Biological controls investigated to aid management of olive fruit fly in California

The widespread and rapid establishment of the olive fruit fly in California required immediate changes in integrated pest management (IPM) programs for olives. After finding that resident natural enemies did not provide adequate control, researchers began a worldwide search for parasitoids, with exploration in the Republic of South Africa, Namibia, India, China and other countries. Parasitoids were shipped to California, and most were studied in quarantine to determine the best species for release. Two parasitoid species — Psyttalia lounsburyi and Psyttalia humilis — are now being released throughout the state’s olive-growing regions, and researchers are studying their effectiveness

Selectivity of Whitefly Traps in Cotton for \u3ci\u3eEretmocerus eremicus\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a Native Parasitoid of \u3ci\u3eBemisia argentifolii\u3c/i\u3e (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

Yellow sticky traps are widely used for monitoring and management of whiteflies and certain other pests and have also been used to monitor their natural enemy activity. A new, nonsticky whitefly trap (CC trap), standard yellow sticky cards, and clear colorless sticky cards were evaluated in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) to compare their attractiveness to Eretmocerus eremicus Rose and Zolnerowich, an aphelinid parasitoid of Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring [=Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) B-strain 1 that is indigenous to southwestern U.S. deserts. The CC traps caught an average of 264 adult whiteflies during 24-h test periods compared with 523 adult whiteflies on yellow sticky traps. The colorless sticky cards trapped only 37 whiteflies per card during the same period. The CC traps caught an average of 0.4 adult E. eremicus over a 24-h period compared with 26.6 adult E. eremicus trapped by yellow sticky cards. Colorless plastic sticky cards trapped an average of 1.1 parasitoids per card, demonstrating that E. eremicus was strongly attracted to the yellow sticky cards. Thirty-nine percent of E. eremicus trapped on yellow sticky cards and 42% trapped on colorless sticky cards were female. CC traps caught the lowest numbers of other arthropods. On average, \u3c1 individual of any other species was captured per CC trap in each 24-h period. Yellow sticky traps caught the greatest number of other arthropods; these included thrips, flies, cotton leafperforator (Buccalatrix thurberiella Busck) moths, small beetles, and other parasitic wasps. Clear sticky traps caught a similar mixture of species but in lower numbers. These results demonstrate that CC traps are highly selective for whitefly, while preserving parasitoid populations. CC traps may be especially useful in greenhouses where yellow sticky traps are frequently used in conjunction with releases of parasitoids

Biological controls investigated to aid management of olive fruit fly in California

The widespread and rapid establishment of the olive fruit fly in California required immediate changes in integrated pest management (IPM) programs for olives. After finding that resident natural enemies did not provide adequate control, researchers began a worldwide search for parasitoids, with exploration in the Republic of South Africa, Namibia, India, China and other countries. Parasitoids were shipped to California, and most were studied in quarantine to determine the best species for release. Two parasitoid species — Psyttalia lounsburyi and Psyttalia humilis — are now being released throughout the state’s olive-growing regions, and researchers are studying their effectiveness

Biological controls investigated to aid management of olive fruit fly in California

The widespread and rapid establishment of the olive fruit fly in California required immediate changes in integrated pest management (IPM) programs for olives. After finding that resident natural enemies did not provide adequate control, researchers began a worldwide search for parasitoids, with exploration in the Republic of South Africa, Namibia, India, China and other countries. Parasitoids were shipped to California, and most were studied in quarantine to determine the best species for release. Two parasitoid species - Psyttalia lounsburyi and Psyttalia humilis - are now being released throughout the state's olive-growing regions, and researchers are studying their effectiveness

Post-release evaluation of biological control of Bemisia tabaci biotype ‘‘B’’ in the USA and the development of predictive tools to guide introductions for other countries

Climatic matching and pre-release performance evaluation were useful predictors of parasitoid establishment in a retrospective analysis of a classical biological control program against Bemisia tabaci biotype ‘‘B’’ in the USA. Laboratory evaluation of 19 imported and two indigenous parasitoid species in quarantine on B. tabaci showed that the Old World Eretmocerus spp, had the highest attack rate. The climate matching program CLIMEX was used to analyze the establishment patterns of five Old World Eretmocerus spp. introduced to the Western USA. The top matches ±10% for the climate of the area of introduction and origin of the introduced parasitoids always included the species that established. The Old World Eretmocerus spp. came from regions characterized by many separate biotypes of B. tabaci other than ‘‘B,’’ but are considered specialists of the B. tabaci complex as compared to the indigenous North American oligophagous Eretmocerus spp. This narrower host range and high attack rate combined with climatic adaptation may account for their establishment in the USA. A set of predictive tools and guidelines were used to select the best candidate for importation and possible release into Australia that has been recently invaded by the ‘‘B’’ biotype. The establishment patterns of the introduced Eretmocerus spp. and a comparison of climates of their respective locations in the USA were compared with the affected area in Australia. The best climatic match was the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas suggesting its dominant parasitoid, E. hayati ex. Pakistan be considered as the first candidate for evaluation as a biological control agent