Pest Control Potential of Social Wasps in Small Farms and Urban Gardens

Prezoto Prezoto,Barbosa Barbosa,Maciel Maciel,Mayorquin Mayorquin,Detoni Detoni

doi:10.3390/insects10070192

Prezoto Prezoto, Barbosa Barbosa + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/insects10070192

Copy DOI

Journal: Insects	Publication Date: Jun 28, 2019
Citations: 55	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, University of Otago

Abstract

In environments undergoing constant transformation due to human action, such as deforestation and urbanization, the emergence of pests has become a challenge for agriculture and human welfare. In Brazil, over a thousand tonnes of pesticides are used annually, causing serious environmental damage such as the decline of insect populations. It is necessary to search for control alternatives in order to reduce the environmental impact caused by insecticides. This review aims to describe the use of social wasps as agents of biological control, focusing on the perspectives of their use in small farms and urban gardens, and to discuss the benefits of using this method. Studies have shown that 90–95% of the prey captured by wasps in small crops is made of leaf-eating caterpillars. In urban gardens, wasps diversify their prey, among which potential disease vectors, such as dipterans, stand out. We outline techniques for managing social wasp colonies in small farm and urban garden settings, including the use of artificial shelters. Among the advantages of using wasps as control agents, we highlight the practicality of the method, the low operational cost, the absence of prey resistance and the decrease of the use of insecticides.

Highlights

Human action transforms natural environments radically through deforestation for the expansion of agricultural and urban areas
Our analysis suggests that social wasps bewide valuable biological control absence of the typical setbacks seen in chemical control such as the creation of resistance in pest agents, standing out due to their wide prey selection and absence of the typical setbacks seen in populations [47]
Vespula colonies to a new location is a more delicate process than what has been done with Polistes since it involves considerably larger populations, the use of anesthetics, and the ‘hive’ structure is more complex and costly than artificial shelters for paper wasps

Summary

Introduction

Human action transforms natural environments radically through deforestation for the expansion of agricultural and urban areas. According to a 2019 publication by Sanches-Bayo and Wyckhuys [3], based on 73 reports on the decline of insect fauna over the world, extinctions are happening at an alarming rate and may reach 40% of certain insect taxa in the decades These authors outline environmental changes from deforestation, urbanization and chemical pollution as the main causes for the decline of insect communities. Synthetic insecticides applied on intensive agriculture are highlighted as a cause for special concern [3] This scenario presents an urgent need for insect pest control strategies that reduce environmental impact. Social wasps are abundant in a diversity of environments throughout the globe (Stenogastrinae with 53 spp, Vespinae with 67 spp and Polistinae with 943 spp), few investigations have focused on their potential as biological pest control agents [9,10,11]. We discuss the benefits of this method as a sustainable, low cost alternative for pest control

Foraging Activity in Social Wasps

Prey Captured by Social Wasps

The Potential of Social Wasps as Biological Control Agents

Findings

Conclusions