Effects of Intercropping With Flowering Plants on Predation ofOstrinia nubilalis(Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Eggs by Generalist Predators in Bell Peppers

Abstract

Bell pepper plots intercropped with flowering plants were measured for improving biological control provided by natural enemies of the European corn borer [Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner)]. The intercropped plants Dill, Anethum graveolens L.; coriander, Coriandrum sativum L.; and buckwheat, Fagopyrum escuelentum Moench; were established on the edge of two pepper plots and compared with nonintercropped control plots. Predation by the three species Orius insidiosus Say; Coleomegilla maculata DeGeer; and Chrysoperla, sp. Stephens, was monitored by installing O. nubilalis egg masses on sentinel plants in 2008, 2009, and 2010. To assess negative impacts of alternative prey on O. nubilalis egg predation, green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) populations were monitored via whole-plant counts in 2009 and 2010. Myzus persicae densities on pepper plants peaked in June or July and then declined rapidly. Predation on O. nubilalis eggs increased rapidly after aphid populations declined. Aphid populations were reduced in two out of three field-seasons in intercropped plots. Seasonal predation by O. insidiosus was significantly higher in the intercropped system four out of five field-seasons and one field season by C. maculata. Results indicate that biocontrol of O. nubilalis can be improved by intercropping with flowering plants, although this capacity may depend on the abundance of alternative prey.

Relative effects of genetic variation sensu lato and sexual dimorphism on plant traits and associated arthropod communities

“…Plants commonly use this strategy to mechanistically employ indirect plant defenses, increasing top-down effects (Kessler and Heil 2011). This dynamic is leveraged in agricultural systems, where they intercrop flowering plants as a biological control method (Letourneau et al 2011;Bickerton and Hamilton 2012). Our findings, thus, lend support to the growing consensus that floral resource for natural enemies are a key trait driving sexual dimorphism in the structure of plant-associated multitrophic communities.…”

Development of an Insectary Plant Mixture for New Mexico and its Effect on Pests and Beneficial Insects Associated with Pumpkins

“…have been shown to feed on pollen and nectar from a wide variety of plants (Villenave et al 2006, Madeiros et al 2010, and increases in both chrysopids and predatory anthocorids (Orius sp.) in response to flowering plants have been documented in other cropping systems (Bickerton and Hamilton 2012, Kopta et al 2012, Mark et al 2013. Although neither chrysopids nor anthocorids are reported to prey on either squash bugs or spotted cucumber beetles, increases in their abundance would be valuable in cropping systems in which the main pests are aphids or other insects attacked by these predators.…”

Conservation biological control in strawberry: effect of different pollen on development, survival, and reproduction of Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

“…These plants have a central role in maximizing the control of herbivores by natural enemies (Fiedler et al 2008). Bickerton and Hamilton (2012) indicated that biocontrol of the European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) by generalist predators in pepper can be improved by intercropping with three flowering plants.…”