1
|
Berteloot OH, Peusens G, Beliën T, De Clercq P, Van Leeuwen T. Unveiling the diet of two generalist stink bugs, Halyomorpha halys and Pentatoma rufipes (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), through metabarcoding of the ITS2 region from gut content. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:5694-5705. [PMID: 39011841 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of DNA metabarcoding has become an increasingly popular technique to infer feeding relationships in polyphagous herbivores and predators. Understanding host plant preference of native and invasive herbivore insects can be helpful in establishing effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. The invasive Halyomorpha halys and native Pentatoma rufipes are piercing-sucking stink bug pests that are known to cause economic damage in commercial fruit orchards. RESULTS In this study, we performed molecular gut content analysis (MGCA) on field-collected specimens of these two herbivorous pentatomids using next-generation amplicon sequencing (NGAS) of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) barcode region. Additionally, a laboratory experiment was set up where H. halys was switched from a mixed diet to a monotypic diet, allowing us to determine the detectability of the initial diet in a time series of ≤3 days after the diet switch. We detected 68 unique plant species from 54 genera in the diet of two stink bug species, with fewer genera found per sample and a smaller diet breadth for P. rufipes than for H. halys. Both stink bug species generally prefer deciduous trees over gymnosperms and herbaceous plants. Landscape type significantly impacted the observed genera in the diet of both stink bug species, whereas season only had a significant effect on the diet of H. halys. CONCLUSION This study provides further insights into the dietary composition of two polyphagous pentatomid pests and illustrates that metabarcoding can deliver a relevant species-level resolution of host plant preference. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Hendrik Berteloot
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University (UGent), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Gertie Peusens
- Zoology Department, Research Centre for Fruit Cultivation (PCFruit), Sint-Truiden, Belgium
| | - Tim Beliën
- Zoology Department, Research Centre for Fruit Cultivation (PCFruit), Sint-Truiden, Belgium
| | - Patrick De Clercq
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University (UGent), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas Van Leeuwen
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University (UGent), Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Judt C, Korányi D, Zaller JG, Batáry P. Floral resources and ground covers promote natural enemies but not pest insects in apple orchards: A global meta-analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 903:166139. [PMID: 37567308 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, agricultural intensification has led to a loss of biodiversity and associated ecosystem services such as natural pest control. Conservation biological control addresses this problem by generally extensifying farming and/or providing alternative habitats and food sources for natural enemies of pest species. However, farmers implement conservation biological control sparingly, in part because of the confusing variety of measures with inconsistent effects. To shed some light on the effectiveness of conservation biological control measures in apple production, we conducted four meta-analyses to identify patterns of local measures on (i) insect pest abundance, (ii) natural enemy abundance, (iii) biological control, and (iv) fruit quality. Across the 54 studies, we found an overall significant, positive effect of local interventions on natural enemy abundance. Among our established intervention categories (flowers, ground cover, extensification), ground covers promoted natural enemies the most and tended to reduce pest insects. Likewise, providing flowers promoted natural enemies without affecting fruit quality. In contrast, extensification of orchard management alone, such as reducing agrochemical use and/or less disturbance, had no significant effect on the abundance of natural enemies, but showed a tendency to increase populations of pest insects and reduce fruit quality. Our results demonstrate that more floral resources and ground covers in apple orchards can reduce pesticide use while maintaining fruit quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine Judt
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, Institute of Zoology, A-1180 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Dávid Korányi
- "Lendület" Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány u. 2-4, 2163 Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - Johann G Zaller
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, Institute of Zoology, A-1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Péter Batáry
- "Lendület" Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány u. 2-4, 2163 Vácrátót, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Fountain MT, Tsiolis K, Silva CX, Deakin G, Garratt MPD, O'Connor R, Carvell C, Pywell RF, Edwards M, Potts SG. Location and Creation of Nest Sites for Ground-Nesting Bees in Apple Orchards. INSECTS 2023; 14:490. [PMID: 37367306 DOI: 10.3390/insects14060490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Wild ground-nesting bees are key pollinators of apple (Malus domestica). We explored, (1) where they choose to nest, (2) what influences site selection and (3) species richness in orchards. Twenty-three orchards were studied over three years; twelve were treated with additional herbicide to increase bare ground with the remainder as untreated controls. Vegetation cover, soil type, soil compaction, nest number and location, and species were recorded. Fourteen species of ground-nesting solitary/eusocial bee were identified. Most nests were in areas free of vegetation and areas treated with additional herbicide were utilised by ground nesting bees within three years of application. Nests were also evenly distributed along the vegetation-free strips underneath the apple trees. This area was an important ground-nesting bee habitat with mean numbers of nests at peak nest activity of 873 per ha (range 44-5705), and 1153 per ha (range 0-4082) in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Increasing and maintaining areas of bare ground in apple orchards during peak nesting events could improve nesting opportunities for some species of ground-nesting bee and, combined with flowers strips, be part of a more sustainable pollinator management approach. The area under the tree row is an important contributor to the ground-nesting bee habitat and should be kept bare during peak nesting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Konstantinos Tsiolis
- NIAB, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ, UK
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6EU, UK
| | | | - Greg Deakin
- NIAB, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ, UK
| | - Michael P D Garratt
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6EU, UK
| | - Rory O'Connor
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6EU, UK
| | - Claire Carvell
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Richard F Pywell
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8BB, UK
| | | | - Simon G Potts
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6EU, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pérez-Marcos M, Ortiz-Sánchez FJ, López-Gallego E, Ibáñez H, Carrasco A, Sanchez JA. Effects of Managed and Unmanaged Floral Margins on Pollination Services and Production in Melon Crops. INSECTS 2023; 14:296. [PMID: 36975981 PMCID: PMC10051670 DOI: 10.3390/insects14030296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Melon is among the most consumed fruits in the world, being a crop that depends almost entirely on insects for its reproduction, which is why it is especially sensitive to declining pollination services. Restoration and maintenance of hedgerows and agricultural borders around crops are generally carried out by sowing flowering herbaceous plants or establishing shrubby species; however, a cost-effective and lower-maintenance alternative for farmers could be as simple as allowing vegetation to regenerate naturally without any management actions. This work aimed to test the effects of three different types of margins (managed herbaceous, managed shrubby, and unmanaged herbaceous) on the overall abundance and richness of wild pollinators in melon crops. The work was performed in three localities in southern Spain over two years. Pollinators were monitored visually using 1 × 1 m sampling squares and pan traps within melon fields. Moreover, crop yield was estimated by measuring fruit weight and the number of seeds. In general, higher abundances of pollinators were observed in melon fields during the second year. In addition, the abundances of Syrphidae, Andrenidae, Apidae (excl. Apis mellifera), and pollinators other than bees, belonging to the orders Diptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera, showed higher values in melon fields with shrubby margins than in fields with herbaceous margins (managed or unmanaged). However, no effect of floral margins on the yield of melon crops was found.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María Pérez-Marcos
- Biological Pest Control & Ecosystem Services Laboratory, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Development (IMIDA), C/Mayor s/n, 30150 Murcia, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Ortiz-Sánchez
- Research Group “R&D Transfer in the Area of Natural Resources”, University of Almería, Ctra. de Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Elena López-Gallego
- Biological Pest Control & Ecosystem Services Laboratory, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Development (IMIDA), C/Mayor s/n, 30150 Murcia, Spain
| | - Helena Ibáñez
- Biological Pest Control & Ecosystem Services Laboratory, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Development (IMIDA), C/Mayor s/n, 30150 Murcia, Spain
| | - Aline Carrasco
- Biological Pest Control & Ecosystem Services Laboratory, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Development (IMIDA), C/Mayor s/n, 30150 Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Sanchez
- Biological Pest Control & Ecosystem Services Laboratory, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Development (IMIDA), C/Mayor s/n, 30150 Murcia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|