A roadmap for ladybird conservation and recovery

Soares, António O.; Haelewaters, Danny; Ameixa‍, Olga M. C. C.; Borges, Isabel; Brown, Peter; Cardoso, Pedro; Groot, M. de; Evans, Edward W.; Grez, Audrey A.; Hochkirch, Axel; Holecová, Milada; Honěk, Alois; Kulfan, Ján; Lillebø, Ana I.; Martinková, Zdeňka; Michaud, J.P.; Nedvěd, Oldřich; Omkar,; Roy, Helen E.; Saxena, Swati; Shandilya, Apoorva; Sentis, Arnaud; Skuhrovec, Jiří; Viglášová, Sandra; Zach, Peter; Zaviezo, Tania; Losey, John E.

doi:10.1111/cobi.13965

Cited by 17 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 115 publications

(146 reference statements)

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“…Biological control using native natural enemies has proven to be an environmentally sound, sustainable alternative in a wide range of cropping systems, 1 given that exotic natural enemies may pose important concerns for local biodiversity. 2 An optimal augmentative strategy should consider the simultaneous use of more than one natural enemy. For many agroecosystems, there is growing evidence that more diverse guilds enhance biological control efficacy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding preference and intraguild interactions between the parasitoid Trichogramma achaeae and the predator Macrolophus pygmaeus, two biological agents of Tuta absoluta

Borges¹,

Oliveira

Durão³

et al. 2023

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUNDTuta absoluta is an exotic species and a major pest of tomato crops in Europe. Macrolophus pygmaeus and Trichogramma achaeae are two biocontrol agents widely used in integrated pest management programs of the South American tomato pinworm Tuta absoluta. In this study, we evaluated under laboratory conditions the (i) voracity of M. pygmaeus females fed on single diets of Tuta absoluta eggs parasitized or unparasitized by Trichogramma achaeae, (ii) voracity and feeding preference of M. pygmaeus females provided with mixed diets of Tuta absoluta eggs unparasitized and parasitized by Trichogramma achaeae and (iii) effect of competitive and intraguild interactions between M. pygmaeus and Trichogramma achaeae on the number of Tuta absoluta eggs consumed and/or parasitized. Lastly, we assessed under field conditions the effect of interspecific and intraspecific interactions between natural enemies on the number of Tuta absoluta eggs consumed and/or parasitized.RESULTSMacrolophus pygmaeus consumed more unparasitized than parasitized eggs of Tuta absoluta. Under mixed diet regimes, Manly indices revealed a feeding preference for unparasitized eggs, and a decrease in the total number of eggs consumed, as the proportion of available parasitized eggs increased, whereas the unparasitized eggs were consumed in direct proportion to their availability. Conspecific interactions between M. pygmaeus, in contrast to Trichogramma achaeae, revealed the possible occurrence of intraspecific competition. For intraguild heterospecific interactions, the number of Tuta absoluta eggs consumed by M. pygmaeus and parasitized by Trichogramma achaeae was lower than that predicted for additive and non‐interactive scenarios. Under field conditions, a significant difference between the conspecific treatment and heterospecific treatments revealed a slightly higher success rate in controlling Tuta absoluta when both M. pygmaeus and Trichogramma achaeae were used simultaneously.CONCLUSIONMacrolophus pygmaeus prefers unparasitized eggs of Tuta absoluta but inflicts intraguild predation on Trichogramma achaeae. In conspecific experiments, mutual interference between M. pygmaeus predators intensifies as the number of individuals increases, but for Trichogramma achaeae, it occurs in an unpredictable manner. Adding Trichogramma achaeae could significantly increase the level of control of Tuta absoluta compared to what could be achieved when only M. pygmaeus is present in glasshouse tomatoes. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding preference and intraguild interactions between the parasitoid Trichogramma achaeae and the predator Macrolophus pygmaeus, two biological agents of Tuta absoluta

Borges¹,

Oliveira

Durão³

et al. 2023

Pest Management Science

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“…The current research found that asking for help to build up knowledge towards the protection of ladybirds resulted in considerable investment from the public. This could also be attributed to the likeability of ladybirds in part (Soares et al, 2022). It is unlikely that as many photographs would have been submitted if the taxonomic subject of the citizen science campaign was less appealing (Callaghan et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is a fascination with ladybirds due to their colour, importance in the garden for predating on plant pests and that the ladybird is associated with good luck in many myths and legends (Roy et al, 2013;(Majerus et al, 2017). There is undoubtedly more to be discovered about why people like ladybirds, and to explain why they are recognised, as a charismatic and popular species (Roy et al, 2013;Majerus, 2017;Soares et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancing Our Understanding of Ladybirds in Ireland – A Case Study of the Use of Citizen Science

Weyman¹,

Butler²,

McKeown³

2022

Front. Conserv. Sci.

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Citizen science is increasingly recognised as a useful approach to contribute to biodiversity awareness while generating data and creating meaningful interactions among citizens and professional scientists. In a number of countries, academic institutions have led the way in developing ladybird projects, incorporating citizen science, to increase distributional data on the species, as well as a greater understanding of ladybird ecology. The current research evaluates the role of citizen science campaigns in collecting biological distributional data in Ireland, using ladybirds as a case example, examining if citizen science records and the use of photographs can provide a valuable insight into our understanding of ladybird ecology. From April 2020 to June 2021, a citizen science programme engaged with the wider public, via social media networks to increase the number of ladybird records and assist in establishing national data baselines, since ladybird rcording is a relatively new phenomenon in Ireland. This case study finds that citizen science projects using social media can increase the number of records of ladybirds and provide useful information on species distribution patterns. There were a disproportionate number of records from areas of high human population, resulting in a bias towards urban centres. Photographs submitted by members of the public provided a limited amount of information on food plants but indicated that ladybirds are valued as a species of interest to the public. These images can also help to increase records of the less common species, especially as members of the public may not be able to easily distinguish between different species of ladybirds.

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“…Classical biological control, which is based on the importation of exotic natural enemies to control herbivorous pest populations, has led to over 6,000 deliberate introductions of more than 2,000 insects, to be applied as biological control agents (BCAs) 3 . This approach, commonly used in the past, poses, however, important concerns for conservation biology 4–6 . One possible solution toward the maintenance of alien pest populations under the economic threshold, or even its full eradication, is the use of native natural enemies through the continuous applications of a high number of mass‐reared insects, under augmentative or inoculative strategies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3 This approach, commonly used in the past, poses, however, important concerns for conservation biology. [4][5][6] One possible solution toward the maintenance of alien pest populations under the economic threshold, or even its full eradication, is the use of native natural enemies through the continuous applications of a high number of mass-reared insects, under augmentative or inoculative strategies. Mass-and laboratory-rearing of insects is a key component of IPM and requires the maximization of production, but regarding sustained quality and efficiency of released BCAs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic and financial model to the mass‐rearing of Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) (Heteroptera: Miridae), a biological control agent against the tomato moth Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in protected culture

Dutra

Batista

Teixeira

et al. 2023

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUNDTuta absoluta (Meyrick) is a major pest of tomato produced in glasshouses and open field, causing severe damages to crops, reducing the quality of tomato fruits. The current maintenance of the pest populations below the economic threshold is not achieved by natural and classical control, thus requiring the continuous application of biological control agents (BCAs), under an augmentative or inoculative approach. The present study aims to develop an economic and financial model to evaluate the commercial viability of a continuous mass production of Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur), a BCA commonly used against the tomato moth, Tuta absoluta, in protected culture. The estimations for our model were based on two approaches: the farm‐level impact analysis and the benefit–cost analysis.RESULTSThe results of the farm‐level analysis show that the adoption of a more sustainable biological control approach is profitable for farmers and the benefit–cost analysis provides evidence that the investment on a new factory dedicated to the mass rearing of M. pygmaeus to control tomato moth populations generates a positive net present value (NPV) of 7.2 million euros, corresponding to an internal rate of return (IRR) of 28.4% per year.CONCLUSIONOur results are in line with (i) the more recent European Commission proposals for a new Regulation on sustainable use of plant protection products, which includes the reduction of 50% the use and risk of chemical pesticides by 2030 and (ii) most of the existing literature which conclude that new projects on BCA production are worth investments. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

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A roadmap for ladybird conservation and recovery

Abstract: Ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) provide services that are critical to food production, and they fulfill an ecological role as a food source for predators. The richness, António O. Soares and Danny Haelewaters contributed equally to this work.

Cited by 17 publications

References 115 publications

Feeding preference and intraguild interactions between the parasitoid Trichogramma achaeae and the predator Macrolophus pygmaeus, two biological agents of Tuta absoluta

Feeding preference and intraguild interactions between the parasitoid Trichogramma achaeae and the predator Macrolophus pygmaeus, two biological agents of Tuta absoluta

Enhancing Our Understanding of Ladybirds in Ireland – A Case Study of the Use of Citizen Science

Economic and financial model to the mass‐rearing of Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) (Heteroptera: Miridae), a biological control agent against the tomato moth Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in protected culture

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