Insects (2019) 10 (1 - 6)

Joakim Pålsson, Gunda Thöming, Rodrigo Silva, Mario Porcel, Teun Dekker and Marco Tasin (2019)
Recruiting on the spot: A biodegradable formulation for lacewings to trigger biological control of aphids
Insects 10 (1 - 6)
Abstract: Upon herbivory, plants release herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs), which induce chemical defenses in the plant as well as recruit natural enemies. However, whether synthetic HIPVs can be employed to enhance biological control in a cultivated crop in the field is yet to be explored. Here we show that a biodegradable formulation loaded with induced and food-signaling volatiles can selectively recruit the common green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea, and reduce pest population under field conditions. In apple orchards, the new formulation attracted lacewing adults over a 4-week period, which correlated well with independent assessments of the longevity of the slow-release matrix measured through chemical analyses. In barley, lacewing eggs and larvae were significantly more abundant in treated plots, whereas a significant reduction of two aphid species was measured (98.9% and 93.6% of population reduction, for Sitobion avenae and Rhopalosiphum padi, respectively). Results show the potential for semiochemical-based targeted recruitment of lacewings to enhance biological control of aphids in a field setting. Further research should enhance selective recruitment by rewarding attracted natural enemies and by optimizing the application technique.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Marco Tasin, Mario Porcel, Gunda Thöming

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

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sitobion avenae	Barley (Hordeum vulgare)	Norway
	Rhopalosiphum padi	Barley (Hordeum vulgare)	Norway
Chrysoperla carnea (predator)	Sitobion avenae
Chrysoperla carnea (predator)	Rhopalosiphum padi	Barley (Hordeum vulgare)	Norway