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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Southern Insect Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #302986
Title: Biological control as an alternative measure for TPB in Mississippi

Author
item Portilla, Maribel

Submitted to: Midsouth Entomologist
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/4/2014
Publication Date: 9/30/2014
Citation: Portilla, M. 2014. Biological control as an alternative measure for TPB in Mississippi. Midsouth Entomologist. 7:38-46.

Interpretive Summary: Mycopesticides are often based on an indigenous rather than exotic fungal pathogen. The native strain NI8 of B. bassiana is already in the system in the Mississippi Delta. Its frequency of natural infection of TPB is higher in areas undisturbed by agriculture practices. This habitat is also often preferred by parasitoids and predators of the TPB. Laboratory host-range bioassays have demonstrated that NI8 does not affect the most common beneficial insects present in both cotton and weedy hosts of TPB in the Mississippi Delta. In general, B. bassiana strain NI8 and some egg and nymphal parasitoids such as A. iole and P. digoneutis have demonstrated their affectivity against TPB. However, is clear that they won’t play a prominent role in TPM management unless those biological agents are an integral component of a TPB suppression program.

Technical Abstract: The tarnished plant bug (TPB), Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), is a common pest of the main agricultural crops in Mississippi, particularly of cotton in the Mississippi Delta. TPB in cotton is economically important through reductions of crop yield and losses may vary depend on TPB population levels due to environmental conditions or efficacy of insecticides. For over 60 years numerous investigations on TPB control have been conducted based on biology, hosts, and distribution; however, more studies need to be done on ecology, behavior, and population dynamics to better understand its control. The experiences gained in the last 30 years of research should be reanalyzed in the context of an optimized IPM program for this pest. New approaches to the management of TPB in Mississippi with a better and broader realization of the vital role of nature control agents in the regulation on this insect population are needed.