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Submitted to: Crop Protection
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 4/27/2001 Publication Date: 8/1/2001 Citation: Naranjo, S.E. 2001. Conservation and evaluation of natural enemies in ipm systems for bemisia tabaci. Crop Protection Journal 20: 835-852. Interpretive Summary: Bemisia tabaci remains a key pest of worldwide significance and considerable research is being conducted to develop sustainable IPM systems. Biological control represents an important management tactic that has been largely underutilized. This article presents a critical review of research in the area of conservation biological control which emphasizes the preservation and enhancement of natural enemies. The review uses the interrelated components of conservation, survey, manipulation, and evaluation to assess progress of research efforts and suggest areas of needed future research. To date most research has focused on surveys to identify potential natural enemies. A large number of species have been identified and related research has demonstrated that these agents may act along with other mortality agents to inflict high levels of mortality on B. tabaci in the field. Overall, little effort has addressed manipulation and dmost of this has examined the effects of insecticides on natural enemies. Selective insecticides are now more readily available and their increased usage may permit integration of biological control into IPM systems. Very little research has directly addressed the evaluation of natural enemy and as a result our ability to predict and exploit these effects for pest suppression are limited. Life table analysis is suggested as a tool for structuring, quantifying, analyzing and interpreting multiple mortality factors in IPM systems. Technical Abstract: Conservation biological control emphasizes the preservation and enhancement of natural enemies and is the cornerstone of all approaches to biological control. This review critically examines recent and current research in conservation of predators and parasitoids of Bemisia tabaci worldwide. Many natural enemy species have been identified and research has demonstrated that these may act along with other mortality agents to inflict high levels of mortality on B. tabaci. Less effort has been placed on determining the factors constraining or potentially enhancing biological control. The widespread use of broad-spectrum insecticides has severely hampered the contribution of predators and parasitoids to pest suppression. However, the arsenal of selective insecticides has grown and their increased usage may permit true integration of biological control into IPM systems. The effects of species interactions and host-plant attributes on disruption of biological control are poorly understood. Research efforts in habitat manipulation and enhancement is minimal. Little research has addressed evaluation of natural enemy effects on B. tabaci population dynamics. Thus, our ability to predict and exploit these effects for pest suppression are limited. Problems in estimating and interpreting parasitism are highlighted. Life table studies of B. tabaci in Arizona cotton demonstrated how the integration of natural enemies with use of selective insecticides resulted in the development of an efficient pest management system. |
