Journal article
Impacts of biological control and invasive species on a non-target native Hawaiian insect
Oecologia, Vol.142(4), pp.529-540
02/2005
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/109865
PMID: 15688213
Abstract
The potential for classical biological control to cause unintended harm to native species was evaluated in the case of the endemic Hawaiian koa bug, Coleotichus blackburniae White (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), and parasitoids introduced to Hawaii for control of an agricultural pest, the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Parasitism of C. blackburniae eggs, nymphs and adults by biocontrol agents was quantified across a wide range of habitats and compared to other sources of mortality. Egg mortality due to the biocontrol agent Trissolcus basalis Wollaston (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) was low (maximum 26%) and confined to elevations below 500 m on a single host plant. Predation, mainly by alien spiders and ants, was the greatest source of egg mortality (maximum 87%). Parasitism of adult C. blackburniae by the biocontrol agent Trichopoda pilipes (F.) (Diptera: Tachinidae) was near zero at 21 of 24 sites surveyed. Three sites with high bug density had higher levels of T. pilipes parasitism, reaching maxima of 70% among adult female bugs, 100% among males and 50% among fifth instars. Male-biased parasitism indicated that T. pilipes is adapted to using male aggregation pheromone for finding C. blackburniae hosts. The relative impacts of biocontrol agents and other sources of mortality were compared using life tables. Invasive species, particularly generalist egg predators, had the greatest impacts on C. blackburniae populations. Effects of intentionally introduced parasitoids were relatively minor, although the tachinid T. pilipes showed potential for large impacts at individual sites. In retrospect, non-target attacks by biological control agents on C. blackburniae were predictable, but the environmental range and magnitude of impacts would have been difficult to foresee.
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Details
- Title
- Impacts of biological control and invasive species on a non-target native Hawaiian insect
- Creators
- M Johnson - Department of Entomology University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu HI 96822 USAPeter Follett - Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center USDA-ARS Hilo HI 96720 USAAndrew Taylor - Department of Zoology University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu HI 96822 USAVincent Jones - Department of Entomology University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu HI 96822 USA
- Publication Details
- Oecologia, Vol.142(4), pp.529-540
- Academic Unit
- WSU Wenatchee Tree Fruit REC
- Publisher
- Springer-Verlag; Berlin/Heidelberg
- Identifiers
- 99900547280801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article