Abstract
Substantial harm to ecosystems from the use of chemical pesticides has led to an increasing interest in the use of biopesticides to control grasshoppers in rangelands, including China. One such potential biopesticide for control of grasshoppers is the fungus Paranosema locustae. In this study, the dynamics of aboveground natural enemies of grasshoppers and arthropod diversity 0–9 years after application of P. locustae were investigated in rangeland in Qinghai Plateau, China. We found that the number of species and of individuals of aboveground natural enemies increased by 17–250% and 40–126%, respectively, after spraying P. locustae, and that the main natural enemies showed three peaks after treatment. The conventional indices of species diversity (H’) and evenness (J’) increased by 11–267% and 13–171%, respectively, after treatment with P. locustae. The results showed the positive effects of P. locustae on aboveground natural enemies and biodiversity in an arthropod community in Chinese rangeland. Paranosema locustae is thought to be a safe biological control agent for grasshopper management in Northwestern China.
Highlights
More than 40 species of pest insects affect some or all of the 400 million hectares of grasslands inChina
The results showed the positive effects of P. locustae on aboveground natural enemies and biodiversity in an arthropod community in Chinese rangeland
The current study examines the effects of P. locustae on the principal groups of aboveground natural enemies of grasshoppers and arthropod biodiversity in a rangeland arthropod community over a nine-year period following application in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
Summary
More than 40 species of pest insects affect some or all of the 400 million hectares of grasslands in. Of these species, grasshoppers are the most important, causing the largest losses in pastures and crops [1]. More than 15–20 million hectares of grassland in northern China experience grasshopper outbreaks, and such outbreaks are common on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. These outbreaks have led to the need for continued research on biological control, because of the potential damage to the environment and rangeland ecosystems from the widespread use of chemical pesticides. The need for a biological alternative is especially important for the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in China.
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