Evaluation of olfactory and visual cues for conservation biological control of crape myrtle bark scale in urban landscapes
BACKGROUND
Acanthacoccus lagerstroemiae (crape myrtle bark scale, CMBS) is an exotic scale insect that feeds on the sap of crape myrtle trees. Heavy infestations of CMBS reduce flowering and honeydew promotes sooty mold growth on the leaves and branches, reducing the aesthetic value of crape myrtle trees in urban landscapes. Lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) are generalist predators that feed on CMBS. Several laboratory and field studies have demonstrated the attraction of lady beetles to olfactory and visual cues. We evaluated lady beetles’ responses to olfactory lures and yellow visual attractants on infested potted and landscape trees to increase natural enemy recruitment and reduce dependence on chemical control methods.
RESULTS
Gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis showed that limonene is the dominant volatile compound released by crape myrtles infested with CMBS. Limonene and methyl salicylate lures, alone or in combination, failed to reduce CMBS or recruit additional lady beetles to infested trees in all experiments. Yellow rectangular panels placed 1 m above the base of an infested tree recruited up to twofold more lady beetles than control trees; however, this was not statistically significant. A significant reduction in CMBS was observed on infested trees with yellow rectangular panels placed in the canopy.
期刊介绍:
Pest Management Science is the international journal of research and development in crop protection and pest control. Since its launch in 1970, the journal has become the premier forum for papers on the discovery, application, and impact on the environment of products and strategies designed for pest management.
Published for SCI by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.