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Title: “IMPROVING KNOWLEDGE AND MANAGEMENT OF NATIVE NATURAL ENEMIES FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF COLORADO POTATO BEETLE”

Author
item Weber, Donald
item Rowley, Daniel
item Thorpe, Kevin
item Aldrich, Jeffrey

Submitted to: International Symposium on Biological Control of Arthropods
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/5/2005
Publication Date: 9/12/2005
Citation: Weber, D.C., Rowley, D.L., Thorpe, K.W., Aldrich, J.R. 2005. “improving knowledge and management of native natural enemies for biological control of colorado potato beetle”. International Symposium on Biological Control of Arthropods.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Several native natural enemies of Colorado potato beetle provide biological control of this key in North America. These CPB biocontrols present a spectrum of management opportunities from conventional augmentation to conservation involving habitat modification. Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), and Coleomegilla maculata (De Geer) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), are generalists in terms of habitat and also in their catholic feeding habits, which include significant consumption of plant juices and pollen respectively. This requires consideration of manipulation of predator movement and/or provision of properly-timed trophic supplements. Three specialist natural enemies of CPB are less known, in part because of challenges in rearing. Lebia grandis Hentz is a carabid predator and parasitoid of Leptinotarsa which is well-synchronized with the CPB life-cycle but which is apparently limited both by conventional cultural practices and by climatic factors. The first instar carabid, the host-seeking life-stage, is short-lived and sensitive to climatic extremes. Cultural and chemical practices must favor the predator-parasitoid in the agricultural setting. Two specialist tachinid species, Myiopharus doryphorae (Riley) and M. aberrans (Townsend), can be abundant in the field especially in the late season. We hope to develop in-field sorting techniques to favor the survival of tachinid-parasitized, compared to nonparasitized, overwintered host beetles. Each natural enemy has specific requirements that in turn require species-specific modifications in biocontrol tactics, to include combinations of lab- and field-based rearing and conservation tactics.