Ecofriendly Pest Management for Food Security explores the broad range of opportunity and challenges afforded by Integrated Pest Management systems. The book focuses on the insect resistance that has developed as a result of pest control chemicals, and how new methods of environmentally complementary pest control can be used to suppress harmful organisms while protecting the soil, plants, and air around them. As the world's population continues its rapid increase, this book addresses the production of cereals, vegetables, fruits, and other foods and their subsequent demand increase. Traditional means of food crop production face proven limitations and increasing research is turning to alternative means of crop growth and protection.Addresses environmentally focused pest control with specific attention to its role in food security and sustainability.Includes a range of pest management methods, from natural enemies to biomolecules.Written by experts with extensive real-world experience.

Ecofriendly Pest Management for Food Security

Functional responses and prey-stage preferences of three species of predacious mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on citrus red mite, Panonychus citri (Acari: Tetranychidae)

A phytoseiid predator from the tropics as potential biological control agent for the spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The life table parameters of two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch, on 14 soybean genotypes (Sari, Sahar, Tellar, Zane, Ks3494, L17, Dpx, 032, 033, Clark, Hill, I27, Tms and Williams) were evaluated at 28 ± 1°C, 65%± 5% RH and a photoperiod of 16 : 8 h L : D The survivorship data (lx) of adult females were fitted to the Weibull frequency distribution model in all genotypes tested Based on the Weibull parameters, the survival curve was type I on all genotypes, which indicated that the mortality mostly occurred in old individuals Furthermore, two mathematical models (Analytis and Enkegaard) were fitted to age-specific fecundity data (mx) The highest intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was recorded on L17 (0392) and the lowest values of this parameter were obtained on Tms (0233), Hill (0236), 032 (0236), I27 (0237) and Clark (0240) In addition, net reproductive rate (R0) and finite rate of increase (λ) of the TSSM had the highest value on L17 as 45521 and 1475, respectively The lowest values of these parameters were recorded on Tms as 12149 and 1258, respectively Doubling time (DT) varied significantly on different genotypes and the shortest and longest values of this period were obtained on L17 and 032, respectively Our findings revealed that Tms, Hill, 032, I27 and Clark were less suitable genotypes, suggesting that they are more resistant to the TSSM than the other genotypes

Comparative life table analysis of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on 14 soybean genotypes.

Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) is a phytophagous mite that recently invaded the Western Hemisphere. This mite is a multivoltine and gregarious species that can reach very high population densities and cause significant damage to various palm species (Arecaceae). The predatory mite Amblyseius largoensis (Muma) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) has been found associated with R. indica in Florida. This study evaluated A. largoensis for potential to control R. indica by (1) determining predator preferences among developmental stages of R. indica, and (2) estimating predator functional and numerical responses to varying densities of its most preferred prey-stage. Under no-choice conditions A. largoensis consumed significantly more eggs than other stages of R. indica. In choice tests A. largoensis showed a significant preference for R. indica eggs over all other prey stages. Amblyseius largoensis displayed a type II functional response showing an increase in number of prey killed with an increase in prey population density. Consumption of prey stabilized at approximately 45 eggs/day, the level at which oviposition by the predator was maximized (2.36 ± 0.11 eggs/day; mean ± SEM). Results of this study suggest that A. largoensis can play a role in controlling R. indica populations, particularly when prey densities are low.

Prey-stage preferences and functional and numerical responses of Amblyseius largoensis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae)

The aims of this study were: (a) determine the prey stage preference of female Euseius hibisci (Chant) (Phytoseiidae) at constant densities of different stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Tetranychidae), (b) assess the functional response of the predator females to the varying densities of eggs, larvae, or protonymphs of T. urticae, and (c) estimate the functional response of E. hibisci when pollen of Ligustrum ovalifolium was present as well. We conducted experiments on excised pieces of strawberry leaf arenas (Fragaria ananassa) under laboratory conditions of 25 ± 2 °C, 60 ± 5% RH and 12 h photophase. Our results indicated that the predator consumed significantly more prey eggs than other prey stages. Consumption of prey deutonymphs and adults was so low that they were excluded from the non-choice functional response experiments. The functional response on all food items was of type II. The two parameters of the functional response were estimated for each prey type by means of the adjusted non-linear regression model. The highest estimated value a′ (instantaneous rate of discovery) and the lowest value of Th (handling time, including digestion) were found for the predator feeding on prey eggs, and a′ was lowest and Th highest when fed protonymphs. Using the jack-knife method, the values for the functional response parameters were estimated. The values of a′ and Th produced by the model were similar among all prey types except for the eggs, which were different. Using pollen simultaneously with prey larvae decreased the consumption of the latter over the full range of prey densities The suitability of this predator for biological control of T. urticae on strawberry is discussed.

Prey stage preference and functional response of Euseius hibisci to Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Tetranychidae)

Salience to remember: VTA-IC dopaminergic pathway activity is necessary for object recognition memory formation

ABSTRACT We analysed the impact of Anagyrus kamali on the survival and development of Ferrisia virgata, three stages (second and third-instar nymphs, and adult females) and five densities (1, 2, 4, 8 and 16), using the same treatments in the absence of the parasitoid as a control. In each assay, a parasitoid female was confined with F. virgata for 14 ± 0.9 days. A. kamali females can reduce the survival of F. virgata, inhibiting its development. Emergence of the parasitoid progeny was inhibited in the three developmental stages of F. virgata due to high mortality in the immature stages of A. kamali.

Emilio Hernández-Ortiz

Papers

Prey stage preference and functional response of Euseius hibisci to Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Tetranychidae)

Salience to remember: VTA-IC dopaminergic pathway activity is necessary for object recognition memory formation

Parasitism of Ferrisia virgata (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) by Anagyrus kamali (Hymenoptera: encyrtidae)