Compatibility of Atheta coriaria with other biological control agents and reduced-risk insecticides used in greenhouse floriculture integrated pest management programs for fungus gnats

Abstract

Fungus gnats (FG) (Diptera: Sciaridae: Bradysia spp.) are economically important pests of greenhouse flowers. Larvae feed on root tissue and transmit a variety of phytopathogens. Atheta coriaria (Kraatz) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) is a new biological control agent (BCA) for FG. To support its successful use by the greenhouse industry, its compatibility with current integrated pest management (IPM) programs used in floriculture was assessed. This included investigations of prey preference, possible detrimental interactions with other soil-dwelling BCAs, and the toxicity to A. coriaria of registered and novel insecticides. Atheta coriaria showed little preference among eggs of different pest species or between pest eggs and eggs of the intraguild predator Hypoaspis aculeifer (Canestrini) (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae). It preferred FG 1st-instar larvae to larvae and pupae of other soil-dwelling pests. The entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) was compatible with A. coriaria, but H. aculeifer mites fed on A. coriaria larvae. Insect growth regulators with limited contact activity (e.g., diflubenzuron) were compatible with adult A. coriaria and had minimal effects on larvae compared with other insecticides. Atheta coriaria can be incorporated into an IPM program for FG if harsh insecticides are avoided, but interactions with predatory mites, as well as its effectiveness against other greenhouse pests when FG are present, require further investigation.

Management of tomato diseases caused by Fusarium oxysporum

“…Diptera) from diseased plants to healthy tomato transplants has been demonstrated (Gillespie and Menzies, 1993). These vectors may be controlled through cultural, chemical and biological tactics (Jandricic et al, 2006;Price et al, 1991;Van Eppenhuijsen et al, 2001).…”

Effect of Pesticides on Adult Rove Beetle <I>Atheta coriaria</I> (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) Survival in Growing Medium

“…The insecticides bendiocarb and imidacloprid were highly toxic to all life stages of A. coriaria under greenhouse conditions, whereas the fungicide thiophanate-methyl was not harmful to any of the life stages. In addition, the IGRs dißubenzuron and cyromazine were nontoxic to the adults, although exposure to cyromazine resulted in Ͼ80% mortality of second-instar larvae (Jandricic et al 2006).…”

“…Currently, A. coriaria is commercially available from several suppliers or distributors (Jandricic et al 2006). A. coriaria is a soildwelling predator, 3Ð 4 mm in length, and dark brown to black.…”

Ecology and Role of the Rove Beetle, &lt;i&gt;Dalotia coriaria&lt;/i&gt;, and Insidious Flower Bug, &lt;i&gt;Orius insidiosus&lt;/i&gt;, in Greenhouse Biological Control Programs

“…[78] [82] support the presumption that insect growth regulators (e.g., azadirachtin, buprofezin, kinoprene, and pyriproxyfen), in general, are not directly or indirectly harmful to either natural enemy under laboratory conditions. In addition, the insect growth regulators, cyromazine, diflubenzuron, and novaluron are not directly harmful to D. coriaria adults after 96 hours of exposure [28]. Furthermore, entomopathogenic fungi including Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are not directly harmful to D. coriaria and O. insidiosus [76] [77].…”