Insect Science (2020) 27, 1125-1134

Nuria Agustí, Cristina Castañé, Irene Fraile and Oscar Alomar (2020)
Development of a PCR-based method to monitor arthropod dispersal in agroecosystems: Macrolophus pygmaeus (Hemiptera: Miridae) from banker plants to tomato crops
Insect Science 27 (5), 1125-1134
Abstract: Development of conservation biological control programs requires the identification of sources that contribute to predator colonization of crops. Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is an efficient polyphagous predator used in biological control programs in vegetable crops in Europe. We have developed a marking method based on spraying with a solution of the brine shrimp Artemia spp. (Anostraca: Artemiidae) cysts, followed by a PCR detection of Artemia DNA to monitor M. pygmaeus dispersal from banker plants to tomato crops. Experiments conducted in climatic chambers show that the topical application of this marking solution on M. pygmaeus does not significantly reduce adult longevity and that it is detected up to 6 d after the application. When this Artemia solution was applied on Calendula officinalis L. banker plants harboring M. pygmaeus and maintained outdoors, Artemia DNA was still detected on 62% of the insects after 6 d. The conducted field applications in commercial greenhouses have confirmed the usefulness of this method to monitor M. pygmaeus dispersal from banker plants to a newly planted tomato crop. This method can be used to assess arthropod movement, being an interesting molecular approach for further improving future pest management strategies.
(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): Nuria Agusti, Oscar Alomar

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Macrolophus pygmaeus (predator)