Enhancing biological control of corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea and thrips through habitat management and inundative release of Trichogramma pretiosum in corn cropping systems

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of (I) conservation- and inundative biological control (biocontrol-enhanced treatments) with corn monoculture in terms of improving parasitism of Helicoverpa zea eggs by T. pretiosum, (II) conservation biological control with corn monoculture on predation of H. zea eggs and thrips by Orius spp. Results showed parasitism of H. zea eggs on corn silks was greater in the biocontrol-enhanced treatments compared to the monoculture control, and was greater in the T. pretiosum released treatment compared to the habitat management. Abundance of Orius spp. in relation to prey availability was greater in the habitat management treatment compared to the monoculture control. Proportion of corn ears damaged in Trichogramma release plots was lower than other treatments. These results suggest that inundative release of T. pretiosum is a potentially more viable management tool for H. zea control in corn compared to the habitat management with sunn hemp as an intercrop. Graphical abstract
Source: Biological Control - Category: Biology Source Type: research
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