Nesidiocoris tenuis in Burkina Faso: Distribution, predatory capacity and insecticide sensibility

Abstract

Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a worldwide invasive insect species, considered a major pest of tomato. It has recently established in Burkina Faso, where chemical control remains the only affordable option to limit damages. Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) is commercialized as a biological agent to control this pest in other parts of the world. But very limited information exists on this predator in Burkina Faso. In this study, we first performed an insect survey in all agricultural regions areas of the country, and we found N. tenuis to be widely observed in all of them. Then, we performed two laboratory bioassays and demonstrated that all instars preyed on T. absoluta eggs, whether they were fed ad libitum or they had to actively forage for their prey. Because insecticide tolerant populations of T. absoluta were recently identified, we finally aimed at identifying agrochemicals that do not harm N. tenuis. We evaluated the toxicity of two synthetic insecticides, three bio‐bacterial insecticides and eight plant extracts, all being active ingredients available on the local market. Most of them (i.e., abamectin, emamectin benzoate, spinosad, spinetoram) were highly toxic for both T. absoluta and N. tenuis. In contrast, Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki, neem oil, Cleome viscosa (Asian spiderflower), Ocimum basilicum (Basil) and Cassia occidentalis (Coffee senna) were compatible with N. tenuis while still controlling T. absoluta. Based on our results, we recommend the application of Bacillus thuringiensis to both control T. absoluta and which does not compromise the maintenance of N. tenuis populations.

Emergency response to the Spodoptera frugiperda invasion in Africa: What do maize producers in Burkina Faso think and do?

“…The main socio-economic activity of the respondents is agriculture (100%). Maize is produced by almost all (97%) of the farmers (Figure 2), but some of them also or exclusively general low level of education as reported in previous similar studies in Benin (Baco et al, 2011) and Burkina Faso (Son et al, 2017;Tarnagda et al, 2017;Sawadogo et al, 2020). This situation can limit the adoption of good plant protection practices, and especially favors the misuse of synthetic pesticides whose labels are often written in French (Ahouangninou et al, 2011;Naré et al, 2015).…”

A Novel Interaction of Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) as a Biological Control Agent of Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae) in Potato

“…The insecticide solution for total crop coverage was sprayed at a rate of 355 L/ha and a pressure of 3 kg/cm 2 . The sprayer system was calibrated for a homogeneous spray and an equal flow rate per nozzle before the applications to comply with the commercially recommended label rates Additionally, we sprayed a preventive application of fungicide without side effects on N. tenuis [69] comprising a clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil (70% concentration) at three ZMA plus copper octanoate (copper soap 10%) at 2% v/v. Foliar fertilization was made during the vegetative crop stage with 1% of fulvic acid at 16 ZM to gal/acre.…”