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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Social wasps are effective biocontrol agents of key lepidopteran crop pests

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Author(s):
Southon, Robin J. [1] ; Fernandes, Odair A. [2] ; Nascimento, Fabio S. [3] ; Sumner, Seirian [1]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] UCL, Dept Genet Evolut & Environm, Div Biosci, Ctr Biodivers & Environm Res, Gower St, London WC1E 6BT - England
[2] Sao Paulo State Univ Unesp, Sch Agr & Vet Sci, Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol, BR-14040900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; v. 286, n. 1914 NOV 6 2019.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

Biocontrol agents can help reduce pest populations as part of an integrated pest management scheme, with minimal environmental consequences. However, biocontrol agents are often non-native species and require significant infrastructure; overuse of single agents results in pest resistance. Native biocontrol agents are urgently required for more sustainable multi-faceted approaches to pest management. Social wasps are natural predators of lepidopteran pests, yet their viability as native biocontrol agents is largely unknown. Here, we provide evidence that the social paper wasp Polistes satan is a successful predator on the larvae of two economically important and resilient crop pests, the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (on sugarcane Saccharum spp.) and the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (on maize Zea mays); P. satan wasps significantly reduce crop pest damage. These results provide the much-needed baseline experimental evidence that social wasps have untapped potential as native biocontrol agents for sustainable crop production and food security. (AU)