Gutierrez-Coarite Rosemary, Yoneishi Nicole M, Pulakkatu-Thodi Ishakh, Mollinedo Javier, Calla Bernarda, Wright Mark G, Geib Scott M
Entomology Section, Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii.
USDA-ARS, Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, Hilo Hawaii.
J Econ Entomol. 2018 Apr 2;111(2):885-891. doi: 10.1093/jee/toy019.
Macadamia felted coccid, Eriococcus ironsidei (Williams) (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae) was first found infesting macadamia trees in the island of Hawaii in 2005. Macadamia felted coccid infests all above-ground parts of trees to feed and reproduce. Their feeding activity distorts and stunts new growth which causes yellow spotting on older leaves, and when population densities become high, branch dieback occurs. Different predatory beetles have been observed in macadamia nut trees infested by E. ironsidei, the most abundant were Halmus chalybeus, Curinus coeruleus, Scymnodes lividigaster, Rhyzobius forestieri, and Sticholotis ruficeps. To verify predation of E. ironsidei by these beetles, a molecular assay was developed utilizing species-specific primers to determine presence in gut content of predators. Using these primers for PCR analysis, wild predator beetles were screened for the presence of E. ironsidei DNA. Analysis of beetles collected from macadamia orchards revealed predation by H. chalybeus, C. coeruleus, S. lividigaster, R. forestieri, and S. ruficeps on E. ironsidei. This study demonstrates that these beetles may play an important role in controlling the population of E. ironsidei, and these predators may be useful as biocontrol agents for E. ironsidei.
澳洲坚果毡蚧，即艾氏毡蚧（Williams）（半翅目：毡蚧科），于2005年首次在夏威夷岛被发现侵害澳洲坚果树。澳洲坚果毡蚧会侵害树木的所有地上部分以取食和繁殖。它们的取食活动会使新梢扭曲和发育不良，导致老叶出现黄斑，当种群密度过高时，会出现枝条枯死现象。在被艾氏毡蚧侵害的澳洲坚果树中观察到了不同的捕食性甲虫，数量最多的是蓝纹扁背叶甲、铜色食蚧隐喙瓢虫、黑点食蚧蚜小蜂、福氏食蚧蚜小蜂和红头食蚧蚜小蜂。为了验证这些甲虫对艾氏毡蚧的捕食情况，开发了一种分子检测方法，利用物种特异性引物来确定捕食者肠道内容物中是否存在该蚧虫。使用这些引物进行PCR分析，对野生捕食性甲虫进行筛选，以检测是否存在艾氏毡蚧的DNA。对从澳洲坚果果园采集的甲虫进行分析后发现，蓝纹扁背叶甲、铜色食蚧隐喙瓢虫、黑点食蚧蚜小蜂、福氏食蚧蚜小蜂和红头食蚧蚜小蜂会捕食艾氏毡蚧。这项研究表明，这些甲虫可能在控制艾氏毡蚧种群数量方面发挥重要作用，并且这些捕食者可能作为艾氏毡蚧的生物防治剂具有利用价值。
