Entomology Program, Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Morgantown, WV, USA.
J Econ Entomol. 2021 Oct 13;114(5):1889-1895. doi: 10.1093/jee/toab020.
Rhinoncomimus latipes Korotyaev is a specialist biocontrol agent of mile-a-minute weed, Persicaria perfoliata (L.) H. Gross (Caryophyllales: Polygonaceae). Currently, R. latipes is released by hand where the presence of the weed is readily detected. However, the hand-release method is not applicable to weed patches spread in hard-to-access areas. This study was conducted to develop a spatially targeted biocontrol strategy by using an unmanned aircraft system (UAS, a.k.a. drone) for the detection of P. perfoliata and aerial release of R. latipes. A ground survey was performed to locate P. perfoliata patches and then a rotary-wing UAS was flown at 15 different altitudes to determine the detectability of P. perfoliata patches. We developed an insect-release system including a pod that housed R. latipes for aerial release. The pod was 3D printed with biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and field tests were conducted to determine the ability of R. latipes to escape the pod and assess their post-release mortality and feeding ability. The results of this study showed that P. perfoliata patches were readily detectable on the aerial images taken at ≤15 m above the ground. More than 98% of R. latipes (n = 118) successfully escaped from the pod within 24 h after aerial deployment. There were no significant (P > 0.05) effects of PVA exposure on the mortality and feeding ability of R. latipes. These results indicate that aerial detection of P. perfoliata and deployment of R. latipes for spatially targeted biological control in hard-to-access areas can be accomplished using a rotary-wing UAS.
宽突胫长足虻 R.latipes Korotyaev 是一种对薇甘菊 Mile-a-minute weed，Persicaria perfoliata（L.）H. Gross（Caryophyllales：Polygonaceae）有特效的生物防治剂。目前，R.latipes 通过人工手动释放来控制薇甘菊，这种方法适用于杂草容易被发现的地方。然而，对于难以到达的杂草斑块区域，这种手动释放方法并不适用。本研究旨在开发一种基于无人机系统（UAS，又名无人机）的空间靶向生物防治策略，用于检测薇甘菊并释放宽突胫长足虻。首先进行了地面调查，以定位薇甘菊斑块，然后以 15 个不同的高度使用旋翼式 UAS 飞行，以确定薇甘菊斑块的可检测性。我们开发了一种昆虫释放系统，包括一个用于空中释放的荚。荚是用可生物降解的聚乙烯醇（PVA）3D 打印的，进行了现场测试以确定宽突胫长足虻从荚中逃脱的能力，并评估它们的释放后死亡率和取食能力。研究结果表明，在距离地面≤15 m 的空中图像上，薇甘菊斑块很容易被检测到。在空投后 24 小时内，超过 98%的宽突胫长足虻（n = 118）成功从荚中逃脱。PVA 暴露对宽突胫长足虻的死亡率和取食能力没有显著影响（P > 0.05）。这些结果表明，使用旋翼式 UAS 可以在空中检测薇甘菊并释放宽突胫长足虻，以实现难以到达区域的空间靶向生物防治。
