Prospects for predatory mirid bugs as biocontrol agents of aphids in sweet peppers

In recent years, biological control strategies to control many major horticultural pests have been successfully implemented in the Eastern Mediterranean basin. However, the management of some pests, such as aphids in sweet pepper crops, can still be improved. The goal of this study was to examine th...

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Autores principales: Pérez-Hedo, Mertixell, Urbaneja, Alberto
Formato: article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2017
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11939/4360
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author Pérez-Hedo, Mertixell
Urbaneja, Alberto
author_browse Pérez-Hedo, Mertixell
Urbaneja, Alberto
author_facet Pérez-Hedo, Mertixell
Urbaneja, Alberto
author_sort Pérez-Hedo, Mertixell
collection ReDivia
description In recent years, biological control strategies to control many major horticultural pests have been successfully implemented in the Eastern Mediterranean basin. However, the management of some pests, such as aphids in sweet pepper crops, can still be improved. The goal of this study was to examine the potential of the omnivorous predatory mirids Nesidiocoris tenuis, Macrolophus pygmaeus, and Dicyphus maroccanus as biocontrol agents of aphids in sweet pepper crops. First, the capacity to detect Myzus persicae-infested and un-infested plants was studied in a Y-tube olfactometer. Females of the three species of predatory mirids were strongly attracted to the odor of infested M. persicae plants. Second, the prey suitability of young and mature nymphs of M. persicae for these three mirid species was studied. The three species actively preyed on M. persicae, although D. maroccanus resulted the most voracious species preying both young and mature nymphs. Finally, the capacity of the three omnivorous predators to reduce M. persicae in heavily infested plants was determined in semi-field conditions. The three species of mirids could reproduce on aphids and establish on sweet pepper plants. Mirids significantly reduced the number of M. persicae per leaf, reaching levels of aphid reduction close to 100 % when compared to the untreated control. These results suggest that mirids might play a major role in aphid management in sweet peppers. The potential implementation methods of predatory mirids for the biological control in sweet peppers are discussed.
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spelling ReDivia43602025-04-25T14:42:57Z Prospects for predatory mirid bugs as biocontrol agents of aphids in sweet peppers Pérez-Hedo, Mertixell Urbaneja, Alberto In recent years, biological control strategies to control many major horticultural pests have been successfully implemented in the Eastern Mediterranean basin. However, the management of some pests, such as aphids in sweet pepper crops, can still be improved. The goal of this study was to examine the potential of the omnivorous predatory mirids Nesidiocoris tenuis, Macrolophus pygmaeus, and Dicyphus maroccanus as biocontrol agents of aphids in sweet pepper crops. First, the capacity to detect Myzus persicae-infested and un-infested plants was studied in a Y-tube olfactometer. Females of the three species of predatory mirids were strongly attracted to the odor of infested M. persicae plants. Second, the prey suitability of young and mature nymphs of M. persicae for these three mirid species was studied. The three species actively preyed on M. persicae, although D. maroccanus resulted the most voracious species preying both young and mature nymphs. Finally, the capacity of the three omnivorous predators to reduce M. persicae in heavily infested plants was determined in semi-field conditions. The three species of mirids could reproduce on aphids and establish on sweet pepper plants. Mirids significantly reduced the number of M. persicae per leaf, reaching levels of aphid reduction close to 100 % when compared to the untreated control. These results suggest that mirids might play a major role in aphid management in sweet peppers. The potential implementation methods of predatory mirids for the biological control in sweet peppers are discussed. 2017-06-01T10:09:56Z 2017-06-01T10:09:56Z 2015 MAR 2015 article Pérez-Hedo, M., Urbaneja, A. (2015). Prospects for predatory mirid bugs as biocontrol agents of aphids in sweet peppers. Journal of Pest Science, 88(1), 65-73. 1612-4758 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11939/4360 10.1007/s10340-014-0587-1 en openAccess Impreso
spellingShingle Pérez-Hedo, Mertixell
Urbaneja, Alberto
Prospects for predatory mirid bugs as biocontrol agents of aphids in sweet peppers
title Prospects for predatory mirid bugs as biocontrol agents of aphids in sweet peppers
title_full Prospects for predatory mirid bugs as biocontrol agents of aphids in sweet peppers
title_fullStr Prospects for predatory mirid bugs as biocontrol agents of aphids in sweet peppers
title_full_unstemmed Prospects for predatory mirid bugs as biocontrol agents of aphids in sweet peppers
title_short Prospects for predatory mirid bugs as biocontrol agents of aphids in sweet peppers
title_sort prospects for predatory mirid bugs as biocontrol agents of aphids in sweet peppers
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11939/4360
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