The dual role of earwigs (Dermaptera) in winter grain crops in Australia

Binns, Matthew; Umina, Paul A

doi:10.1111/jen.12959

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…These two are the most studied species in relation to their dual roles in the agroecosystem [24][25][26]. There is contrasting literature reporting the role and effect of these species in agriculture, acting as insect pests in grain, vegetable, and several fruit crops but also as biological control agents feeding on aphids, mites, psyllids, and other small arthropods [25,27,28]. Some studies performed in Australia have shown that F. auricularia is the most prevalent species feeding on grain crops [28] and has been reported to induce damage in several fruit species [26].…”

Section: Dermaptera: An Underrepresented Group Within Insect Genomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is contrasting literature reporting the role and effect of these species in agriculture, acting as insect pests in grain, vegetable, and several fruit crops but also as biological control agents feeding on aphids, mites, psyllids, and other small arthropods [25,27,28]. Some studies performed in Australia have shown that F. auricularia is the most prevalent species feeding on grain crops [28] and has been reported to induce damage in several fruit species [26]. But Nicholas et al, [29] showed that F. auricularia in combination with the hymenopteran species, Aphelinus mali, were able to efficiently reduce woolly aphid infestations.…”

Section: Dermaptera: An Underrepresented Group Within Insect Genomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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DNA sequencing in the classroom: complete genome sequence of two earwig (Dermaptera; Insecta) species

Kobayashi

Maldonado²,

Gaete³

et al. 2023

Biol Res

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Background Despite representing the largest fraction of animal life, the number of insect species whose genome has been sequenced is barely in the hundreds. The order Dermaptera (the earwigs) suffers from a lack of genomic information despite its unique position as one of the basally derived insect groups and its importance in agroecosystems. As part of a national educational and outreach program in genomics, a plan was formulated to engage the participation of high school students in a genome sequencing project. Students from twelve schools across Chile were instructed to capture earwig specimens in their geographical area, to identify them and to provide material for genome sequencing to be carried out by themselves in their schools. Results The school students collected specimens from two cosmopolitan earwig species: Euborellia annulipes (Fam. Anisolabididae) and Forficula auricularia (Fam. Forficulidae). Genomic DNA was extracted and, with the help of scientific teams that traveled to the schools, was sequenced using nanopore sequencers. The sequence data obtained for both species was assembled and annotated. We obtained genome sizes of 1.18 Gb (F. auricularia) and 0.94 Gb (E. annulipes) with the number of predicted protein coding genes being 31,800 and 40,000, respectively. Our analysis showed that we were able to capture a high percentage (≥ 93%) of conserved proteins indicating genomes that are useful for comparative and functional analysis. We were also able to characterize structural elements such as repetitive sequences and non-coding RNA genes. Finally, functional categories of genes that are overrepresented in each species suggest important differences in the process underlying the formation of germ cells, and modes of reproduction between them, features that are one of the distinguishing biological properties that characterize these two distant families of Dermaptera. Conclusions This work represents an unprecedented instance where the scientific and lay community have come together to collaborate in a genome sequencing project. The versatility and accessibility of nanopore sequencers was key to the success of the initiative. We were able to obtain full genome sequences of two important and widely distributed species of insects which had not been analyzed at this level previously. The data made available by the project should illuminate future studies on the Dermaptera.

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Section: Dermaptera: An Underrepresented Group Within Insect Genomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Dermaptera: An Underrepresented Group Within Insect Genomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA sequencing in the classroom: complete genome sequence of two earwig (Dermaptera; Insecta) species

Kobayashi

Maldonado²,

Gaete³

et al. 2023

Biol Res

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Effects of organic amendments on crop production and soil fauna community in contrasting Zambian soils

Hamamoto,

Nhamo,

Chikoye

et al. 2024

J of Sust Agri & Env

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The use of organic materials has been widely promoted to improve soil health. Surface‐active soil macrofauna serves as a key biological indicator of soil health as it supports agricultural productivity. However, the effects of organic amendments on soil fauna and their relationships with crop production are still unknown in C‐limited soil conditions. A field experiment was conducted under different fertilizer management in two soils with contrasting C content (14.2/5.1 g C kg−1 at the Lusaka/Kabwe site) in Zambia. Our results show a contrast in soil fauna abundance in two soils. During the experimental period, we collected a total of 926 individual soil fauna in all plots at the Lusaka site, while only 145 individual soil fauna were collected at the Kabwe site. Soil fauna was predominantly composed of Araneae, Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Diplopoda, and Orthoptera. Organic amendments significantly increased soil fauna abundance only at the Lusaka site, and the abundance of Coleoptera and Diplopoda was highly related to the crop yield. At the Kabwe site, the effect of organic amendment on soil fauna abundance was minimal, although significantly higher crop yields were observed in soils with organic amendment. These contrasting results may be due to soil nutrient and water status between different sites. Our findings suggest that site‐specific strategies are required to protect and enhance soil fauna communities in C‐depleted soils.

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Inoculation and conservation of the biocontrol agent European earwig in Washington pear orchards

Orpet,

Curtiss,

Catron

et al. 2025

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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European earwig, Forficula auricularia L. sensu lato (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), is a univoltine, resident, omnivorous species and a beneficial predator in pome fruit orchards. Here, three methods were used to investigate pear (Pyrus communis L., Rosaceae) orchard inoculation with European earwig for biocontrol of pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola (Foerster) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), in Washington State, USA. The first method was earwig inoculation experiments. In a first experiment (2019–2020), each of three orchards had one inoculation and one control plot. In a second experiment (2020–2021), there were four inoculation and four control plots in each of the same three orchards. In both experiments, earwigs persisted during the year of inoculation, but earwigs were nearly absent the following season at two orchards that used conventional broad‐spectrum pesticides. At the third orchard, which excluded broad‐spectrum pesticides under an integrated pest management (IPM) program, earwigs became abundant in year two of the second experiment. The second method was case studies. In the first of two case studies, during 2016, 2017, 2022, and 2023, in half of the integrated orchard from above, conventional broad‐spectrum sprays were used. Earwig populations became low in the conventional half. In the second case study, earwigs became abundant after inoculation of an integrated orchard by the grower. Earwigs spread to the edge of the orchard in year two and spilled into a neighboring orchard in years three and four. The third method was an observational study of 36 pear orchards over 5 years. Earwigs were rarely found in conventionally sprayed orchards, and earwigs increased each additional year integrated management was used. The findings suggest conventional pear spray programs in Washington nearly eradicate earwigs, but populations can recover under integrated management with natural dispersal from refuges or with inoculative releases.

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The dual role of earwigs (Dermaptera) in winter grain crops in Australia

Cited by 3 publications

References 56 publications

DNA sequencing in the classroom: complete genome sequence of two earwig (Dermaptera; Insecta) species

DNA sequencing in the classroom: complete genome sequence of two earwig (Dermaptera; Insecta) species

Effects of organic amendments on crop production and soil fauna community in contrasting Zambian soils

Inoculation and conservation of the biocontrol agent European earwig in Washington pear orchards

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