natural enemy information

7/29/2019 Natural Enemy Information

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Natural Enemy Information

Biological control is a component of an integrated pest management strategy. It is

defined as the reduction of pest populations by natural enemies and typically

involves an active human role. Keep in mind that all insect species are also

suppressed by naturally occurring organisms and environmental factors, with no

human input. This is frequently referred to as natural control. Natural enemies of

insect pests, also known as biological control agents, include predators, parasitoids,

and pathogens. The conservation of natural enemies is probably the most important

and readily available biological control practice available to growers. The biological

control involves the supplemental release of natural enemies also.

PREDATORS

An organism that, during its development, consumes more than one prey individual.

Lady bird beetle (Coccinella septumpunctata)

Appearance

Adult is half pea shaped, yellow to reddish brown with 7 black spots on elytra, both the

head and ventral side are blackish in colour.

Pupa is light brown marked with black dot and fixed on leaves at the posterior end.

Egg is 1.2 mm long and yellowish in colour.

Pest and Stage attacked Predacious on Aphids, White fly and Bollworms.

Stage attacked are Eggs, Nymphs and Adults.

Conservation & Augmentation

Release at random on crop canopy


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Green lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)

Appearance Adults are of medium size, 1-2 cm long, green, yellow green or sometimes brownish with

golden

eyes and delicate netted wings.

The larvae, which are very active, are gray or brownish and alligator-like with well-

developed legs

and large pincers and grow from


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Spider (Neosiana sp, Thomisus sp.)

Appearance

Adults have two major body regions, lack antennae, and have eight legs.

They are generalist predators feeding on many pest insects; some spider species use webs tocapture prey while other species stalk their prey.

Pest and Stage attacked

Predacious on Bollworms.

Eggs and larva stages are attacked.

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Predatory mite (Amblyseius sp.)

Appearance

Adults have four pairs of legs and two major body regions; they are about the same size as

pest spider mites, less than 1/32 inch long, are teardrop-shaped, long legged, and orangered, tan or brown.

Eggs are translucent, pearl-colored, and oblong; can be found on the underside or top of

leaves.

Nymphs resemble small adults.
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Predacious on Spider mites and Whitefly

Nymphs and adults stages are attacked.


Pest mite problems are most common where pesticides are heavily used because predatory

mite populations are killed along with target species It may take up to three years to

establish a population of predators high enough to control pest mites.

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Hover fly (Syrphus sp.)

Appearance Adults usually brightly coloured, resembling bees


Predacious on Aphids

Nymphs and adults are attacked


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Carpenter ants (Camponotus sp)

Appearance Among the largest ants, from one-fourth to three-eighths inch long; most common species

are

black, but some have reddish or yellowish coloration; workers have large mandibles.


Nymphs of jassids and egg and larva of spotted pod borer are predated.

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Predatory stink bug (Cantheconidea furcellata)

Appearance

The eggs of stink bugs are typically barrel-shaped and laid in groups.

When disturbed, the adults discharge a foul smelling odour, which helps them to avoid their

naturalenemies.

Body shield-shaped and brightly coloured with conspicuous markings.

Antennae five-segmented

Scutellum large and well-developed

Tarsi three-segmented
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Cicindella spp.

Appearance

Both adults and larvae are general predators.

Adults are mostly diurnal, active hunters, seeking their prey mainly on the ground.

The larvae live hidden in burrows, usually in sandy soils, but also in stems or branches of

bushes or

trees. They wait for their prey and feed on passing ants, caterpillars, etc.

Body usually colourful, often brightly metallic, with or without elytral markings.

Eyes large and prominent, head as wide as or wider than pronotum.

Pest and Stage attacked Predacious on leaf roller

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Geocoris tricolor F. (Bigeyed bugs)


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Appearance

Adults and nymphs have oval bodies and broad heads.

Their most distinguishing characteristic is their large, bulging eyes.

They have relatively short antennae that are slightly enlarged at the tip.

Adults are about 3/16th inch long and silver/gray in appearance (G. punctipes). The immature look like small adults, but lack fully developed wings.

They are white to tan with a distinctive red spot.

Both the adults and immature feed by sucking juices from their prey through a "needle-like"

beak.


Predacious on white fly, thrips and jassids


Geocoris spp. are very susceptible to broad spectrum pesticides. Polycropping, use of pest-specific insecticides (e.g microbial, insect growth regulators, Bt cotton, etc.), and use of

economic thresholds to minimize pesticide applications are all practical recommendationsfor

preserving Geocoris.

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Ladybird beetle (Menochilus sexmaculata)

Appearance Menochilus sexmaculatus is a black-spotted lady beetle.

The long and narrow black band at the pronotal base is connected to the transverse oval

black

discal spot by a short and narrow longitudinal constriction or line.


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It is predacious on red hairy caterpillar.

Conservation & Augmentation Use minimum insecticides.

Use neem seed kernel extract.

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Ants (Myrmica rubra)


Ants attacks gram pod borer, termites

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(Oxyopes spp) Spider


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Appearance

Adults have two major body regions, lack antennae, and have eight legs.

They are active hunters usually seen near the tops of plants

Their legs bear numerous characteristic spines

They are generalist predators feeding on many pest insects. They do not make a web but use their good eyesight to locate prey, then jump on it from a

distance.


Attacks on pod borer and semilooper

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Assassin bugs (Reduvius sp.)

Appearance

Adults are -1 inches long; blackish, reddish or brown with a long narrow head, round

beady eyes, and needle-like beak.

Eggs are barrel shaped and laid upright in tight clusters or in rows on leaves or stems.

Nymphs (immature stage) resemble adults but lack wings.


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Adult and nymph assassin bugs attack moving prey; they feed on small caterpillars, aphids,

and other small soft-bodied insects

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Lady beetle (Scymnus sp.)

Appearance

Not all ladybeetle larvae look like the common ones.

Many are smaller, have coatings, etc. like this Scymnus larva.


Aphids, Whitefly and Bollworms are attacked.

Eggs, nymphus and adults of the pests are attacked

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Sphaerophoria indiana (Syrphid)

Appearance

Adults usually brightly coloured, resembling bees and wasps.

Syrphid larvae vary in appearance and habits.

Many species are predacious on aphids, and also mealybugs, whiteflies, and lepidopterouslarvae and beneficial.

They are either obligate or facultative predators.

The larvae are somewhat slug-like and are tapering towards head. Pupae are typically tear-

drop shaped.



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Predacious on safflower aphid

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