Can the Combined Use of the Mirid Predator Nesidiocoris tenuis and a Braconid Larval Endoparasitoid Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris Improve the Biological Control of Tuta absoluta?

Abstract

The koinobiont solitary larval endoparasitoid Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris (Marsh) (Syn.: Apanteles gelechiidivoris) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and the predatory bug Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) are important natural enemies of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a serious pest of tomato. Although N. tenuis preferentially feeds on T.absoluta eggs, it is also recorded as a predator of first and second instar larval stages. Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris preferentially seeks these early larval stages of T. absoluta for oviposition. The occurrence of intraguild predation between N. tenuis and D. gelechiidivoris and the consequences on the oviposition performance of D. gelechiidivoris were investigated in the laboratory. Regardless of the manner of introduction (i.e., the sequence of combinations with D. gelechiidivoris) or density (i.e., number of N. tenuis combined with D. gelechiidivoris), the presence of N. tenuis did not affect the oviposition performance of D. gelechiidivoris or the parasitoid’s progeny. Combination assays revealed that the efficacy of the combined use of N. tenuis and D. gelechiidivoris in controlling T. absoluta populations was significantly higher than that of either natural enemy alone. Our results highlight the potential of combining mirid predators and koinobiont larval endoparasitoids to control T. absoluta. The findings further contribute to data supporting the release of D. gelechiidivoris in tomato agroecosystems for the control of T. absoluta in Africa, where N. tenuis is widespread and abundant.

Feeding preference and intraguild interactions between the parasitoidTrichogramma achaeaeand the predatorMacrolophus pygmaeus, two biological agents ofTuta absoluta

“…A laboratory study in which Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) was exposed to Tuta absoluta eggs, then Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris (Marsh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was exposed to hatching larvae, revealed that their combined efficacy significantly reduced Tuta absoluta adult eclosion compared with when either biological control agent acted alone. 41 The results obtained in the experiment under semi-field conditions, coupled with the results of laboratory experiments, confirm that Trichogramma achaeae may significantly increase the level of control of the pest over what could be achieved when only M. pygmaeus is present in tomatoes. The results obtained in a similar field study shows a better control of Tuta absoluta, by just over 20%, when N. tenuis and Trichogramma achaeae were both present, despite the occurrence of intraguild predation against the parasitoid.…”

“…In the same study, authors found that feeding rates on Tuta absoluta eggs parasitized for 0–3 days, were similar to unparasitized eggs. A laboratory study in which Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) was exposed to Tuta absoluta eggs, then Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris (Marsh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was exposed to hatching larvae, revealed that their combined efficacy significantly reduced Tuta absoluta adult eclosion compared with when either biological control agent acted alone 41 …”

Naturalized Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris complement the resident parasitoid complex of Tuta absoluta in North‐eastern Spain

“…On the other hand, Aigbedion‐Atalor et al. (2021) reported no effect of Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) on oviposition and progeny of D. gelechiidivoris . Further studies are needed to understand the impact of conservation and/or augmentation of D. gelechiidivoris in tomato IPM programmes.…”

Identification, Microhabitat, and Ecological Niche Prediction of Two Promising Native Parasitoids of Tuta absoluta in Kenya

“…nr japonicus was noticed ( Table 1 ). Similarly, the number of progeny and emerged adults of the endoparasitoid of T. absoluta , Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris (Marsh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was not affected by the release of this predator [ 86 ]. It is, however, known from several studies that the release of N. tenuis in tomato fields, considerably reduces the persistence of T. absoluta [ 87 , 88 ], although N. tenuis prefers eggs to larvae [ 89 ].…”