Pablo Urbaneja-Bernat, Jordi Riudavets, Carmen Denis, Juan Ojeda, Oscar Alomar, Judit Arnó
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the main pests threatening tomato production worldwide. Since its detection in the Mediterranean basin, it has been the target of research aiming to reduce damage in tomato crops. Current conservation biological control approaches focus on the polyphagous predators Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae), which are very effective predators of the pest’s eggs but have little effect on T. absoluta larvae. Surveys conducted in northeast of Spain have concluded that the eulophid Necremnus tutae Ribes & Bernardo and the braconid Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris (Marsh) are the most abundant larval parasitoids. It is well known that adding floral resources near crops can provide high-quality food for natural enemies and thus enhance biological control. Previous studies showed that Lobularia maritima L. (Brassicaceae) flowers are a reliable food source for N. tutae. The present study examines whether the availability of L. maritima flowers positively influences the fitness of D. gelechiidivoris and the biological control of T. absoluta by parasitoids. To study this aspect, the performance of both wasps was evaluated in a simple and complex arena at high and low densities of T. absoluta, respectively. Our results demonstrate that the nectar of L. maritima is a nutrient-rich food source for both N. tutae and D. gelechiidivoris with profound implications on the biological control of T. absoluta in tomatoes.
期刊介绍:
Its scope covers all aspects of basic and applied research dealing with insects and more broadly with arthropods inhabiting wild, agricultural and/or urban habitats. The journal also considers research integrating various disciplines and issues within the broad field of entomology and ecology.
Entomologia Generalis publishes high quality research articles on advances in knowledge on the ecology and biology of arthropods, as well as on their importance for key ecosystems services, e.g. as biological control and pollination. The journal devotes special attention to contributions providing significant advances (i) on the fundamental knowledge and on sustainable control strategies of arthropod pests (including of stored products) and vectors of diseases, (ii) on the biology and ecology of beneficial arthropods, (iii) on the spread and impact of invasive pests, and (iv) on potential side effects of pest management methods.
Entomologia Generalis welcomes review articles on significant developments in the field of entomology. These are usually invited by the editorial board, but proposals may be sent to the Editor-in-Chief for preliminary assessment by the editorial board before formal submission to the journal. The journal also considers comments on papers published in Entomologia Generalis, as well as short notes on topics that are of broader interest.