Can the Combined Use of the Mirid Predator <i>Nesidiocoris tenuis</i> and a Braconid Larval Endoparasitoid <i>Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris</i> Improve the Biological Control of <i>Tuta absoluta</i>?
The koinobiont solitary larval endoparasitoid <i>Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris</i> (Marsh) (Syn.: <i>Apanteles gelechiidivoris</i>) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and the predatory bug <i>Nesidiocoris tenuis</i> (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) are important natural enem...
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| Autores principales: | , , , , , |
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| Formato: | article |
| Lenguaje: | EN |
| Publicado: |
MDPI AG
2021
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://doaj.org/article/dbaa44d716a94bc5ac7d9d7775218e04 |
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| Sumario: | The koinobiont solitary larval endoparasitoid <i>Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris</i> (Marsh) (Syn.: <i>Apanteles gelechiidivoris</i>) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and the predatory bug <i>Nesidiocoris tenuis</i> (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) are important natural enemies of <i>Tuta absoluta</i> (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a serious pest of tomato. Although <i>N. tenuis</i> preferentially feeds on <i>T.</i><i>absoluta</i> eggs, it is also recorded as a predator of first and second instar larval stages. <i>Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris</i> preferentially seeks these early larval stages of <i>T. absoluta</i> for oviposition. The occurrence of intraguild predation between <i>N. tenuis</i> and <i>D. gelechiidivoris</i> and the consequences on the oviposition performance of <i>D. gelechiidivoris</i> were investigated in the laboratory. Regardless of the manner of introduction (i.e., the sequence of combinations with <i>D. gelechiidivoris</i>) or density (i.e., number of <i>N. tenuis</i> combined with <i>D. gelechiidivoris</i>), the presence of <i>N. tenuis</i> did not affect the oviposition performance of <i>D. gelechiidivoris</i> or the parasitoid’s progeny. Combination assays revealed that the efficacy of the combined use of <i>N. tenuis</i> and <i>D. gelechiidivoris</i> in controlling <i>T. absoluta</i> populations was significantly higher than that of either natural enemy alone. Our results highlight the potential of combining mirid predators and koinobiont larval endoparasitoids to control <i>T. absoluta</i>. The findings further contribute to data supporting the release of <i>D. gelechiidivoris</i> in tomato agroecosystems for the control of <i>T. absoluta</i> in Africa, where <i>N. tenuis</i> is widespread and abundant. |
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