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Relevant bibliographies by topics / Insects as biological pest control agents

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Academic literature on the topic 'Insects as biological pest control agents'

Author: Grafiati

Published: 4 June 2021

Last updated: 30 January 2023

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Journal articles on the topic "Insects as biological pest control agents"

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Drummond, Frank, and Beth Choate. "Ants as biological control agents in agricultural cropping systems." Terrestrial Arthropod Reviews 4, no. 2 (2011): 157–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/187498311x571979.

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AbstractAnts positively impact agricultural systems by rapidly consuming large numbers of pest insects, disturbing pests during feeding and oviposition, and increasing soil quality and nutrients. The ability of ants to control pest species has been recognized since the year 300 A.D. and farmers continue to conserve and promote ant populations in agricultural systems worldwide. Naturally occurring ant species in milpas, mango, citrus, coconut, cashews, and cotton control many pest insects. Through judicious insecticide application and changes in management practices such as tillage, and other manipulations of vegetation and crop structure, beneficial ant populations are conserved in a variety of agroecosystems. The first recorded example of biological control was the manipulation of ants throughout citrus orchards in Asia. Augmentation continues in citrus, and methods of ant introduction have been developed in Malaysian and Indonesian cocoa plantations, as well as to control sweet potato and banana weevils in Cuba. Ant species have been formally incorporated into other integrated pest management programs for cashew in Australia, cocoa in Papua New Guinea, and mango in Australia and Vietnam. With efforts to reduce chemical pesticide input in agricultural systems, research evaluating the ability of generalist ant species to control pest insects must continue.

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Alfina, T., and N. F. Haneda. "Entomopathogenic fungi as biological agents in forest plant pest control: A systematic review." IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 959, no. 1 (January 1, 2022): 012013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/959/1/012013.

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Abstract Entomopathogenic fungi have seen application in pest control due to being more friendly to the environment compared to synthetic insecticides. This research aims to determine the potentials of entomopathogenic fungi by identifying research reports regarding the effectiveness of fungi as biological agents for controlling pest insect attacks on forest plants. This research used a systematic review to enable extended analysis. The systematic review was performed on secondary data obtained from 51 scientific articles concerning tests of entomopathogenic fungi on forest plants pest insects. The research publications originated from multiple continents and a surge in the number of publications took place in 2020. Curculionids were the most frequently found pest insects with 14 species encountered. The most frequently found and tested stadium of insects on the field was the adult stage used in 39 researches. The most dominant fungi used in the researches were ascomycetes with 31 species, ten species among them originating from the Cordycipitaceae family. The most used application methods were direct spraying and immersion, each with a 33% percentage of usage.

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Styer, E. L., and J. J. Hamm. "Detection and Identification of Viruses in Economically Important Insects." Microscopy and Microanalysis 6, S2 (August 2000): 666–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1431927600035820.

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Economically important insects include pests of plants, animals and stored products as well as insects produced commercially (honey bees, silkworms, insects for fish bait and food for birds and zoo animals). Other insects are produced in large numbers for experimental purposes, biological control of insect pests and weeds and the production of sterile insects for population suppression. Insect viruses may affect morphology, physiology and behavior, often reducing longevity and reproductive potential. Thus insect viruses can be used as biological control agents of pest insects. Insect viruses may also interfere with the production or function of biological control agents (e.g., parasitoids and predators) and insects used for research purposes. Therefore, it is advantageous to screen commercial and research colonies and imported insects for viruses.Electron microscopy of negatively stained specimens (NS EM) offers a relatively rapid and inexpensive means of screening populations of insects for the presence of viruses or viruslike particles and to monitor the progress of virus control programs.

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Sharma, Anamika, Ramandeep Kaur Sandhi, and Gadi V. P. Reddy. "A Review of Interactions between Insect Biological Control Agents and Semiochemicals." Insects 10, no. 12 (December 5, 2019): 439. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/insects10120439.

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Biological control agents and semiochemicals have become essential parts of the integrated pest management of insect pests over recent years, as the incorporation of semiochemicals with natural enemies and entomopathogenic microbials has gained significance. The potential of insect pheromones to attract natural enemies has mainly been established under laboratory conditions, while semiochemicals from plants have been used to attract and retain natural enemies in field conditions using strategies such as trap crops and the push–pull mechanism. The best-known semiochemicals are those used for parasitoids–insect pest–plant host systems. Semiochemicals can also aid in the successful dispersal of entomopathogenic microbials. The use of semiochemicals to disseminate microbial pathogens is still at the initial stage, especially for bacterial and viral entomopathogens. Future studies should focus on the integration of semiochemicals into management strategies for insects, for which several semiochemical compounds have already been studied. More effective formulations of microbial agents, such as granular formulations of entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs), along with bio-degradable trap materials, could improve this strategy. Furthermore, more studies to evaluate species-specific tactics may be needed, especially where more than one key pest is present.

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Beirne, Bryan P. "Avoidable obstacles to colonization in classical biological control of insects." Canadian Journal of Zoology 63, no. 4 (April 1, 1985): 743–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z85-108.

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Most classical biological control attempts worldwide against pest insects have failed to meet the objective of solving the pest problems permanently. The dominant cause was failure by introduced agents to colonize. Most failures to colonize can be attributed to procedures that were detrimental to the numbers or health or the target-finding or field survival abilities of newly released agents. Administrative reactions to the low success rate, poor cost/benefit data, and overselling of the method were basically responsible for those procedures. As ways of avoiding such procedures exist, it is feasible to make colonization a probability. This should substantially improve the chances of control being successful, enable past failures to be reopened, and expand the scope of classical biological control.

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Pan, Xiaoyuan, Xuejun Wang, and Fan Zhang. "New Insights into Cockroach Control: Using Functional Diversity of Blattella germanica Symbionts." Insects 11, no. 10 (October 13, 2020): 696. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/insects11100696.

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Insects have close symbiotic relationships with several microbes, which extends the limited metabolic networks of most insects. Using symbiotic microorganisms for the biological control of pests and insect-borne diseases has become a promising direction. Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattaria: Blattidae) is a public health pest worldwide, which is difficult to control because of its strong reproductive ability, adaptability, and resistance to insecticides. In this paper, the diverse biological functions (nutrition, reproductive regulation, insecticide resistance, defense, and behavior) of symbionts were reviewed, and new biological control strategies on the basis of insect–symbiont interaction were proposed. We highlight new directions in B. germanica control, such as suppressing cockroach population using Wolbachia or paratransgenes, and combining fungal insecticides with synergistic agents to enhance insecticidal efficacy.

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Isah, U., and M. A. Ahmad. "Microorganisms as bioinsecticides; short review." Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences 12, no. 1 (April 15, 2020): 274–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bajopas.v12i1.42s.

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Hundred thousand tons of chemical insecticides are used annually in Nigeria to combat insect disease vectors especially agricultural pests, but this sort of vector control method is gradually being substituted due to their environmental effects on non-target beneficial insects especially vertebrates through contamination of food and water. To counteract this contamination, attention, efforts and researches were directed to the use of biological control agents including insect pathogens. As a result, the use of bio insecticide, as a component of integrated pest management (IPM), has been gaining acceptance over the world. Microbial pathogens comprise of organisms which cause disease, these organisms are disseminated in the pest population in large quantity in a manner similar to application of chemical pesticides. Insects like other organisms are susceptible to a variety of diseases caused by different groups of microorganisms including virus, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes. Microbial pathogens of insects are intensively investigated to develop environment friendly pest management strategies in agriculture. Microbial insecticides represent today the best alternative to chemical insecticides in controlling insect pests, they are safe for non-target species and human health are believed to show low persistence in the environment. This short review indicates that microbial insecticides are the safe alternative way possessing all the requirements to replace chemical insecticides hence, they can be utilized in pest management and control. Keywords: Bio-insecticides, Microorganisms, biological control, pest, chemical insecticides

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Bale, J. S., J. C. van Lenteren, and F. Bigler. "Biological control and sustainable food production." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 363, no. 1492 (September 6, 2007): 761–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2007.2182.

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The use of biological control for the management of pest insects pre-dates the modern pesticide era. The first major successes in biological control occurred with exotic pests controlled by natural enemy species collected from the country or area of origin of the pest (classical control). Augmentative control has been successfully applied against a range of open-field and greenhouse pests, and conservation biological control schemes have been developed with indigenous predators and parasitoids. The cost–benefit ratio for classical biological control is highly favourable (1 : 250) and for augmentative control is similar to that of insecticides (1 : 2–1 : 5), with much lower development costs. Over the past 120 years, more than 5000 introductions of approximately 2000 non-native control agents have been made against arthropod pests in 196 countries or islands with remarkably few environmental problems. Biological control is a key component of a ‘systems approach’ to integrated pest management, to counteract insecticide-resistant pests, withdrawal of chemicals and minimize the usage of pesticides. Current studies indicate that genetically modified insect-resistant Bt crops may have no adverse effects on the activity or function of predators or parasitoids used in biological control. The introduction of rational approaches for the environmental risk assessment of non-native control agents is an essential step in the wider application of biological control, but future success is strongly dependent on a greater level of investment in research and development by governments and related organizations that are committed to a reduced reliance on chemical control.

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Ghazanfar, Muhammad Usman, Steffen Hagenbucher, Jörg Romeis, Giselher Grabenweger, and Michael Meissle. "Fluctuating temperatures influence the susceptibility of pest insects to biological control agents." Journal of Pest Science 93, no. 3 (March 5, 2020): 1007–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10340-020-01215-9.

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SAEIDI, Karim, Hossein PEZHMAN, and Hadi KARIMIPOUR-FARD. "Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Nematode Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) as a Biological Control Agent of Lentil Weevil, Bruchus lentis, Under Laboratory Conditions." Notulae Scientia Biologicae 10, no. 4 (December 21, 2018): 503–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.15835/nsb10410320.

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Stored-product pests in the family Bruchidae of Coleoptera represent important pests affecting legume seeds. The lentil weevil, Bruchus lentis Froelich (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) is one of the major lentil pests in Iran and in the world. The economic losses caused by this pest on lentil grow up to 40%. Synthetic pesticides are currently the chosen method to protect stored grain from insect damage. However, their widespread use has led to the development of pest strains resistant to insecticides and pest resurgence. In recent years, nonchemical methods, including biological agents are considered safe methods to control the stored grain pests. Positive characteristics of entomopathogenic nematodes as biological control factors of arthropod pests, introduce them as an appropriate option for controlling the integrated pest management of lentil weevil. In the present study, an isolate of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema feltiae, isolated from soils around Yasouj and based on morphological traits and morphometric data were identified. Adult insects of lentil weevil were exposed to concentrations of 0; 500; 1,000; 2,000 and 3,000 infective juvenile/ml of distilled water at different temperatures (20, 23, 26 and 29 °C). Insects were placed on filter paper impregnated with 1 ml of nematode suspension in Petri dishes for three days. Mortality of the insects was recorded every 24 hours. The highest mortality was recorded after 72 hours, which represented 79.40%, at the concentration of 3,000 infective juvenile at 26 °C.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic "Insects as biological pest control agents"

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Chang, Gary C. "Ecological interaction among natural enemies and its consequences for biological control /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/5205.

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Smith, Ethan A. "Is everything connected? following the predators, pests, and plants within a no-till, western Montana agroecosystem /." CONNECT TO THIS TITLE ONLINE, 2006. http://etd.lib.umt.edu/theses/available/etd-12212006-142245/.

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Baker, Jeanine. "Factors affecting the establishment of a classical biological control agent, the horehound plume moth (Wheeleria spilodactylus) in South Australia." Title page, summary and contents only, 2002. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phb1677.pdf.

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Includes bibliographical references (leaves 168-198) The horehound plume moth (Wheeleria spilodactylus Curits), an agent introduced to control the invasive weed horehound (Murrubium vulgare L.), was used as a model system to investigate factors believed to influence the successful establishment of an introduced natural enemy. Retrospectively tests the use of generic population viability analysis and decision making tools for determining optimal release strategies for the horehound plume moth in South Australia and to compare outcomes with the emprical data collected during the course of this project

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Williams, Elizabeth Catherine. "Entomopathogenic nematodes as control agents of statutory insect pests." Thesis, Imperial College London, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.265978.

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Alfaro, Lemus Ana Lilia. "Factors influencing the control of citrophilous mealybug Pseudococcus calceolarie (Maskell) by Coccophagus gurneyi Compere in the Riverland of South Australia." Title page, contents and abstract only, 2001. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09IM/09iml562.pdf.

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Includes bibliographical references (leaves 102-114) The highly successful biological control of the citrophilous mealybug Pseudococcus calceolarie (Maskell) (CM) by the parasitic wasp Coccophagus gurneyi Compere in several countries led to the release of this parasitoid in the Riverland of South Australia as part of an integrated pest management program. However CM has not been successfully controlled in this region. The results of this study may help to explain the lack of effective biological control of CM in Riverland citrus.

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Straub, Cory Severen. "Exploring the relationship between natural enemy biodiversity and herbivore suppression." Online access for everyone, 2006. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Dissertations/Fall2006/c_straub_111306.pdf.

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Vieira, Natalia Fernanda. "Metodologia de criação, aspectos biológicos e custo de produção de Xylocoris afer predando ovos de Corcyra cephalonica e Plutella xylostella /." Jaboticabal, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11449/144308.

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Orientador: Sergio Antonio De Bortoli
Banca: Roberto Marchi Goulart
Banca: Raphael de Campos Castilho
Resumo: O objetivo desta pesquisa foi adequar uma metodologia de criação para o predador Xylocoris afer e avaliar, bem como aspectos biológicos e o custo de produção predando ovos de Corcyra cephalonica ou Plutella xylostella. Visando otimizar e adequar uma metodologia para multiplicação de X. afer em condições de laboratório, foi estabelecida uma colônia do predador utilizando como referência, a metodologia de criação de outra espécie de Anthocoridae, Orius insidiosus. Porém, nos recipientes de criação onde os insetos foram criados, não foram utilizadas inflorescências de picão preto (Bidens pilosa), comumente empregada como substrato de oviposição, mas pequenos rolos de algodão, eliminando a dependência de um substrato vegetal. O experimento visando obter informações sobre os aspectos biológicos de X. afer, foi conduzido inicialmente com ninfas de 12-24h de idade, uma por placa, num total de 60 ninfas (60 repetições). Em cada placa foram colocados, diariamente, ovos de P. xylostella ou ovos de C. cephalonica e um chumaço de algodão umedecido com água destilada. As avaliações foram realizadas a cada 24 horas. Os adultos foram separados por sexo, acasalados e mantidos também em placas de Petri para a verificação das características reprodutivas e longevidade. Foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros: duração, viabilidade e consumo dos estádios ninfais e da fase ninfal; consumo e longevidade de machos e fêmeas; ovos por fêmea e fertilidade dos ovos. Os dados biológicos também foram uti... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)
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Barnewall, Emily C., and University of Lethbridge Faculty of Arts and Science. "Plant-insect interactions between yellow toadflax, Linaria vulgaris, and a potential biocontrol agent, the gall-forming weevil, Rhinusa pilosa." Thesis, Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Department of Biological Sciences, c2011, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10133/2618.

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Yellow toadflax, Linaria vulgaris (L.) Mill. (Plantaginaceae), is a non-native invasive plant. Rhinusa pilosa Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a proposed biocontrol agent. Gall development by R. pilosa was described using histological methods and compared between plant populations from native and introduced ranges. Key stages of oviposition were isolated histologically to determine their importance in gall induction. Rhinusa pilosa galled and developed on four geographically distinct Canadian populations in a pre-release quarantine study. Low agent densities only negatively affected one population. High densities of R. pilosa reduced potential reproductive output and plant biomass. Conducting detailed investigations into the biology, impact, and development of R. pilosa on populations from invasive and native ranges may help predict the efficacy of R. pilosa in the field if approved for release and.goes beyond current pre-release testing requirements.
ix, 168 leaves : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 29 cm

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Östman, Örjan. "Landscape and farm management influence generalist predators : effects on condition, abundance, and biological control /." Uppsala : Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2002. http://diss-epsilon.slu.se/archive/00000207/.

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Thesis (doctoral)--Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2002.
Thesis documentation sheet inserted. Appendix reprints five published papers and manuscripts, three co-authored with others. Includes bibliographical references. Also available electronically via World Wide Web in PDF format; online version lacks appendix.

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Wardill, Trevor James. "Genetic diversity in the biological control process : Acacia nilotica as a test case /." [St. Lucia, Qld.], 2006. http://www.library.uq.edu.au/pdfserve.php?image=thesisabs/absthe19170.pdf.

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Books on the topic "Insects as biological pest control agents"

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Thomson, W. T. A worldwide guide tobeneficial animals (insects, mites, nematodes) used for pest control purposes. Fresno, CA: Thomson Publications, 1992.

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A worldwide guide to beneficial animals (insects, mites, nematodes) used for pest control purposes. Fresno, CA: Thomson Publications, 1992.

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United States. Agricultural Research Service., ed. Principles of insect parasitism analyzed from new perspectives: Practical implications for regulating insect populations by biological means. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 1992.

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Randy, Gaugler, and Kaya Harry K, eds. Entomopathogenic nematodes in biological control. Boca Raton, Fla: CRC Press, 1990.

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S, Ignacimuthu, and Jayaraj S, eds. Green pesticides for insect pest management. New Delhi: Narosa, 2005.

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Virginia. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Report of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs [i.e. Services] on the use of beneficial insects in Virginia to the Governor and the General Assembly of Virginia. Richmond: Commonwealth of Virginia, 1989.

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Yu, D. S. Natural enemies of pests associated with prairie crops. Ottawa, Ont: Communications Branch, Agriculture Canada, 1993.

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Yu, D. S. Natural enemies of pests associated with prairie crops. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services Canada, 1993.

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Kegley, Sandy. How to monitor knapweed biological control root feeding insects: Agapeta zoegana and Cyphocleomus achates. Coeur d'Alene, ID: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Region, 2000.

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Insect wars. New York: Franklin Watts, 1997.

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Book chapters on the topic "Insects as biological pest control agents"

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Sitaramaiah, S., S. Gunneswara Rao, G. Ramaprasad, and U. Sreedhar. "Role of Biological Control Agents in Tobacco Insect Pest Management." In Biocontrol Potential and its Exploitation in Sustainable Agriculture, 215–34. Boston, MA: Springer US, 2001. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1377-3_14.

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Rodríguez Hernández, Mayra G. "Entompathogenic Nematodes in Cuba: From Laboratories to Popular Biological Control Agents for Pest Management in a Developing Country." In Nematode Pathogenesis of Insects and Other Pests, 353–74. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18266-7_14.

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Rees, N. E., P. C. Quimby, and J. R. Coulson. "Biological Weed Control Technology." In Biorational Pest Control Agents, 252–69. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society, 1995. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/bk-1995-0595.ch019.

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Shea, Patrick J. "Use of Insect Pheromones To Manage Forest Insects." In Biorational Pest Control Agents, 272–83. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society, 1995. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/bk-1995-0595.ch020.

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Naranjo, S. E., G. B. Frisvold, and P. C. Ellsworth. "Economic value of arthropod biological control." In The economics of integrated pest management of insects, 49–85. Wallingford: CABI, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/9781786393678.0049.

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Van Driesche, R. G. "Biological Pest Control in Mix and Match Forests." In Invasive Forest Insects, Introduced Forest Trees, and Altered Ecosystems, 79–99. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-5162-x_5.

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van Lenteren, Joop C., Oscar Alomar, Willem J. Ravensberg, and Alberto Urbaneja. "Biological Control Agents for Control of Pests in Greenhouses." In Integrated Pest and Disease Management in Greenhouse Crops, 409–39. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22304-5_14.

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Matienzo Brito, Yaril, Luis L. Vázquez, and Janet Alfonso-Simonetti. "Quality of Agroecosystems as Habitats to Natural Enemies and Biological Control Agents." In Natural Enemies of Insect Pests in Neotropical Agroecosystems, 27–34. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24733-1_3.

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DeAmicis, Carl V., James E. Dripps, Chris J. Hatton, and Laura L. Karr. "Physical and Biological Properties of the Spinosyns: Novel Macrolide Pest-Control Agents from Fermentation." In Phytochemicals for Pest Control, 144–54. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society, 1997. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/bk-1997-0658.ch011.

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Barratt, Barbara I. P., and Clark A. C. Ehlers. "Impacts of Exotic Biological Control Agents on Non-target Species and Biodiversity." In Environmental Pest Management, 325–46. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781119255574.ch14.

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Conference papers on the topic "Insects as biological pest control agents"

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Voloşciuc, Leonid, Boris Pînzaru, Tatiana Scerbacova, Aurelia Stingaci, Pantelimon Zavtoni, Andrei Lungu, and Stefan Crucean. "Extinderea gamei de preparate biologice de protecție a plantelor pentru agricultura convențională și ecologică." In VIIth International Scientific Conference “Genetics, Physiology and Plant Breeding”. Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection, Republic of Moldova, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.53040/gppb7.2021.95.

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The global population is projected to increase by 30 % to 9,2 billion by 2050 and this increased population density is estimated to increase demand for food production by 70 %. One of the principal di-rections of biological plant protection is elaboration of technologies for production and application of bio-logical preparations for combat not only of the noxious insects but also of pathogen agents which cannot be efficiently combated by other means of biological control. This report presents the results of state reg-istration of 5 baculoviral, 1 bacterial and 3 fungal preparations for combating pest insects, phytopathogen agents and nematodes.

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Moldovan, Anna, Ion Toderaș, and Natalia Munteanu-Molotievskiy. "Noi agenți bacterieni de control biologic al insectelor dăunătoare in Republica Moldova." In International symposium ”Actual problems of zoology and parasitology: achievements and prospects” dedicated to the 100th anniversary from the birth of academician Alexei Spassky. Institute of Zoology, Republic of Moldova, 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.53937/9789975665902.70.

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Modern agriculture faces numerous problems, many of which are caused by the excessive use of synthetic pesticides to control pests. Development of a sustainable agriculture system is a priority for the Republic of Moldova, the main objectives being food security, protection of environment, support the competitiveness of local farmers on national and international market. Biological control proved to be a successful approach to the sustainable management of harmful insects. Thus, it is necessary to make continuous efforts to address the demand of business and national economy in environmentally friendly pesticide products. This study aimed to highlight new agents for biological control of insect pests based on local Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains. Highlighted strains show promising results having a high insecticidal activity against lepidopteran (Lymantria dispar, Cydia pomonella and Archips rosana) and coleopteran (Neocoenorhinidius pauxillus, Phyllobius oblongus and Sitona lineatus) pest species. It therefore will allow local production of biopesticides, which will significantly reduce the final cost of the product, making it more accessible to farmers. Use of local Bt strains will also help avoid the ecological risks associated with the introduction of new organisms into ecosystems.

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Stingaci, Aurelia, and Leonid Volosciuc. "Particularitățile identificării VPN și VG a Hyphantria Cunea prin aplicarea microscopiei optice și electronice." In International symposium ”Functional ecology of animals” dedicated to the 70th anniversary from the birth of academician Ion Toderas. Institute of Zoology, Republic of Moldova, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.53937/9789975315975.61.

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Biopesticides are mass-produced, biologically based agents used for the control of plant pests. They are an important part of integrated pest management (IPM), which aims to use complementary methods to manage pest populations at low levels, rather than eliminate them entirely. Biopesticides are being used on increasing scales and there is considerable interest in their potential as alternatives to conventional pesticides. Biopesticides have also attracted great interest in the international research community, with a significant increase in the number of publications devoted to the subject. At Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection are prepared the bioinsecticides for use in Republic Moldova, mostly for the control. In order to reduce the population of insect it is recommended utilization of inoffensive preparations baculoviruses highlypathogenic for the leaf-champing vermis of the Hyphantria cunea, were selected from the insect natural populations which is an efficient preparation for combating this pest in agricultural, onamental and forest biocenosis. This study aimed to highlight new agents for biological control of pest. The results of the present study revealed the larvicidal potential of baculovirusess isolates found in the larvae of H. cunea, local production of biopesticides, which will reduce the final cost of the product and will more accessible to farmer.

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Stingaci, Aurelia, and Leonid Volosciuc. "Biotehnologii avansate de obținere a preparatului biologic în scopul combaterii dăunătorilor." In International Scientific Symposium "Plant Protection – Achievements and Prospects". Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection, Republic of Moldova, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.53040/9789975347204.30.

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Biopesticides have also attracted great interest in the international research community, with a significant increase in the number of publications devoted to the subject. At Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection are prepared the bioinsecticides for use in Republic Moldova, mostly for the control In order to reduce the population of insect it is recommended utilization inoffensive preparations baculoviruses highly-pathogenic for the leaf-champing vermis of the H.cunea,were selected from the insect natural populations which is an efficient preparation for combating this pest in agricultural, onamental and forest biocenosis. This study aimed to highlight new agents for biological control of pest..

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Gevorkyan, I. S. "APPLICATION OF THE IONIZING RADIATION IN THE PEST CONTROL." In V International Scientific Conference CONCEPTUAL AND APPLIED ASPECTS OF INVERTEBRATE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND BIOLOGICAL EDUCATION. Tomsk State University Press, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.17223/978-5-94621-931-0-2020-67.

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The article briefly discusses the available and existing methods of control of insects-pests of grain reserves and food products. The author concludes about the preferences of the grain reserves irradiation by ionizing radiation. The author points out that to actual date, have been experimentally determined such doses of ionizing radiation, which sterilize or kill the most common insect pests. However, the data obtained are still not enough to organize a wide and comprehensive application of ionizing radiation in pest control. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct further in-depth and comprehensive experimental studies of the sensitivity of all types of insect pests to ionizing radiation in order to justify the optimal conditions and modes of irradiation of agricultural and food products. Accumulation of experimental material will allow to study more deeply the reasons and mechanisms of infringement of vital functions of an organism of insects-wreckers under the influence of ionizing radiation, and, thereby, to provide successful fight against these wreckers of stocks.

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Liu, Tong-Xian. "Biological control of pest insects in protected environments in China: How far are we?" In 2016 International Congress of Entomology. Entomological Society of America, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/ice.2016.107257.

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Mishchenko, Andrey V. "ON THE ISSUE OF BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF MINING INSECTS OF FOREST-STEPPE LANDSCAPES OF THE MIDDLE VOLGA." In Treshnikov readings – 2021 Modern geographical global picture and technology of geographic education. Ulyanovsk State Pedagogical University named after I. N. Ulyanov, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.33065/978-5-907216-08-2-2021-55-56.

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Goldin, E. B. "Ecosystem approaches in the protection of reserved forest areas from phytophagous insects." In CURRENT STATE, PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRARIAN SCIENCE. Federal State Budget Scientific Institution “Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea”, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.33952/2542-0720-2020-5-9-10-10.

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Ecosystem approaches are highly important for pest control in forest reserved areas. Their background is conservation of biodiversity, application of microbial pathogens (bacteria, viruses and fungi) and preparations. Selective and prophylactic natural remedies (attractants, repellents and deterrents) are preferable also. This complex can provide biological security of forest reservations.

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Reports on the topic "Insects as biological pest control agents"

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Lundgren, Jonathan, Moshe Coll, and James Harwood. Biological control of cereal aphids in wheat: Implications of alternative foods and intraguild predation. United States Department of Agriculture, October 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/2014.7699858.bard.

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The overall objective of this proposal is to understand how realistic strategies for incorporating alternative foods into wheat fields affect the intraguild (IG) interactions of omnivorous and carnivorous predators and their efficacy as biological control agents. Cereal aphids are a primary pest of wheat throughout much of the world. Naturally occurring predator communities consume large quantities of cereal aphids in wheat, and are partitioned into aphid specialists and omnivores. Within wheat fields, the relative abilities of omnivorous and carnivorous predators to reduce cereal aphids depend heavily on the availability, distribution and type of alternative foods (alternative prey, sugar, and pollen), and on the intensity and direction of IG predation events within this community. A series of eight synergistic experiments, carefully crafted to accomplish objectives while accounting for regional production practices, will be conducted to explore how cover crops (US, where large fields preclude effective use of field margins) and field margins (IS, where cover crops are not feasible) as sources of alternative foods affect the IG interactions of predators and their efficacy as biological control agents. These objectives are: 1. Determine the mechanisms whereby the availability of alternative prey and plant-provided resources affect pest suppression by omnivorous and carnivorous generalist predators; 2. Characterize the intensity of IGP within generalist predator communities of wheat systems and assess the impact of these interactions on cereal aphid predation; and 3. Evaluate how spatial patterns in the availability of non-prey resources and IGP affect predation on cereal aphids by generalist predator communities. To accomplish these goals, novel tools, including molecular and biochemical gut content analysis and geospatial analysis, will be coupled with traditional techniques used to monitor and manipulate insect populations and predator efficacy. Our approach will manipulate key alternative foods and IG prey to determine how these individual interactions contribute to the ability of predators to suppress cereal aphids within systems where cover crop and field margin management strategies are evaluated in production scale plots. Using these strategies, the proposed project will not only provide cost-effective and realistic solutions for pest management issues faced by IS and US producers, but also will provide a better understanding of how spatial dispersion, IG predation, and the availability of alternative foods contribute to biological control by omnivores and carnivores within agroecosystems. By reducing the reliance of wheat producers on insecticides, this proposal will address the BARD priorities of increasing the efficiency of agricultural production and protecting plants against biotic sources of stress in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.

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Hackett, Kevin, Shlomo Rottem, David L. Williamson, and Meir Klein. Spiroplasmas as Biological Control Agents of Insect Pests. United States Department of Agriculture, July 1995. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/1995.7613017.bard.

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Toward development of spiroplasmas as novel toxin-delivery systems for biocontrol of beetle pests in the United States (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) and Israel (Maladera matrida), media for cultivating beetle-associated spiroplasmas were improved and surveys of these spiroplasmas were conducted to provide transformable strains. Extensive surveys of spiroplasmas yielded promising extrachromosomal elements for vector constructs. One, plasmid pCT-1, was cloned, characterized, and used as a source of spiroplasma origin of replication in our shuttle vectors. The fibrillin gene was isolated and sequenced and its strong promoter was also used in the constructs. Means for transforming these vectors into spiroplasmas were developed and optimized, with electroporation found to be suitable for most applications. Development and optimization of means for using large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) in spiroplasma transformation represents a breakthrough that should facilitate insertion of large clusters of virulence genes. With completion of the vector, we should thus be poised to genetically engineer spiroplasmas with genes that will express toxins lethal to our target beetles, thus providing an effective and inexpensive alternative to conventional means of beetle control.

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Heinz, Kevin, Itamar Glazer, Moshe Coll, Amanda Chau, and Andrew Chow. Use of multiple biological control agents for control of western flower thrips. United States Department of Agriculture, 2004. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/2004.7613875.bard.

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The western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), is a serious widespread pest of vegetable and ornamental crops worldwide. Chemical control for Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on floriculture or vegetable crops can be difficult because this pest has developed resistance to many insecticides and also tends to hide within flowers, buds, and apical meristems. Predatory bugs, predatory mites, and entomopathogenic nematodes are commercially available in both the US and Israel for control of WFT. Predatory bugs, such as Orius species, can suppress high WFT densities but have limited ability to attack thrips within confined plant parts. Predatory mites can reach more confined habitats than predatory bugs, but kill primarily first-instar larvae of thrips. Entomopathogenic nematodes can directly kill or sterilize most thrips stages, but have limited mobility and are vulnerable to desiccation in certain parts of the crop canopy. However, simultaneous use of two or more agents may provide both effective and cost efficient control of WFT through complimentary predation and/or parasitism. The general goal of our project was to evaluate whether suppression of WFT could be enhanced by inundative or inoculative releases of Orius predators with either predatory mites or entomopathogenic nematodes. Whether pest suppression is best when single or multiple biological control agents are used, is an issue of importance to the practice of biological control. For our investigations in Texas, we used Orius insidiosus(Say), the predatory mite, Amblyseius degeneransBerlese, and the predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii(Athias-Henriot). In Israel, the research focused on Orius laevigatus (Fieber) and the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema felpiae. Our specific objectives were to: (1) quantify the spatial distribution and population growth of WFT and WFT natural enemies on greenhouse roses (Texas) and peppers (Israel), (2) assess interspecific interactions among WFT natural enemies, (3) measure WFT population suppression resulting from single or multiple species releases. Revisions to our project after the first year were: (1) use of A. swirskiiin place of A. degeneransfor the majority of our predatory mite and Orius studies, (2) use of S. felpiaein place of Thripinema nicklewoodi for all of the nematode and Orius studies. We utilized laboratory experiments, greenhouse studies, field trials and mathematical modeling to achieve our objectives. In greenhouse trials, we found that concurrent releases of A.degeneranswith O. insidiosusdid not improve control of F. occidentalis on cut roses over releases of only O. insidiosus. Suppression of WFT by augmentative releases A. swirskiialone was superior to augmentative releases of O. insidiosusalone and similar to concurrent releases of both predator species on cut roses. In laboratory studies, we discovered that O. insidiosusis a generalist predator that ‘switches’ to the most abundant prey and will kill significant numbers of A. swirskiior A. degeneransif WFTbecome relatively less abundant. Our findings indicate that intraguild interactions between Orius and Amblyseius species could hinder suppression of thrips populations and combinations of these natural enemies may not enhance biological control on certain crops. Intraguild interactions between S. felpiaeand O. laevigatus were found to be more complex than those between O. insidiosusand predatory mites. In laboratory studies, we found that S. felpiaecould infect and kill either adult or immature O. laevigatus. Although adult O. laevigatus tended to avoid areas infested by S. felpiaein Petri dish arenas, they did not show preference between healthy WFT and WFT infected with S. felpiaein choice tests. In field cage trials, suppression of WFT on sweet-pepper was similar in treatments with only O. laevigatus or both O. laevigatus and S. felpiae. Distribution and numbers of O. laevigatus on pepper plants also did not differ between cages with or without S. felpiae. Low survivorship of S. felpiaeafter foliar applications to sweet-pepper may explain, in part, the absence of effects in the field trials. Finally, we were interested in how differential predation on different developmental stages of WFT (Orius feeding on WFT nymphs inhabiting foliage and flowers, nematodes that attack prepupae and pupae in the soil) affects community dynamics. To better understand these interactions, we constructed a model based on Lotka-Volterra predator-prey theory and our simulations showed that differential predation, where predators tend to concentrate on one WFT stage contribute to system stability and permanence while predators that tend to mix different WFT stages reduce system stability and permanence.

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Roush, Richard, and David Rosen. Understanding the Causes and Genetic Effects of Thelytoky in the Aphelinidae: A Key to Improving Biological Control. United States Department of Agriculture, July 1992. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/1992.7561058.bard.

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Helytoky is a type of parthenogenesis whereby females produce only female offspring without the involvement of males, even where males are occasionally produced. In the last few years, strong circumstantial evidence has implied that thelytoky can be caused by micro-organisms called Wolbachia in at least some species of wasps. The thelytoky can be "cured" by treatment with antibiotics. Further Wolbachia-like organisms can be found in microscopic examinations and genetically identified through their DNA. The aphelinid wasps, and especially species in the genus Aphytis, are among the most important of all classical biological control agents. Aphytis species are critical in the biological control of scale insect pests in commercial orchards and ornamental plantings. About 30% of Aphytis species are thelytikous, of which we were able to study three in detail. In all three, thelytoky was curable by treatment with antibiotics and Wolbachia were identified morphologically and through their DNA. In contrast, Wolbachia were not detectable in biparental species of Aphytis. Studies of Wolbachia gene sequences obtained from Aphytis showed that they were most closely related to those from a very distantly related wasp, Muscidifurax uniraptor, strongly implying that the Wolbachia can be horizontally transferred. As revealed by electron microscopy, the Wolbachia show a strong association with the nurse and follicle cells of the female wasps.

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Werren, John H., Einat Zchori-Fein, and Moshe Coll. Parthenogenesis-Inducing Microorganisms in Parasitic Hymenoptera: Their Mode of Action and Utilization for Improvement of Biological Control Agents. United States Department of Agriculture, June 1996. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/1996.7573080.bard.

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Wolbachia are intracellular bacteria known to cause reproductive and sex ratio disorders in many insects. In various parasitic Hymenoptera, Wolbachia induce thelytokous reproduction. The overall goal of this research was the improvement of biological control agents by reversion of their mode of reproduction. This was attempted from two directions: 1) studying the effect of naturally occurring Wolbachia on the thelytokous species Muscidifuraxuniraptor and 2) trying to transmit thelytoky-inducing Wolbachia to Nasoniavitripennis. In M. uniraptor, gamete duplication was found to be the mode of diploidy restoration and Wolbachia density had a strong effect on sex ratio but not on host fitness. Studies on the natural horizontal transmission of Wolbachia between Nasonia wasps and their Protocalliphora hosts using the Wolbachia Outer Surface Protein (WOSP) gene revealed that (a) two Nasonia species (N. giraulti and N. longicornis) possess closely related strains of B-group Wolbachia, but N. vitripennisapparently acquired B Wolbachia by horizontal transmission from an unknown source, (b) Nasonia and its Protocalliphora host have similar Wolbachia, and (c) the Protocalliphora Wolbachia WOSP gene is a recombinant between the one found in N. giraulti/longicornis and N. vitripennis. Results show parasitoid-host insect transmission of Wolbachia and recombination among Wolbachia strains. Results from gynandromorph studies suggest a novel mechanism of sex determination in Nasonia.

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Glazer, Itamar, Randy Gaugler, Daniel Segal, Parwinder Grewal, Yitzhak Spiegel, and Senthamizh Selvan. Genetic Enhancement of Environmental Stability and Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Nematodes for Biological Control. United States Department of Agriculture, August 1995. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/1995.7695833.bard.

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The overall obejctive of the research project was to enhance the intrinsic biological control potential of entomopathogenic nematodes through genetic manipulation. We have chosen heat and desiccation tolerance as prime traits to be enhanced in order to increase the overall efficacy of these nematodes against insect pests under harsh conditions. Initially, we used mutagenesis and selection approaches to enhance these traits. In the mutagenesis experiments several morphological mutants of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora HP88 were isolated and characterized phenotypically and genetically. Infective juveniles of H. bacteriophora HP88 were subjected to heat and desiccation selection regimes for several generations. Small increase was recorded, after 4 and 6 rearing cycles for both traits. However, in both selection regimes a significant deterioration in the reproductive capability of the nematodes was observed. In a screen of new nematode populations, from arid regions in Israel, a heat tolerant (IS5 strain) and desiccation tolerant (IS6 strain) were isolated. Both strains were taxonomically identified and their beneficial characteristics (environmental tolerance, insecticidal virulence and reproduction) were determined. We further investigated the stability of the enhanced heat tolerance trait in, and the storage capacity of, the newly discovered IS5 strain. Genetic studies demonstrated that the heat tolerance of the IS5 strain is genetically based and is dominant. The trait for heat tolerance was transferred from the IS5 strain to the HP88 strain of H. bacteriophora. The transfer was accomplished by allowing the heat tolerant strain (IS5) to mate with the commercial strain (HP88). The hybrid nature of the progeny was confirmed using a recessive marker mutant of the HP88 strain (H-dpy-2). We have used (RAPD-PCR) to compare genetic variation in the IS5 and the HP88 strains of H. baceriophora. The results indicated that genetic variation in the HP88 was significantly less than in the IS5 strain which was recently isolated from the field. The new IS5 strain may be used as an effective biological control agent in warm environments. In addition, IS5 can be used as a genetic source for cross-hybridization with other H. bacteriophora strains.

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Altstein, Miriam, and Ronald Nachman. Rationally designed insect neuropeptide agonists and antagonists: application for the characterization of the pyrokinin/Pban mechanisms of action in insects. United States Department of Agriculture, October 2006. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/2006.7587235.bard.

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The general objective of this BARD project focused on rationally designed insect neuropeptide (NP) agonists and antagonists, their application for the characterization of the mechanisms of action of the pyrokinin/PBAN (PK-PBAN) family and the development of biostable, bioavailable versions that can provide the basis for development of novel, environmentally-friendly pest insect control agents. The specific objectives of the study, as originally proposed, were to: (i) Test stimulatory potencies of rationally designed backbone cyclic (BBC) peptides on pheromonotropic, melanotropic, myotropic and pupariation activities; (ii) Test the inhibitory potencies of the BBC compounds on the above activities evoked either by synthetic peptides (PBAN, LPK, myotropin and pheromonotropin) or by the natural endogenous mechanism; (iii) Determine the bioavailability of the most potent BBC compounds that will be found in (ii); (iv) Design, synthesize and examine novel PK/PBAN analogs with enhanced bioavailability and receptor binding; (v) Design and synthesize ‘magic bullet’ analogs and examine their ability to selectively kill cells expressing the PK/PBAN receptor. To achieve these goals the agonistic and antagonistic activities/properties of rationally designed linear and BBC neuropeptide (NP) were thoroughly studied and the information obtained was further used for the design and synthesis of improved compounds toward the design of an insecticide prototype. The study revealed important information on the structure activity relationship (SAR) of agonistic/antagonistic peptides, including definitive identification of the orientation of the Pro residue as trans for agonist activity in 4 PK/PBANbioassays (pheromonotropic, pupariation, melanotropic, & hindgut contractile) and a PK-related CAP₂b bioassay (diuretic); indications that led to the identification of a novel scaffold to develop biostbiostable, bioavailable peptidomimetic PK/PBANagonists/antagonists. The work led to the development of an arsenal of PK/PBAN antagonists with a variety of selectivity profiles; whether between different PKbioassays, or within the same bioassay between different natural elicitors. Examples include selective and non-selective BBC and novel amphiphilic PK pheromonotropic and melanotropic antagonists some of which are capable of penetrating the moth cuticle in efficacious quantities. One of the latter analog group demonstrated unprecedented versatility in its ability to antagonize a broad spectrum of pheromonotropic elicitors. A novel, transPro mimetic motif was proposed & used to develop a strong, selective PK agonist of the melanotropic bioassay in moths. The first antagonist (pure) of PK-related CAP₂b diuresis in flies was developed using a cisPro mimetic motif; an indication that while a transPro orientation is associated with receptor agonism, a cisPro orientation is linked with an antagonist interaction. A novel, biostablePK analog, incorporating β-amino acids at key peptidase-susceptible sites, exhibited in vivo pheromonotropic activity that by far exceeded that of PBAN when applied topically. Direct analysis of neural tissue by state-of-the-art MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry was used to identify specific PK/PK-related peptides native to eight arthropod pest species [house (M. domestica), stable (S. calcitrans), horn (H. irritans) & flesh (N. bullata) flies; Southern cattle fever tick (B. microplus), European tick (I. ricinus), yellow fever mosquito (A. aegypti), & Southern Green Stink Bug (N. viridula)]; including the unprecedented identification of mass-identical Leu/Ile residues and the first identification of NPs from a tick or the CNS of Hemiptera. Evidence was obtained for the selection of Neb-PK-2 as the primary pupariation factor of the flesh fly (N. bullata) among native PK/PK-related candidates. The peptidomic techniques were also used to map the location of PK/PK-related NP in the nervous system of the model fly D. melanogaster. Knowledge of specific PK sequences can aid in the future design of species specific (or non-specific) NP agonists/antagonists. In addition, the study led to the first cloning of a PK/PBAN receptor from insect larvae (S. littoralis), providing the basis for SAR analysis for the future design of 2ⁿᵈgeneration selective and/or nonselective agonists/antagonists. Development of a microplate ligand binding assay using the PK/PBAN pheromone gland receptor was also carried out. The assay will enable screening, including high throughput, of various libraries (chemical, molecular & natural product) for the discovery of receptor specific agonists/antagonists. In summary, the body of work achieves several key milestones and brings us significantly closer to the development of novel, environmentally friendly pest insect management agents based on insect PK/PBANNPs capable of disrupting critical NP-regulated functions.

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Gurevitz, Michael, Michael E. Adams, and Boaz Shaanan. Structural Elements and Neuropharmacological Features Involved in the Insecticidal Properties of an Alpha Scorpion Neurotoxin: A Multidisciplinary Approach. United States Department of Agriculture, August 1995. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/1995.7573061.bard.

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Integrated pest management in modern crop protection requires the use of chemical or biological insecticides in many instances. Nontheless, the use non-selective chemical insecticides poses risks to the environment and livestock and consequently urgent need exists for safer alternatives, which target insects more specifically. Scorpions produce anti-insect selective polypeptide toxins that are biodegradable and not toxic to wam-blooded animals. Therefore, mobilization of these substances into insect pest targets is of major interest. Moreover, clarification of the molecular basis of this selectivity may provide valuable information pertinent to their receptor sites and to the future design of peptidomimetic anti-insect specific substances. These toxins may also be important for reducing the current overuse of chamical insecticides provided they have a synergistic effect with conventional pesticides. All of these objectives were addressed in this research. A direct approach for plant protection was the mobilization of toxins into target pests using baculoviral vectors. The other approach was to develop a suitable system enabling the elucidation of the toxin bioactive site, which would enable design of insecticidal peptidomimetics. In parallel, the mode of action and synergistic effects of scorpion insecticidal toxins, were studied at the sodium channel receptor site. All the above approaches show great promise and clearly indicate that scorpion insecticidal toxins may provide powerful means in insect pest control.

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Altstein, Miriam, and Ronald J. Nachman. Rational Design of Insect Control Agent Prototypes Based on Pyrokinin/PBAN Neuropeptide Antagonists. United States Department of Agriculture, August 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/2013.7593398.bard.

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The general objective of this study was to develop rationally designed mimetic antagonists (and agonists) of the PK/PBAN Np class with enhanced bio-stability and bioavailability as prototypes for effective and environmentally friendly pest insect management agents. The PK/PBAN family is a multifunctional group of Nps that mediates key functions in insects (sex pheromone biosynthesis, cuticular melanization, myotropic activity, diapause and pupal development) and is, therefore, of high scientific and applied interest. The objectives of the current study were: (i) to identify an antagonist biophores (ii) to develop an arsenal of amphiphilic topically active PK/PBAN antagonists with an array of different time-release profiles based on the previously developed prototype analog; (iii) to develop rationally designed non-peptide SMLs based on the antagonist biophore determined in (i) and evaluate them in cloned receptor microplate binding assays and by pheromonotropic, melanotropic and pupariation in vivo assays. (iv) to clone PK/PBAN receptors (PK/PBAN-Rs) for further understanding of receptor-ligand interactions; (v) to develop microplate binding assays for screening the above SMLs. In the course of the granting period A series of amphiphilic PK/PBAN analogs based on a linear lead antagonist from the previous BARD grant was synthesized that incorporated a diverse array of hydrophobic groups (HR-Suc-A[dF]PRLa). Others were synthesized via the attachment of polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers. A hydrophobic, biostablePK/PBAN/DH analog DH-2Abf-K prevented the onset of the protective state of diapause in H. zea pupae [EC50=7 pmol/larva] following injection into the preceding larval stage. It effectively induces the crop pest to commit a form of ‘ecological suicide’. Evaluation of a set of amphiphilic PK analogs with a diverse array of hydrophobic groups of the formula HR-Suc-FTPRLa led to the identification of analog T-63 (HR=Decyl) that increased the extent of diapause termination by a factor of 70% when applied topically to newly emerged pupae. Another biostablePK analog PK-Oic-1 featured anti-feedant and aphicidal properties that matched the potency of some commercial aphicides. Native PK showed no significant activity. The aphicidal effects were blocked by a new PEGylated PK antagonist analog PK-dF-PEG4, suggesting that the activity is mediated by a PK/PBAN receptor and therefore indicative of a novel and selective mode-of-action. Using a novel transPro mimetic motif (dihydroimidazole; ‘Jones’) developed in previous BARD-sponsored work, the first antagonist for the diapause hormone (DH), DH-Jo, was developed and shown to block over 50% of H. zea pupal diapause termination activity of native DH. This novel antagonist development strategy may be applicable to other invertebrate and vertebrate hormones that feature a transPro in the active core. The research identifies a critical component of the antagonist biophore for this PK/PBAN receptor subtype, i.e. a trans-oriented Pro. Additional work led to the molecular cloning and functional characterization of the DH receptor from H. zea, allowing for the discovery of three other DH antagonist analogs: Drosophila ETH, a β-AA analog, and a dF analog. The receptor experiments identified an agonist (DH-2Abf-dA) with a maximal response greater than native DH. ‘Deconvolution’ of a rationally-designed nonpeptide heterocyclic combinatorial library with a cyclic bis-guanidino (BG) scaffold led to discovery of several members that elicited activity in a pupariation acceleration assay, and one that also showed activity in an H. zea diapause termination assay, eliciting a maximal response of 90%. Molecular cloning and functional characterization of a CAP2b antidiuretic receptor from the kissing bug (R. prolixus) as well as the first CAP2b and PK receptors from a tick was also achieved. Notably, the PK/PBAN-like receptor from the cattle fever tick is unique among known PK/PBAN and CAP2b receptors in that it can interact with both ligand types, providing further evidence for an evolutionary relationship between these two NP families. In the course of the granting period we also managed to clone the PK/PBAN-R of H. peltigera, to express it and the S. littoralis-R Sf-9 cells and to evaluate their interaction with a variety of PK/PBAN ligands. In addition, three functional microplate assays in a HTS format have been developed: a cell-membrane competitive ligand binding assay; a Ca flux assay and a whole cell cAMP ELISA. The Ca flux assay has been used for receptor characterization due to its extremely high sensitivity. Computer homology studies were carried out to predict both receptor’s SAR and based on this analysis 8 mutants have been generated. The bioavailability of small linear antagonistic peptides has been evaluated and was found to be highly effective as sex pheromone biosynthesis inhibitors. The activity of 11 new amphiphilic analogs has also been evaluated. Unfortunately, due to a problem with the Heliothis moth colony we were unable to select those with pheromonotropic antagonistic activity and further check their bioavailability. Six peptides exhibited some melanotropic antagonistic activity but due to the low inhibitory effect the peptides were not further tested for bioavailability in S. littoralis larvae. Despite the fact that no new antagonistic peptides were discovered in the course of this granting period the results contribute to a better understanding of the interaction of the PK/PBAN family of Nps with their receptors, provided several HT assays for screening of libraries of various origin for presence of PK/PBAN-Ragonists and antagonists and provided important practical information for the further design of new, peptide-based insecticide prototypes aimed at the disruption of key neuroendocrine physiological functions in pest insects.

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Gurevitz, Michael, Michael E. Adams, Boaz Shaanan, Oren Froy, Dalia Gordon, Daewoo Lee, and Yong Zhao. Interacting Domains of Anti-Insect Scorpion Toxins and their Sodium Channel Binding Sites: Structure, Cooperative Interactions with Agrochemicals, and Application. United States Department of Agriculture, December 2001. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/2001.7585190.bard.

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Integrated pest management in modern crop protection may combine chemical and biological insecticides, particularly due to the risks to the environment and livestock arising from the massive use of non-selective chemicals. Thus, there is a need for safer alternatives, which target insects more specifically. Scorpions produce anti-insect selective polypeptide toxins that are biodegradable and non-toxic to warm-blooded animals. Therefore, integration of these substances into insect pest control strategies is of major importance. Moreover, clarification of the molecular basis of this selectivity may provide valuable information pertinent to their receptor sites and to the future design of peptidomimetic anti-insect specific substances. These toxins may also be important for reducing the current overuse of chemical insecticides if they produce a synergistic effect with conventional pesticides. Based on these considerations, our major objectives were: 1) To elucidate the three-dimensional structure and toxic-site of scorpion excitatory, "depressant, and anti-insect alpha toxins. 2) To obtain an initial view to the sodium channel recognition sites of the above toxins by generating peptide decoys through a phage display system. 3) To investigate the synergism between toxins and chemical insecticides. Our approach was to develop a suitable expression system for toxin production in a recombinant form and for elucidation of toxin bioactive sites via mutagenesis. In parallel, the mode of action and synergistic effects of scorpion insecticidal toxins with pyrethroids were studied at the sodium channel level using electrophysiological methods. Objective 1 was achieved for the alpha toxin, LqhaIT Zilberberg et al., 1996, 1997; Tugarinov et al., 1997; Froy et al., 2002), and the excitatory toxin, Bj-xtrIT (Oren et al., 1998; Froy et al., 1999; unpublished data). The bioactive surface of the depressant toxin, LqhIT2, has been clarified and a crystal of the toxin is now being analyzed (unpublished). Objective 2 was not successful thus far as no phages that recognize the toxins were obtained. We therefore initiated recently an alternative approach, which is introduction of mutations into recombinant channels and creation of channel chimeras. Objective 3 was undertaken at Riverside and the results demonstrated synergism between LqhaIT or AaIT and pyrethroids (Lee et al., 2002). Furthermore, negative cross-resistance between pyrethroids and scorpion toxins (LqhaIT and AaIT) was demonstrated at the molecular level. Although our study did not yield a product, it paves the way for future design of selective pesticides by capitalizing on the natural competence of scorpion toxins to distinguish between sodium channels of insects and vertebrates. We also show that future application of anti-insect toxins may enable to decrease the amounts of chemical pesticides due to their synergism.

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