Work

Identifying commercially available predators for use against crapemyrtle bark scale

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Crapemyrtle bark scale (CMBS; Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae (Kuwana); Hemiptera: Eriococcidae) is a non-native pest of ornamental plants in the southeastern United States. At high densities, CMBS can reduce the aesthetic value and vitality of crapemyrtles (Lagerstroemiae spp. L.), their main host. Chemical treatments are effective against CMBS, but increasing awareness of off-target impacts has resulted in more stringent restrictions for many pesticides. Furthermore, while resident natural enemies readily attack CMBS, they have been insufficient for regulating CMBS. Augmentative biological control may be a useful management tool for CMBS. Here, we screened commercially available predators in laboratory conditions for their use against CMBS, including a known predator, Chrysoperla rufilabris Burmeister (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), and two potential predators, Rhyzobius lophanthae (Blaisdell) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). After confirming that both C. rufilabris and R. lophanthae attack all CMBS developmental stages, we then measured their consumption against CMBS ovisacs, eggs, and active crawlers by conducting functional response assays; O. insidiosus did not attack any stage of CMBS. Chrysoperla rufilabris was observed consuming up to 0.3 ovisacs or 82.8 eggs in 24-hours before reaching satiation. In addition, C. rufilabris was observed consuming up to 35 crawlers in 24-hours but a satiation point was not identified. Rhyzobius lophanthae consumed up to 2.3 ovisacs, 120.6 eggs, or 51.1 crawlers in 24-hours. Our results demonstrate that C. rufilabris and R. lophanthae could be considered when prescribing an integrated pest management programme against CMBS, and further evaluations are needed to elucidate their efficacy in the field.

Source: Biocontrol Science and Technology

DOI: 10.1080/09583157.2025.2544160

Authors: Amber Rose Stiller, Kevin Daniel Chase, Caitlin Littlejohn, Jeremy Slone, Samuel Ward

Institutions: The Ohio State University, University of Reading

Language: English

Topic: Research on scale insects

Subfield: Insect Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Life on land, Zero hunger

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service