Search results for " biological control."

Antimicrobial activity of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

2011

The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera Dryophthoridae), is an important pest of palms. Knowl- edge of both its natural enemies and its defensive mechanisms against predators and microorganisms is important to develop methods for an integrated pest control. Antimicrobial activity of the cuticular surface of adults and larvae, as well as of eggs, of this invasive species was investigated. This activity was tested against the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis (Ehrenberg) Cohn and Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli Escherich, and the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Metarhizium aniso…

Nectar-Inhabiting Bacteria Affect Olfactory Responses of an Insect Parasitoid by Altering Nectar Odors

2022

AbstractFloral nectar is ubiquitously colonized by a variety of microorganisms among which yeasts and bacteria are the most common. Microorganisms inhabiting floral nectar can alter several nectar traits, including nectar odor by producing microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs). Evidence showing that mVOCs can affect the foraging behavior of insect pollinators is increasing in the literature, whereas the role of mVOCs in altering the foraging behavior of third-trophic level organisms such as insect parasitoids is largely overlooked. Parasitoids are frequent visitors of flowers and are well known to feed on nectar. In this study, we isolated bacteria inhabiting floral nectar of buckwhe…

The effect of distance between parasitoid and host on the parasitism of Psyttalia concolor (Szépligeti) in organic olive orchards

2013

Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) is a major pest of olive fruits. Biological control of olive fruit fly mainly relies on the activity of the Braconid species Psyttalia concolor (Szépligeti), which parasitizes Bactrocera oleae at the larval stage. Parasitism tests have been carried out at the insect growing facility (insectariums) of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (C.I.H.E.A.M.). The critical point of the use of P. concolor as a biological control agent in organic olive crop is the assessment of its effectiveness against B. oleae. Its lower presence in fruits of cultivated olives rather than in small fruits of wild olives suggests an influence of the size of the fruit, and of the thic…

The role of chemical cues in the host finding behaviour of Trissolcus basalis from a Conservation Biological Control perspective

In assessing successful biological control programs by parasitoids, the knowledge of important traits, such as the host finding capability, i.e. the ability to find host and food resources, play the key role. Moreover, parasitoids in their natural environment parasitoids deal with a variable mixtures of natural cues. Some chemical cues are used by the wasps to locate their hosts, some ones drive wasps to feeding resources. The parasitoid response to these cues can fluctuate according to biotic factors and abiotic condition. This dissertation focus in details on the role of two important tools, such as selective flowering plants as food resources to add within a crop area and the traces left…

Egg parasitoids of stink bugs: Research status and potential for biological control

2012

Egg parasitoids are among the most important natural enemies associated with herbivorous stink bugs, and they show remarkable potential as biological control agents. On the other side, some egg parasitoid species also attack predaceous bugs, thus affecting the efficacy of these important entomophagous insects. Most studied stink bug egg parasitoids belong to Platygastridae (=Scelionidae) and Encyrtidae, the main research topics concerning behavior, chemical ecology, behavioural ecology and field efficacy. Some species have been used for biological control programs. However, some constraints may prevent egg parasitoids from becoming effective agents in inundative biocontrol projects, the mos…

FIRST RECORD IN TUNISIA OF CLOSTEROCERUS CHAMAELEON (GIRAULT) PARASITOID OF THE EUCALYPTUS GALLWASP OPHELIMUS MASKELLI (ASHMEAD) (Hymenoptera Eulophi…

2010

Closterocerus chamaeleon (Girault) (Hymenoptera Eulophidae), parasitoid of the Eucalyptus gall wasp Ophelimus maskelli (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera Eulophidae) has been recorded for the first time in Tunisia in July 2007. This record suggests that 14 months after its release in Sicily, in May 2006, it has spread over Sicily Channel.

Fungi related to larvae of red palm weevil Rhynchophorous ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

2010

As a first step to developing effective biocontrol strategies, we analyzed the pathogens and mainly the entomopathogenic fungal species, present into dead larvae of Rhynchophorous ferrugineus; a quarantine pest recently introduced and acclimated in Sicily (Italy). From 2008 to 2010, we estimated the natural larval mortality (> second instar) of R. ferrugineus collected from infested palm Phoenix canariensis; that was variable from 10 to 35%, according to the different seasons Among the different pathogens recorded the fungi seems have an important role, than in order to distinguish saprophytic or opportunistic species from potential pathogens (including the non cultivable ones) we applied d…

Pesticides: Chemical and Biological.

2013

There is a requirement by World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other International Organizations to develop environmentally sustainable systems for controlling pests that are less reliant on chemical pesticides as the primary management tool. However biological control alone cannot at the moment solve all pest problems and must be considered instrument to be used in combination with other methods. Compatibility of chemical pesticides (CP) and biological pesticides (BP) is one of the key for the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. Testing the compatibility of CP and BP is necessary if these two agents are to be applied together…

First records on Thripobius semiluteus Boocek (Hymenoptera:Eulophida) in Sicily.

2001

Introduction into Italy of Gryon pennsylvanicum (Ashmead), an egg parasitoid of the alien invasive bug Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann

2011

Leptoglossus occidentalis (Heteroptera, Coreidae), a Nearctic species, was accidentally introduced into Northern Italy in the late 1990s, from where it has spread throughout Europe. The bug causes abortion of immature cones of Pinus pinea L., with economic impact on the pine-nut industry. As part of a pest control research program, the egg parasitoid Gryon pennsylvanicum Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae) was collected from British Columbia, Canada, and legally introduced to a quarantine climatic chamber in Florence, Italy. The egg parasitoid will be tested against native non target heteropterans, an environmental impact assessment will be conducted, and a mass rearing method will be dev…