Biological Control最新文献

{"title":"The effect of blue and UV light-emitted diodes (LEDs) on the disturbance of the whitefly natural enemies Macrolophus pygmaeus and Encarsia formosa","authors":"Maria Athanasiadou,&nbsp;Madita Schulz,&nbsp;Rainer Meyhöfer","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105663","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105663","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recent studies demonstrated that blue and UV light effectively disturb greenhouse whiteflies (<em>Trialeurodes vaporariorum</em>) from a host plant (“push”), enhancing their capture on attractive traps after dispersal (“pull”). This push–pull technique could contribute to whitefly biocontrol and lead to the development of mass trapping. However, the impact of these wavelengths on the behavior of whitefly natural enemies, commonly deployed for biocontrol, remains underexplored. This study investigated the response of two important whitefly biocontrol agents, <em>Macrolophus pygmaeus</em> and <em>Encarsia formosa,</em> to blue and UV light. Initial experiments were conducted under artificial conditions (no prey/host and plant present) to isolate their visual behavior to these lights, excluding other stimuli. In follow up experiments, the effect of these lights was assessed in a more complex scenario, involving prey/host (whitefly nymphs) on tomato leaves. Results revealed that both <em>M. pygmaeus</em> and <em>E. formosa</em> exhibited avoidance behavior under blue and UV LEDs in the artificial setup, irrespective of ambient light or dark conditions. Contrastingly, in presence of prey/host on tomato leaves, only <em>M. pygmaeus</em> was significantly disturbed by UV light, whereas in all other scenarios there was little to no effect of blue and UV LEDs on the behavior of these natural enemies.. These findings enhance our understanding on the visual behavior of crucial biocontrol agents and highlight the importance of refining targeted whitefly control techniques that minimize impacts on beneficial insects and optimize the use of LEDs in integrated pest management (IPM).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 105663"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142744642","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":"Nutritional ecology of a predatory stink bug: A comparative analysis of nutrient acquisition from two prey species and an artificial diet","authors":"Jinge Yuan ,&nbsp;Jun Xu ,&nbsp;Wenting Zhang ,&nbsp;Qiao Liu ,&nbsp;Ling Luo ,&nbsp;Huai Liu ,&nbsp;Yaying Li","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105662","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105662","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The nutritional content of prey plays a pivotal role in shaping the predatory behavior and effectiveness of natural pest control agents like <em>Eocanthecona furcellata</em>. We assessed the biological performance and life history of <em>E. furcellata</em> on three diets, larvae of <em>Spodoptera frugiperda</em>, larvae of <em>Tenebrio molitor</em>, and an artificial diet. We also analyzed their nutritional content and quantified consumption and nutritional intake by <em>E. furcellata</em>. The three diets differed substantially in water, protein, and fat content. The moisture content of <em>T. molitor</em> larvae was significantly lower (35.0 ± 0.3 %) than that of <em>S. frugiperda</em> larvae (61.0 ± 0.6 %) or the artificial diet (88.7 ± 0.1 %). Female <em>E. furcellata</em> obtained 8.3 mg of protein per day feeding on <em>S. frugiperda</em>, significantly more than on <em>T. molitor</em> (2.4 mg) or the artificial diet (0.4 mg). 15-day fecundity ranged from 140.2 (±9.3) eggs on <em>S. frugiperda</em>, to 103.3 (±4.8) eggs on <em>T. molitor</em>, and 75.1 (±7.1) eggs on the diet. Our study provides insights into the nutritional ecology of <em>E. furcellata</em> and ways to improve the breeding of this beneficial species for augmentation in agricultural applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 105662"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142699538","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":"Non-target risk assessment of Cotesia typhae, a potential biological control agent of the Mediterranean corn borer","authors":"Taiadjana M. Fortuna,&nbsp;Loïc Colin-Duchevet,&nbsp;Yanna Desreumaux,&nbsp;Rémi Jeannette,&nbsp;Manuel Le Gonnidec,&nbsp;Bruno Le Ru,&nbsp;Romane Mettauer,&nbsp;Florence Mougel,&nbsp;Laure Kaiser","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105657","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105657","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biocontrol of exotic insect pests can be achieved by introducing natural enemies from the native range. This method has been successful in controlling many pests worldwide, but negative effects on local non-targets have sometimes occurred. Before the introduction of exotic macro-organisms useful for crop protection, a risk assessment is mandatory under EU regulations. In this study, we assessed the non-target risks of the larval parasitoid <em>Cotesia typhae</em> (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), a potential agent for inundative biocontrol of the Mediterranean corn borer <em>Sesamia nonagrioides</em> (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), both natives to Sub-Saharan Africa. The effects of <em>C. typhae</em> on 8 non-target species was determined by sequential analysis under laboratory conditions, including tests of acceptance, development monitoring, olfactory attractiveness and <em>in planta</em> parasitism test. The results varied considerably between species. By multiplying the probability of outcome of the successive steps of the parasitism process, we estimated that non-target species had lower average risks of <em>C. typhae</em> development (1 % of non-target larvae at risk) and of induced mortality (5 %) compared to <em>S. nonagrioides</em> larvae (41 and 42 % respectively). The highest mortality risk <em>in planta</em> was observed for the cattail stemborer, <em>Nonagria typhae</em> (9 %), although it was still lower than for the target species (33 %). These host range results and the low survival capacity of the parasitoid at winter temperatures, suggest a low long-term environmental risk, which is supported by the estimation of the global risk index proposed by <span><span>van Lenteren et al. (2003)</span></span>. The host range and impact of <em>C. typhae</em> in field conditions will soon be determined.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 105657"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142699539","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":"Intestinal bacterium Bacillus siamensis M54 from Allomyrina dichotoma is a potential biocontrol agent against maize stalk rot","authors":"Yue Yuan ,&nbsp;Shijia Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaoshan Tan ,&nbsp;Jili Deng ,&nbsp;Shengjie Gong ,&nbsp;Xueling Zhai ,&nbsp;Xiangru Xu ,&nbsp;Changchun Ruan ,&nbsp;Ying Hu ,&nbsp;Junjie Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhao Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105660","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105660","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Maize stalk rot, caused by <em>Fusarium</em> spp., is a significant disease that adversely impacts the yield and quality of corn. Biological control plays a crucial role in managing numerous crop diseases, including maize stalk rot. Biocontrol agents are predominantly derived from soil and plant tissues, with limited reports on isolating highly efficient biocontrol agents from insects. In this study, 144 bacterial strains were isolated from the intestinal tract of third instar larvae of <em>Allomyrina dichotoma</em>. Through dual culture tests, twelve strains exhibiting strong antagonism against two maize stalk rot pathogens, <em>F. graminearum</em> and <em>F. verticillioides</em>, were identified. Among them, the M54 strain exhibited the most potent antagonistic effect against the two pathogenic fungi and was identified as <em>Bacillus siamensis</em> through 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The complete genome for M54 was assembled using PacBio single-molecule real-time (SMRT) and Illumina sequencing technologies. Whole genome phylogenetic analysis further confirmed M54 was <em>B. siamensis</em>. Microscopic examination revealed that M54 had the ability to inhibit the fungal spore germination and hyphal formation. Furthermore, M54 exhibited effective colonization in the maize rhizosphere and enhanced maize growth. It showed that treatment with M54 significantly suppressed lesion expansion induced by <em>F. graminearum</em> on maize stalks in the seedling and adult plant assays. Genomic analysis using antiSMASH revealed 11 gene clusters for secondary metabolite synthesis. This study provides a novel approach for isolating biocontrol agents to manage plant diseases and highlights <em>B. siamensis</em> M54 as a potential efficient biocontrol agent for maize stalk rot.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 105660"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142699535","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":"Biological control of Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae): A comprehensive review of IPM strategies for Andean solanaceous crops","authors":"Ana Elizabeth Díaz Montilla,&nbsp;Takumasa Kondo","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105654","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105654","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Naranjilla also known as lulo, <em>Solanum quitoense</em> Lam., and tree tomato, <em>Solanum betaceum</em> Cav. (Solanaceae), are two tropical fruit trees sought after in national and international markets for their exquisite flavor. The Andean region of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru is the center of origin of <em>S. quitoense</em>, while <em>S. betaceum</em> is native to Bolivia and Argentina. Both crops are affected by the fruit borer <em>Neoleucinodes elegantalis</em> (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), an oligophagous insect whose larvae develop inside the fruit, and feeds on the mesocarp and endosperm. Damage caused by <em>N. elegantalis</em> impacts the economy of producers who are generally small-scale farmers in Latin America, who use insecticides indiscriminately for pest control. Being a quarantine pest for the United States, Chile, and Europe, <em>N. elegantalis</em> is the main phytosanitary barrier that these fruit trees have for international marketing. The greatest reproductive success of this moth and the greatest diversity of its natural enemies may be associated with <em>S. quitoense</em>, which might be the ancestral host for <em>N. elegantalis</em>. The present work reports on the importance of monitoring in the pest management of <em>N. elegantalis</em> using pheromone traps and highlights the high potential that natural enemies of <em>N. elegantalis</em> have in biological control programs. Several strategies for conserving and boosting natural enemy populations in <em>S. quitoense</em> and <em>S. betaceum</em> crops in Colombia and Ecuador are discussed, including the use of low-toxicity chemicals, selective weed control, and monitoring <em>N. elegantalis</em> populations with sex pheromones. This comprehensive review addresses the current gaps in knowledge regarding solanaceous crops and their primary lepidopteran pest in the Andean region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 105654"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142699536","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":"Managing emerald ash borer in urban forests: Integrating biocontrol and insecticide treatments","authors":"T.D. Morris ,&nbsp;J.R. Gould ,&nbsp;T.C. Booth ,&nbsp;F.D. Miller ,&nbsp;J. Kaltenbach ,&nbsp;M.K. Fierke","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105658","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105658","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ash trees (<em>Fraxinus</em> spp.) were commonly planted street trees in urban environments prior to the arrival of emerald ash borer (EAB), <em>Agrilus planipennis</em> Fairmaire, in the 1990 s and its subsequent impacts. Insecticide treatments can provide consistent control of EAB and are used to protect high-value trees; however, control only lasts a few years before reapplication is needed. An EAB biological control program seeks to provide long-term control and several parasitoids have been released to that end, including the larval parasitoids <em>Tetrastichus planipennisi</em> Yang (Eulophidae) and <em>Spathius galinae</em> Belokobylskij (Braconidae). In 2015, we released parasitoids in three cities (Syracuse NY, Naperville IL, Boulder CO) while city arborists were simultaneously treating high-value street trees with insecticides. We hypothesized parasitoids would be able to establish on EAB in untreated trees and spread throughout the cities while treated trees remained healthy. We also hypothesized EAB densities would fall as non-treated ash died and would not subsequently rebound as insecticide treatments were removed from street trees due to the parasitism of biocontrol agents. Three-hundred trees were selected for monitoring in each city: 100 untreated, 100 treated, and 100 temporarily treated. <em>Tetrastichus planipennisi</em> successfully established in all three cities, while <em>S. galinae</em> established in Syracuse and Boulder. Untreated trees rapidly declined as expected while treated trees remained healthy. During the study subsets of trees were removed from the treatment cycle as EAB densities fell (≤ 10 larvae/m²). Minor canopy decline was present in 2021–2023 in trees from which treatment was removed, with median crown classes declining from 1 to 2. Despite this shift, most of these trees remained un-infested (∼ 75 %) and retained healthy canopies. Trees that did become infested had high apparent parasitism and low EAB densities. Due to the high value of urban trees, we recommend managers continue monitoring trees and consider selectively reinstating insecticide treatments on trees that start to decline and/or are subject to additional urban stressors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 105658"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142699534","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":"Potential benefits of male diploidy and female triploidy for parasitoid wasps used as biological control agents: A case study in Nasonia","authors":"Kelley Leung","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105659","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105659","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parasitoid wasps are haplodiploid insects, but polyploidy (diploid males, triploid females) occurs for many species. In biological control, polyploidy may have beneficial effects on desirable biological related traits. However, this is only possible in species for which polyploidy does not impair essential biological functions, as in for instance species with Complementary Sex Determination (CSD), where inbreeding drives sterile diploid male production and extinction risk. Notably, while CSD polyploidy is better studied, most biological agents are non-CSD species. This includes model <em>Nasonia vitripennis</em>, a blowfly parasitoid that can be purposefully made polyploid and then produces a high number of reproductive polyploid individuals. To test baseline non-CSD polyploid utility, an outbred polyploid <em>N. vitripennis transformer</em> knockdown line (tKDL) was established and assayed for relevant traits for considering polyploids as biological agents. Male diploidy and female triploidy increased head width, a body size proxy. Polyploidy increased unmated lifespan in diploid males, but decreased it in triploid females. In first matings, haploid and diploid males had equal fecundity, but sperm depletion assays revealed reduced diploid male fitness overall. Triploid females had a reduction in parasitization ability. This reduced male fecundity and female parasitization in tKDL suggest that polyploid <em>Nasonia</em> parasitoids have limited direct use in biological control, particularly in this outbred background. They are possibly more suitable for preparative applications, such as retaining alleles with sex-specific benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 105659"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142699537","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":"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}