When ignorance is not bliss: Pest control decisions involving beneficial insects

Grogan, Kelly A.

doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2014.08.007

Cited by 7 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Limited adoption in use of authorised pesticides of NSs is partly attributable to a lack of education and information [45,[256][257][258]. However, evidence exists that some farmers in SSA are traditionally using NSs without anecdotal efficacy and safety validations [246][247][248][249][250][251][252][253][254][255][256][257][258][259].…”

Section: Legislative and Regulatory Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on the “Offensive” in Africa: Prospects for Integrated Management Initiatives

Tarusikirwa

Machekano

Mutamiswa

et al. 2020

Insects

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The South American tomato pinworm Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) has aggressively invaded the African continent. Since its first detection in North Africa in Morocco and Tunisia in 2008, it has successfully invaded the entire southern, eastern and western Africa, where it has been on the offensive, causing significant damage to Solanaceous food crops. While control of this prolific invader is primarily based on conventional synthetic pesticides, this form of control is consistently losing societal approval owing to (1) pesticide resistance development and consequential loss of field efficacy; (2) growing public health concerns; (3) environmental contamination and loss of biological diversity and its associated ecological services; and (4) unsustainable costs, particularly for resource-poor African farmers. As such, more ecologically sound pest management strategies, e.g., the use of natural substances (NSs), may offer a more sustainable approach to tackling this offensive. A systematic literature search through digital libraries and online databases (JSTOR, PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS and Google Scholar) was conducted using predetermined keywords on T. absoluta, e.g., South American tomato pinworm. We use this to explain the invasion of T. absoluta in Africa, citing mechanisms facilitating African invasion and exploring the potential of its control using diverse biological control agents, natural and low-risk substances. Specifically, we explore how botanicals, entomopathogens, semiochemicals, predators, parasitoids, host plant resistance, sterile insect technique and others have been spatially employed to control T. absoluta and discuss the potential of these control agents in African landscapes using more integrated approaches. We discuss the use of NSs as assets to general insect pest control, some potential associated liabilities and explain the potential use and barriers to adoption in African systems from a legislative, economic, ecological and social standpoint.

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Section: Legislative and Regulatory Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on the “Offensive” in Africa: Prospects for Integrated Management Initiatives

Tarusikirwa

Machekano

Mutamiswa

et al. 2020

Insects

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“…The social science research on BC can be grouped into four categories: (1) studies of the influences on growers' decisions to adopt BC practices (Abdollahzadeh et al, 2015;Brodt et al, 2004Brodt et al, , 2006Grogan, 2014;Grogan and Goodhue, 2012;Moser et al, 2008;Niyaki et al, 2010;Ommani and Noorivandi, 2012;Warner 2007;Wawrzynski et al, 2001); (2) sociohistorical and political economic analyses of BC programs (Altieri, 1991;Altieri et al, 1997;Perkins and Garcia, 1999;van Lenteren, 2012;Warner et al, 2011;; (3) public engagement and public opinion research on BC (McNeil et al, 2010;Warner, 2012;; and (4) economic analyses of BC adoption (Cullen et al, 2008;Ervin et al, 1983;Griffiths et al, 2008;Jetter, 2005;Jetter et al, 1997;Jetter and Paine, 2004;Kipkoech et al, 2006;Myrick et al, 2014;Voegele, 1989;Zeddies et al, 2001). Given that we surveyed walnut and pear growers about their use of BC practices, our research contributes to the scholarly work on the influences of growers' decisions to adopt BC practices.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…She argues that growers who are aware of predatory and parasitic insects will mitigate the negative effects of pesticides and release additional predators. In contrast, growers who are unaware of the presence of beneficial insects will overuse chemical controls and drive predator populations to zero (Grogan, 2014). Moser et al (2008) coverage about BC agents, the perceived positive attributes of BC agents (e.g., less environmental impact, increased worker safety, and no chemical residues), and years of strawberry farming experience significantly affected growers' confidence in BC agents.…”

Section: Influences On Growers' Decisions To Adopt Biological Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological control adoption in western U.S. orchard systems: Results from grower surveys

Goldberger

Lehrer

2016

Biological Control

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As part of a USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative project to enhance biological control (BC) in western U.S. orchard systems, we surveyed walnut growers in California and pear growers in Oregon and Washington about their pest management decision-making and use of BC practices. Seventy six percent of pear growers and 54% of walnut growers reported using one or more BC practices. BC users were more likely to minimize factors that harm natural enemies than enhance natural enemy habitats or release commercially produced natural enemies. Walnut growers with more education and orchard experience, as well as larger and more diversified operations, were more likely to use BC practices. Walnut and pear growers with some certified organic acreage, who considered environmental impacts when making pest management decisions, and who used selected pest management practices (pheromone mating disruption and degree-day calculations for codling moth control) were more likely to use BC practices. BC users relied more heavily on industry publications and university-based sources of pest management information, compared with non-users. The perceived benefits of BC adoption included reduced reliance on pesticides, reduced production costs, environmental protection, protection of beneficial insects, and improved worker safety and human health. The perceived barriers to BC adoption included lack of knowledge, questionable effectiveness, high cost, and lack of recommendation by pest management consultants. Our research not only contributes to the literature on the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, but also can inform future BC research and outreach by offering insight into who uses BC practices and assessment of perceived adoption benefits and barriers.

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“…Mutual relationships between the degradation of nature and agricultural production remain a severe problem, especially in developing countries (Olanipecun et al 2019). One of the measures most often impli-cated as a disturbance to agricultural landscapes is the application of pesticides (Sunderland 2002, Desneux et al 2007, Schmidt-Jefris & Nault 2018 which can have numerous adverse agricultural, environmental and health effects (Grogan 2014). In Europe, the use of pesticides is regulated by law.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some authors (e.g. Cárcamo et al 1995, Grogan 2014, Giglio et al 2017 indicate a negative effect of using plant protection chemicals on carabid beetles. However, some conclude that their experiments did not demonstrate a negative influence of pesticides on assemblages of these insects (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of plant protection on assemblages of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in sugar beet crops in four-year rotation

Kosewska

Nijak

Nietupski

et al. 2020

Acta Zool. Acad. Sci. Hung.

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The influence of chemical plant protection on carabid beetle assemblages was studied in an experiment conducted on fields of sugar beet at the IOR-PIB Experimental Station in Winna Góra, Poland. The experiment was composed of a block of control fields (no chemical plant protection treatments) and second block, where plant protection was carried out in compliance with the applicable plant protection program. Ground beetles were caught from May to August/September in four years, using modified Barber traps. As a result of the study, 11 881 specimens belonging to 52 species of Carabidae were collected. The most numerous species were: Harpalus rufipes, Pterostichus melanarius, Calathus ambiguus and Bembidion properans. Overall, our results demonstrate that the application of chemical plant protection treatments decreased the abundance of carabid beetles in sugar beet fields, but had no effect on species richness. The use of pesticides induced changes in some life traits of Carabidae fauna. After a pesticide application, the abundance of macropterous hemizoophages and medium carnivores with the autumn type of breeding decreased, whereas the abundance of small carnivores increased.

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When ignorance is not bliss: Pest control decisions involving beneficial insects

Cited by 7 publications

References 29 publications

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on the “Offensive” in Africa: Prospects for Integrated Management Initiatives

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on the “Offensive” in Africa: Prospects for Integrated Management Initiatives

Biological control adoption in western U.S. orchard systems: Results from grower surveys

Effect of plant protection on assemblages of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in sugar beet crops in four-year rotation

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