Efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) in controlling the tomato borer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Abstract

The tomato borer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is considered to be one of the most devastating pests affecting tomato crops in South America, where crop losses range from 60 to 100%. After its detection in the Spanish tomato-growing area at the end of 2006, it spread quickly to other European and northern African countries. Currently, T. absoluta management in these countries is mainly based on chemical treatments. Nonetheless, special emphasis is being placed on implementing environmentally safe strategies. Commercial formulates based on Bacillus thuringiensis may be a good alternative, as they have been used to control other insect pests successfully. The laboratory, greenhouse, and open-field experiments presented in this work are evidence that B. thuringiensis is highly efficient in controlling T. absoluta. First instar larvae were the most susceptible, while susceptibility was lower in second and third instar larvae. Our results have shown that the impact of T. absoluta can be greatly reduced by spraying only B. thuringiensis-based formulates, with no need for chemical insecticides. Furthermore, the integration of this technology with other biological control methods focused on T. absoluta eggs, such as the use of mirid predators or parasitoids, could reduce the number of B. thuringiensis treatments and the use of chemicals, with the consequent reduction of residues on fruits.

Selection and characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis isolates with a high insecticidal activity against Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

“…The spore and δ-endotoxin production of Bt isolates obtained in this work indicates the potential for using formulations, at proper concentrations, to control S. frugiperda (GONZÁLEZ-CABRERA et al, 2011).…”

Prospects for predatory mirid bugs as biocontrol agents of aphids in sweet peppers

“…The three predatory mirid bugs tested in this study are native natural enemies that spontaneously appear in various crops in the Mediterranean basin (Alomar et al 2002;Gonzalez-Cabrera et al 2011). Two of these zoophytophagous predators, N. tenuis and M. pygmaeus, are massreared and have been released in augmentative biocontrol programs aimed at controlling whiteflies and T. absoluta, mainly in protected crops (Arnó et al 2010;Calvo et al 2012a, b;Urbaneja et al 2012).…”

“…Indeed, previous studies suggest that the positive role of the predatory mirid Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur (Hemiptera: Miridae) could have in controlling aphids in sweet pepper plants Perdikis and Lykouressis 2004). Two other predatory mirids, N. tenuis and Dicyphus maroccanus Wagner, together with M. pygmaeus, have been detected preying on aphids and other agricultural pests, such as spider mites, thrips, and lepidopterans in protected sweet pepper crops of southeastern Spain (Jacas et al 2008;Gonzalez-Cabrera et al 2011;Molla et al 2011Molla et al , 2014. Therefore, this study is aiming to further confirm the previous results obtained with M. pygmaeus on M. persicae (Perdikis and Lykouressis 2004;Messelink et al 2011) and compare this with the other two mirid species, N. tenuis and D. maroccanus.…”

Oviposition deterrent activity of basil plants and their essentials oils against Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

“…Moreover, these insecticides also negatively impact the natural enemy populations of T. absoluta (Arnó and Gabarra 2011;Biondi et al 2013;Abbes et al 2015) owing to multiple potential side effects as described by Desneux et al (2007) in a review. The effectiveness of biological control using entomopathogenic organisms (González-Cabrera et al 2011;Ben Khedher et al 2015) beneficial insects (Ferracini et al 2012;Chailleux et al 2012;Chailleux et al 2013;Öztemiz 2013;Salehi et al 2016) present valuable alternative methods to synthetic pesticides. For example, the use of certain Miridae as Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur or Dicyphus maroccanus Wagner appears to be a reliable biological alternative for the control of T. absoluta (Urbaneja et al 2013;Abbas et al 2014;Jaworski et al 2015).…”