Biological Control最新文献

{"title":"Enterococcus mundtii (JBC60 isolate) in the control of the fall armyworm: A new biocontrol possibility","authors":"Cinara Ramos Sales ,&nbsp;Renato Farinacio ,&nbsp;Luis Angel Chicoma Rojas ,&nbsp;Natalia Sarmanho Monteiro Lima ,&nbsp;Camila Cesário Fernandes Sartini ,&nbsp;Eliana Gertrudes de Macedo Lemos","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105710","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105710","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Productivity losses caused by pests and diseases result in economic damage worldwide. Despite the effectiveness of chemical control, these methods pose risks to the environment and human health, and their continued use can lead to the development of resistance in pests and pathogens. As a result, biological alternatives have gained prominence in the market, although the number of bacterial-based biological agents remains limited. This study aimed to prospect new bacterial isolates with potential to control insect pests, obtained through the insect-trapping method. Bacteria were isolated from dead larvae, and their insecticidal activity was evaluated. The genus identification and species approximation were performed through 16S rRNA barcoding sequencing, along with the characterization of the bacterial growth curve and its insecticidal activity over seven days. A total of 70 isolates were obtained, of which 10 inhibited the growth of <em>Spodoptera frugiperda</em>. The sequencing analysis identified these isolates as <em>Enterococcus mundtii</em>, <em>Enterococcus gallinarum</em>, <em>Enterococcus casseliflavus</em>, and <em>Serratia nematodiphila</em>. Among the active isolates, five showed a growth inhibition rate higher than 90 %, including <em>E. mundtii</em>, <em>E. gallinarum</em>, and <em>E. casseliflavus</em>. For further studies, the JBC60 isolate of <em>E. mundtii</em> was selected due to its high activity and its non-pathogenic nature to humans. The growth curve showed maximum growth at 12 h of cultivation (3.17 × 10⁸ CFU/mL) and a maximum OD of 0.7214 at 6 h. The insecticidal activity demonstrated a growth inhibition rate above 90 %. Our results indicate that <em>E. mundtii</em> (JBC60) has high potential to become a biological control agent against <em>Spodoptera frugiperda</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"203 ","pages":"Article 105710"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143642273","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":"Comparative responses of two congeneric larval parasitoids of emerald ash borer to ambient temperatures: Implications for biocontrol introduction","authors":"Yingqiao Dang ,&nbsp;Mitchell A. Green ,&nbsp;Xiaoyi Wang ,&nbsp;Jian J. Duan","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105718","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105718","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding how climate influences the establishment of introduced species is critical to classical biological control programs against insect pests. Even closely related species with similar life histories may establish and perform differently in new environments due to different responses to ambient temperature. Here we compared the host attack rate and immature development of two congeneric larval parasitoids of emerald ash borer (EAB) <em>Agrilus planipennis</em> Fairmaire, <em>Spathius agrili</em> Yang and <em>S. galinae</em> Belokobylskij and Strazenac, under a range of temperatures from 17.2 to 32.8 ℃. We found significant differences between the two parasitoids in host attack rates and progeny development. <em>Spathius agrili</em> could parasitize EAB larvae across the temperature range of 17.2 ℃ to 32.8 ℃ and caused the highest parasitism rate (∼90.0 %) at 28.9 ℃. In contrast, <em>S. galinae</em> did not attack any host larvae at 32.8 ℃ and caused the highest parasitism rate (∼92 %) at 25 ℃. From 21.1 ℃ to 28.9 ℃, <em>S. agrili</em> emerged on average nine days earlier than <em>S. galinae</em> and had a higher low-temperature threshold for development. Both species arrested their development as mature (5^th) instars inside their cocoons at 17.2 ℃, suggesting facultative diapause that may be induced by exposure to cool temperatures. These findings suggest that <em>S. agrili</em> may perform better in warmer climates than <em>S. galinae</em> and could be an effective biocontrol agent in the southern U.S., whereas <em>S. galinae</em> is better suited to be released in the northern U.S.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"202 ","pages":"Article 105718"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143164794","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":"Tallow tree biological control and beekeeping: Assessing the misconceptions and possible resolutions to protect native ecosystems","authors":"Alexander M. Gaffke ,&nbsp;Daijiang Li ,&nbsp;Veronica Manrique ,&nbsp;Anthony P. Abbate ,&nbsp;Gregory S. Wheeler ,&nbsp;Rodrigo Diaz","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105720","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105720","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Classical weed biological control is a major management tool deployed worldwide for the control of invasive plants. Classical weed biological control has a long-standing history of safe and effective weed management that has resulted in the protection of many ecosystems. Despite this history of safe and effective control, significant public opposition can occur. Plans to release biological control agents developed for the invasive tree Chinese tallow, <em>Triadica sebifera</em> (L.) Small received widespread and enthusiastic support from land managers and the environmental community. However, agent release was opposed by beekeeping organizations. Chinese tallow is purported to be an important nectar plant for beekeeping operations in the southeastern U.S.A. In this article, we discuss the primary concerns raised by commercial beekeepers opposed to Chinese tallow management with biological control and present data on the flowering phenology of tallow. Review of the scientific literature identified multiple studies reporting the importance of native plants to honey production, highlighting the need to protect important pollen and nectar sources from displacement by Chinese tallow. Additionally, results indicate shorter bloom periods for tallow than previously reported. These results highlight the importance of reducing the tallow invasion and protecting native ecosystems to enhance floral diversity. The implementation of a biological control program for Chinese tallow may be the best option for land managers and beekeepers at conserving native ecosystems of the southeastern U.S.A. while maintaining the services they provide.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"202 ","pages":"Article 105720"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143480233","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":"Conservation biological control in forest: A case study with the pine processionary moth","authors":"Nattan Plat ,&nbsp;Lucas Moreews ,&nbsp;Laura Schillé ,&nbsp;Jean-Baptiste Rivoal ,&nbsp;Hervé Jactel","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105702","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105702","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In forest ecosystems, the damage caused to trees by insect pests is increasing as a result of global change. Classical biological control has proven effective in managing exotic pests by introducing natural enemies from the pest’s native range. For native pests, however, conservation biological control, which aims to improve the habitats and resources for native natural enemies, is more appropriate. While widely studied in agricultural systems, this method has been rarely, if ever, tested in forest. In this study, we aimed to test whether broadleaved hedgerows could improve the control of the pine processionary moth (<em>Thaumetopoea pityocampa</em>) in adjacent pine stands by providing a favorable habitat for an insectivorous bird, the great tit (<em>Parus major</em>). To this end, we assessed PPM infestations on the edges of pine plantations adjacent to broadleaved hedgerows or mature pine plantation, recorded the vocal activity of great tit using sound recorders, and experimentally measured bird predation using dummy caterpillars. The density of processionary caterpillar nests was lower at the edge of pine stands adjacent to hedgerows than at the edge adjacent to mature pine stands. We showed that bird predation was more frequent on pine edges adjacent to hedgerows. Predation by birds was also positively correlated with the vocal activity of the great tit, the main predator of pine processionary caterpillars in winter. In conifer monocultures, broadleaved hedgerows not only help to control the pest but could also promote biodiversity and protect pine plantations from abiotic hazards, thereby enhancing the multifunctionality of plantation landscapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"202 ","pages":"Article 105702"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143164792","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 biological control agent for bacterial canker of kiwifruit, in Aureo® Gold, is a strain of Aureobasidium pullulans identifiable by novel SCAR marker primers","authors":"Deirdre A. Cornish,&nbsp;Magan M. Schipper,&nbsp;Jenny M. Oldham,&nbsp;Janet Yu,&nbsp;Joel L. Vanneste","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105709","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105709","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The yeast-like fungus strain CG163, also known as YBCA5, is the active ingredient in Aureo® Gold, a biological control agent sold for control of bacterial canker of kiwifruit caused by <em>Pseudomonas syringae</em> pv. <em>actinidiae</em>. Analysis of the whole genome sequence of CG163 as well as a multi locus sequence analysis based on the ITS, ELO, EF-1α and β-tubulin genes indicate that CG163 is a strain of <em>Aureobasidium pullulans</em>. None of the published PCR primers developed for the identification of other strains of <em>A. pullulans</em> led to an amplicon when using CG163 total DNA. Following PCR using 14 random amplified polymorphic DNA primers by themselves or in combination, we identified a Sequence Characterised Amplified Region (SCAR) marker specific to CG163. One set of primers designed on this SCAR marker gave a unique amplicon only with CG163 and not with any of the 164 strains of <em>A. pullulans</em> tested. In addition, an <em>in silico</em> analysis revealed that none of the 75 strains of <em>A. pullulans</em> for which the whole genome sequence is available had the same sequence as either one of those primers. To prevent the detection of false negatives, we developed a duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on those primers and primers which amplify a segment of the ITS. The limit of detection of this duplex PCR assay was 1 pg. This assay can be used for quality control; however, for detection and quantification of CG163 we developed a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. Using this assay, we positively identified CG163 and followed its establishment on kiwifruit leaves for seven days post treatment with Aureo Gold. Therefore, the primers designed in this project can be used to study the establishment and colonisation of plant tissues by CG163 and allow the development of a robust set of recommendations on how and when to best use Aureo Gold.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"202 ","pages":"Article 105709"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143164681","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":"Harnessing Chelonus inanitus for efficient Spodoptera spp. management: Learning about production to explore roles in Baculovirus transmission","authors":"Beatriz Dáder ,&nbsp;Ariel Morel ,&nbsp;Delia Muñoz ,&nbsp;Primitivo Caballero ,&nbsp;Pilar Medina","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105707","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105707","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Control of <em>Spodoptera</em> spp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) crop pests has traditionally relied on heavy insecticide use. Baculoviruses (BV) from the genera Alphabaculovirus and Betabaculovirus offer effective, species-specific alternatives for managing their outbreaks. Joint use of BVs with natural enemies, such as parasitoids, could further enhance control of <em>Spodoptera</em> spp. by contributing to virus dispersion. In a series of experiments, we studied the optimal host age and parasitization duration of the endoparasitoid <em>Chelonus inanitus</em> L. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) for parasitoid production, as well as the parasitoid preference and mechanical transmission of Spodoptera exigua and Spodoptera littoralis multiple nucleopolyhedroviruses (SeMNPV and SpliMNPV). We found that parasitoid progeny production was significantly lower when parasitized eggs were either too young (24 h) or too old (96 h), highlighting the importance of host egg age. Additionally, there was an increasing trend in parasitoid offspring production with longer parasitization exposure times, particularly at 6 and 24 h compared to shorter durations. <em>Chelonus inanitus</em> did not discriminate between SpliMNPV-contaminated and non-contaminated eggs, but had a remarkable preference for SeMNPV-contaminated eggs. The parasitoid effectively dispersed BVs, not only from BV-treated eggs to heathy ones by parasitization, but also, and even more efficiently, by the sole contact with a contaminated surface without eggs. Understanding complex BV-parasitoid interactions is crucial for developing integrated pest management strategies that maximize the efficacy of both parasites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"202 ","pages":"Article 105707"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143164791","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":"Evaluation of persistent versus commercial nematode strains for management of Curculio caryae (Horn) and other weevils in pecan","authors":"Eddie K. Slusher ,&nbsp;Elson Shields ,&nbsp;Will Harges ,&nbsp;Jermaine D. Perier ,&nbsp;David Shapiro-Ilan","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105705","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105705","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pecan weevil is a key pest of pecans. In addition, weevils such as Fuller rose beetle (FRB) and two-banded Japanese weevil (TJW) feed on pecan foliage and roots. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have previously been shown to be effective tools for pecan weevil management. However, EPNs need frequent reapplication. Thus, there is a need to develop persistent strains of EPNs that can be applied less frequently and at lower rates. In this study, we compared two persistent strains of EPNs, NY01′ (<em>Steinernema carpocapsae</em> Weiser) and NY04′ (<em>Steinernema feltiae</em> Filipjev), against two commercial EPN strains, ScAll (<em>S. carpocapsae</em>) and SfSn (<em>S. feltiae</em>), in the lab and field. For the field study, the suppressive ability of each pair of EPNs on pecan weevil, FRB, and TJW was compared alongside a water only control. EPNs were only applied in the first year of the study (2022) and insect populations were monitored in 2022 and 2023. For the field study in Georgia, significantly fewer TJW were caught in trees treated with either nematode type in both study years. For the field study in Oklahoma, significantly fewer pecan weevils were caught in trees treated with commercial nematodes compared to the persistent nematodes and control in both study years. In lab trials, there was a lack of consistency in survival of the four strains. The results of this study indicate that commercial nematodes can have substantial carryover across two field seasons and can be applied at a significantly lower rate and still provide pest suppression.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"202 ","pages":"Article 105705"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143164793","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":"Co-occurrence of entomopathogenic nematodes and earthworms enhances enduring biocontrol activity and microbial diversity in a naturalized plant-soil system","authors":"Maryam Chelkha ,&nbsp;Rubén Blanco-Pérez ,&nbsp;David Labarga ,&nbsp;María de Toro ,&nbsp;Jorge Dueñas-Hernani ,&nbsp;Kyle Wickings ,&nbsp;Raquel Campos-Herrera","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105685","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105685","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil ecosystems host diverse microorganisms and fauna essential for terrestrial processes, with earthworms (EWs) and entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) playing crucial roles. EWs enhance soil health by improving aeration, porosity, and nutrient cycling, while EPNs, such as <em>Steinernema</em> and <em>Heterorhabditis</em>, manage pests by killing insects. This study aimed to assess the impact of EWs and their derivatives (cutaneous excreta, CEx), alone or combined with EPNs, on soil–plant dynamics, hypothesizing that their co-occurrence would alter soil properties, bacterial communities, EPN virulence, and plant performance. Using tomato plants and field soil, the study investigated different treatments: control, EW (<em>Eisenia fetida</em>), EPN (<em>Steinernema feltiae</em>), CEx, and combinations of EPN-EW and EPN-CEx, at two and four weeks post-application. Assessments included plant growth, EPN infectivity, soil properties, and bacterial profiling via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results showed no significant impact on plant growth. However, EPN virulence decreased after 30 days when applied alone but was maintained or enhanced when combined with EW or CEx. Combined applications of EPNs and CEx reduced Mg and Ca contents, while organic matter increased in the EPN-EW treatment. Bacterial community changes were observed 30 days post-inoculation, with increased alpha diversity in co-applications of EPNs and EWs. The co-application of EPNs and EWs resulted in beneficial impacts on soil properties, EPN virulence, and bacterial diversity. Timing post-inoculation was crucial in assessing these effects, only detecting those changes after 30 days, suggesting the need for further extended research to understand the duration of these changes. This study highlights the intricate interactions between EWs, EPNs, and plant-soil systems, emphasizing their potential impact on plant growth, soil nutrient dynamics, and soil organisms, highlighting the importance of timing in evaluating these interactions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 105685"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143181295","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":"One size does not fit all: Classical weed biological control across continents","authors":"Emily J. Le Falchier ,&nbsp;T. Telmadarrehei ,&nbsp;M.A. Rafter ,&nbsp;C.R. Minteer","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105661","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105661","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pre-release quarantine testing of weed biological control agents is frequently initiated using simple no-choice tests. However, these fundamental host range tests are conservative and often do not realistically depict how potential biological control agents might interact with surrounding non-target plants in the field. If no-choice tests are the only method employed it can lead to the rejection of sufficiently host-specific agents. Ecological host range studies in areas where the biological control agent is native or already present can test the validity of laboratory findings with the advantage of evaluating long-range host-recognition behaviors of the insect. A weed biological control program targeting <em>Schinus terebinthifolia</em> Raddi (Anacardiaceae) was given permission to release <em>Pseudophilothrips ichini</em> (Hood) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) in Florida, USA in 2019. Information from the program in the USA has provided insight for other countries with invasive Brazilian peppertree, such as Australia, which has several native non-target species within the Anacardiaceae family. To evaluate the risk of non-target attack by <em>P. ichini</em> on three Australian native non-target species (<em>Rhus taitensis</em>, <em>Pleiogynium timoriense</em>, and <em>Euroschinus falcatus</em>), we performed a two-phase open-field experiment to simulate the spillover risk of the biological control agent in both the presence and absence of their preferred host, <em>S. terebinthifolia</em>. Also included in the open-field experiment were <em>Schinus molle</em>, a close relative of <em>S. terebinthifolia</em> introduced in the USA and Australia, and the Hawaii native <em>Rhus sandwicensis.</em> The results suggest that <em>P. ichini</em> populations may spill over onto two non-target plants, <em>S. molle</em> and <em>R</em>. <em>taitensis</em>, in the absence of the target weed <em>S. terebinthifolia,</em> and could pose a risk to this native species in Australia. This work highlights the importance of international collaborations on invasive plant biocontrol programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 105661"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143181461","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":"Susceptibility of European Agrilus beetle species to the biocontrol agents of Emerald Ash Borer in the laboratory","authors":"Katy Reed ,&nbsp;Freya Cole ,&nbsp;Neil Audsley ,&nbsp;Anastasia Uglow ,&nbsp;Rachel Down ,&nbsp;Kerry Barnard ,&nbsp;Daegan Inward","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105678","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105678","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The emerald ash borer (EAB, <em>Agrilus planipennis</em> Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)<!--> <!-->is devastating ash trees in its invaded range of North America and spreading rapidly towards Western Europe from European Russia and Ukraine. To allow a rapid response when the beetle is detected, slow its spread and protect trees as part of a wider integrated pest management programme, pre-emptive biological control strategies that are suitable for Great Britain and the rest of Europe must urgently be developed. Three classical hymenopteran biological control agents have been mass-reared and released within North America to control EAB: the egg parasitoid <em>Oobius agrili</em> Zhang and Huang (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), and the larval parasitoids <em>Tetrastichus planipennisi</em> and <em>Spathius galinae</em> Belokobylskij &amp; Strazanac (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)<em>.</em> This study presents data on the risk these parasitoid wasps might pose to British <em>Agrilus</em> beetles. “No-choice” laboratory assays tested the susceptibility of <em>A. biguttatus</em> Fabricus eggs and larvae and <em>A. sulcicollis</em> Lacordaire and <em>A. convexicollis</em> Redtenbacher eggs to the parasitoids. <em>Oobius agrili, T. planipennisi</em> and <em>S. galinae</em> all attacked <em>A. biguttatus,</em> and offspring were produced. <em>Oobius agrili</em> also attacked the eggs of <em>A. convexicollis,</em> but not <em>A. sulcicollis</em>. This study is the first to show parasitism of a non-target species by <em>T. planipennisi.</em> Further work is needed to fully assess the non-target risk of these parasitoids for release using more ecologically relevant tests, such as ‘choice’, semi-field and chemical ecology assays on the attacked <em>Agrilus</em> species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 105678"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143179875","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}