Biocontrol Science and Technology (2013) 23, 574-583

A.N. Htwe, M. Murata, S. Takano and S. Nakamura (2013)
Effects of constant and fluctuating temperatures on development of the coconut hispine beetle, Brontispa longissima (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and two species of parasitoid
Biocontrol Science and Technology 23 (5), 574-583
Abstract: The larval parasitoid Asecodes hispinarum Bouček has been used to control the coconut hispine beetle, Brontispa longissima (Gestro) in Vietnam. Although A. hispinarum has succeeded in suppressing B. longissima in southern Vietnam, biocontrol has not succeeded in central Vietnam. One factor underlying this failure might be the high temperature during the hot season. In the present work, we examined whether A. hispinarum parasitises the beetles within the range of temperatures that occur during the hot season in central Vietnam and we evaluated the potential use of the pupal parasitoid Tetrastichus brontispae Ferrière. Development of the beetle and two parasitoids was investigated at two constant temperatures (28 and 30°C) and at fluctuating temperatures from 25 to 35°C (corresponding to temperatures during the hot season in central Vietnam). B. longissima reached adulthood in all the temperature treatments. More than 70% of A. hispinarum emerged from hosts at 28°C, but none emerged at 30°C or under fluctuating temperature conditions, indicating that A. hispinarum cannot be used as a biological control agent in central Vietnam. However, T. brontispae could reproduce the next generation at all temperatures. These results suggest that T. brontispae is a potential agent for continuous biological control of B. longissima in central Vietnam.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Satoshi Nakamura, Mika Murata

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
environment - cropping system/rotation
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Brontispa longissima	Coconut (Cocos nucifera)	Vietnam
Tetrastichus brontispae (parasitoid)	Brontispa longissima
Asecodes hispinarum (parasitoid)	Brontispa longissima	Coconut (Cocos nucifera)	Vietnam