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This article analyses interdependencies in the agri-food system; it focuses on the relationships between agri-supply and agricultural production markets, based on a case study of the emergence and development of an insect market for the protection of crops in the tomato production sector. It mobilizes the sociology of market agencements, thus making it possible to highlight the human and non-human actors, the devices and the market work that link these two markets. From the perspective of Callon's economic sociology, we first analyse the market agencements that gave rise to the beneficial insect market; we then show that it is in part determined by the dynamics of the tomato market, where its customers are to be found. The "market work" in each of the two markets makes their articulation possible. These inter-relationships build an integrated system, from agro-processing through to the commercialisation of tomatoes. •Agro-ecological transition can be envisaged via supply markets. • Biological control is based on the construction of a beneficial insect market. • We analyse the marketization of living insects, difficult to recognise, sell and use. • Market agencements may simultaneously act in two distinct and interdependent markets. • "Market co-creation" refers to markets that evolve together for their mutual benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The macadamia felted coccid, Eriococcus ironsidei Williams, is an invasive pest in Hawaii that causes severe damage and yield losses in macadamia nuts. Developing integrated pest management options including effective conservation biological control is essential. Combining techniques of canopy thinning with the provision of nectar and pollen plant sources for beneficial insects in the understory may result in improved E. ironsidei suppression. The role of canopy modification and understory habitat in enhancing natural enemy effectiveness to reduce E. ironsidei populations was investigated. Plots with pruned trees plus wild plants had up to 48% less E. ironsidei than the control plots, and the pruned-only plots had up to 32% less E. ironsidei compared to the control plots. A greater abundance of natural enemies was found in the treated plots than in the control plots. Predatory beetles were up to 62% more abundant in the pruned trees plus wild plants than in the control plots, and in the pruned-only plots there were up to 54% more predatory beetles than in the control plots. Encarsia lounsburyi (Berlese and Paoli), a wasp that parasitizes E. ironsidei was up to 73% more abundant in the pruned plus wild-plant plots, and up to 50% more abundant in the pruned-only plots than in the control plots. Pruning macadamia trees potentially enhanced natural enemy populations within the orchards increasing predation from 36% to 60% and parasitism from 1.3% up to 4.3% compared to control plots. Yields of macadamia trees were not affected by the pruning during the period of the study, and current results suggest a potential increase in yields over time after pruning. This study provides evidence that pruned macadamia trees and understory plant species diversification support natural enemy populations and may provide enhancement of biological control of E. ironsidei in macadamia nut orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study evaluated the use of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of shape, as a bio-indicator developmental stability (DS) in multiple populations of two different agricultural productions a) perennial (orchard) and b) annual (arable) crops on the carabid beetle Pterostichus melas melas (Creutzer, 1799) morphology. Shape variation and FA levels were estimated using geometric morphometrics. The results obtained using geometric morphometric analyses such as regressions (FA scores vs Shape) and partial least squares showed that carabids that inhabited the perennial agro-ecosystem seem to have adapted to the strong anthropogenic influence (i.e. IPM practices) at the phenotypic level, while the carabids inhabiting annual agro-ecosystems experience more unstable environments and their phenotypes seem to have been changed more recently. It was expected that phenotypes of the annual agro-ecosystems would be more variable than the long-established ones. Different IPM practices in agro-ecosystems generate different disturbance degrees in insect communities, and these effects can be successfully quantified by applying geometric morphometric techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Neonicotinoid insecticides are currently the fastest‐growing and most widely used insecticide class worldwide. Valued for their versatility in application, these insecticides may cause deleterious effects in a range of non‐target (beneficial) arthropods. However, it remains unclear whether strong patterns exist in terms of their major effects, if broad measures of arthropod performance are negatively affected, or whether different functional groups are equally vulnerable. Here, we present a meta‐analysis of 372 observations from 44 field and laboratory studies that describe neonicotinoid effects on 14 arthropod orders across five broad performance measures: abundance, behavior, condition, reproductive success, and survival. Across studies, neonicotinoids negatively affected all performance metrics evaluated; however, magnitude of the effects varied. Arthropod behavior and survival were the most negatively affected and abundance was the least negatively affected. Effects on arthropod functional groups were inconsistent. Pollinator condition, reproductive success, and survival were significantly lower in neonicotinoid treatments compared to untreated controls; whereas, neonicotinoid effects on detritivores were not significant. Although magnitude of arthropod response to neonicotinoids varied among performance measures and functional groups, we documented a consistent negative relationship between exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides in published studies and beneficial arthropod performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late and early maturing potato cultivars were grown under two organic management systems using straw mulch or mechanical cultivation for weed management. It was found that application of straw mulch at emergence consistently increased total and marketable A-size yields for the late season cultivar Freedom Russet, and shifted the profile of marketable A-size tubers toward larger sizes. Increased yields were seen for the early season cultivar Dark Red Norland in some years, and may be related to amelioration of environmental stress by straw mulch. Mulch provided more effective control than mechanical cultivation for some broadleaf weeds, especially late in the season as potato foliage senesced and weed numbers tended to increase in unmulched plots relative to mulched plots. Grass weed incidence did not differ between straw mulched and mechanically weeded plots. Mulch did not consistently impact abundance of pest, virus vector, or predatory insects, although potato leafhopper numbers tended to be lower in straw mulched plots than mechanically cultivated plots. Straw mulching did not impact PVY incidence. It was concluded that straw mulching is a viable management option for organic potato production, with potential benefits for broadleaf weed management and tuber yield. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

cis-Jasmone (CJ) is a natural plant volatile derived from linolenic acid via the octadecanoid pathway, and acts as a semiochemical and plant defense elicitor. In the present study, the effects of three different CJ doses (25 g.ha −1 ; 50 g.ha −1 ; 100 g.ha −1 ), applied at two different wheat growth stages (flag leaf just visible and emergence of inflorescence completed), on wheat insect pests and beneficial insects were investigated using three different sampling methods (direct visual counting, sweep-netting, colored sticky traps) under semi-arid conditions during 2011–2013. Depending on the insect species, CJ dose-effects varied with study years, plant growth stages and/or sampling methods. Among the pest species, cereal aphids (apterous and alate) were the most prominently affected by CJ treatment, irrespective of the dose; fewer aphids were detected on the CJ-treated plants than on untreated control plants by direct visual counting, sweep net and yellow sticky trap samplings. CJ treatment also had deterrent effects on phytophagous thrips species and wheat stem sawflies (Hymenoptera: Cephidae), whereas CJ was an attractant for aphid parasitoids, coccinellid species and the wheat stem sawfly parasitoid Collyria coxator (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). CJ treatment had no effect on syrphid species (Diptera: Syrphidae). There was no significant effect of CJ treatment on wheat yield; however, CJ-treated plants were taller than untreated control plants. Although the behavioral responses of the studied species to CJ treatment varied with the plant growth stage and treatment dose, and were not consistent across all sampling methods, our findings indicate CJ treatment may be used to reduce some insect pest populations and manipulate some natural enemy species under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Progress in Plant Protection is the property of Institute of Plant Protection and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), plague thrips (Thrips imaginis Bagnall), and onion thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman) are pests of deciduous fruit trees in Australia. Yellow sticky traps and tapping buds and flowers for thrips are currently recommended for monitoring, but it is not known whether one method is more efficient than the other, or if selectivity could be optimised by trap colour, or addition of semiochemicals Thriplineams ® or Lurem-TR lures to traps. The number and species of thrips caught by trapping and tapping of flowers and leaves, on different trap colours (black, blue, green, red, yellow, white), including a control (clear) and thrips semiochemicals, were evaluated in a series of trials in commercial deciduous fruit orchards in the Perth Hills, Western Australia. There was poor correlation between thrips caught on traps and tapping samples (R 2 attracted F. occidentalis, but had no effect on the capture of T. imaginis or T. tabaci, whilst Lurem-TR attracted more F. occidentalis and also increased the capture of T. imaginis. More beneficial insects including brown lacewings (Micromus tasmaniae (Walker)) and hoverflies (Melangyna viridiceps (Macquart)) were caught on blue trap bases (1.6 times more) than other trap base colours. No beneficial insects were present during the Thriplineams ® attracted F. occidentalis, but had no effect on the capture of T. imaginis or T. tabaci, whilst Lurem-TR attracted more F. occidentalis and also increased the capture of T. imaginis. More beneficial insects including brown lacewings (Micromus tasmaniae (Walker)) and hoverflies (Melangyna viridiceps (Macquart)) were caught on blue trap bases (1.6 times more) than other trap base colours. No beneficial insects were present during the Thriplineams ® experiment, whilst Lurem-TR increased trap capture of brown lacewings by 1.3 times. A monitoring system incorporating blue sticky traps in conjunction with Thriplineams ® would be more selective at detecting and monitoring F. occidentalis in deciduous fruit in Australia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Predaceous and parasitic insects provide control of important citrus pests. However, many pesticides are toxic to these beneficials. Using California citrus grower survey data, this article tests whether landscape-level use of pesticides affects the presence of and reliance on Aphytis melinus, an important beneficial insect. Results show that landscape-level pesticide use decreases the presence of A. melinus and increases reliance on insecticides. Pesticide use on non-citrus crops has a significant negative effect on the presence of Aphytis melinus, suggesting a cross-crop spatial externality. Our findings illustrate that regulations designed to address cross-crop effects on beneficial insects can increase social welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Basic & Applied Ecology is the property of Urban & Fischer Verlag and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents a study that investigates the mating behaviors, food patch residence and mate-guarding of Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman; Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) on field conditions. The study observed 82 mating pairs of beetle and determined their pair formation and separation period for 2 days. Male and female beetles were re-mated with more than one individual. Results have shown higher instance of re-pairing on males than females, however, re-pairing is rapid on females. In food patch residence, females tend to leave in midday unlike males, which leaves on evening. Mate-guarding of male was unrelated to female's departure after broke up. It suggests that prior to these results, food patches turnovers are high and reveals a significant chance for sperm competition.

Abstract: The olive bark beetle, Phloeotribus scarabaeoides, is a pest of olive trees causing severe injuries near inhabited foci. The pyrethroid insecticide, deltamethrin, has been tested at different doses during 3 years in olive logs already colonized by this scolytid, by monitoring the emergence of P. scarabaeoides adults and their parasitoids. In 2005 due to unusual low winter temperatures, the insect population was very low, precluding drawing any conclusion. The insecticide doses in 2004 and 2006 affected the emergence of the olive bark beetle, with a reduction ranging from 1% to 13%. The doses of 2006 also controlled the emergence of another olive pest, Leperisinus varius. The incidence on the hymenopteran parasitoids was, in general, high at all the tested deltamethrin doses, ranging from 0.0025% to 0.01% active ingredient. The lowest dose employed in 2006, corresponding to 0.00125%, reduced pest emergence without a significant effect on the hymenopteran parasitoids population, except for Cheiropachus quadrum. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Phytoprotection is the property of Society for the Protection of Plants and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Investigates the spatial dynamics of two important generalist predators, Pterostichus melanarius and P. madidus, across six fields encompassing 64 hectares of arable land. Strong aggregation into patches exhibited by both species, with location varying between the species; Importance of field boundaries and farming practices to the spatial dynamics of the two species.

The aim for this work was to assess both lethal and sub-lethal effects of four pesticides commonly used in field vegetables in south Belgium (Wallonia) on Episyrphus balteatus [Diptera: Syrphidae]. Acute toxicity and long term effects of the pesticides at the recommended and reduced doses were assessed in laboratory conditions by exposing the insects on plant leaves previously treated with the considered pesticide. Both tested insecticides, namely Karate® and Pirimor®, were found to be very harmful for the beneficial hoverfly even at reduced doses. A kind of selectivity only appeared from 2.5% of the recommended dose. The two fungicides, namely Ronilan® and Quintalic®, which showed a moderate acute toxicity had induced negative effects on long-term parameters, on both development and reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey bees are considered as critical beneficial insects in the term of honey production and pollination of crops. One of the essential honey bee species in Pakistan is Apis florea Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Apidae). These make nests on trees near human dwellings and agriculture crops. During foraging in the field for nectar and pollen collection from agriculture flowering plants, honey bees may be exposed to pesticide sprays which may cause a change in their foraging behavior and the death of their workers. The current study evaluates the toxicity of six insecticides (emamectin benzoate, spinetoram, chlorantraniliprole, fipronil, flonicamid, and imidacloprid) against workers of A. florea. There were six concentrations of each insecticide (causing > 0% to < 100 % mortality) prepared in water, and each concentration was replicated four times. The experiment was conducted using the diet incorporation method in a plastic container. Emamectin benzoate was found the most toxic insecticide with lower LC 50 values (1.02 µg/mL) followed by spinetoram (1.10 µg/mL), chlorantraniliprole (2.74 µg/mL), imidacloprid (3.09 µg/mL), flonicamid (3.94 µg/mL), fipronil (6.00 µg/mL) after 48 h of exposure. The results showed that insecticides are very toxic to A. florea and should be used on agriculture crops with great care and during less activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imidacloprid is an insecticide that is used globally and is suspected to be at least partly responsible for the decrease in the number of pollinator insects. The effects of an LC20 of imidacloprid on the parasitic behavior of the parasitoid wasp Leptopilina boulardi were investigated. Two genetically identical L. boulardi strains were used for the experiments. The strains differed in that one was infected by LbFvirus and the other was not. LbFvirus is a virus that induces an increase in the superparasitism behavior of the wasp. Results of two previous works have shown that the organophosphorus insecticide chlorpyrifos induces an increase in the superparasitism rate of L. boulardi through its specific action on cholinergic nervous pathways. Imidacloprid targets receptors implicated in cholinergic nervous pathways and thus it was expected that imidacloprid would also increase the superparasitism rate of L. boulardi. However, the results of the present experiment demonstrate that imidacloprid does not interfere with the parasitic behavior of L. boulardi and does not increase the rate of superparasitization. It can then be concluded that the major target of imidacloprid, namely type 1 α-bungarotoxin resistant nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR1), which imidacloprid is an agonist of, and the minor target, type D α-bungarotoxin sensitive nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRD), which imidacloprid is an antagonist of, are not involved in the superparasitism behavior by L. boulardi. Therefore, the superparasitism behavior of the parasitoid wasp is controlled by cholinergic pathways that do not involve nAChR1 or nAChRD subtype receptors. These findings may enable a better understanding of the mechanisms by which the LbFvirus acts, and contribute to a better evaluation of the potential environmental impact of imidacloprid use. • Imidacloprid use contributes to environmental pollution and its use is controversial. • Superparasitism behavior of L. boulardi is dependent on the cholinergic nervous pathway. • Imidacloprid targets are the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors nAChR1 and nAChRD. • Imidacloprid has shown no effect on the superparasitism behavior of L. boulardi. • Superparasitism involves cholinergic transmissions independent of imidacloprid's molecular targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the challenges faced by the beneficial insect business in the U.S. as of March 2004. Cost effectiveness of using beneficial insects in agriculture; Factors affecting the beneficial insects market including competition from the pesticide industry; Potential impact of genetically modified crops and the production of reduced risk insecticides on the beneficial insect business.