Jack Rummler
1) Jack Rummler
The article I selected was based on factors that influence the ability to provide parasitoids acting as biological control agents access to nectar through flowers. Conservation control aims to decrease the efficacy of nectar retention of parasitoids, but factors such as nectar quality and flower morphology may play a role in influencing the success of access to nectar. The research analyzed seven different flowers and used the Argentine stem weevil as its parasitoid. All of the flowers were dead and frozen and using special micro capillary tubes could nectar be extracted to measure the samples. Containers with the flowers had the same temperature, photoperiod, and dimensional conditions. There was a small slit in all of the containers for the stem weevil to enter through. Analytical machinery was used to determine the content of sugars in the nectar in which could influence the nectar quality.
The research found that only two of the seven flowers (buckwheat and coriander) had large enough openings in the first place for the stem weevil to even enter through. Lab conditions do not entirely mimic reality, so it was discovered that this parasitoid may become a “secondary nectar robber,” because primary nectar robbers can create large enough openings for the stem weevil to enter through if they can not do so initially. The research affirmed the initial hypothesis that nectar quality and flower morphology are the largest factors influencing parasitoid access to nectar, but parasitoid head width may also play a factor. This is important for agricultural ecology because this means parasitoids prefer more “open” access to nectar. This allows for more understanding for natural control agents that can be introduced to ensure that nectar openings do not get any larger to ensure parasitoids do not become secondary nectar robbers. The sucrose/(glucose+fructose) ratio may also be important in influencing which foods to provide natural enemies. This research also has implications of floral diversity necessary in agroecosystems through effective ecological engineering to improve biological control.
Vattala, H. D., Wratten, S. D., Phillips, C. B., & Wäckers, F. L. (2006). The influence of flower morphology and nectar quality on the longevity of a parasitoid biological control agent. Biological Control, 39(2), 179–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2006.06.003
The research that I am summarizing deals with the biological control of the two spotted spider mite. This mite feeds on plants and can be a severe pest for agriculture. The experiments performed were to test the effects of several broad spectrum insecticides in the nitrogen presence of nitrogen fertilization. The researchers first had to get spider mite egg samples from leaves, also they had land plotted out with plant that were separated by how they were going to be treated. The insecticides and nitrogen were added on in multiple coats over 1-5 years. The results of this experiment support that biological control of the spider mites with these insecticides is a stable at least temporarily. The insecticides also perform well when there are factors that increase reproduction rates, in this case the addition of nitrogen. Research like this is important and relevant to agricultural ecology because knowing how to properly handle pests like mites will help keep agriculture healthy. By knowing how the mites will behave with different insecticides can help with the process of biological control in the future if necessary.
Reference:
Iskra, A. E., Woods, J. L., & Gent, D. H. D. G. go. (2019). Stability and Resiliency of Biological Control of the Twospotted Spider Mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) in Hop. Environmental Entomology, 48(4), 894–902.
