Review of research on creating stable formulations of mycoparasitic #Trichoderma species for their application in the #biocontrol against #plant #pathogenic #fungi - article in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (2023, vol. 107, issue 18, pp. 5595-5612) by Yolanda Martinez and others - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-023-12687-x

"Dr. Dina Genzola, the officer in charge of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (#OPA), said on Thursday, August 17, that they have released pest-eating bugs – coccinellid beetles (#Ladybugs) and Comperialla calaunica – in affected areas to combat the #Cocolisap infestation, which poses a threat to more than five million #Coconut trees in the province." #Philippines #BioControl

#NegrosOccidental releases bugs to combat coconut infestation in 2 cities, 2 towns
https://www.rappler.com/nation/visayas/negros-occidental-releases-ladybugs-coconut-infestation-august-2023/

A new #biocontrol method for the root rot #pathogen Heterobasidion annosum in stands of Scots pines: Infected trees and stumps are treated with a partitivirus of Heterobasidion (HetPV13-an1) and a buffer zone is established around the infection sites by felling healthy trees and treating their stumps with the competing fungus Phlebiopsis gigantea. Article in Biological Control (2023, vol. 184, art. 105263) by Tuula Piri and others - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2023.105263

Check out our review of hemlock woolly #adelgid #biocontrol here:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964423001615

Under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing of genetic resources is affecting the implementation of classical #biocontrol against invasive #pests. Review by Peter G. Mason and others in the journal BioControl (2023, vol. 68, pp. 235-251) - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-023-10176-8

Nematodes, from a pest insect that they had been breeding inside. While gory, #nematodes are a #biocontrol option for various invertebrate pests. Various species are available commercially, and can be effective against a range of species. They can be particularly good against insect pests with a soil-living life stage, such as #VineWeevil (and other weevils!), some #Sawflies, root maggots and other #Diptera larvae, etc. #LoadsaTodes

new paper published by Crowther et al in #Biocontrol
The impact of #field margins on #biological #PestControl a meta-analysis. BioControl. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-023-10205-6
#agriculture #biodiversity #flower #crop #fieldmargin

New on Entomology Today: The ESA Plant-Insect Ecosystems Section field tour series returned in May 2022, convening experts and practitioners from research, industry, and government focused on insect biological control, with in-person demonstrations and discussions featuring the Washington state tree fruit industry. #entomology #insects #biocontrol https://entomologytoday.org/2023/06/28/fruitful-discussion-field-tour-gathers-insect-biocontrol-community/

@Woodchaz @futurebird
somewhere there must be a list of all the parasitoids (mainly flies and wasps I think?) that have been imported into N. America to control some species of invasive insect. I wonder if anyone can find this list?

#parasitoids
#phorid
#wasp
#biocontrol

Understanding #crop #pest #evolution may boost #biocontrol.

#pheromones #signalling #semiochemistry

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-crop-pest-evolution-boost-biocontrol.html

New on Entomology Today: Two new studies find even more benefits to tolerating scale insects on urban trees, boosting the abundance of a variety of spiders and attracting predator insects that serve as natural enemies of other pests in both trees and nearby plants. #entomology #insects #trees #biocontrol #IPM https://entomologytoday.org/2023/04/26/scale-insects-urban-trees-benefit-spiders-natural-enemies/

Studying the stomach contents of spiders shows how they help control crop pests
#Agriculture #Spiders #Bugs #Farms #Farming #Insects #Crops #Pests #PestManagement #Predators #CropYield #Biocontrol #DNABarcoding
https://the-14.com/studying-the-stomach-contents-of-spiders-shows-how-they-help-control-crop-pests/

Possible non-target effects of #biocontrol agents: Galerucella birmanica is proposed for introduction into North America against the #invasive aquatic #weed Trapa natans - its host choice and feeding preferences cover the target weed and hosts of other Galerucella species, but not plants closely related to the target weed - article by Wade Simmons, Bernd Blossey - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2023.105201

New on Entomology Today: Several species of fungus in the genus Fusarium are known to infect insects, while some also infect plants. Researchers in China report the first observation of the species Fusarium concentricum infecting an insect—in this case a key moth pest of Chinese fir trees. #entomology #mycology #fungi #IPM #insects #biocontrol https://entomologytoday.org/2023/03/17/fungus-species-found-infecting-moth-pest-of-chinese-fir-trees/

The prokaryotic molecular biology and ecology practical course continues… disrupting the matrix and plating for CFUs to evaluate SynCom composition and the success of new isolates
#MScprograms #DTU #courses #biocontrol #MicrobialEcology
-at @DTUbioengineer https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1636283854733410308

"Using tomato plants as a model system, we demonstrated that a soil fungus, Trichoderma afroharzianum, widely used as a biocontrol agent of plant pathogens, negatively affects the development and survival of the lepidopteran pest Spodoptera littoralis by altering the gut microbiota and its symbiotic contribution to larval nutrition." #entomology #lepidoptera #fungi #biocontrol
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2216922120

Happy to share our new review by @MarkLyng5: Frenemies of the soil: Bacillus and Pseudomonas interspecies interactions

#OpenAccess - funded by @cemist_dtu/@GrundforskFond and #NNF_Interact/@novonordiskfond

#biocontrol #SecondaryMetabolites

https://authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S0966-842X(23)00050-1

Different ecotypes or closely related species of #biocontrol agents can hybridize, how does this affect their fitness and/or host use? - Study with Diorhabda #weed bioagents show fitness and target host use are stable, but non-target host use may be higher in hybrids - article by Eliza I. Clark and others like @hufbauer - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2022.105102

#Licorice leaf extract is a promising #plant protectant for conventional and organic #agriculture.

#Glycyrrhiza #bacteria #immune #oomycetes #phytopathology #biocontrol

https://phys.org/news/2023-02-licorice-leaf-conventional-agriculture.html

Very interesting and controversial.

An overabundance of non-native birds in a #predatorfree Waikato wetland sanctuary endangers the water quality.

Solution? Reintroduce rats to try to drive out birds fouling a lake (#biocontrol).

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018875144/waikato-sanctuary-using-rats-to-solve-its-bird-poo-problem