Articles
Exploiting the potential of indigenous natural enemies to control alien insect pests: the case study of the American grape leafminer Phyllocnistis vitegenella in southern Switzerland
Article number
1378_3
Pages
17 – 22
Language
English
Abstract
A survey carried out following the introduction of the American grape leafminer Phyllocnistis vitegenella into vineyards in southern Switzerland (Canton Ticino) revealed that a complex of 11 species of indigenous eulophid parasitoids developed on the new host.
The four most abundant species accounted for over 90% of the total number of parasitoid individuals emerged from pre-imaginal stages of P. vitegenella. They reached their maximal relative frequency in different sampling period (i.e., generations of P. vitegenella), thus possibly complementing each other.
Two species, Chrysocharis nephereus and Minotetrastichus frontalis, were clearly predominant, with a relative frequency of almost 85%. The average apparent parasitism for the three generations of P. vitegenella was 19.2%. Given the increasing scale and frequency of introduction of new alien pests in the region, including another leafminer associated with grapevines, we provide an example of the regulatory potential of natural antagonists and advocate for management approaches promoting the ecosystem services that biodiversity can provide.
The four most abundant species accounted for over 90% of the total number of parasitoid individuals emerged from pre-imaginal stages of P. vitegenella. They reached their maximal relative frequency in different sampling period (i.e., generations of P. vitegenella), thus possibly complementing each other.
Two species, Chrysocharis nephereus and Minotetrastichus frontalis, were clearly predominant, with a relative frequency of almost 85%. The average apparent parasitism for the three generations of P. vitegenella was 19.2%. Given the increasing scale and frequency of introduction of new alien pests in the region, including another leafminer associated with grapevines, we provide an example of the regulatory potential of natural antagonists and advocate for management approaches promoting the ecosystem services that biodiversity can provide.
Authors
D. Mazzi, C. Cara, L. Torriani, G.B. Pezzatti, M. Jermini
Keywords
biological control, biological invasions, Eulophidae, parasitoids, vineyards
Online Articles (56)