Low- and middle-income countries cannot afford reward-based land sparing for wildflower strips to combat pollinator decline. Two small-grant projects assessed, if an opportunity-cost saving land-sharing approach, Farming with Alternative Pollinators, can provide a method-inherent incentive to motivate farmers to protect pollinators without external rewards. The first large-scale Farming-with-Alternative-Pollinators project used seven main field crops in 233 farmer fields of four agro-ecosystems (adequate rainfall, semi-arid, mountainous and oasis) in Morocco. Here we show results: higher diversity and abundance of wild pollinators and lower pest abundance in enhanced fields than in monocultural control fields; the average net-income increase per surface is 121%. The higher income is a performance-related incentive to enhance habitats. The income increase for farmers is significant and the increase in food production is substantial. Higher productivity per surface can reduce pressure on (semi)-natural landscapes which are increasingly used for agriculture. Land-use change additionally endangers biodiversity and pollinators, whereas this new pollinator-protection approach has potential for transformative change in agriculture.
Reward-based wildflower strips are the most common approach for pollinator protection in high-income countries. Low-and middle-income countries cannot afford this practice. A promising pilot study in Uzbekistan introduced an alternative approach, Farming with Alternative Pollinators, focusing on farmers as target group, marketable habitat enhancement plants and a method-inherent incentive: higher income per surface achieved already in the first year. We hypothesized that higher income would be a replicable enabling factor across continents, but a knowledge-raising campaign would be necessary in many low-and middle-income countries. We assessed the replicability of the incentive with a small number of farmers in 2015-2016 in Morocco but focused on assessing if farmers have sufficient knowledge to recognize wild pollinators and use this approach. We conducted 766 interviews using a standardized questionnaire with randomly selected smallholder farmers in three culturally different farming societies of lowand middle-income countries (Morocco, Turkey and Benin). Farming with Alternative Pollinators induced higher income (75% (2015), 177% (2016)) also in Morocco. The trial and the survey show the indispensability of a knowledge-raising campaign as the second enabling factor. However, based on capacity building, Farming with Alternative Pollinators could have indeed high potential to promote pollinator protection in low-and middle-income countries.
Morocco is a well known hot-spot of biodiversity in the Mediterranean basin. While some taxa like vascular plants are relatively well recorded, important groups of pollinators like bees are still understudied. This article presents an updated checklist of the bee species of Morocco and includes a summary of global and regional distribution of each species. A total of 961 species belonging to six bee families and 68 genera are recorded: Andrenidae (8 genera, 217 species); Apidae (15 genera, 241 species); Colletidae (2 genera, 74 species), Halictidae (12 genera, 144 species), Megachilidae (28 genera, 271 species) and Melittidae (3 genera, 14 species). Among them, 67 species are recorded for the first time in Morocco. Around 70% of the bee fauna of Morocco consists of widespread Palaearctic species. Only 18% of Moroccan species recorded are restricted to North Africa and 8% are Moroccan single-country endemics (81 species). Afrotropical elements in the Moroccan fauna are few, with only 3% of Morocco species co-occuring in that region. This checklist is intended to stimulate new regional research on bees including their taxonomy and biogeography. As many groups of bees have been understudied, discovery of new species for science and new records for the country can be expected. Additional research including inventorying, monitoring, and integrative taxonomic studies are needed to develop a comprehensive strategy for bee conservation in Morocco.
In citrus groves, beneficial insects that reduce abundance of pests are considered a key component of integrated pest management strategies. The aim of this article was to assess the biodiversity of parasitoids and predators in citrus orchards in Moroccoto facilitate future investigations on their potential as biocontrol agents. Data of 105 citrus beneficial insects were gathered and summarized in a data matrix. Variables such nature, target pests, type, establishment, and efficacy were assessed. More than two-thirds of parasitoids and predators species identified in citrus groves of Morocco (105 species) are native (> 70%). Both groups represent only a small fraction of the introduced species. The mostly attack armored scale insects (Diaspididae) and aphids (Aphididae). The ladybeetle Rodolia cardinalis (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is the first beneficial species introduced in 1921 to the Moroccan citrus orchards to control the cottony cushion scale Icerya purchasi (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae). Major introductions of these parasitoids and predators were carried out during the ninetieth to control the main citrus pests whereas they were accidentally introduced. These purposely introduced species are mainly Aphelinidae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae, Coccinellidae, and Phytoseiidae. Whereas a high proportion of the introduced beneficial insects was established and no species have been reported to be harmful to this date. Considering only the introduced species used in classical biological control context, about 20 and 40% of them are considered as effective or partially effective, respectively.
Ce travail a pour objectif de connaitre la richesse spécifique des ennemis naturels associés aux vergers d'agrumes au Maroc de 2001 à 2011. Les parasitoides Aphytis hispanicus Mercet, Aphytis lepidosaphes Compere, Aphytis melinus De Bach, Aphidius spp., Cales noacki Howard, Comperiella bifasciata Howard, Leptomastix dactylopii Howard, Citrostichus phyllocnistoides Narayanann et Semielacher petiolatus Girault, sont les plus abondants. Seules quatre espèces contribuent rèellement à la diminution de certains ravageurs du verger : A. melinus pour Aonidiella aurantii Maskell, C. noacki pour Aleurothrixus floccosus Maskell, et C. phyllocnistoides et S. petiolatus pour Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton. La cératite Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann est uniquement parasitée par Psyttalia concolor Szepligeti, mais sans avoir un impact réel de réduction de ses populations. Les prédateurs Adalia decempunctata L., Aphidoletes Aphidimyza Rondani, Chrysoperla carnea Stephens, Coccinella septempunctata L., Cybocephalus spp., Episyrphus balteatus DeGeer, Rodolia cardinalis Mulsant, Rhyzobius lophantae Blaisdell, Scymnus spp. et Stethorus punctillum Weise, sont les plus abondants. La coccinelle S. punctilllum et certaines espèces des genres Euseius, Iphiseius, Phytoseiulus, Neoseiulus, Typhlodromus, limitent essentiellement les populations des acariens. La conservation et la prise en compte de ces espèces bénéfiques dans les programmes de protection intégrée en vergers d'agrumes au Maroc est une nécessité. Certaines de ces espèces utiles inventoriées, en particulier celles introduites et reconnues comme efficaces en lutte biologique sur agrumes au Maroc, devraient êtres inscrites dans la Norme PM 6/3 de l'OEPP (Organisation Européenne et Méditerranéenne pour la Protection des Plantes).
Aphid control in Moroccan citrus orchards is based mainly on carbamate and neonicotinoid sprays, especially methomyl and imidacloprid. The extensive use of these insecticides may have side effects on natural enemies and environment quality and raises human health concerns. This research aimed to assess the control of aphids with insecticidal soap, kaolin and augmentative biological control using the indigenous predator Adalia decempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). The insecticides were applied and the predators were released in April 2009 and 2010. Under field experimentation, the methomyl and imidacloprid foliar pulverization were very effective against aphids. In contrast, the insecticidal soap and kaolin application were less efficient while A. decempunctata adults were effective only in the first week after release. The side effects on beneficial insects were also assessed and discussed. The possibility of employing A. decempunctata in an integrated pest management package in citrus groves is discussed in relation to effectiveness and side effects on beneficial arthropods.
Ficus microcarpa L. f. (Moraceae) is a popular ornamental plant that grows in many urban zones in Morocco. The psyllid Macrohomotoma gladiata (Kuwayama, 1908) was found for the first time from Morocco, in August 2019, on 21 ornamental Ficus microcarpa L. f. trees in the urban area of Kénitra, on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The new psyllid caused serious damage on leaves and twigs of this host plant. Rolled leaves at the tip of the twigs, white and woolly waxy secretions were also observed in the infested trees. This first record of M. gladiata in Morocco, although still regarding a limited geographic area, represents a serious threat to Ficus in the country. A morphological description of this new pest is given.
Four hundred and eighty brown citrus aphid T. aurantii colonies from ten cohorts were followed and referred from middle of April to end of May in several citrus orchards in the Gharb area during 2006 et 2007 years. This pest would prefer to colonize the S1 and S2 citrus leaves stages but all other studied stages would be predisposed to be also colonized. The colonies of indeterminate foundation were the most important, followed by those founded by the apterous ones (e. g. summer colonies) and also those resulting from alatae one (e. g. spring colonies). Immigration of alates is also discussed. T. aurantii regulation factors are multiple (17 sources) and may act individually or combined. A significante difference of mortality level of T. aurantii colonies was noted and discussed between regulation's origins. Coccinellidae is the most efficient predators of T. aurantii, with A. decempunctata and i (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae). Impact of beneficial such as A. decempunctata, C. septempunctata, A. decempunctata in association with C. septempunctata on aphid regulation is respectively from 5 to 48.33% ; 5 to 16.7%, and 5 to 18.33%. Impact of other regulation’s origins such as temperature and old leaves on aphid mortality is respectively from 8 to 55% and 3.33 to 40%. Others predators such as Aphidoletes Aphidimyza Rond. (Diptera : Cecidomyiidae), Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera : chrysopidae) and Episyrphus balteatus DeGeer (Diptera : Syrphidae), affect also T. aurantii colonies. The impact of theses indigenous beneficial species, acting individually or with ladybird on colony survival is low, except for A. decempunctata in association with E. balteatus with a maximum of 10%.
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