Biological Control of Insect Pests: Southeast Asian Prospects - EcoPort

4.2 Anomis flava 27
Attempts at classical biological control
There appear to have been only two attempts (Table 4.2.3). The pentatomid
bug Podisus maculiventris, a general predator of lepidopterous larvae, was
introduced from USA (where A. flava does not occur) and liberated in Anhui
Province, China in 1984. However, it failed to become established, possibly
due to adverse climatic conditions (Wang and Gong 1987). Trichogramma
minutum from USA was established, in the Philippines in 1934, but its
impact is not recorded (Otanes and Butac 1935).
Table 4.2.3 Attempts at biological control of Anomis flava
Species
HEMIPTERA
PENTATOMIDAE
From To Year Result Reference
Podisus maculiventris
HYMENOPTERA
TRICHOGRAMMATIDAE
USA China 1984 Ð Wang &
Gong 1987
Trichogramma minutum USA Philippines 1934 + Otanes &
Butac 1935
AUSTRALIA
Regular releases of Trichogramma nr praetiosum at the rate of 50000 adults/
ha were made from November to March on 8 ha of cotton in south eastern
Queensland. The resulting mean rate of egg parasitisation (49.4%) was
inadequate to control damage by Helicoverpa spp. and the few eggs of
A. flava collected were not parasitised, although high levels of parasitisation
had been reported following the release of the same Trichogramma species
in northern Western Australia (Twine and Lloyd 1982). Good control on
cotton in northern New South Wales was obtained with a mixture of Bacillus
thuringiensis and chlordimeform at a time at which, except for coccinellids,
natural enemies were scarce, although low numbers of spiders and of the
pentatomid predator Oechallia schellembergii were present (Wilson 1981).
A. flava is one of two major pests of kenaf in northern Queensland and
the Ord Irrigation Area of Western Australia, although natural enemies can
produce valuable control (Kay and Brown 1991). The tachinids Carcelia
cosmophilae, C. illota and Exorista sorbillans attack larvae of A. flava and
other noctuids. Larvae are also attacked by the predator Cermatulus nasalis
(Pentatomidae) and the parasitoids Brachymeria sp. (Chalcididae),
Echthromorpha agrestoria and Enicospilus ?samoana (both Ichneumonidae)
(Curran 1938; Kay and Brown 1991).