulation. We used partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-PM) to evaluate the relationships between the abundance and diversity of semi-natural habitats at the landscape scale, crop colonization, natural pest regulation, and pest incidence.Panicle colonization by the MHM was generally high (14–92%) and increased with the abundance of trees and to a lesser extent with the rangeland area at a 1000 m-radius around millet fields. However, regulation provided by natural enemies was amplified by the abundance of trees at a local scale (250 m-radius around millet fields). This was particularly true at early crop colonization of the MHM with parasitism and direct predation on eggs and young larvae. This multi-scale effect of semi-natural habitats on crop colonization and natural regulation could explain why no clear relationship between crop colonization and pest incidence, nor natural regulation and pest incidence, was observed. Future studies on the identification of complex species-specific interactions between trees and natural enemies should provide a better understanding of the ecological processes underlying the performance of natural regulation of MHM populations.     

Phytoseiid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) associated with tea gardens in north of Iran

Predator mites of Phytoseiidae family are among the most important biocontrol agents in the world. These beneficial mites are considered as natural enemies of many pests and herbivore mites, and can feed on different growth stages of pests (egg, larva or nymph). Five species of Phytoseiidae mites were found during a survey conducted on tea plants, Camellia sinensis (Theaceae), in the Mazandaran and Guilan Provinces in the north of Iran, on the coast of the Caspian Sea, the major tea-growing region of Iran. Some of these species are recorded for the first time in tea gardens of Iran.     

花椒园节肢动物群落特征与气象因子的关系

分析了云南永善县金沙江畔花椒园节肢动物群落特征与园内最低温度、平均温度、最高温度、最低湿度、平均湿度、最高湿度及月降雨量等7个气象因子的关系。结果表明:节肢动物群落个体数、物种数受最低湿度变化影响最大,表现为正相关的变化趋势;群落多样性、均匀度、丰富度指数变化与最高温度、最高湿度变化的关联度较大,表明节肢动物群落在相对较高的温、湿度环境下具有更高的群落多样性、丰富度及均匀度;优势集中性及优势度指数变化与最高温度、最低湿度变化的关联度较大,表明优势种类在高温或低湿环境下更易出现;稳定性S_s/S_i、S_n/S_p指数与平均湿度的关联度较大,表明适度的湿度变化范围更利于增强群落物种间数量上的制约作用。降雨量对群落特征的影响最小,在月均降雨量小于99.3 mm的3-6月、9月-翌年2月,节肢动物群落特征指标与降雨量成正相关关系,7、8月份月均降雨量大于164.5 mm,群落特征与降雨量表现为负相关性。综合分析表明,气象因子对节肢动物群落特征的影响较大,而温、湿度及降雨量的测量和分析较为方便,研究气象因子与节肢动物群落特征的关系,对了解节肢动物群落特征变化规律和主要害虫种群数量的发生规律具有实际意义。     

Biological control of arthropod pests using banker plant systems: Past progress and future directions

The goal of banker plant systems is to sustain a reproducing population of natural enemies within a crop that will provide long-term pest suppression. The most common banker plant system consists of cereal plants infested with Rhopalosiphum padi L. as a host for the parasitoid Aphidius colemani L. Aphidius colemani continually reproduce and emerge from the banker plants to suppress aphid pests such as Aphis gossypii Glover and Myzus persicae Sulzer. Banker plant systems have been investigated to support 19 natural enemy species targeting 11 pest species. Research has been conducted in the greenhouse and field on ornamental and food crops. Despite this there is little consensus of an optimal banker plant system for even the most frequently targeted pests. Optimizing banker plant systems requires future research on how banker plants, crop species, and alternative hosts interact to affect natural enemy preference, dispersal, and abundance. In addition, research on the logistics of creating, maintaining, and implementing banker plant systems is essential. An advantage of banker plant systems over augmentative biological control is preventative control without repeated, expensive releases of natural enemies. Further, banker plants conserve a particular natural enemy or potentially the ‘right diversity’ of natural enemies with specific alternative resources. This may be an advantage compared to conserving natural enemy diversity per se with other conservation biological control tactics. Demonstrated grower interest in banker plant systems provides an opportunity for researchers to improve biological control efficacy, economics, and implementation to reduce pesticide use and its associated risks.     

Pests and Diseases of Betelvine Piper Betle and Their Natural Enemies in India

Betelvine (Piper betle) is an important cash crop in India. The cultivation of this crop is seriously threatened by several pest insects, for example the homopterans Aleurocanthus rugosa, Dialeuroides pallida, Aphis gossypii and Tricentrus gibbosulus and the thysanopterans Membrothrips indicus, Zaniothrips ricini, Mymarothrips garuda and Aroidothrips longistylus and by the plant pathogenic fungi Curvularia lunata, Phytophthora parasitica, Colletotrichum piperis and Fusarium moniliforme. The pest and pathogen species are attacked by natural enemies belonging to the Coleoptera, Diptera, Heteroptera, Hymenoptera, Aranea and Acari. While occurrence of non-acarine enemies is confined to certain seasons, the acarine enemies are associated with the insect pests and fungal pathogens throughout the year. The predatory mites Walzia indiana and Proctolaelaps pygmaeus and the mycophagous mites Unguizetes clavatus and Acarus sp. seem to have potential to control the insect pests and fungal pathogens, respectively.     

Effect of adjacent steppe-like habitats on spider diversity in vine plants

Spiders are important natural enemies of pests in many agroecosystems. Spiders’ diversity and abundance—and therefore their biological control potential—often increases with the presence of non-crop habitats adjacent to the agroecosystem and/or the abundance of such habitats in the landscape. This research aims to determine whether spider communities dwelling on vine plant trunks are richer and more abundant in terraced vineyards than in plain vineyards. We found that spiders’ abundance and species richness were significantly greater during part of the season in the plain than the terraced types of vineyards. The abundance of spiders on the vine plants in the terraced vineyards decreased gradually from the field margins to the centre while no such pattern was observed in the plain vineyards. Subsequent experiments will be needed in order to elucidate the role of the individual mechanisms and parameters that underpin our findings. For example, the air flow (direction and intensity), the presence of the predators, heterogeneity and the presence of shrubs on the slopes of terraces should be studied further. Particularly, because our findings contradict the general assumption that terraced vineyards should host richer spider communities.