Good Bugs and others WCFF Jan. 11 2014 Frank Stonaker
Biocontrol Benefits "When we kill off the natural enemies of a pest, we inherit their work." Carl Huffaker Pesticide issues resistance worker safety residues cost crop damage environmental Benefits of biocontrol no resistance no worker safety no residues economical no crop damage environmentally friendly
Biocontrol Definitions Use of natural enemies to control a pest. Predators Entomopathogens Parasites Graphics: Cornell Uinversity
Biocontrol Methods Classical Identify the pest s NE (complex) in its home land Evaluate (extensive lab studies) the safety of importing the NE to the pest s new home Import Quarantine Lab studies Release Augmentation Innundation IPM - Integrated Pest Management
Biocontrol Challenges Knowledge Commitment Patience Personnel Monitoring Compatibility with other management requirements Multiple pest complexes Supplier Product Quality Service
Biocontrol Methods Lotka-Voltera Predator-Prey Population Growth Model Prey Damage threshold Predator
Let it Be! Many potential pests are well controlled by their local complex of NE. Monitor carefully before taking action! The control you need may already be at work! Understanding and acting on action thresholds is very complex, and may be as much an art as a science.
Develop and maintain habitat that benefits a wide diversity of organisms Diversity = Stability Beetle Bank Source http://blogpajarosenlacabeza.blogspot.com/2012/09/beetle-banks.html
What s Buggin You? Know Your Pests
Let s get to Know the Pests and some Proven Biocontrol Options
Aphids Cornicles exhaust pipes ID of species difficult Piercing sucking mouthparts Disease transmission Sooty mold Cast skins
Aphids Winged and wingless Parthenogenic RAPID population growth colonies Nitrogen responsive
Aphids Biocontrol; Parasitoids Aphidius species Aphidius colemani A. ervi Common in CO introductions may not be needed Best introduced early into small aphid populations Relatively slow response Good at maintaining low aphid numbers Diagram Koppert, photos Biobest
Aphids Biocontrol; Predators Ladybird beetles Prey on many species of aphids Used as corrective measures to aphid outbreaks Hippodamia convergens Harmonia axyridis (multicolored Asian lady beetle)
Aphids Biocontrol; Predators Episyrphus balteatus (hoverflies Syrphid flies Hoverflies prey on many species of aphids in all stages. Adults look-like bees Larvae are maggots, hunting machines! Episyrphus is possible on bankerplants. Don t like pubescent leaves Adult hoverflies need pollen and nectar as food source for egg production.
Aphids Biocontrol; Predators Aphidoletes aphidimyza Predatory midges Adults are Wispy, long legged gnats Larvae are voracious maggots found in aphid colonies Attracted to yellow traps Prey on a wide range of aphid species. Prefer high relative humidities, warm nights, and long days Adults active at night, searching out aphid colonies for oviposition
Aphids Biocontrol; Predators Chrysoperla carnea Chryosoperla and Chrysopa spp. Lacewings: Eggs on stalks Larvae alligator-like with tusks Pupae round silken balls Adults fairylike, pollen and nectar feeders Prey on many pests including aphids and to a lesser extent many other pest insects, like whitefly, thrips and moth eggs. Introductions so so
Aphids Biocontrol; Banker Plants Banker plants Bank of hosts and prey Grain aphids reared on grass (won t survive on mostdicots) Parasitoids introduced on aphids Population of wasps increases and spreads
Biological Control of Aphids and others: Entomopathogens Beauveria bassiana (fungus) Verticillium lecanii (fungus) Metarhizium anisopliae (fungus) Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (fungus) Very host specific fungi that prey on insects Applied as a spray in high volume of water Entering through openings in insects bodies, developing in the insect and killing it quickly (within a week) Apply late afternoon or early morning (high humidity) good coverage is important contact target! requires a temperature of 18-28 C and a minimal relative humidity of 80% for 10-12 hours a day for several days after application. White fungal fluff appears on the affected aphids. The fluff can be visible before the aphids are killed Whitefly larvae turn pinkish, then brown
Spider mites The two spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Sucks chlorophyll from leaf, leaving it yellow to brown Webbing is unsightly and a good indication of high populations Rapid population growth, especially under warm dry conditions In cool fall conditions diapausing females (reddish color) hide in cracks in greenhouse, awaiting spring. Look for young colonies in leaf dimples. Yellow flecking or tiny spotting on leaf is diagnostic Photo Stonaker, Biobest, diagram Koppert
Biological Control of Spider mites Phytoseiulus persimilis (predatory mite)
Biological Control of Spider mites Amblyseius californicus (predatory mite) Hardier than A. persimilis Tolerant of wider temperature range Also preys on broad mite and cyclamen mite Can survive on pollen Slower developing than A. persimilis Not effective on tomato
Biological Control of Spider mites Feltiella acarisuga (Smidge-midge) Adults: long legged midge (gnat) 2 week life cycle Larvae: 0.2-2 mm in size, orangebrown, occur in spider mite colonies Pupae: white coccoon, occur mainly at the undersides of leaves, along the vein, easily seen
Spider mites Biocontrol; predators Other predators: Macrolophus caliginosus (predatory bug) Dicyphus hesperus (predatory bug) Orius insidiosus, O.tristicolor, O.majusculus, O.laevigatus (minute pirate bug)
Whitefly Greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum Sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia argentifollii Silverleaf whitefly Bemisia tabaci Sap feeders Disease transmitters Sooty mold grows on honeydew Many other species, less common
Whitefly GHWF tuna can shape with long hairs and fringe of hairs along perimeter of top. SPWF flat/domed shape, less hairs Larvae are mobile 1st instar, then sedentary. Eggs are upright oval, clear to white often surrounded by shed waxy scales from female
Whitefly Boicontrol; parasitoids Encarsia formosa (parasitic wasp) Greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) and sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) Requires average temperature of at least 65 F. Encarsia does better from February November in Colorado. Female adults: black head, black thorax, yellow abdomen Parasitized pupae of Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Bemisia tabaci turn black and light brown. The adult parasitic wasp emerges from the pupa through a round hole.
Whitefly Boicontrol; parasitoids Eretmocerus spp. Greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) and sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) in the second to fourth larval stage. Eretmocerus spp. is less susceptible to pesticides than Encarsia formosa Host feeding Does best under higher temperatures Female adults: lemon-yellow Male adults: brownish-yellow, thick antennae
Biological Control of Whitefly; predators Macrolophus caligonisus (predatory bug) Macrolophus caligonisus A predatory mirid bug with an appetite for whitefly and a wide range of other insects. Problems developed in some tomato houses where the insect depleted the whitefly populations, and fed on blossoms and developing fruit. ~ 1 month life cycle @ 77F (5 nymphal stages) ~ 3 month life cycle @59F
Whitefly Biocontrol; predators Delphastus pusillus The larvae of the small beetle prefers whiteflies. Same family other ladybirds Larvae is waxy like a mealybug
Whitefly Biocontrol; entomopathogens Paecilomyces fumoroseosus PFR-70 Beauveria bassiana Botanigard Naturalis O Require good spray coverage High humidity Combine with oil, neem, soap or sugar
Thrips Western Flower Thrips Sucking chewing insects Consume chlorophyll leaving spotted silvery spots Disease transmitters Impatiens Necrotic Spot (INSV) Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) Tough to control! Life Cycle 2-3 weeks
Western flower thrips Virus vector Fruit discoloration
Thrips; monitoring Scouting tips Silverinng of leaves, frass Tap and count hot pink traps yellow traps Biological indicators susceptible plants Petunia Majestic Blue, Blue Majic, Calypso
Thrips; cultural management IPM screening Combine Beaveria sprays with Adept, Conserve, or white sugar High temperatures remove ALL plants soil @ 60 F 3 wks air @ 104F, RH 10% 4 days Sanitation
Thrips Biocontrol; Predator Adult Orius eat all thrips stages, while younger Orius nymphs only eat thrips larvae. Sunflowers, great host
Thrips Biocontrol
Thrips Biocontrol; Entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana Botanigard, Naturalis O combine with Azatin, or Adept or Conserve at 1/10 to 1/4 rate for best results
Thrips Biocontrol Predatory nematodes Prepupae stage in soil
Caterpillars Chewers Holes in foliage, fruit Frass Egg masses or individual eggs Cutworms under cover during day Trap adults Pheromone traps Light traps Many are nocturnal Photos UC Davis, Biobest
Caterpillars Biocontrol Trichogramma spp. Caterpillar egg parasitoid Bacillus thurengiensis (B.t.) Sprayed bacteria Specific to Lepidoptera Must be eaten by caterpillar Misc. generalist predators Lacewings, Orius, Geocoris, Vespids Photo j.m.moore Misc. parasitic wasps eg. Cotesia glomerata on imported cabbage butterfly
Potato psyllid Phytoplasm vector (toxic saliva?) Plant death Frass conntamination (pics Cranshaw) Metaphycus spp parasitoid
Fungus Gnats Adults: small black gnats, narrow, long legs 3-4 wk life cycle Larvae: translucent maggots in soil Pupae: brown-black elongate with pointed ends in soil, and surroundings Photo Biobest
Fungus gnats Fly specks on leaves, pots, plant sleeves Larvae may be root feeders and carriers of Pythium, Phytophtora, Botrytis, Fusarium and Verticillium Indicator pest.. Too wet.. Shore flies similar life, thick stout bodies Yellow sticky traps, potato traps Photo Biobest
Fungus gnats (and shore fly) Biocontrol Hypoaspis miles Very effective Requires some reintroduction Photo Biobest
Fungus gnats (and shore fly) Biocontrol Predatory nematode Steinernema feltiella Drenched into substrate May use irrigation or sprayer Photo Biobest
Fungus gnats (and shore fly) Biocontrol Atheta coriaria Rove beetle Generalist predator Used with Hypoaspis Photo Biobest
Fungus gnats (and shore fly) Biocontrol Atheta coriaria Rove beetle Generalist predator Used with Hypoaspis Photo Biobest
Gnatrol Fungus gnats (and shore fly) Biocontrol Bacillus thurengiensis israelensis Biopesticide Media drench
Effect of Chemicals on Biological Control Agents Wide range of impacts Some very long lived residuals >12 weeks Some little impact on beneficials New softer classes coming on market Check with biocontrol supplier Good references : www.biobest.be www.koppert.com
Good Links www.anbp.org http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol /websites.html http://attra.org/ http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/index.html
Biocontrol Requirements Commitment Patience Knowledge Personnel Monitoring Compatibility with other management requirements Multiple pest complexes Supplier Product Quality Service