Natural enemies used in biological control Dr. Mor Salomon The Israel Cohen Institute for Biological control The Plants production and marketing board What are Natural Enemies? Organisms that kill or reduce the population of another organism Biological control Predators Development achieved by feeding on other organisms: Parasitoids Nematodes Predators Parasitoids Pathogens Feed on another organism many individuals a singe individual Free living Bound to their host Predators Gambusia affinis Mayna Mosquitofish Acridotheres tristis Ducks Mosquito larvae Grasshopper Green-rice leafhopper Predators Important natural enemies for applied biological control are Insects & Mites Feeding strategy Most predators are entomophagous insects Entomophagy Insects Monophagous Phagein = Feeding feed on one type of prey (i.e. a specialist) Rodolia cardinalis feeds on Icerya purchasi Monophagous predator Phytoseiulus persimilis Two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Oligophagous predator Feeds on a limited range of prey Coccinella septempunctata Chilocorus kuwanae Feeds on closely related species of prey Pea aphid Euonymus scale Polyphagous predator Aphids Feeds on a broad range of prey Green lacewing Thrips Leafminers Chrysoperla carnea Whiteflies Spider mite Mouthparts Biting mouthparts Predators can have either: 1. Biting – chewing mouthparts 2. Piercing – Sucking mouthparts Examples: Mandibles cut & chew; Maxillae manipulate the prey Tiger beetle Cicendela sp. (Carabidae) Green lacewing (Antlion; Neuroptera) Mouthparts Piercing & sucking mouthparts Elongated labium Mandibles & maxillae = stylet for piercing Examples: Anchor stink bug Cicendela sp. Orius sp. Minute pirate bug (Pentatomidae) (Anthocoridae) Assassin fly Velvet spider Zosteria sp. (Asilidae) Stegodyphus lineatus (Eresidae) Kingdom: Animalia Coleoptera - Beetles Phylum: Arthropoda Beetles - Coleoptera Bugs - Hemiptera Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Stink bug Cockchafer Nezara marginata Melolontha sp. Family: Pentatomidae Family: Scarabaeidae Order: Hemiptera Order: Coleoptera Suborder: Heteroptera Kingdom: Animalia Coleoptera - Beetles Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Beetles - Coleoptera Bugs - Hemiptera Order: Coleoptera Stink bug Nezara marginata Ground beetle Family: Pentatomidae Pasimachs elongatus Order: Hemiptera Family: Carabidae Suborder: Heteroptera Order: Coleoptera Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Life cycle Beetles life cycle 2-4 instars Exarate pupa (Free appendages) Pterostichus melanarius Family: Carabidae Class: Insecta Ground beetles Order: Coleoptera Natural enemies in agroecosystems Family: Carabidae Live and prey mostly on the ground Clivinia fossor Gypsy moth larva Pterostichus melanariu Bird cherry-oat aphid Colorado potato beetle larva carrot weevil Class: Insecta Ground beetles Order: Coleoptera Family: Carabidae Fall armyworm Black onion fly Bimidion quadrimaculatum Onion root maggot Black bean aphid European corn borer Class: Insecta Ladybird beetles Order: Coleoptera Family: Coccinellidae ~5,000 species in the family Most species eat primarily insects and mites Aphid colony Rodolia cardinalis prey on The cottony cushion scale, Icerya purchasi California; 1,888 Class: Insecta Feeding behaviour Order: Coleoptera Adults & larva feed on the same prey Family: Coccinellidae Highly specific diet Many species feed on pollen, nectar and honeydew Some ladybirds are species-specific, others eat several species Ladybirds are not effective at low population levels Class: Insecta Life cycle 4 instars Order: Coleoptera Family: Coccinellidae Eggs laid in clusters Warning colours sucker Chilocorini: Partly exposed Scymnini: Coccinellinae: Exposed pupa Completely covered pupa Biological control Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Hippodamia convergens Coccinella septempunctata Scymnus sp. Adalia bipunctata Stethorus punctilum Harmonia axyridis Lacewings / Antlions Order: Neuroptera Green lacewing Brown lacewing Families: Chrysopidae Larva: predator Hemerobiidae All predators Adult: honeydew, nectar, pollen Prey: AphidsAphids, whiteflies, thrips, spider mites, moth eggs, spider mites, mealybugs Class: Insecta Digger wasps Order: Hymenoptera 25% of species in the order are predators Family: Sphecidae Ants control ground-dwelling insects Vespidae Wasps paralyze insects Biological control of leaf-eating insects Great golden digger wasp Sphex sp. Polistes humilis Class: Insecta Digger wasps Order: Hymenoptera 25% of species in the order are predators Family: Sphecidae Ants control ground-dwelling insects Vespidae Wasps paralyze insects Biological control of leaf-eating insects reduced caterpillar numbers in cabbages Great golden digger wasp Impractical in agriculture White cabbage butterfly Polistes humilis Class: Insecta Hoverflies 500 eggs Order: Diptera Resemble bees, but only one pair of wings Family: Syrphidae Feed on aphids Released in pepper crops Esiyrphus balteatus Marmalade hoverfly Big-eyed bugs Class: Insecta Order: Hemiptera (bugs) Most bugs are vegetarian Family: Lygaeidae Some important predators Prey: Lepidopteran eggs Plant bugs Whiteflies Mites aphids Crops Cotton (e.g.): Ornamentals Geocoris sp. feeding Strawberries on whitefly nymph Vegetable crops Class: Insecta Assassin bugs Order: Hemiptera (bugs) Ambush predators Suborder: Heteroptera (True bugs) Thin neck ; Strong piercing rostrum Family: Reduviidae Highly polyphagous, including honeybees & spiders Good control in cotton Crop (e.g.): sunflower, cotton Helicoverpa sp. (Lepidoptera Creoniades sp. Pristhesancus plagipennis Miridae (Grundy 2007) Order: Hemiptera Flower bugs Suborder: Heteroptera Polyphagous predators Actively search for prey Family: Anthocoridae Important in many agricultural crops The common flower bug Minute pirate bug Anthocoris nemorum Pear Psylla Orius sp. Order: Hemiptera Flower bugs Suborder: Heteroptera Polyphagous predators Actively search for prey Family: Anthocoridae Important in many agricultural crops Prey: greenfly red spider mite Crop: Hedgerows Agri. crops Wild plants Pear orchards The common flower bug Anthocoris nemorum Pear Psylla Order: Hemiptera Minute pirate bug Suborder: Heteroptera 3 main species used as BCA: Orius laevigatus Family: Anthocoridae O. Majusculus O. insidiosus Order: Hemiptera Minute pirate bug Suborder: Heteroptera Orius laevigatus O. majusculus Family: Anthocoridae Prey: ThripsThrips Aphids Whiteflies Mites Moth eggs Omnivorous Introduced the most Mediterranean Europe Flowers Whole plant Order: Hemiptera Orius life cycle Egg Suborder: Heteroptera Hemimetabolus Adult Family: Anthocoridae Egg: embedded in the leaf Nymph: yellowish wing buds at 5th instar found on leaves Adult: brown / black 5 nymphal stages occupy flower head All instars feed on soft-bodied insects O. insidiosus nymph Order: Hemiptera Zoophytophagus plant bugs Suborder: Heteroptera Most mirids are pests Family: Miridae Lygus sp. Pest in cotton, strawberry etc. Order: Hemiptera Zoophytophagus plant bugs Suborder: Heteroptera Most mirids are pests Family: Miridae Efficient natural enemy of Tuta absoluta Nesidiocoris Tenuis Tomato leafminer; Tuta absoluta Order: Hemiptera Suborder: Heteroptera Omnivore Family: Miridae Wide range of prey Effective in controlling whiteflies Used commercially Tomato (tunnel & glasshouse) Macrolophus caliginosus Order: Hemiptera Stink/Shield bugs Suborder: Heteroptera Eject foul smell when disturbed Family: Pentatomidae Most species are pests Spined soldier bug Anchor bug Polyphagous predator e.g. mexican bean beetle Low abundance Podisus maculiventris Polyphagous predator Low contribution to e.g. gypsy moth, corn borer, armyworm sp. etc. biological control Classical biological control (e.g. Russia) Stiretrus anchorago Kingdom: Animalia Predatory mites Phylum: Arthropoda The most introduced NE Class: Arachnida Used commercially worldwide Subclass: Acari Order: Mesostigmata 1st used on cucumber by Koppert 1960’s Family: Phytoseiidae Phytoseiulus persimilis Spider mites Subclass: Acari Order: Trombidiformes Pests in many crops around the world Family: Tetranychidae Two-spotted spider mite is the most important All stages feed on plant tissue and sap Adults & nymphs produce webs Difficult for predators to penetrate Tetranychus urticae Tetranychus urticae Phytoseiulus persimilis Subclass: Acari Egg Order: Mesostigmata Highly specific to spider mites Family: Phytoseiidae Larva Adult doesn’t eat eat all stages, 2 nymph stages but adults Highly population growth than T. urticae Disadvantage: No alternative prey Cannibalism Population decline Subclass: Acari Above 30⁰C, P. persimilis growth declines Order: Mesostigmata Neoseiulus californicus Family: Phytoseiidae Prefer the larval & nymphal stages of T. urticae Consume less prey than P. persimilis, but more effective at low densities Generalist predator Used commercially in fruit & ornamental crops Panonychus ulmi Tomato rust mite Fruit spider mite Neoseiulus californicus Aculops lycopersici Subclass: Acari Iphiseius degenerans Order: Mesostigmata Family: Phytoseiidae Native to the mediterranean Feeds on spider mites, thrips & pollen Not effective against T. urticae because of the web Used particularly in pepper crops Can survive and reproduce only on pollen Subclass: Acari Amblyseius swirskii Order: Mesostigmata Native to the mediterranean Family: Phytoseiidae Suited for warm (25-28⁰C) and humid (60-70%) conditions Generalist predator: 1-2 instar thrips Eggs, 1st larvae whitefly spider mites Can survive & reproduce on pollen Used commercially