Predation by generalist arthropod predators on Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae): molecular gut‐content analysis and field‐cage assessment

Abstract

The overall low positive proportion of generalist predators with A. lucorum DNA detected using the molecular method, combined with the low predation rate in the field-cage experiment, indicated that the primary generalist predators likely had a limited role in the suppression of A. lucorum in the field. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Deorphanization of an odorant receptor revealed new bioactive components for green mirid bug Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae)

“…Apolygus lucorum , one of the most common species of mirid bugs in China, is a polyphagous herbivorous pest with more than 200 recorded host plants and causes considerable economic losses in different agricultural products . Both adults and nymphs feed on vegetative and reproductive tissues of their host plants causing stunted growth and the abscission or malformation of leaves, flowers, and fruits .…”

“…[1][2][3] Apolygus lucorum, one of the most common species of mirid bugs in China, is a polyphagous herbivorous pest with more than 200 recorded host plants and causes considerable economic losses in different agricultural products. 3,4 Both adults and nymphs feed on vegetative and reproductive tissues of their host plants causing stunted growth and the abscission or malformation of leaves, flowers, and fruits. 5 To date, the suppression of A. lucorum populations still relies heavily on foliar spraying application of insecticides, which has gradually resulted in the development of pest resistance, toxicity to non-target organisms and environmental pollution.…”

The specific host plant DNA detection suggests a potential migration of Apolygus lucorum from cotton to mungbean fields

“…lucorum has more than 200 recorded host plant species and causes economic injury to cotton and other crops, including fruit trees and tea plants [3–5]. Such a broad host range together with its remarkable reproduction ability, long-distance dispersal capacity [6] and relatively inefficient control by predators [7] increases the destruction by these pests. To date, the suppression of mirid bug populations in the field still relies heavily on chemical pesticide applications, leading to problems associated with resistance development, pest resurgence and environmental pollution; thus, an environmentally friendly pest management strategy is required, such as “push-pull” habitat management that utilizes repellent plants and attractant trapping crops to manipulate the population density of pests on the target crop [8].…”

Main predators of insect pests: screening and evaluation through comprehensive indices

“…Using a pair of primers that is specific for the target prey, the DNA of the prey remains in the predator's gut can be amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) . Conventional PCR has been widely employed for qualitatively evaluating predation by comparing the positive rates of prey‐specific DNA remains in the guts of predators in the field . However, it is difficult to quantify the amount of prey DNA amplified from the gut of a predator using conventional PCR.…”

“…24 Conventional PCR has been widely employed for qualitatively evaluating predation by comparing the positive rates of prey-specific DNA remains in the guts of predators in the field. 13,25,26 However, it is difficult to quantify the amount of prey DNA amplified from the gut of a predator using conventional PCR. Real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) offers additional information on the amount of prey tissue digested and thus can yield estimates of predation rates and potential impact of a biological control model.…”