Search results for "PARASITOID"

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…

Chalcidoidea associated with seed capsules of Asphodelus

2010

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 Algeria of two eulophid wasps: Closterocerus chamaeleon (Girault) and its host, the eucalyptus gall wasp Ophelimus maskelli (Asmead) …

2010

The endophagous parasitoid Closterocerus chamaeleon, released in Israel, Italy and Corsica, for classical biological control programs, and its host, the gall-maker Ophelimus maskelli, were recorded for the first time in Algeria, in a straight line 450 km far from the Sardinian release site and 700 km far from the closest Sicilian release site. Their presence is confirmed in Andalucia (Spain), about 2000 km far from release sites of Sicily and Campania. In about two years the parasitoid spread and was established in many Mediterranean countries.

The biological control applied in Citrus orchards against harmful exotic pests in Sicily (Italy)

2018

The citrus groves are injured by infestations caused by indigenous species or old and new phytophagous introduced. Several problems have found in the biological control a optimal solution that allowed a considerable reduction in the use of chemical products. In fact, applications of programs using biological methods has been more successful on citrus than in any other cropping system. Sicily (Italy), due to its location in the Mediterranean Sea, represents an island particularly rich flora and fauna with a characteristic biodiversity different from those of other countries and regions of Italy. It produces about 60% of the national citrus production with more areas of organic citrus groves.…

Integrating natural enemies and semiochemicals in cultural control for an effective IPM

2012

Since their discovery, many semiochemicals (behavior modifying chemicals) have been identified and synthetized, and a number of techniques have been developed to use them in integrated pest management (IPM) programs against insect pests. In particular, the uses of semiochemicals in IPM to monitor insect pest populations and to interfere with their behavior preventing agricultural damage are widely adopted by the growers. In the same time, evidences that semiochemicals can also modify the behavior of insect natural enemies inspired researchers to explore the possibility to use semiochemicals to conserve and/or enhance the efficacy of natural enemies in cropping systems. However the use of se…

Chemical Ecology of Insect Parasitoids

2013

Effetti collaterali di una miscela a base di azadiractina ed oli minerale paraffinico sui parassitoidi di Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lep.: Grac…

2000

Plant responses induced by Halyomorpha halys (Het.: Pentatomidae)

2016

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Halyomorpha halys (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), is a very polyphagous pest of fruit crops, horticultural crops and ornamentals. Native from eastern Asia, this invasive species was recorded for the first time in Modena in 2012 and is now spreading in Northern and Central Italy. With its establishment in the invaded areas, new interactions with native tri-trophic systems (plants - stink bugs - parasitoids) are expected. A plant attacked by an ovipositing stink bug may respond by the emission of induced plant synomones, which are exploited by egg parasitoids for host location (indirect defences). This mechanism had been studied for coevolved tritrophic systems at …

The Plant as a Habitat for Entomophagous Insects

2016

Populations of herbivorous insects are naturally consumed by other predacious or predatory insect species. These entomophagous insects are thus plant-dwelling organisms that use the plant for several vital functions and are affected by plant traits at the evolutionary, organism and population levels. Many entomophagous species are used for the biological control of insect pests worldwide. The aim of this chapter is to provide an exhaustive review of mechanisms underlying the interactions between plants and entomophagous insects, including those governing life history traits at the individual level, as well as those acting on population and community structure and dynamics. We detail how pro…