Biological Control最新文献

{"title":"Optimizing aquatic weed management in Lake Ossa, Cameroon: Harnessing the power of biological control and real-time satellite monitoring","authors":"Logan Herbert ,&nbsp;Annick Zanga ,&nbsp;David Kinsler ,&nbsp;Victoria Ayala ,&nbsp;Aristide Takoukam Kamla ,&nbsp;Rodrigo Diaz","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105650","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105650","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salvinia, <em>Salvinia molesta</em> Mitchell (Salviniaceae) is a free-floating aquatic fern native to Brazil and considered one of the worst weeds in the world. When left unchecked, salvinia forms dense mats on the water surface, limiting sunlight penetration and altering water quality that disrupt ecosystem processes. In 2016, salvinia was first reported in Lake Ossa, Cameroon, and by summer 2021, had expanded to cover almost 49 % of the lake’s 4,000-hectare surface. A multinational team initiated a biological control and monitoring program, importing the salvinia weevil, <em>Cyrtobagous salviniae</em> Calder &amp; Sands (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from Louisiana, USA, in summer 2021. The objectives of this study were to: quantify the changes in salvinia cover and other floating vegetation, document the establishment and impact of the biological control program, and deliver a tool for near-real time monitoring of floating vegetation. We developed a satellite-based remote sensing application to document in near real-time the changes in coverage of floating vegetation. Using this tool, we quantified the reduction in the salvinia coverage by 80 % within three years of the release of the weevil. Field surveys in 2022 and 2023, demonstrated weevil establishment in the lake and widespread salvinia browning that was associated with weevil damage. Linear regressions of the percent cover of floating vegetation over time, demonstrated that after the weevil release, the rate of change decreased to −1.7 % per 60 days. Field monitoring and satellite imagery showed the establishment of a sedge (<em>Oxycaryum</em> sp., Cyperaceae) within the salvinia mat in late 2021. This secondary invasion slowed the reduction in coverage of floating vegetation from −1.7 % to −0.6 % per 60 days, and warrants further research. By late 2023, the revitalization of Lake Ossa restored fishing and transportation opportunities for the community, and also the comeback the emblematic African manatee. The success of the biological control of salvinia in Lake Ossa is not surprising due to its tropical conditions. However, it highlights the importance of early intervention and continuous monitoring. We propose that the integration of biological control and remote sensing technology is becoming more accessible and can be automated; therefore, a replicable model for future invasive weed programs around the world.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 105650"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142656420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intraspecific variation in rapid cold hardening and acclimation of the adventive parrot’s feather weevil, Phytobius (=Parenthis) vestitus, in the southern USA","authors":"Nathan E. Harms ,&nbsp;Megann M. Harlow ,&nbsp;A. Blake DeRossette ,&nbsp;Ian A. Knight","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105651","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105651","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plasticity in thermal tolerance, expressed through acclimation or rapid cold hardening, for example, provides organisms with a mechanism to deal with unexpected and often rapid changes in the thermal environment. Spatial variation in response to high or low temperatures may occur due to evolutionary adaptation, particularly if a fitness increase coincides with the ability to respond quickly to environmental change. Thermal tolerances of beneficial insects used for biological control dictate where and under what thermal conditions the insects will provide value to management programs. We investigated two aspects of thermal phenotypic plasticity in response to thermal conditions using four populations of the adventive parrot’s feather weevil, <em>Phytobius vestitus</em>, from the southern USA. At low temperatures, we determined the presence and variation in rapid cold hardening in one of the four populations using two temperature ramping rates. In contrast, at high temperatures, all <em>P. vestitus</em> populations displayed a significant heat acclimation response, documented as elevated loss of motor control and motor function temperatures after acclimation. Thus, observed patterns of plasticity differed between high and low temperatures and among source populations. These results demonstrate the presence of geographic variation in phenotypic plasticity in response to thermal environments and emphasizes the need to consider plasticity when selecting climate-adapted populations of biological control agents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 105651"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142656419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the feasibility of pre-emptive biological control against the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, an imminent biosecurity threat to Europe","authors":"Kiran Jonathan Horrocks ,&nbsp;M. Lukas Seehausen ,&nbsp;Rachel E. Down ,&nbsp;Neil Audsley ,&nbsp;Ramona Maggini ,&nbsp;Jana Collatz","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105641","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105641","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As the globalisation of trade increases, so does the spread of arthropod pests, leading to a growing focus on biosecurity preparedness. One approach to this is pre-emptive biological control, involving the importation of classical biological control (CBC) agents for risk assessments and acquiring approval for their release prior to the expected arrival of their target pests. This aims to mitigate the economic and/or environmental consequences of a delayed biological control response to pest invasions. Guidelines to assess the feasibility of pre-emptive biological control for high priority pests were recently developed. Emerald ash borer (EAB), <em>Agrilus planipennis</em>, is an invasive woodboring pest of ash (<em>Fraxinus</em> spp.) in North America, European Russia and Ukraine, and is spreading westward into Europe, threatening the future of European ash (<em>Fraxinus excelsior</em>). We applied the aforementioned guidelines to assess the feasibility of pre-emptive biological control in Europe using four EAB parasitoids, already released in North America for CBC. Three of the parasitoids; <em>Oobius agrili</em>, <em>Spathius galinae</em>, and <em>Tetrastichus planipennisi</em>, were found suitable for pre-emptive biological control. The fourth parasitoid, <em>Spathius agrili</em>, was found to have limited establishment in new environmental conditions, and was therefore deemed less suitable for pre-emptive biological control of EAB in Europe. This assessment can inform scientists and regulators in Europe on the most promising EAB parasitoids that should be considered for pre-emptive applications for importation and risk assessment to acquire pre-approval for immediate release should the target pest subsequently be discovered. In turn, this study contributes to the development of biosecurity preparedness against EAB’s imminent spread throughout Europe.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 105641"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142578658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Evaluating the climatic suitability of Engytatus passionarius Minghetti et al. (Heteroptera, Miridae) as a biological control agent of the invasive stinking passion flower Passiflora foetida L. in Australia through ecological niche models” [Biol. Control 191 (2024) 105461]","authors":"Eugenia Minghetti ,&nbsp;Pablo M. Dellapé ,&nbsp;Mariano Maestro ,&nbsp;Sara I. Montemayor","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105622","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105622","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 105622"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142651580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Formulation and bio-efficacy of different isolates of Beauveria bassiana against adults and third nymphal instar of desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria Forskål)","authors":"Pamela C Mwikali ,&nbsp;Lizzy A. Mwamburi ,&nbsp;Simon Peter Musinguzi","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105642","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105642","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Recently, the Horn of Africa witnessed a swift increase in the incidence of desert locust (&lt;em&gt;Schistocerca gregaria&lt;/em&gt;) invasion. During outbreaks, pesticides are applied through aerial or ground spraying to kill the insects, and/or to prevent their spread to new grounds. However, after decades of extensive use, many drawbacks such as contamination of the environment, toxicity to non-target organisms, harmful residues on food, pest resistance, and bioaccumulation in the food chains emerged. Entomopathogenic fungi offer viable alternatives to chemical pesticides against many insect invasions, but few studies have tested their bio-efficacy in desert locusts. Therefore, the current study aimed at isolating, formulating local isolates 231, 334, 333, 341, 349, 351, 339 of &lt;em&gt;Beauveria bassiana&lt;/em&gt;, and testing their bio-efficacy against larval and adult desert locusts. The 21-day experiment was conducted under controlled conditions in a greenhouse. Soil samples were collected from two agroecological zones in Isiolo and Laikipia Counties in Kenya. &lt;em&gt;B. bassiana&lt;/em&gt; was isolated from the soil samples using the &lt;em&gt;Galleria&lt;/em&gt; bait method and cultivated in Sabouraud Dextrose Agar Yeast (SDAY). The isolates were identified based on molecular techniques (DNA and PCR amplification). The conidia of the isolates were screened and bioassays on 30 locusts was conducted for 14 days. The best isolates eliciting over 90 % mortality during screening were used for formulations using three carrier materials (liquid paraffin, Diatomaceous Earth, and whey) which were again tested against adult and 3rd nymphal instars of the locusts. The stability of the formulations was also tested after 1 and 2 months. All the tested isolates of &lt;em&gt;B. bassiana&lt;/em&gt; significantly outperformed the control and thus pathogenic to the adults and 3rd nymphal instars of &lt;em&gt;S. gregaria&lt;/em&gt; under laboratory conditions. They caused mortality ranging from 57.8–100 % after 14 days post-incubation. The isolates 341, 231, and, 334 elicited 50 % mortality responses at concentrations 1.1 × 10&lt;sup&gt;5&lt;/sup&gt; conidia/ml, 2.5 × 10&lt;sup&gt;5&lt;/sup&gt; conidia/ml and 1.7 × 10&lt;sup&gt;6&lt;/sup&gt; conidia/ml respectively in adults and 1.1 × 10&lt;sup&gt;5&lt;/sup&gt; conidia/ml, 2.5 × 10&lt;sup&gt;5&lt;/sup&gt; conidia/ml and, 1.7 × 10&lt;sup&gt;6&lt;/sup&gt; conidia/ml respectively in 3rd nymphal instars. Formulations with 341–1, 341–2, and, 334–1 had the highest efficacy (&gt;99 %) against the adult locusts. There was a significant 3-way interaction (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05) of isolate for the formulation, carrier material and, time in determining the Cfu of the &lt;em&gt;B. bassiana&lt;/em&gt; formulations. After 1 month, the best Cfu occurred in formulation with isolates 231 and 341 formulated using Diatomaceous Earth, while the highest Cfu was observed in formulation with isolate 334 formulated with either liquid paraffin or whey. After 2 months, the highest Cfu occurred in formulation with isolates 231, 341, and, 334 formulated using liquid paraff","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 105642"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142553871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional structure of the natural enemy community of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda in the Americas","authors":"Kris A.G. Wyckhuys ,&nbsp;Komivi S. Akutse ,&nbsp;Divina M. Amalin ,&nbsp;Salah-Eddin Araj ,&nbsp;Gloria Barrera ,&nbsp;Marie Joy B. Beltran ,&nbsp;Ibtissem Ben Fekih ,&nbsp;Paul-André Calatayud ,&nbsp;Lizette Cicero ,&nbsp;Marcellin C. Cokola ,&nbsp;Yelitza C. Colmenarez ,&nbsp;Kenza Dessauvages ,&nbsp;Thomas Dubois ,&nbsp;Léna Durocher-Granger ,&nbsp;Carlos Espinel ,&nbsp;José L. Fernández-Triana ,&nbsp;Frederic Francis ,&nbsp;Juliana Gómez ,&nbsp;Khalid Haddi ,&nbsp;Rhett D. Harrison ,&nbsp;Maged Elkahky","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105640","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105640","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ecosystem functions such as biological pest control are mediated by the richness and abundance of service providers i.e., biological control agents (BCAs), relative contributions of individual taxa and community structure. This is especially relevant in the native range of agricultural herbivores, where a speciose community of co-evolved BCAs can prevent them from attaining pest status. Here, we use a powerful graphical approach to assess the functional structure of BCA communities of the fall armyworm (FAW) <em>Spodoptera frugiperda</em> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on maize in the Neotropics. Drawing upon a curated database of all-time field and laboratory studies, we graphed patterns in the functional contribution, abundance and niche breadth for a respective 69, 53 and 3 taxa of resident parasitoids, predators and pathogens. Regardless of varying taxon coverage and rigor of the underlying studies, functional structure follows a saturating relationship in which the first three taxa account for 90–98% of aggregate biological control function. Abundance-functionality matrices prove critically incomplete, as more than 80% of invertebrate taxa miss empirically derived efficiency metrics while associated FAW infestation data are scarce. Despite its methodological shortfalls and data gaps, our work pinpoints <em>Chelonus insularis</em>, several taxa of egg parasitoids, <em>Doru</em> spp. and <em>Orius</em> spp. as taxa with outsized (average) functionality and conservation potential. This is also exemplified by the highly variable aggregate function across studies, with dispersion indices of 1.52 and 2.14 for invertebrate BCAs. Our work underlines the critical importance of functional ecology research, networked trials and standardized methodologies in advancing conservation biological control globally.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 105640"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142553741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The mesoamerican milpa system: Traditional practices, sustainability, biodiversity, and pest control","authors":"Betty Benrey ,&nbsp;Carlos Bustos-Segura ,&nbsp;Patrick Grof-Tisza","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105637","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105637","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The milpa system, an ancient Mesoamerican agricultural practice of intercropping, has sustained communities for centuries, providing food security and preserving biodiversity. Despite its agricultural significance, there exists a notable gap in understanding how this system preserves arthropod biodiversity and facilitates trophic interactions within the milpa community. This review aims to explore the milpa system, examining its historical significance, cultural importance, and ecological benefits and interactions, with a particular emphasis on conservation biological control. With a primary focus on Mexico, supplemented by examples from other countries in the Mesoamerican region, we cover the region that stands as the birthplace and cradle of milpa crop domestication. The review delves into the diversity of arthropods associated with common milpa crops, their roles in ecosystem functioning, and the implications for crop productivity and resilience. It also examines the potential of integrating traditional farming practices into modern agriculture to enhance beneficial interactions and mitigate potential pest pressures. By synthesizing current knowledge on arthropod ecology in the milpa system, this review provides insights that can help to promote sustainable agricultural practices rooted in indigenous knowledge and ecological principles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 105637"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142526775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prioritizing weeds for biological control development in the western USA: Results from the adaptation of the biological control target selection system","authors":"Rachel L. Winston ,&nbsp;Mark Schwarzländer ,&nbsp;Hariet L. Hinz ,&nbsp;Julia Rushton ,&nbsp;Paul D. Pratt","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105634","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105634","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nonnative invasive plants (weeds) negatively impact native ecosystems, and their effects are likely to increase with continuing global trade. Biological weed control has been employed as a cost-effective and sustainable management option for weeds in the USA since 1902. Biological control programs require careful prioritization of target weeds to ensure the most appropriate targets are selected to obtain the greatest beneficial outcomes with available resources. The Biological Control Target Selection (BCTS) system was developed by researchers in South Africa as an objective, transparent approach to prioritizing new weed biological control targets. The BCTS system was recently modified and applied to 295 state-regulated weeds in the western USA for which no biological control agents have yet been released. This paper presents the results of that application, identifying the most suitable candidates for new biological control programs as well as problematic weeds for which the likelihood of successful biological control is low.</div><div>Top-ranked species in the western USA are biennial or perennial weeds that occur in stable habitats, are established in more than one state, have traits deemed difficult to control with conventional methods, have large negative impacts and no conflicts of interest outside of the horticultural industry, and have substantial information available on potential biocontrol agents. Fifteen of the 20 top-ranked species are already targets of ongoing biological control programs in the USA. When species with current programs are excluded from the analysis, the next 20 top-ranked species largely differ by having less information available on potential biological control agents and having native or economically important congeners in the USA. Results from this framework provide valuable insights to the prioritization of current and future biocontrol research programs in the western USA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 105634"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142526781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Amino acids promote the rejuvenation of degenerated Metarhizium anisopliae","authors":"Hua Yang,&nbsp;Hua-Long Qiu,&nbsp;Long-Yan Tian,&nbsp;Li-Na Xiao,&nbsp;Si-Quan Ling,&nbsp;Chang-Sheng Qin,&nbsp;Jin-Zhu Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105639","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105639","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Metarhizium anisopliae</em>, an entomopathogenic fungus widely employed in agricultural and forestry pest control, faces challenges related to colony growth degradation and sporulation decline during industrial production and germplasm preservation. In this study, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to detect the metabolomics of the normal strain and degenerated strain, enabling a comparison and analysis of their metabolic profiles. The results revealed significant differences in metabolic phenotypes among different strains of <em>M.anisopliae</em>, with amino acids playing a crucial role in spore production. Through single factor and response surface tests, optimal amino acid concentrations for sporulation media were determined as follows: lysine at 25.00 mg/L, β-alanine at 140.00 mg/L, arginine at 22.5 mg/L, glutamic acid at 155.00 mg/L. Cultivating degenerated <em>M.anisopliae</em> using this optimized amino acid medium resulted in approximately fivefold increase in sporulation without significantly affecting LT₅₀ values; thus indicating that the formulation promotes <em>M.anisopliae</em>’s sporulation without compromising its virulence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 105639"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142526777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Infection with pathogenic fungi is a major threat to the mass production of the parasitoid wasp Habrobracon hebetor: 20 generations under surveillance","authors":"Fatima Badran ,&nbsp;Abdoolnabi Bagheri ,&nbsp;Azadeh Goudarzi ,&nbsp;Mohammadreza Attaran ,&nbsp;Aïda Jalloul ,&nbsp;Yaghoub Fathipour","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105638","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105638","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pathogen infection is one of the most important challenges threatening the success of mass rearing of natural enemies either in insectaries or in augmentative biological control programs. In this investigation, we studied the biological and population growth parameters of a naturally infected colony of the parasitoid wasp <em>Habrobracon hebetor</em> (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) over 20 generations (G1_inf − G20_inf) of rearing on <em>Ephestia kuehniella</em> (Zeller) (Pyralidae: Lepidoptera) under laboratory conditions. Based on morphological characteristics and ITS sequences, two types of fungal colonies were isolated from the diseased females and identified as <em>Thermothielavioides terrestris</em> and <em>Aspergillus flavus</em>. The results showed that although no significant differences were found in the female longevity and fecundity of <em>H. hebetor</em> on <em>E. kuehniella</em> up to G15_inf, the duration of the immature period was extended as the number of generations increased. In addition, the intrinsic rate of increase (<em>r</em>) and finite rate of increase (λ) had no significant differences up to G8_inf. The net reproductive rate (<em>R</em>₀) of G15_inf had no significant differences with G2_inf, G8_inf, and G10_inf. On the other hand, in G15_inf, <em>R</em>₀ was significantly higher than G4_inf, G6_inf, and G20_inf. The findings underscore the negative impact of fungal infection on population growth parameters compared with uninfected population. This study showed that naturally fungal infection of the parasitoid affected the population growth and life table parameters through mass rearing, compared and discussed with the healthy parasitoid.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 105638"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142526776","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}