Biological Control of Taro Scarab Beetle (Papuanauninodis, Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Instars Via Scoliid and Voria Tachinidae Parasitoid Wasps.

ABSTRACT

Scoliid and Voria Tachinidae parasitoid wasps are shown to be able to control the population of the Taro Scarab beetle (Papuanauninodis, Coleoptera Scarabaeidae) larvae using a newly created continuous-time simulation model based on non-linear ordinary differential equations that track the populations of the beetle’s life cycle stages egg, larva, pupa, adult and the populations of the two parasitoid wasps. Due to the fact that the scarab beetles are, relatively speaking, long lived it is challenging to drive down the adult population below the environmental carrying capacity. Mortality and predator/prey capture rates are modelled using the Weibull and Pascal probability distribution functions, respectively. We suggest the use of a virus or fungi to drive down the population of the adult beetles, the ambition being to avoid the use of pesticides so as to produce higher quality food that doesn’t damage human health via chemical residues.