DOCSLIB.ORG

Guide to Biological Control to Some Common Yard and Garden Pests

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Guide to the Biological Control of Some Common Yard and Garden Pest Insects in New Mexico COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS BRINGING SCIENCE TO YOUR Cooperative Extension Service • Circular 607 LIFE Guide to the Biological Control of Some Common Yard and Garden Pest Insects in New Mexico Joe Ellington, Tracey Carrillo, John White, Carol Sutherland, David Richman, Jeff Drake and Scott Bundy 1 Introduction learn to recognize those species that are Sometimes insects, mites or their relatives landscape pests and, perhaps, even some limit enjoyment of our landscape and garden species that are considered beneficial. Some of plants. We are familiar with pests that infest the less common and smaller pest species and fruit, vegetables, flowers and foliage or make their natural enemies may offer special plants wither, change colors, develop spots or challenges for identification and management. streaks or even die. But just as pests damage But further study, experience and observation some plants, those same pests probably have can help in manipulating them. one or more natural enemies that limit their In IPM, a variety of pest control numbers and their damage. measures are used to reduce pest “Biological control” of pests involves populations below damaging levels. Many either natural or human-assisted control of tools are available, but some will be more certain pest species by predators, parasites valuable, manageable, available or (parasitoids, as defined below) or pathogens. affordable than others. Some tools for This circular outlines important definitions, home gardeners include: concepts and examples of biological control • Sanitation-cleaning: Remove or of some common yard and garden pests in destroy debris if it is infested, or New Mexico. Home gardeners should note harbors pests. Sometimes leaving that biological control is complex, and they infested debris is an option, if it should assess the pros and cons of adopting harbors beneficial insects. these techniques as part of an overall • Physical-mechanical control: Hot or Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy cold treatments, crushing, burying, for their properties. screening or covering affected plants Not all insects and their relatives are to prevent infestation. harmful to landscapes. Relatively few species • Cultural control: Rotate crops, till cause most of the damage to plants. The soil, try irrigation strategies, trap diversity of plants in most home landscapes crops, or adjust planting and tends to limit the damage done by any harvesting dates. particular pest. Through observation, reading • Genetic control: Use plant varieties and short courses on the subject, gardeners can bred for resistance to certain pests. 1Professor, Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science (EPPWS); Senior research specialist, EPPWS; Doña Ana County Extension Agent- Agronomy and Horticulture/4-H; Extension Entomologist/State Entomologist, Department of Extension Plant Sciences; Science Specialist, EPPWS; Research Scientist, USDA/APHIS; and Assistant Professor, EPPWS. Cooperative Extension Service • Circular 607 1 • Chemical control: Use noninvasive ideas that may enhance biological control: inorganic or organic chemicals to kill • Reduce or eliminate insecticides, or manage pests. especially those that are nonselective or • Biological control: Conserve natural have long residuals. enemies already present in the area, • If insecticides are used, apply them in introduce new species or augment noninvasive ways. existing populations of natural enemies – Apply when beneficial insects are (parasitoids, predators or pathogens) to not present. decrease populations of particular pests – Apply reduced rates and only when below damaging levels. warranted (not calendar sprays or “preventative treatments”). – Apply to alternate rows or alternate Management Practices that plants or only to affected plants. Enhance Biological Control – Apply systemic or host-specific Biological control is a broad concept that insecticides. can be used to manage pests on many – Apply to specific restricted areas of kinds of plants, including annual bedding plants, such as trunks or roots. plants, vegetables, and perennial flowers, • Provide sources of nectar, pollen and shrubs, vines and trees. In practice, alternate hosts for beneficial insects biological control of particular pests may during the growing season. be implemented by conserving the various • Provide overwintering sites for species of natural enemies already present beneficial insects. in the area. Where no effective natural • In general, don’t kill all of the harmful enemy is present, entomologists or various insects in an ecosystem. Reducing the government agencies may introduce one or density of harmful species, in host- more new species to the area. Candidates for specific ways, often is acceptable. This release are screened carefully before permits practice allows the beneficial complex are issued for release to ensure that the to continue building for future control. introduced species don’t become pests The longer you can refrain from themselves. These introduced species may applying an insecticide, the more likely be released into infested areas immediately biological control will work. after screening, or they may be lab reared through several generations to increase their Selected chemicals have a place in numbers before release. In some cases, certain yard and garden IPM programs, entomologists may recommend because they are considered less toxic to augmentation as another means of beneficial insects and mites due to the ways enhancing biological control of a pest. In they are applied or their modes of action. these situations, the natural enemy species is Broadly labeled insecticides, which are already present, but its numbers are too low persistent and generally toxic to a wide to reduce a pest population below damaging variety of insects, can be harsh to garden levels. In response, entomologists may rear ecosystems, resulting in environmental that natural enemy species through several contamination, possible increased generations so that, after release, its numbers insecticide resistance in target pests, are higher and the species has a better chance decreased beneficial insects, a resurgence of controlling the pest. Here are additional of target pests, increased prominence of 2 Cooperative Extension Service • Circular 607 secondary pests and their damage, and directions on these products. potential damage (phytotoxicity) to plants Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins can be that required protection in the first place. specific to particular insect groups. This Some products, such as pheromones, naturally occurring bacterium has been long are host specific, impacting just one or known to kill certain kinds of insects. The a few species. Many pheromones are sex bacterial infection of certain caterpillars, for attractants, analogous to a perfume that aids example, turns lethal when the bacteria one sex in locating the other as well as release toxins into the insect gut, paralyzing releasing additional courtship behavior. In and killing it. Bt can be grown in cultures commercial catalogs, pheromone products and commercially produced for homeowner are named according to the species they use in specific applications. There are several attract. These blends of organic chemicals subspecies of this bacterium, each affecting usually attract only one sex. For most moths, different kinds of insects. Subspecies males are attracted to chemical baits that kurstaki, the longest recognized and resemble pheromones produced and released commercially produced Bt product, affects naturally by females of the species when they caterpillars or “worms” of certain butterfly are ready to mate. Because some similar and moth species. Subspecies israelensis insect species may be attracted to sticky traps affects certain aquatic fly larvae, especially because of their color, placement or mosquitoes and black flies. A third pheromone mixture, make sure the insects subspecies, sandiego or tenebrionis, kills on the traps are the target pests, rather than certain beetle larvae or grubs, such as those harmless look-alikes. While trapping might of elm leaf beetles. For such products, seem ideal for eliminating insecticides, it is homeowners need to read the labels carefully more the exception than the rule. However, not only for application methods but also for it indicates how detailed studies of pest limitations. Properly identifying pests biology and behavior can be useful in susceptible to these treatments is a must. developing pest control protocols. Synthetic Elemental sulfur can be used to control sex pheromones for adult moth attraction spider mites in some situations. Sulfur also can be used in sticky traps to monitor flights can cause phytotoxicity in cantaloupes and and predict egg laying or hatching times. cucumbers. However, sulfur does not seem If a pesticide must be used to control to have direct negative effects on nontarget certain pests, plotting the pest captures organisms. in pheromone traps can be helpful to Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are properly target treatments. More recently, compounds that alter insect growth patterns entomologists have found that “over dosing” in various ways that result in metabolic some commercial crops with certain errors and asynchronous development. They pheromones confuses at least a few pest are species- or group-specific and have a low species to the point that males can not find toxicity
Recommended publications
  • False Black Widows and Other Household Spiders

    False Black Widows and Other Household Spiders

    False Black Widows and Other Household Spiders Spiders can quite unnecessarily evoke all kinds of dread and fear. The Press does not help by publishing inaccurate and often alarmist stories about them. Spiders are in fact one of our very important beneficial creatures. Spiders in the UK devour a weight of insect 'pests' equivalent to that of the nation's human population! During the mid-late summer, many spiders mature and as a result become more obvious as they have then grown to their full size. One of these species is Steatoda nobilis. It came from the Canary and Madeiran Islands into Devon over a 100 years ago, being first recorded in Britain near Torquay in 1879! However it was not described from Britain until 1993, when it was known to have occurred since at least 1986 and 1989 as flourishing populations in Portsmouth (Hampshire) and Swanage (Dorset). There was also a population in Westcliff-on-Sea (Essex) recorded in 1990, and another in Littlehampton and Worthing (West Sussex). Its distribution is spreading more widely along the coast in the south and also inland, with confirmed records from South Devon, East Sussex, Kent, Surrey and Warwick. The large, grape-like individuals are the females and the smaller, more elongate ones, the males. These spiders are have become known as False Widows and, because of their colour, shape and size, are frequently mistaken for the Black Widow Spider that are found in warmer climes, but not in Britain (although some occasionally come into the country in packaged fruit and flowers). Black Widow Spiders belong to the world-wide genus Latrodectus.
  • The Behavioural Ecology of Latrodectus Hasselti (Thorell), the Australian Redback Spider (Araneae: Theridiidae): a Review

    The Behavioural Ecology of Latrodectus Hasselti (Thorell), the Australian Redback Spider (Araneae: Theridiidae): a Review

    Records of the Western Australian MIISellnl Supplement No. 52: 13-24 (1995). The behavioural ecology of Latrodectus hasselti (Thorell), the Australian Redback Spider (Araneae: Theridiidae): a review Lyn Forster McMasters Road, RD 1, Saddle Hill, Dunedin, New Zealand Abstract - Aspects of the biogeographical history and behavioural ecology of the AustralIan Latrodectus hasseIti provide support for the endemic status of this species. Cannibalism, prey stealing and short instar lengths are growth strategies for. female spiders whereas early maturation, small size, hiding and scavengmg are useful survival tactics for males. Moreover male complicity is an important component of sexual cannibalism which is ~hown to be a highly predictable event. Latrodectus hasseIti males hybridize with female L. katlpo (a New Zealand species) and fertile Fl and F2 generations Imply genetic relatedness. Hence, it is likely that L. hasselti and L. katipo evolv~d from a common ancestor in ancient Pangaea, a feasible explanation only If L. hasseItl IS endemic to Australia. It is concluded that L. hasseIti would have been able to persist in outback Australia for millions of years, with ItS mtraspeClfJc predatory habits aiding subsistence and the evolution of sexual cannibalism providing a way of coping with infrequent meeting and matmg opportunities. INTRODUCTION indigenous status, Main (1993) notes that, (as a Many stories and articles have been written consequence of its supposed introduction), "the about the redback spider (McKeown 1963; Raven absence of Latrodectus in the Australian region, 1992) with considerable attention being devoted to prior to human habitation, poses a curious its venomous nature (Southcott 1978; Sutherland zoogeographic dilemma". This comment raises an and Trinca 1978).
  • Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-11607-8 — a Natural History of Ladybird Beetles M. E. N. Majerus , Executive Editor H. E. Roy , P

    Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-11607-8 — a Natural History of Ladybird Beetles M. E. N. Majerus , Executive Editor H. E. Roy , P

    Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-11607-8 — A Natural History of Ladybird Beetles M. E. N. Majerus , Executive Editor H. E. Roy , P. M. J. Brown Index More Information Index 2-isopropyl-3-methoxy-pyrazine, 238 281, 283, 285, 287–9, 291–5, 297–8, 2-phenylethylamine, 237 301–3, 311, 314, 316, 319, 325, 327, 329, 335 abdomen, 17, 20, 22, 24, 28–9, 32, 38, 42, 110, Adalia 4-spilota,80 114, 125, 128, 172, 186, 189, 209–10, Adalia conglomerata, 255 218 adaline, 108, 237, 241 Acacia, 197, 199 adalinine, 237 acaricides, 316 adelgids, 29, 49, 62, 65, 86, 91, 176, 199, 308, Acaridae, 217 310, 322 Acarina, 205, 217 Adonia, 44, 71 Acer pseudoplatanus, 50, 68, 121 aggregations, 163, 165, 168, 170, 178, 184, Acraea, 228, 297, 302 221, 312, 324 Acraea encedana, 302 Aiolocaria, 78, 93, 133, 276 Acraea encedon, 297, 302 Aiolocaria hexaspilota,78 Acyrthosiphon nipponicum, 101 Aiolocaria mirabilis, 133, 276 Acyrthosiphon pisum, 75, 77, 90, 92, 97–101, albino, 273 116, 239 Alces alces,94 Adalia, 5–6, 10, 22, 34, 44, 64, 70, 78, 80, 86, Aleyrodidae, 91, 310 123, 125, 128, 130, 132, 140, 143, 147, alfalfa, 119, 308, 316, 319, 325 159–60, 166–7, 171, 180–1, 218, 222, alimentary canal, 29, 35, 221 234, 237, 239, 241, 255, 259–60, 262, alkaloids, x, 99–100, 195–7, 202, 236–9, 241–2, 269, 279, 281, 284, 286, 298, 311, 325, 245–6 327, 335 Allantonematidae, 220 Adalia 10-punctata, 22, 70, 80, 86, 98–100, anal cremaster, 38, 40 104, 108, 116, 132, 146–7, 149, Anatis, 4, 17, 23, 41, 44, 66, 76, 89, 102, 131, 154, 156, 160, 174, 181–3, 188, 148, 165, 186, 191, 193,
  • Download PDF (Inglês)

    Download PDF (Inglês)

    Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 62 (2018) 288–291 REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE Entomologia A Journal on Insect Diversity and Evolution www.rbentomologia.com Biology, Ecology and Diversity Filling gaps in species distributions through the study of biological collections: 415 new distribution records for Neotropical Cryptinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) a,∗ b Bernardo F. Santos , João Paulo M. Hoppe a National Museum of Natural History, Department of Entomology, Washington, DC, USA b Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Vitória, ES, Brazil a r a b s t r a c t t i c l e i n f o Article history: Filling gaps in species distributions is instrumental to increase our understanding of natural environ- Received 30 June 2018 ments and underpin efficient conservation policies. For many hyperdiverse groups, this knowledge is Accepted 1 September 2018 hampered by insufficient taxonomic information. Herein we provide 415 new distribution records for Available online 28 September 2018 the parasitic wasp subfamily Cryptinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) in the Neotropical region, based Associate Editor: Rodrigo Gonc¸ alves on examination of material from 20 biological collections worldwide. Records span across 227 sites in 24 countries and territories, and represent 175 species from 53 genera. Of these, 102 represent new coun- Keywords: try records for 74 species. A distinct “road pattern” was detected in the records, at least within Brazil, Atlantic Forest where 50.2% of the records fall within 10 km of federal roads, an area that occupies only 11.9% of the biodiversity Cryptini surface of the country. The results help to identify priority areas that remain poorly sampled and should database be targeted for future collecting efforts, and highlight the importance of biological collections in yielding parasitoid wasp new information about species distributions that is orders of magnitude above what is provided in most individual studies.
  • Tachinidae, Tachinid Flies

    Tachinidae, Tachinid Flies

    Beneficial Insects Class Insecta, Insects Order Diptera, Flies, gnats, and midges Diptera means “two wings,” and true flies bear only one pair of functional wings. Flies are one of the largest insect groups, with approximately 35 families that contain predatory or parasitic species. All flies have piercing/sucking/sponging mouthparts. Tachinid flies Family Tachinidae Description and life history: This is a large and important family, with up to 1300 native parasitoid species in North America and additional introduced species to help control foreign pests. These flies vary in color, size, and shape but most resemble houseflies. Adults are usually gray, black, or striped, and hairy. Adults lay eggs on plants to be consumed by hosts, or they glue eggs to the outside of hosts, so the maggots can burrow into the host. Rarely will tachinids insert eggs into host bodies. Tachinid flies develop rapidly within their host and pupate in 4–14 days. By the time they emerge, they have killed their host. Many species have several generations a year, although some are limited by hosts with a single annual generation. Prey species: Most tachinid flies attack caterpillars and adult and larval beetles, although others specialize on Tachinid fly adult. (327) sawfly larvae, true bugs, grasshoppers, or other insects. Photo: John Davidson Lydella thompsoni is a parasitoid of European corn borer, Voria ruralis attacks cabbage looper caterpillars, Myiopharus doryphorae attacks Colorado potato beetle larvae, and Istocheta aldrichi parasitizes adult Japanese beetles. Although these are very important natural en- emies, none is available commercially. IPM of Midwest Landscapes 263.
  • COLEOPTERA COCCINELLIDAE) INTRODUCTIONS and ESTABLISHMENTS in HAWAII: 1885 to 2015

    COLEOPTERA COCCINELLIDAE) INTRODUCTIONS and ESTABLISHMENTS in HAWAII: 1885 to 2015

    AN ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF THE COCCINELLID (COLEOPTERA COCCINELLIDAE) INTRODUCTIONS AND ESTABLISHMENTS IN HAWAII: 1885 to 2015 JOHN R. LEEPER PO Box 13086 Las Cruces, NM USA, 88013 [email protected] [1] Abstract. Blackburn & Sharp (1885: 146 & 147) described the first coccinellids found in Hawaii. The first documented introduction and successful establishment was of Rodolia cardinalis from Australia in 1890 (Swezey, 1923b: 300). This paper documents 167 coccinellid species as having been introduced to the Hawaiian Islands with forty-six (46) species considered established based on unpublished Hawaii State Department of Agriculture records and literature published in Hawaii. The paper also provides nomenclatural and taxonomic changes that have occurred in the Hawaiian records through time. INTRODUCTION The Coccinellidae comprise a large family in the Coleoptera with about 490 genera and 4200 species (Sasaji, 1971). The majority of coccinellid species introduced into Hawaii are predacious on insects and/or mites. Exceptions to this are two mycophagous coccinellids, Calvia decimguttata (Linnaeus) and Psyllobora vigintimaculata (Say). Of these, only P. vigintimaculata (Say) appears to be established, see discussion associated with that species’ listing. The members of the phytophagous subfamily Epilachninae are pests themselves and, to date, are not known to be established in Hawaii. None of the Coccinellidae in Hawaii are thought to be either endemic or indigenous. All have been either accidentally or purposely introduced. Three species, Scymnus discendens (= Diomus debilis LeConte), Scymnus ocellatus (=Scymnobius galapagoensis (Waterhouse)) and Scymnus vividus (= Scymnus (Pullus) loewii Mulsant) were described by Sharp (Blackburn & Sharp, 1885: 146 & 147) from specimens collected in the islands. There are, however, no records of introduction for these species prior to Sharp’s descriptions.
  • Crop Profile for Apples in California General Production

    Crop Profile for Apples in California General Production

    Crop Profile for Apples in California General Production Information ● Apple production in California represents 8.5% of the national production (1). ● California has over 38,500 bearing acres of apples (1). ● Yield per acre varies from 2 to 18 tons per acre throughout California’s growing regions, primarily due to irrigation and varietal differences (13). ● From 1995 to 1997, California apple growers average production was 920,000,000 pounds. In 1997, 962,000,000 pounds of apples were produced (1). ● The average value of apples produced in the state between 1995 and 1997 was $158,918,000. The value of apples produced in 1997 was $162,655,000 (1). ● The average cost to produce an acre of apples in California amounts to $4,523 per acre for irrigated orchards and $3,947 per acre for non-irrigated orchards (11, 12). Production Regions There are five major regions in which apples are grown in California. Historically, apple production was limited to the coastal mountains north and south of San Francisco Bay, in the Sierra foothills east of Sacramento, and in the Southern California mountains. Recently apple production has expanded into the Central Valley, with new plantings of Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, and other varieties. Important coastal apple producing counties are Sonoma in the North Coast, and Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo in the Central Coast region. However the major apple production areas are now in the San Joaquin Valley with Kern, Fresno, San Joaquin, and Madera counties being the leading producers (3). Southern California mountain regions still have a few orchards.
  • Arthropods of Elm Fork Preserve

    Arthropods of Elm Fork Preserve

    Arthropods of Elm Fork Preserve Arthropods are characterized by having jointed limbs and exoskeletons. They include a diverse assortment of creatures: Insects, spiders, crustaceans (crayfish, crabs, pill bugs), centipedes and millipedes among others. Column Headings Scientific Name: The phenomenal diversity of arthropods, creates numerous difficulties in the determination of species. Positive identification is often achieved only by specialists using obscure monographs to ‘key out’ a species by examining microscopic differences in anatomy. For our purposes in this survey of the fauna, classification at a lower level of resolution still yields valuable information. For instance, knowing that ant lions belong to the Family, Myrmeleontidae, allows us to quickly look them up on the Internet and be confident we are not being fooled by a common name that may also apply to some other, unrelated something. With the Family name firmly in hand, we may explore the natural history of ant lions without needing to know exactly which species we are viewing. In some instances identification is only readily available at an even higher ranking such as Class. Millipedes are in the Class Diplopoda. There are many Orders (O) of millipedes and they are not easily differentiated so this entry is best left at the rank of Class. A great deal of taxonomic reorganization has been occurring lately with advances in DNA analysis pointing out underlying connections and differences that were previously unrealized. For this reason, all other rankings aside from Family, Genus and Species have been omitted from the interior of the tables since many of these ranks are in a state of flux.
  • Insects and Related Arthropods Associated with of Agriculture

    Insects and Related Arthropods Associated with of Agriculture

    USDA United States Department Insects and Related Arthropods Associated with of Agriculture Forest Service Greenleaf Manzanita in Montane Chaparral Pacific Southwest Communities of Northeastern California Research Station General Technical Report Michael A. Valenti George T. Ferrell Alan A. Berryman PSW-GTR- 167 Publisher: Pacific Southwest Research Station Albany, California Forest Service Mailing address: U.S. Department of Agriculture PO Box 245, Berkeley CA 9470 1 -0245 Abstract Valenti, Michael A.; Ferrell, George T.; Berryman, Alan A. 1997. Insects and related arthropods associated with greenleaf manzanita in montane chaparral communities of northeastern California. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-167. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Dept. Agriculture; 26 p. September 1997 Specimens representing 19 orders and 169 arthropod families (mostly insects) were collected from greenleaf manzanita brushfields in northeastern California and identified to species whenever possible. More than500 taxa below the family level wereinventoried, and each listing includes relative frequency of encounter, life stages collected, and dominant role in the greenleaf manzanita community. Specific host relationships are included for some predators and parasitoids. Herbivores, predators, and parasitoids comprised the majority (80 percent) of identified insects and related taxa. Retrieval Terms: Arctostaphylos patula, arthropods, California, insects, manzanita The Authors Michael A. Valenti is Forest Health Specialist, Delaware Department of Agriculture, 2320 S. DuPont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901-5515. George T. Ferrell is a retired Research Entomologist, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 2400 Washington Ave., Redding, CA 96001. Alan A. Berryman is Professor of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6382. All photographs were taken by Michael A. Valenti, except for Figure 2, which was taken by Amy H.
  • E0020 Common Beneficial Arthropods Found in Field Crops

    E0020 Common Beneficial Arthropods Found in Field Crops

    Common Beneficial Arthropods Found in Field Crops There are hundreds of species of insects and spi- mon in fields that have not been sprayed for ders that attack arthropod pests found in cotton, pests. When scouting, be aware that assassin bugs corn, soybeans, and other field crops. This publi- can deliver a painful bite. cation presents a few common and representative examples. With few exceptions, these beneficial Description and Biology arthropods are native and common in the south- The most common species of assassin bugs ern United States. The cumulative value of insect found in row crops (e.g., Zelus species) are one- predators and parasitoids should not be underes- half to three-fourths of an inch long and have an timated, and this publication does not address elongate head that is often cocked slightly important diseases that also attack insect and upward. A long beak originates from the front of mite pests. Without biological control, many pest the head and curves under the body. Most range populations would routinely reach epidemic lev- in color from light brownish-green to dark els in field crops. Insecticide applications typical- brown. Periodically, the adult female lays cylin- ly reduce populations of beneficial insects, often drical brown eggs in clusters. Nymphs are wing- resulting in secondary pest outbreaks. For this less and smaller than adults but otherwise simi- reason, you should use insecticides only when lar in appearance. Assassin bugs can easily be pest populations cannot be controlled with natu- confused with damsel bugs, but damsel bugs are ral and biological control agents.
  • Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): Influence of Subelytral Ultrastructure

    Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): Influence of Subelytral Ultrastructure

    Experimental & Applied Acarology, 23 (1999) 97–118 Review Phoresy by Hemisarcoptes (Acari: Hemisarcoptidae) on Chilocorus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): influence of subelytral ultrastructure M.A. Houck* Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409–3131, USA (Received 9 January 1997; accepted 17 April 1998) ABSTRACT The non-phoretic stages of mites of the genus Hemisarcoptes are predators of the family Diaspididae. The heteromorphic deutonymph (hypopus) maintains a stenoxenic relationship with beetles of the genus Chilocorus. The mites attach to the subelytral surface of the beetle elytron during transport. There is variation in mite density among species of Chilocorus. Both Hemisarcoptes and Chilocorus have been applied to biological control programmes around the world. The objective of this study was to determine whether subelytral ultrastructure (spine density) plays a role in the evolution of symbiosis between the mite and the beetle. The subelytral surfaces of 19 species of Chilocorus and 16 species of Exochomus were examined. Spine density was determined for five subelytral zones: the anterior pronotal margin, medial central region, caudoventral tip, lateral distal margin and epipleural region. Spine density on the subelytral surface of Chilocorus and Exochomus was inversely correlated with the size of the elytron for all zones except the caudoventral tip. This suggests that an increase in body size resulted in a redistribution of spines and not an addition of spines. The pattern of spine density in Exochomus and Chilocorus follows a single size–density trajectory. The pattern of subelytral ultrastructure is not strictly consistent with either beetle phylogeny or beetle allometry. The absence of spines is not correlated with either beetle genus or size and species of either Chilocorus or Exochomus may be devoid of spines in any zone, irrespective of body size.
  • Centomologica: -'F

    Centomologica: -'F

    :1 |II || ISSN 0001-561X AdTA| CENTOMOLOGICA: -'F. NNICA I A:_:1 $-** ; R. E. Linn vuori | Heteortera of Yemen and Siouth Yemenll 0 ,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I Vo41.4 1989 : ANNALES ENTOMOLOGICI FEMNNICI ACTA ENTOMOLOGICA FENNICA Published since 1935, four numbers a year. Published since 1947, monographs Annual subscription FIM 150, in Finland at irregular intervals. FIM 120. Price variable. Address: Zoological Museum, P. Rautatiek. 13, SF-00100 Helsinki, Finland. Publishers Suomen Hy6nteistieteellinen Seura Entomological Society of Finland - Societas Entomologica Fennica Entomologiska Foreningen i Helsingfors - Helsingin Hyonteistieteellinen Yhdistys Societas Entomologica Helsingforsiensis Editorial Board Chairman: A. Jansson (chief editor) Other members: K. Heliovaara (assistant editor of Acta), L. Hulddn (secretary, assistant editor), R. livarinen (treasurer), H. Krogerus, i. Mannerkoski, H. Silfverberg (editor of Acta) Board of Trustees President: E. Kangas Other members: 0. Bistrom, 1. Terds, A. Pekkarinen, R. Rosengren (vice president) Annales Entomologici Fennici publishes scientific papers, notes and reviews based principally on Finnish entomological investigations. Monographs and other longer articles are directed to Acta Entomologica Fennica, articles of mainly Nordic interest to Notulae Entomologicae. Contributors are requested to take into consideration the style and format of articles in recently published volumes. Two copies of each manuscript must be submitted with the original. As modern techniques often allow printing directly from computer diskettes, the editor should be informed if the manuscript is written on a word processor. The journals are cited selectively by Bibliographie der Pflanzenschutz-Literatur of Biologische Bundesanstaft for Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Biological Abstracts of the Biosciences Information Service, Current Contents (Series Agriculture, Biology & Environmental Sciences) of Institute for Scientific Information, Entomology Abstracts of Information Retrieval Limited, and Review of Applied Entomology (Series A.