Diversity of Species and the Occurrence and Development of a Specialized Pest Population—A Review Article

Abstract

The trophic interactions between plants and herbivorous insects are considered to be one of the primary relationships in the occurrence and development of specialized pest populations. Starting from the role of multicropping and the types of mixtures through the ecological benefits of intercropped plants, we explain the ecological conditions that contribute to the occurrence of pest populations. The dynamics of pest populations in crop occur in stages with the survival and development of pest in source of origin, invasion and distribution in crops, development and survival of the population, emigration to the another crop and (or) change of habitat. Possible effects of each stages are described based on the camouflage of visual effects, olfactory effects and reversal of feeding preferences. Fundamental theories of natural enemies and concentration of food resources have been explained to refer to the empirical data.

Distribution of Dalbulus maidis (DeLong) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and incidence of maize rayado fino virus and Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris in corn succession planting systems

“…4(A),(C)). Monoculture agroecosystems, such as cornfields without crop rotation (Crops 1 and 2), support a lower abundance of natural enemies 26,27 . Despite the monoculture in these two areas, the time the crop remains in the field differs between Crop 1 and Crop 2, 4 and 7 months, respectively.…”

“…Monoculture agroecosystems, such as cornfields without crop rotation (Crops 1 and 2), support a lower abundance of natural enemies. 26,27 Despite the monoculture in these two areas, the time the crop remains in the field differs between Crop 1 and Crop 2, 4 and 7 months, respectively. Therefore, the availability of corn plants throughout the growing and harvesting cycles can affect the population density of corn leafhopper, possibly due to the alterations of natural control factors such as natural enemies of D. maidis.…”

Productive and Ecological Aspects of Mixed Cropping System

“…Mixed systems are characterized by higher yields than pure stands [3,5,7,8]. Crop mixtures provide several agroecosystem services, e.g., increase biodiversity and support the diversity of beneficial insects, as well as reduce the outbreak of pests, which, among other things, is linked to decreased availability of food sources [9].…”

“…Brachiaria genotypes are used as a "pull" component for cereal pests in the climate-adapted push-pull technology (PPT), a habitat management strategy developed to manage the lepidopterous stem borers and spider mites [6]. A reduction in the pest population can be accomplished by recognizing and identifying their feeding preferences-the more pronounced the feeding preferences, the greater the reduction in the population [9].…”

“…A significant reduction in the population of oligophagous insects (insects whose host spectrum is in the botanical family) is expected to occur in mixtures of adequately spaced botanical taxa. For example, cereal plants' damage can be reduced by introducing the cereal leaf beetle to cereal-legume mixtures [9]. Ecological aspects of mixed related to the limitation of herbivores favor a green deal in Europe.…”