Tavares C, Jactel H, van Halder I, Mendel Z, Branco M
Centro de Estudos Florestais (CEF), Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon (ISA-UL), Tapada da Ajuda 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal.
INRA, UMR1202, BIOGECO, F-33610 Cestas, France.
Bull Entomol Res. 2014 Jun;104(3):367-75. doi: 10.1017/S0007485314000182. Epub 2014 Mar 26.
Specialization is an important attribute of a biological control agent. The maritime pine bast scale, Matsucoccus feytaudi Ducasse (Hemiptera Matsucoccidae), is an invasive species in Southeast France and the North of Italy. Iberorhyzobius rondensis Eizaguirre (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is a recently described ladybird species. Both adults and larvae are predaceous, feeding on egg masses of M. feytaudi, and are strongly attracted to M. feytaudi's sex pheromone. To evaluate the potential of I. rondensis as a biocontrol agent of the scale, we studied its niche breadth and prey range with emphasis on pine forests and hemipterans as tested prey. In this study, I. rondensis was found to achieve complete development only when fed on M. feytaudi egg masses (92.9% survival) and an artificial prey: eggs of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (27.6% survival). From the 2nd instar onwards, complete development could be achieved using other prey species, although larvae had significantly higher mortality and slower development. In choice tests, M. feytaudi was the preferred prey. Surveys of the ladybird populations in the Iberian Peninsula revealed that it was found exclusively on Pinus pinaster Aiton, the sole host of M. feytaudi. The unusual specialization of I. rondensis, among other predaceous ladybirds, makes it an appropriate candidate for classical biological control of M. feytaudi.
专一性是生物防治剂的一个重要属性。海岸松球蚧，Matsucoccus feytaudi Ducasse（半翅目：球蚧科），是法国东南部和意大利北部的一种入侵物种。伊比利亚圆斑瓢虫，Iberorhyzobius rondensis Eizaguirre（鞘翅目：瓢虫科），是最近描述的一种瓢虫物种。成虫和幼虫均为捕食性，以海岸松球蚧的卵块为食，并被海岸松球蚧的性信息素强烈吸引。为了评估伊比利亚圆斑瓢虫作为该球蚧生物防治剂的潜力，我们研究了其生态位宽度和猎物范围，重点是松林和作为测试猎物的半翅目昆虫。在本研究中，发现伊比利亚圆斑瓢虫仅以海岸松球蚧卵块（存活率92.9%）和一种人工猎物：地中海粉螟Ephestia kuehniella Zeller的卵（存活率27.6%）为食时才能完全发育。从二龄幼虫开始，使用其他猎物物种也能实现完全发育，尽管幼虫的死亡率显著更高且发育更慢。在选择试验中，海岸松球蚧是首选猎物。对伊比利亚半岛瓢虫种群的调查显示，它仅在海岸松球蚧的唯一寄主——海岸松Pinus pinaster Aiton上被发现。伊比利亚圆斑瓢虫在其他捕食性瓢虫中表现出的不寻常专一性，使其成为海岸松球蚧经典生物防治的合适候选者。
