Occurrence of aphid predator species in both organic and conventional corn and broad bean

Organic farming has been suggested to enhance beneficial species abundance and diversity in agrosystem habitats. In this study, the abundance of aphid predators was compared in organic and conventional corn and broad bean fields during a two-year inventory. In both farming strategies, there were no differences between species diversity. Five aphid predator species were mainly observed: Coccinella septempunctata L. 1758 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (L. 1758) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Harmonia axyridis Pallas 1773 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens 1836) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer 1776) (Diptera: Syrphidae). Differences in abundance of aphidophagous species between conventional and organic crop fields were observed even if not always in favour of the latter condition. The abundance of the five above- mentioned aphidophagous species varied for the most part according to almost all the observed parameters, including sampled year, crop and agricultural practices. In conclusion, our findings do not support organic practices in corn and broad bean as key options to increase the biodiversity and abundance of aphid natural enemies.Peer reviewe

Erratum to: Methods for evaluating medical tests and biomarkers

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s41512-016-0001-y.]

Evidence synthesis to inform model-based cost-effectiveness evaluations of diagnostic tests: a methodological systematic review of health technology assessments

Background: Evaluations of diagnostic tests are challenging because of the indirect nature of their impact on patient outcomes. Model-based health economic evaluations of tests allow different types of evidence from various sources to be incorporated and enable cost-effectiveness estimates to be made beyond the duration of available study data. To parameterize a health-economic model fully, all the ways a test impacts on patient health must be quantified, including but not limited to diagnostic test accuracy. Methods: We assessed all UK NIHR HTA reports published May 2009-July 2015. Reports were included if they evaluated a diagnostic test, included a model-based health economic evaluation and included a systematic review and meta-analysis of test accuracy. From each eligible report we extracted information on the following topics: 1) what evidence aside from test accuracy was searched for and synthesised, 2) which methods were used to synthesise test accuracy evidence and how did the results inform the economic model, 3) how/whether threshold effects were explored, 4) how the potential dependency between multiple tests in a pathway was accounted for, and 5) for evaluations of tests targeted at the primary care setting, how evidence from differing healthcare settings was incorporated. Results: The bivariate or HSROC model was implemented in 20/22 reports that met all inclusion criteria. Test accuracy data for health economic modelling was obtained from meta-analyses completely in four reports, partially in fourteen reports and not at all in four reports. Only 2/7 reports that used a quantitative test gave clear threshold recommendations. All 22 reports explored the effect of uncertainty in accuracy parameters but most of those that used multiple tests did not allow for dependence between test results. 7/22 tests were potentially suitable for primary care but the majority found limited evidence on test accuracy in primary care settings. Conclusions: The uptake of appropriate meta-analysis methods for synthesising evidence on diagnostic test accuracy in UK NIHR HTAs has improved in recent years. Future research should focus on other evidence requirements for cost-effectiveness assessment, threshold effects for quantitative tests and the impact of multiple diagnostic tests

Erratum to: Methods for evaluating medical tests and biomarkers

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s41512-016-0001-y.]

Impact of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on the survival rates of other aphidophagous species in semi-field conditions

The multicoloured Asian ladybird Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), previously introduced as a biological control agent against aphids, is now frequently considered as an intraguild predator, consuming other aphid natural enemies. Interactions between this exotic ladybird and other aphidophagous species present in Belgian agro-ecosystems such as Coccinella septempunctata, Episyrphus balteatus and Chrysoperla carnea are asymmetric to the benefit of H. axyridis. This study focuses on the survival rate of three aphidophagous species Harmonia axyridis (Ha), Coccinella septempunctata (C7) and Episyrphus balteatus (Eb) placed in cages in biological fields of potato and sugar beet. During June and July, hermetic cages were disposed on the crops with 10 larvae (second stage) of each aphidophagous. Four types of cages were observed (1) Ha+Eb+C7+ aphids, (2) Ha+Eb+C7, (3) Eb+C7+ aphids and (4) Eb+C7. Each combination was repeated three times. In sugar beet fields, E. balteatus was the species with the highest mortality rate. The two coccinellid species had a better survival rate than E. balteatus. All aphidophagous species had higher mortality rates in absence of aphids. In potato, when aphids were present in excess, the survival rates of all aphidophagous insects were lower than in sugar beet probably because A. fabae is less adapted to the potato morphology. Nevertheless, we have observed in potato no mortality of C. 7-punctata during all its development cycle. This suggests that (1) C. 7-punctata may use aphids as food sources more efficiently than H. axyridis and (2) that interactions between aphidophagous could be less frequent (difficulty of mobility). In potato and sugar beet, H. axyridis had the longest development cycle, being still at the larval stage when C. 7-punctata and E. balteatus reached the pupae stage. We can suppose that pupae of E. balteatus and C. 7-punctata were an alternative food (intraguild prey) to H. axyridis when aphids were lacking. Pupae are immobile and therefore more sensitive to the attack of predators.Evaluation de l'impact des invasions de coccinelles asiatiques sur l'agriculture wallonne et prise en considération dans les programmes de lutte intégré

IS THE MULTICOLORED ASIAN LADYBIRD THE MOST ABUNDANT APHIDOPHAGOUS SPECIES IN AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS?

peer reviewedThe Asian ladybird, Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), has been introduced in Western Europe to control aphid and coccid populations in greenhouses. This exotic species rapidly adapted to temperate climatic conditions and invaded all Europe in few years. Now, H. axyridis is causing damages to the ecosystems through e.g. intraguild predation (IGP) with native species. We evaluated, in 2009 and 2010, the occurrence of aphid natural enemies (hoverflies, coccinellids and lacewings) in several agro-ecosystems (corn, wheat, potato, broad bean) in northern Wallonia (Belgium). Five dominating aphidophagous species were observed, in decreasing order of importance: Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer), Chrysoperla carnea sensus lato (Stephens), Coccinella septempunctata (Linné), Harmonia axyridis and Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Linné). The Multicolored Asian ladybird represents 8,7% of all observed aphidophagous species and 23,9% of coccinellids. Moreover, H. axyridis occurrence is two-times less important than C. 7-punctata. These results highlight that this invasive species is currently not the most abundant in southern Belgium agro-ecosystems and would not influence other aphid predators in those particular ecosystems.Évaluation de l’impact des invasions de coccinelles asiatiques sur l’agriculture wallonne et prise en considération au sein de programmes de lutte intégré

Occurrence de la coccinelle asiatique (Harmonia axyridis Pallas), espèce invasive, dans les agro-habitats en 2009

La lutte contre les pucerons de manière biologique consiste entre autre à utiliser des insectes prédateurs de pucerons tels que les coccinelles. En Belgique un des auxiliaires le plus utilisé est la coccinelle à deux points (Adalia bipunctata) mais en 1997, les horticulteurs ont introduit la coccinelle asiatique (Harmonia axyridis) afin de lutter plus efficacement contre les pucerons. Cette coccinelle invasive s'est rapidement répandue dans toute la Belgique et à travers l'Europe. Afin d'évaluer son impact sur l'entomofaune des milieux agricoles, nous avons réalisé un inventaire des aphidiphages présent sur 10 sites réparti en Wallonie. Deux méthodes d'échantillonnage ont été utilisées: (1) l'utilisation de pièges collant et (2) l'observation visuelle dans des quadras d'1m². Après 10 semaines d'inventaire, nous pouvons conclure que pour l'année 2009, la coccinelle asiatique est la coccinelle la plus abondante dans les agro-écosystèmes wallons. Les cultures préférentielles dans lesquelles la coccinelle invasive a été la plus abondante sont la pomme de terre biologique et le maïs. Culture où la quantité de puceron n'est pas forcement la plus élevée. La période de reproduction de la coccinelle asiatique se situe à la mi-juillet, période d'abondance de proies dans les cultures étudiées.Évaluation de l’impact des invasions de coccinelles asiatiques sur l’agriculture wallonne et prise en considération dans les programmes de lutte intégré