Parasitoid wasps as effective biological control agents

Abstract

Biological control (biocontrol) is a safe, sustainable approach that takes advantage of natural enemies such as predators, parasitic insects or pathogens to manage pests in agroecosystems. Parasitoid wasps, a very large evolutionary group of hymenopteran insects, are well-known biological control agents for arthropod pests in agricultural and forest ecosystems. Here, we summarize the recent progress on the application of parasitoid wasps in biocontrol in China for the last five years. These include species diversity of parasitoid wasps, identification of dominant parasitoid wasps associated with insect pests and biocontrol practices (three types of biological control, i.e., classical, augmentative and conservation biological control) in several Chinese agroecosystems. We then treat different mass-rearing and release technologies and the commercialization of several parasitoid wasp species. We also summarize other work that may have a potential use in biocontrol, including the effect of plant volatiles on parasitoids and recent advance in the molecular mechanisms underlying the host regulation by parasitoid wasps. Future research area and applied perspectives are also discussed, noting that advances in biocontrol technologies in Chinese agriculture informs research at the global level.

Assemblage of the Egg Parasitoids of the Invasive Stink Bug Halyomorpha halys: Insights on Plant Host Associations

“…Understanding which are the key chemical and ecological parameters represents a fundamental step for the development of successful biological control programs [49]. Planting nectar-producing plants has brought increased parasitoid activity with consequent pest reduction [50]. Thus, identifying host plants is fundamental for locating (and creating) hotspots for monitoring H. halys native and exotic parasitoids, and for the identification of Trissolcus sp.…”

Long-term spatio-temporal genetic structure of an accidental introduction, and the population dynamics of its associated Wolbachia symbiont

“…The study of invasion, and of accidental or intentional introductions of species are central to much of contemporary population and community ecology (Davis, 2009). Parasitoids are used as insect biological control agents (Wang, Liu, Shi, Huang, & Chen, 2019). Consequently, they are intentional introduced into both agricultural and natural environments (Grangirard, Hoddle, Petit, Roderick, & Davies, 2009) but often these introductions do not persist in the long term (Goldson et al, 2014), and if they do, their genetic structures might differ (Hufbauer et al, 2004).…”

Insects in production – an introduction

“…Among them, Hymenoptera, Acari, and Coleoptera are the taxa most commonly produced and sold commercially (van Lenteren, 2012). Being predators of key pests in diverse crop systems, parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera) in the families Aphelinidae, Trichogrammatidae, and Braconidae are mass reared globally (Wang et al, 2019). Flower bugs (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) of the genera Orius and Anthocoris are mass produced as polyphagous predators that feed on a wide array of arthropod prey.…”