The effects of ants on pest control: a meta-analysis.

Environmental impacts of conventional agriculture have generated interest in sustainable agriculture. Biological pest control is a fundamental tool, and ants are key players providing ecological services, as well as some disservices. We have used a meta-analytical approach to investigate the contribution of ants to biological control, considering their effects on pest and natural enemy abundance, plant damage and crop yield. We also evaluated whether the effects of ants are modulated by traits of ants, pests and other natural enemies, as well as by field size, crop system and experiment duration. Overall (considering all meta-analyses), from 52 studies on 17 different crops, we found that ants decrease the abundance of non-honeydew-producing pests, decrease plant damage and increase crop yield (services). In addition, ants decrease the abundance of natural enemies, mainly the generalist ones, and increase honeydew-producing pest abundance (disservices). We show that the pest control and plant protection provided by ants are boosted in shaded crops compared to monocultures. Furthermore, ants increase crop yield in shaded crops, and this effect increases with time. Finally, we bring new insights such as the importance of shaded crops to ant services, providing a good tool for farmers and stakeholders considering sustainable farming practices.

Managing humidity and drinking water in acrylic cages for rearing parasitoids / Manejo de umidade e de água potável em gaiolas de acrílico para criar parasitóides

The moisture level and drinking water inside acrylic boxes used to breed parasitoids can be managed by placing a Petri dish with water on top of the box and humidifying the inside with a vaporizer. Through condensation, a suspended dew pool forms inside the box just below the Petri dish, providing the parasitoids with drinking water.(AU)

O nível de umidade e a água potável dentro das caixas de acrílico usadas para criar parasitoides podem ser controlados colocando-se uma placa de Petri com água em cima da caixa e umidificando o interior com um vaporizador. Por meio da condensação, uma poça de orvalho suspensa se forma dentro da caixa logo abaixo da placa de Petri, fornecendo água potável aos parasitóides.(AU)

Managing humidity and drinking water in acrylic cages for rearing parasitoids / Manejo de umidade e de água potável em gaiolas de acrílico para criar parasitóides

The moisture level and drinking water inside acrylic boxes used to breed parasitoids can be managed by placing a Petri dish with water on top of the box and humidifying the inside with a vaporizer. Through condensation, a suspended dew pool forms inside the box just below the Petri dish, providing the parasitoids with drinking water.

O nível de umidade e a água potável dentro das caixas de acrílico usadas para criar parasitoides podem ser controlados colocando-se uma placa de Petri com água em cima da caixa e umidificando o interior com um vaporizador. Por meio da condensação, uma poça de orvalho suspensa se forma dentro da caixa logo abaixo da placa de Petri, fornecendo água potável aos parasitóides.

Contribución al conocimiento de los Coccinellini micófagos (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) en el departamento del Cusco, Perú / Contribution to the knowledge of the mycophagous Coccinellini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) from the Cusco Department, Peru

Resumen Se presenta una revisión de los ejemplares de Coccinellini micofagos procedentes de varias provincias del departamento del Cusco, en el sur oriente de Perú. Este grupo presenta actualmente nueve especies en el país, dentro de los géneros Oxytella Weise 1902, y Psyllobora Chevrolat 1836. En el material examinado se reporta la ocurrencia de cinco de ellas: Oxytella longula Weise, Psyllobora marshalli Crotch, abancayana Almeida, P. constantini González, Perla & Almeida, y P. hybrida (Mulsant); además de otras tres especies, aún no identificadas, dentro del género Psyllobora. Para cada especie se presenta una diagnosis, fotografías y microfotografías de habito y estructuras genitales, e información sobre su distribución en Cusco.

Abstract In this work, we presented a review of the specimens of mycophagous Coccinellini from various provinces of the Cusco Department, south east of Peru. This group currently has nine species in the country, within the genera Oxytella Weise 1902, and Psyllobora Chevrolat 1836. In the material examined the occurrence of five of them is reported: Oxytella longula Weise, Psyllobora marshalli Crotch, P. abancayana Almeida, P. constantini González, Perla & Almeida, and P. hybrida (Mulsant); in addition to three other species, not yet identified, within the genus Psyllobora. For each species a diagnosis, photographs and photomicrographs of habit and genital structures, and information on their distribution in Cusco are presented.

Agricultural insect hybridization and implications for pest management.

Biological invasions, the expansion of agricultural frontiers, and climate change favor encounters of divergent lineages of animals and plants, increasing the likelihood of hybridization. However, hybridization of insect species and its consequences for agroecosystems have not received sufficient attention. Gene exchange between distinct and distant genetic pools can improve the survival and reproduction of insect pests, and threaten beneficial insects in disturbed agricultural environments. Hybridization may be the underlying explanation for the recurrent pest outbreaks and control failures in putative hybrid zones, as suspected for bollworm, corn borer, whiteflies, and stink bugs. Reliable predictions of the types of changes that can be expected in pest insect genomes and fitness, and of their impacts on the fate of species and populations remain elusive. Typical steps in pest management, such as insect identification, pest monitoring, and control are likely affected by gene flow and adaptive introgression mediated by hybridization, and we do not have ways to respond to or mitigate the problem. To address the adverse effects of farming intensification and global trade, we must ensure that current integrated pest management programs incorporate up-to-date monitoring and diagnostic tools. The rapid identification of hybrids, quantification of levels of introgression, and in-depth knowledge of what genes have been transferred may help to explain and predict insect population outbreaks and control failures in the future. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Colored Sticky Traps to Selectively Survey Thrips in Cowpea Ecosystem.

The bean flower thrips, Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagrall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is an important pest of legume crops in South China. Yellow, blue, or white sticky traps are currently recommended for monitoring and controlling thrips, but it is not known whether one is more efficient than the other or if selectivity could be optimized by trap color. We investigated the response of thrips and beneficial insects to different-colored sticky traps on cowpea, Vigna unguiculata. More thrips were caught on blue, light blue, white, and purple traps than on yellow, green, pink, gray, red, or black traps. There was a weak correlation on the number of thrips caught on yellow traps and survey from flowers (r = 0.139), whereas a strong correlation was found for blue traps and thrips' survey on flowers (r = 0.929). On commercially available sticky traps (Jiaduo®), two and five times more thrips were caught on blue traps than on white and yellow traps, respectively. Otherwise, capture of beneficial insects was 1.7 times higher on yellow than on blue traps. The major natural enemies were the predatory ladybird beetles (63%) and pirate bugs Orius spp. (29%), followed by a number of less representative predators and parasitoids (8%). We conclude the blue sticky trap was the best to monitor thrips on cowpea in South China.

DIVERSIDAD DE ABEJAS SIN AGUIJÓN (Hymenoptera:Meliponini) UTILIZADAS EN MELIPONICULTURA EN COLOMBIA / Diversity of Stingless Bees (Hymenoptera:Meliponini) Used in Meliponiculture in Colombia

En Colombia se conoce la existencia de cerca de 120 especies de abejas nativas sin aguijón, muchas de las cuales tienen importantes usos y representaciones para diversos grupos sociales y culturales. A pesar de que su cría y manejo (meliponicultura), es una actividad que viene creciendo y tecnificándose en Latinoamérica y otras regiones del mundo, sus características y desarrollo en Colombia han sido poco documentados. Se presentan los resultados de entrevistas y visitas a 75 personas en 16 departamentos de Colombia, que cultivan 25 especies de abejas sin aguijón, agrupadas en 12 géneros. Se encontraron al menos nueve especies más sin identificación completa, se reportan cuatro nuevos registros para el país y se amplía la distribución para 21 taxones. Se presenta información sobre la distribución regional y altitudinal, el cultivo urbano y las denominaciones locales para las abejas. Se revisan algunas características de los géneros cultivados más comunes (Tetragonisca, Melipona, Paratrigona, Scaptotrigona y Nannotrigona) y se discute la importancia del vínculo entre diversidad biológica y cultural que se manifiesta en los nombres locales reportados. Ante un escenario mundial de expansión de la meliponicultura, se resaltan necesidades de investigación y riesgos para la conservación y manejo de la diversidad de abejas sin aguijón y los conocimientos asociados.

There are close to 120 species of native stingless bees in Colombia, many of them with important uses and meanings for diverse social and cultural groups. The stingless beekeeping (meliponiculture) is an activity in process of growth and technification in Latin America and other regions, but there are a little information about their characteristics and development in Colombia. Through information collected by interviews to 75 stingless beekeepers of 16 departments of Colombia, 25 species of stingless bees were identified, grouped in 12 genera. Approximately nine more uncertain species were also found, four new records for the country are presented, and geographical distribution, urban beekeeping and vernacular names reported. The characteristics of most common cultivated genera (Tetragonisca, Melipona, Paratrigona, Scaptotrigona and Nannotrigona) are presented, and the importance of the link between biological and cultural diversity revealed in vernacular names, are discussed. Facing a growing of meliponiculture in the world, some research needs and risks for the conservation and management of the diversity of stingless bees and related knowledge are remarked.

Ocorrência de insetos na parte aérea da soja em função do manejo de plantas daninhas em cultivar convencional e geneticamente modificada resistente a glyphosate / Occurrence of insects in the aerial part of soybean in function of the weed control systems and conventional and genetically modified herbicide-tolerant varieties

Com o objetivo de verificar a ocorrência de insetos da parte aérea na cultura da soja convencional e geneticamente modificada resistente a glyphosate, realizou-se este trabalho durante a safra agrícola 2004/05, em Cruz Alta, RS, na área experimental da Fundação Centro de Experimentação e Pesquisa (FUNDACEP). A semeadura foi realizada no dia 26/11/2004, no delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas e com quatro repetições, em esquema fatorial 2 x 3. O fator A correspondeu à cultivar "CD 214 RR" resistente a glyphosate e à "CD 201" convencional e o fator B correspondeu ao sistema de manejo das plantas daninhas (sem controle, controle mecânico e controle químico tradicional) e com um tratamento adicional (controle químico com glyphosate na cultivar "CD 214 RR"). A utilização da soja geneticamente modificada resistente a glyphosate e a aplicação do herbicida glyphosate alteraram a ocorrência de algumas espécies de insetos-praga e inimigos naturais na parte aérea da soja.

The experiment was carried out during the crop season 2004/05, in Cruz Alta, RS, Brazil at Fundação Centro de Experimentação e Pesquisa (FUNDACEP) experimental area. The objective was to study the occurrence of insects in conventional and genetically modified herbicide-tolerant soybean. The seeding was done in November, 2004. The experimental design was randomized blocks and factorial scheme. The factor A was represented by the varieties 'CD 214 RR' (glyphosate-tolerant) and 'CD 201' (conventional). The factor B was composed by weed management systems, were b1- without weed control, b2- mechanical control and b3- chemical control with conventional herbicides. An additional treatment was used, where glyphosate application on 'CD 214 RR' was done. Soybean genetically modified herbicide-tolerant and glyphosate application had effects on some pests and beneficial insects in soybean.

Ocorrência de insetos na parte aérea da soja em função do manejo de plantas daninhas em cultivar convencional e geneticamente modificada resistente a glyphosate

The experiment was carried out during the crop season 2004/05, in Cruz Alta, RS, Brazil at Fundação Centro de Experimentação e Pesquisa (FUNDACEP) experimental area. The objective was to study the occurrence of insects in conventional and genetically modified herbicide-tolerant soybean. The seeding was done in November, 2004. The experimental design was randomized blocks and factorial scheme. The factor A was represented by the varieties 'CD 214 RR' (glyphosate-tolerant) and 'CD 201' (conventional). The factor B was composed by weed management systems, were b1- without weed control, b2- mechanical control and b3- chemical control with conventional herbicides. An additional treatment was used, where glyphosate application on 'CD 214 RR' was done. Soybean genetically modified herbicide-tolerant and glyphosate application had effects on some pests and beneficial insects in soybean.

Com o objetivo de verificar a ocorrência de insetos da parte aérea na cultura da soja convencional e geneticamente modificada resistente a glyphosate, realizou-se este trabalho durante a safra agrícola 2004/05, em Cruz Alta, RS, na área experimental da Fundação Centro de Experimentação e Pesquisa (FUNDACEP). A semeadura foi realizada no dia 26/11/2004, no delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas e com quatro repetições, em esquema fatorial 2 x 3. O fator A correspondeu à cultivar "CD 214 RR" resistente a glyphosate e à "CD 201" convencional e o fator B correspondeu ao sistema de manejo das plantas daninhas (sem controle, controle mecânico e controle químico tradicional) e com um tratamento adicional (controle químico com glyphosate na cultivar "CD 214 RR"). A utilização da soja geneticamente modificada resistente a glyphosate e a aplicação do herbicida glyphosate alteraram a ocorrência de algumas espécies de insetos-praga e inimigos naturais na parte aérea da soja.

Ocorrência de insetos na parte aérea da soja em função do manejo de plantas daninhas em cultivar convencional e geneticamente modificada resistente a glyphosate

The experiment was carried out during the crop season 2004/05, in Cruz Alta, RS, Brazil at Fundação Centro de Experimentação e Pesquisa (FUNDACEP) experimental area. The objective was to study the occurrence of insects in conventional and genetically modified herbicide-tolerant soybean. The seeding was done in November, 2004. The experimental design was randomized blocks and factorial scheme. The factor A was represented by the varieties 'CD 214 RR' (glyphosate-tolerant) and 'CD 201' (conventional). The factor B was composed by weed management systems, were b1- without weed control, b2- mechanical control and b3- chemical control with conventional herbicides. An additional treatment was used, where glyphosate application on 'CD 214 RR' was done. Soybean genetically modified herbicide-tolerant and glyphosate application had effects on some pests and beneficial insects in soybean.

Com o objetivo de verificar a ocorrência de insetos da parte aérea na cultura da soja convencional e geneticamente modificada resistente a glyphosate, realizou-se este trabalho durante a safra agrícola 2004/05, em Cruz Alta, RS, na área experimental da Fundação Centro de Experimentação e Pesquisa (FUNDACEP). A semeadura foi realizada no dia 26/11/2004, no delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas e com quatro repetições, em esquema fatorial 2 x 3. O fator A correspondeu à cultivar "CD 214 RR" resistente a glyphosate e à "CD 201" convencional e o fator B correspondeu ao sistema de manejo das plantas daninhas (sem controle, controle mecânico e controle químico tradicional) e com um tratamento adicional (controle químico com glyphosate na cultivar "CD 214 RR"). A utilização da soja geneticamente modificada resistente a glyphosate e a aplicação do herbicida glyphosate alteraram a ocorrência de algumas espécies de insetos-praga e inimigos naturais na parte aérea da soja.