Control of cabbage Lepidoptera by naturally occurring arthropod predators

نویسندگان

  • M. A. Schmaedick
  • A. M. Shelton
  • M. P. Hoffmann
چکیده

In recent years, pesticide resistance in some lepidopteran species, along with a general desire to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides, have led to increased interest in evaluating and enhancing the effects of naturally occurring biological control agents on the crucifer Lepidoptera. Due to the relative ease of documenting the impact of parasitoids on pest populations, however, virtually all the research on natural enemies have focused on parasitoids, while the role of predators has remained largely unexplored. Our work evaluating the effects of predatory arthropods on Pieris rapae in cabbage shows that generalist predators are responsible for much of the mortality of this pest in our area. We describe predator exclusion experiments and laboratory predation assays that demonstrate the important role of these natural enemies in reducing populations of P. rapae. As generalist feeders, these predators undoubtedly affect populations of other crucifer Lepidoptera as well and have the potential to survive in the crop at low pest densities by feeding on alternative prey. These attributes, along with their propensity to destroy the early stages of pests, make these predators potential key players in efforts to increase reliance on non chemical methods for managing crucifer Lepidoptera.

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

Experimental Evaluation of Arthropod Predation on Pieris rapae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) Eggs and Larvae in Cabbage

Knowledge of factors causing mortality in herbivorous insects is essential to developing a better understanding of their population dynamics and more effective strategies to manage their abundance in crops. In this study we used 2 methods of predator exclusion to evaluate the effects of arthropod predators on Pieris rapae L. eggs and larvae on cabbages (Brassica oleracea variety capitata L.) in...

متن کامل

Development and evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect Pieris rapae remains in guts of arthropod predators

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect remains of Pieris rapae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) immature stages in the guts of field collected arthropod predators. The assay can be used to help ascertain the relative importance of arthropod predator species in suppressing P. rapae in cabbage, Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. The ELISA is sensitive to all immature stage...

متن کامل

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL Oviposition Response of Cotesia plutellae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to Sterile and Normal Diamondback Moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) Larvae

Augmentative release of the endoparasitoid Cotesia plutellae (Kurdjumov) to control diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), in cabbage, Brassica oleracea variety capitata (L.), would be expensive for growers if done continually during a growing season. A method for establishing released parasitoids would be very beneficial in the control of this pest. One method under consideration is to us...

متن کامل

Infiltration by alien predators into invertebrate food webs in Hawaii: a molecular approach.

Abstract Alien invertebrate predators have been introduced to Hawaii to control pests, particularly in lowland areas where most crops are grown. We developed techniques for assessing the impact of these predators on native food webs in relatively pristine upland areas where, it was hypothesized, few lowland predators might be found. Predator densities were assessed along transects within the Al...

متن کامل

Interactions among predators and the cascading effects of vertebrate insectivores on arthropod communities and plants.

Theory on trophic interactions predicts that predators increase plant biomass by feeding on herbivores, an indirect interaction called a trophic cascade. Theory also predicts that predators feeding on predators, or intraguild predation, will weaken trophic cascades. Although past syntheses have confirmed cascading effects of terrestrial arthropod predators, we lack a comprehensive analysis for ...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

عنوان ژورنال:

دوره   شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2009