Predators Of Pests Research Articles

Understanding complex spatial dynamics from mechanistic models through spatio‐temporal point processes

Landscape heterogeneity affects population dynamics, which determine species persistence, diversity and interactions. These relationships can be accurately represented by advanced spatially‐explicit models (SEMs) allowing for high levels of detail and precision. However, such approaches are characterised by high computational complexity, high amount of data and memory requirements and spatio‐temporal outputs may be difficult to analyse. A possibility to deal with this complexity is to aggregate outputs over time or space, but then interesting information may be masked and lost, such as local spatio‐temporal relationships or patterns. An alternative solution is given by meta‐models and meta‐analysis, where simplified mathematical relationships are used to structure and summarise the complex transformations from inputs to outputs. Here, we propose an original approach to analyse SEM outputs. By developing a meta‐modelling approach based on spatio‐temporal point processes (STPPs), we characterise spatio‐temporal population dynamics and landscape heterogeneity relationships in agricultural contexts. A landscape generator and a spatially‐explicit population model simulate hierarchically the pest–predator dynamics of codling moth and ground beetles in apple orchards over heterogeneous agricultural landscapes. Spatio‐temporally explicit outputs are simplified to marked point patterns of key events, such as local proliferation or introduction events. Then, we construct and estimate regression equations for multi‐type STPPs composed of event occurrence intensity and magnitudes. Results provide local insights into spatio‐temporal dynamics of pest–predator systems. We are able to differentiate the contributions of different driver categories (i.e. spatio‐temporal, spatial, population dynamics). We highlight changes in the effects on occurrence intensity and magnitude when considering drivers at global or local scale. This approach leads to novel findings in agroecology where, for example, we show that the organisation of cultivated patches and semi‐natural elements play different roles for pest regulation depending on the scale considered. It aids to formulate guidelines for biological control strategies at global and local scale.

Collateral damage of fipronil in economic and ecologically important non-target species

Fipronil is an insecticide and acaricide widely used in agriculture and domestic animals worldwide. Ecotoxicology studies have shown that, even at the low concentrations used on target species, fipronil and its degradation products have a significant impact on non-target species, either by direct toxicity or indirect effects affecting the food chain. The negative effects of fipronil on non-target species of terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates and indirect effects on food chains have led to its use being banned or severely restricted in numerous countries, including all of the European Union, China, and the United States. Some of the species highly susceptible to fipronil are of great economic and ecological importance, including crayfish, brown shrimp, and bees. In particular, the impact on decimating bee hives worldwide is an example of fipronil´s undesirable effects on agriculture. Other species affected by fipronil -for which there are few studies- are biological predators of the same pests controlled by fipronil. Considering all the impacts on non-target species, the commercialization and indiscriminate use of fipronil in agriculture seem irresponsible. In Colombia, as of September 2021 and pressed by local beekeepers, the Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA) prohibited its use on avocado, coffee, citrus, and passiflower plantations. However, as long as its use is not prohibited in all agricultural applications, farmers could divert its use and continue using it in any other type of plantation. This paper describes the impact of fipronil on some of the beneficial invertebrate species of outmost economic and ecological importance.

A modified method for mass production of generalist predatory edaphic mite Gaeolaelaps aculeifer as a candidate for biological control of the saffron corm mite

ABSTRACT Gaeolaelaps aculeifer (Canestrini) (Acari: Laelapidae) is an edaphic predator of several agricultural pests. Development of simple and low-cost innovative mass rearing techniques and the use of this predator to control soil pests have high importance. For the mass production of G. aculeifer, three growth environments were evaluated. Saffron corms and layered potatoes were used to feed mites, and the mixture of “cocopeat + perlite and saffron chaff” was used to maintain more moisture and to prepare the environment for more ventilation and more porosity, increase hiding places, and provide shelter for the predatory mites to lay eggs. In each treatment, 40 male and female adults of G. aculeifer were released. To feed the predators, approximately 500–800 bulb mites were added to each unit, weekly. The results showed a 27-fold increase in G. aculeifer populations within 30 days. After 60 days, the rate of predator population decreased. Saffron is an expensive plant with abundant benefits and diverse uses. The bulb mite Rhizoglyphus robini is a potentially serious pest damaging saffron corms. This method gives saffron growers the choice to improve the biological control of bulb mites in their saffron fields.

Understanding the trophic relationships amongst arthropods in olive grove by δN15and δC13stable isotope analysis

AbstractSo far the limited knowledge about the diet of omnivores and generalist predators in olive groves has not allowed the clarification of their role as natural enemies. Stable isotope (δN15and δC13) analysis is a useful tool for predicting the trophic position of a high number of species, the variety of basal resources and the flux of energy in the food web. We have explored the possible consumers of two important pests in the olive grove: adults ofPrays oleaeBern (Lepidoptera: Praydidae) during its anthophagous generation and the pupae ofBactrocera oleae(Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae). In addition, we have included in the study the adult instar of the secondary pestEuphyllura olivina(Costa) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). These arthropods were clustered in isotopic groups according to their similarities in δN15and δC13content assuming that, in this case, they shared similar feeding habits. Using this criterion, we obtained eight isotopically different groups of predators and eleven groups of phytophagous insects. We have used Bayesian mixing models in order to identify the potential predators of the different pests included in our study and the proportion that each pest occupied in the diet of the identified predators. Different taxa of spiders andAnthocoris nemoralis(Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) have emerged as potential predators ofB. oleae. Moreover, Gnaphosidae (Araneae) showed suitable isotopic characteristics to be identified as potential predator ofP. oleaeandA. nemoralishas been confirmed as a predator ofE. olivina. The presence ofE. olivinaas an abundant resource encourages the settlement of natural enemies in olive orchards which feed on this secondary pest, but are also ready to feed on any insect outbreak, for exampleP. oleae.

Diversity and Feeding Habits of Spiders Across Habitats in Coimbatore District

Spiders the generalist predators are considered ecosystem health indicators and are significant predators of insect's pests and play an important role in regulation of ecological balance. The study on the diversity and feeding habits of spiders was undertaken in three different habitats from Coimbatore District viz. the agricultural farms of ICAR- Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), forest ecosystem of Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), and a farming village Kondanur. Overall spider diversity from the three study areas comprised of 35 species belonging to 29 genera representing 13 families with a total of 102 individuals. Maximum of 66 individuals representing 16 species and 10 families were noted at KVK followed by Kondanur with 19 individuals representing 14 species and five families, while SACON had 17 individuals representing 13 species and seven families. Shannon diversity index and Evenness index was high at Kondanur followed by SACON and KVK. The spiders fed on 12 different faunal orders occupying habitats as per their prey base niches.

Natural enemies emerging in cereal fields in spring may contribute to biological control

Abstract Biological pest control is known to depend on landscape heterogeneity. However, such relationship shows irregular pattern and seems influenced by local farming practices and natural enemies that overwinter within crop fields. The objective of this study was to assess the contribution of emerging natural enemies in spring to biological control, and their response to the interaction between landscape heterogeneity and farming intensity. We monitored the overwintering insect community using emergence traps and measured the local potential pest predation using prey cards in 30 cereal fields, in spring in France. Study fields were selected along a landscape heterogeneity gradient and farming practices were recorded. None of the 10 emerging taxa influenced predation of lepidopteran eggs or weed seeds. On the ground, aphid predation was positively correlated with emerging carabid beetles. On foliage, aphid predation was negatively correlated with emerging parasitoids. Overall, the community of natural enemies that overwinters within crop fields seemed to benefit from landscape‐scale lower crop diversity and higher edge density in combination with higher local‐scale farming intensities. This suggests that they represent a subset of species adapted to intensified farming systems. This study highlights a broad taxonomic range of emerging natural enemies and their potential contribution to local pest predation.

Metabolic Changes in Larvae of Predator Chrysopa sinica Fed on Azadirachtin-Treated Plutella xylostella Larvae.

Biological control is a key component of integrated pest management (IPM). To suppress pests in a certain threshold, chemical control is used in combination with biological and other control methods. An essential premise for using pesticides in IPM is to ascertain their compatibility with beneficial insects. Chrysopa sinica (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is an important predator of various pests and used for pest management. This study was intended to analyze metabolic changes in C. sinica larvae after feeding on azadirachtin-treated Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera, Plutellidae) larvae through a non-targeted LC–MS (Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry) based metabolomics analysis. Results showed that C. sinica larvae did not die after consuming P. xylostella larvae treated with azadirachtin. However, their pupation and eclosion were adversely affected, resulting in an impairment in the completion of their life cycle. Feeding C. sinica larvae with azadirachtin-treated P. xylostella larvae affected over 10,000 metabolites across more than 20 pathways, including the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates, lipid, cofactors, and vitamins in C. sinica larvae, of which changes in amnio acid metabolism were particularly pronounced. A working model was proposed to illustrate differential changes in 20 metabolites related to some amino acid metabolisms. Among them, 15 were markedly reduced and only five were elevated. Our results suggest that azadirachtin application may not be exclusively compatible with the use of the predator C. sinica for control of P. xylostella. It is recommended that the compatibility should be evaluated not only based on the survival of the predatory insects but also by the metabolic changes and the resultant detrimental effects on their development.

Selection of Non-Crop Plant Mixes Informed by Arthropod-Plant Network Analyses for Multiple Ecosystem Services Delivery Towards Ecological Intensification of Agriculture

Ecological intensification (EI) of agriculture through the improvement of ecosystem service delivery has recently emerged as the alternative to the conventional intensification of agriculture that is widely considered unsustainable and has negative impacts on the environment. Although tropical agricultural landscapes are still heterogeneous, they are rapidly losing diversity due to agricultural intensification. Restoration of natural or semi-natural habitats, habitat diversity, and provision of multiple benefits have been identified as important targets for the transition to EI. Choosing the right plant mixes for the restoration of habitats that can offer multiple ecosystem service benefits is therefore crucial. The selection of candidate species for plant mixes is generally informed by studies focusing on a specific ecosystem service (e.g., pollination) and not based on the whole arthropod—non-crop plant interactions matrix. In this study, we try to identify non-crop plant mixes that would provide habitat for pollinators, act as refugia for natural pest predators, and also as a trap crop for potential crop pests by studying non-crop plants—arthropod interaction network. We have identified the non-crop plant species mixes by first identifying the connector species based on their centrality in the network and then by studying how their sequential exclusions affect the stability of the network.

A scaffold-level genome assembly of a minute pirate bug, Orius laevigatus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), and a comparative analysis of insecticide resistance-related gene families with hemipteran crop pests

BackgroundOrius laevigatus, a minute pirate bug, is a highly effective beneficial predator of crop pests including aphids, spider mites and thrips in integrated pest management (IPM) programmes. No genomic information is currently available for O. laevigatus, as is the case for the majority of beneficial predators which feed on crop pests. In contrast, genomic information for crop pests is far more readily available. The lack of publicly available genomes for beneficial predators to date has limited our ability to perform comparative analyses of genes encoding potential insecticide resistance mechanisms between crop pests and their predators. These mechanisms include several gene/protein families including cytochrome P450s (P450s), ATP binding cassette transporters (ABCs), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), UDP-glucosyltransferases (UGTs) and carboxyl/cholinesterases (CCEs).Methods and findingsIn this study, a high-quality scaffold level de novo genome assembly for O. laevigatus has been generated using a hybrid approach with PacBio long-read and Illumina short-read data. The final assembly achieved a scaffold N50 of 125,649 bp and a total genome size of 150.98 Mb. The genome assembly achieved a level of completeness of 93.6% using a set of 1658 core insect genes present as full-length genes. Genome annotation identified 15,102 protein-coding genes - 87% of which were assigned a putative function.Comparative analyses revealed gene expansions of sigma class GSTs and CYP3 P450s. Conversely the UGT gene family showed limited expansion. Differences were seen in the distributions of resistance-associated gene families at the subfamily level between O. laevigatus and some of its targeted crop pests. A target site mutation in ryanodine receptors (I4790M, PxRyR) which has strong links to diamide resistance in crop pests and had previously only been identified in lepidopteran species was found to also be present in hemipteran species, including O. laevigatus.Conclusion and significanceThis assembly is the first published genome for the Anthocoridae family and will serve as a useful resource for further research into target-site selectivity issues and potential resistance mechanisms in beneficial predators. Furthermore, the expansion of gene families often linked to insecticide resistance may be an indicator of the capacity of this predator to detoxify selective insecticides. These findings could be exploited by targeted pesticide screens and functional studies to increase effectiveness of IPM strategies, which aim to increase crop yields by sustainably, environmentally-friendly and effectively control pests without impacting beneficial predator populations.

True bug Stenomacra marginella (Hemiptera: Largidae) associated with Mexican sunflower Tithonia diversifolia (Asterales: Asteraceae) in Cerro Punta, Chiriquí, Panama

Objectives: To identify both the Asteraceae species found in Cerro Punta, as well as the species of the bug associated with it and to determine if it is a pest insect. Methodology: Photographs of leaves and flowers of the plant were taken and three specialists in botany were consulted for the corresponding identification. Additionally, a total of 39 specimens of the bug were collected, which were reviewed in the laboratory, consulting specialized literature and the genitalia of the male was dissected to confirm the adequate identification of the species. Results: The Asteraceae species found in Cerro Punta is Tithonia diversifolia and the bug corresponds to Stenomacra marginella (Herrich-schaeffer, 1850) (Hemiptera: Largidae). This insect has been referred to as omnivore; therefore, it cannot be considered as a pest species; although it could contribute to the balance of the agroecosystem, by serving as an alternative food for predators and parasitoids, in addition to potentially serving as a pest predator. Conclusions: The wild Asteraceae species found in Cerro Punta, Chiriquí, Panama, corresponds to Tithonia diversifolia. The predominant insect observed on this plant was Stenomacra marginella; which can be considered as a stabilizer of the agroecosystem.

New data on hoverfly fauna (Diptera: Syrphidae) of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Hoverflies (Syrphidae) are a large Dipteran family, distributed almost worldwide. They play very important ecological roles such as plant pollination, nutrient recycling and predation of plant pests. The members of the genus Epistrophe Walker, 1852 are medium-sized hoverflies of which about 75 species have been described in the World, and 12 of them occur in Europe. During a survey, conducted from 16th June to 4th July 2021 at Blidinje Nature Park (Bosnia and Herzegovina), a new species, of the fauna of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was recorded – Epistrophe diaphana (Zetterstedt, 1843) and new records for species Epistrophe leiophthalma (Schiner & Egger, 1853) were observed. Specimens were collected from inflorescences of Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium L.). Information about the records, species habitats, distribution and status in the country and the region is presented and discussed in this research work.

Benefic organisms in agricultural crops: Towards a safety and healthy food in response to COVID-19 and future syndemics

<p>A population with an adequate immunity is key to reduce the effects of COVID-19. Moreover, a healthy diet and an innocuous environment are factors for an adequate immunity. Healthier and more innocuous foods could be obtained with the extensive use of beneficial organisms on agricultural crops, helping reduce the use of agrochemicals and increasing the tolerance of plants to stress caused by abiotic and biotic factors. Nitrogen-fixating bacteria or free-living bacteria, mycorrhizae, endosymbiotic microorganisms, endophytes, entomopathogenic fungi and bacteria, pest predators and parasitoids, hyper parasitic viruses of pests and pathogens are some of the organisms that can induce the natural suppression of parasites, fixate nitrogen and optimize the capture of nutrients and water, among other ecosystemic benefits. This revision presents functions and properties of beneficial organisms and proposals are made for their use to benefit farmers and consumers, with the intention of contributing to the productive processes towards a sustainable agriculture.</p>

Density‐independent prey choice, taxonomy, life history, and web characteristics determine the diet and biocontrol potential of spiders (Linyphiidae and Lycosidae) in cereal crops

AbstractSpiders are among the dominant invertebrate predators in agricultural systems and are significant regulators of insect pests. The precise dynamics of biocontrol of pests in the field are, however, poorly understood. This study investigates how density‐independent prey choice, taxonomy, life stage, sex, and web characteristics affect spider diet and biocontrol. We collected spiders in four genera of Linyphiidae (i.e., Bathyphantes, Erigone, Tenuiphantes, and Microlinyphia), and individuals from the Lycosidae genus Pardosa, and their proximate prey communities from barley fields in Wales, UK between April and September 2018. We analyzed the gut contents of 300 individual spiders using DNA metabarcoding. From the 300 spiders screened, 89 prey taxa were identified from 45 families, including a wide range of pests and predators. Thrips were the dominant prey, present in over a third of the spiders sampled, but a type IV functional response appears to reduce their predation at peak abundances. Spider diets significantly differed based on web characteristics, but this depended on the genus and sex of the spider and it was not the principal separating factor in the trophic niches of linyphiids and lycosids. Diets significantly differed between spider genera and life stages, reflected in different propensities for intraguild predation and pest predation. Adult spiders predated a greater diversity of other predators, and juveniles predated a greater diversity of pests. Overall, Tenuiphantes spp. and Bathyphantes spp. exhibited the greatest individual potential for biocontrol of the greatest diversity of pest genera. The greater trophic niche complementarity of Pardosa spp. and Erigone spp., however, suggests that their complementary predation of different pests might be of greater overall benefit to biocontrol. Sustainable agriculture should aim to optimize conditions throughout the cropping cycle for effective biocontrol, prioritizing provision for a diversity of spiders which predate a complementary diversity of pest species.

The dual role of earwigs (Dermaptera) in winter grain crops in Australia

AbstractEarwigs have been observed as an irregular pest of increasing concern to farmers growing canola and other winter grain crops in Australia over the past decade. In this study, we tested how abiotic and biotic factors influence the feeding behaviour of earwigs. Studies were conducted with two Australian native species, Labidura truncata and Nala lividipes, and the introduced European earwig, Forficula auricularia. We constructed field‐based exclusion plots that prevented F. auricularia from moving in or out of a small area of canola. We monitored F. auricularia activity and the feeding damage to canola plants throughout the winter growing season. In the laboratory, we established microcosms containing crop seedlings, as well as aphids as an alternate food source, to examine the feeding behaviour of all three species. The native earwigs L. truncata and N. lividipes did not cause feeding damage to canola or wheat but were found to actively consume aphids when present. We conclude that these species are unlikely to cause significant (economic levels) of pest damage in a field environment. In the microcosm trial, F. auricularia caused considerable damage to canola seedlings and readily consumed aphids. Forficula auricularia also caused feeding damage to canola seedlings early in the winter growing season in the field trial. However, by the end of the season, F. auricularia presence was associated with increased canola biomass. Furthermore, F. auricularia did not damage canola until all nearby aphids were consumed. Together, our field and laboratory studies suggest F. auricularia can be an important predator of aphid pests in canola, indicating a dual role of this species as both a pest and a beneficial species in winter grain systems.

Habitat selection by a predator of rodent pests is resilient to wildfire in a vineyard agroecosystem.

Conservation of uncultivated habitats can increase the potential for ecosystem services in agroecosystems, but these lands are also susceptible to wildfires in the arid western United States. In Napa Valley, California, abundant rodent pests and an interest in integrated pest management have led wine producers to use nest boxes to attract Barn Owls (Tyto furcata) to winegrape vineyards. The viability of this practice as a method to control rodent pests depends heavily on the amount of hunting effort that Barn Owls expend in vineyards, which is known to be influenced by the amount of uncultivated land cover types surrounding the nest box. Wildfires burned nearly 60,000 ha of mainly urban and uncultivated lands surrounding Napa Valley in 2017, altering Barn Owl habitats. We compared GPS tracking data from 32 Barn Owls nesting in 24 individual nest boxes before and after the fires to analyze their hunting habitat selection. Owls with burned areas available to them after the fires had home ranges that shifted toward the fires, but selection was not strongly associated with burned areas. Though there was some spatial use of burned areas, selection of land cover types was similar for birds before and after the fires and in burned and unburned areas. The strongest selection was for areas closest to the nest box, and most recorded locations were in grassland, though selection indicated that owls used land cover types in proportion to their availability. Overall, habitat selection was resilient to changes caused by wildfires. These results are important for farmers who use nest boxes as a means of rodent control, which may be affected after dramatic disturbance events, especially as wildfires increase in the western United States.

Estimated effects of cornflower presence on winter wheat

ABSTRACT Cornflower (Cyanus segetum Hill) used to be very frequent and abundant in winter wheat a few decades ago, but because of agricultural intensification it is now an insignificant weed, even classified as endangered in Western Europe. However, cornflower produces nectar that is a resource for pollinators and crop pest predators and parasitoids. To gain benefit from this resource, it is necessary to manage the presence of cornflowers and to maintain the population at a balance that ensures the beneficial ecosystem services whilst avoiding competition with the arable crops. This paper describes bispecific competition trials between cornflower and winter wheat in small experimental plots. The annual experimental conditions were highly variable, leading to plant densities that were too high or too low to estimate a competition threshold. The results provided relevant information on intraspecific competition among cornflower plants and its effect on the growth, the biomass and the yield of wheat. Conventional and organic farming could gain from growing some weeds like cornflower in the fields to provide ecosystem services for the crops.

Aplikasi Pestisida Nabati Maja - Gadung dan Metabolit Sekunder Beauveria Bassiana Bals. Untuk Mengendalikan Hama Thrips Sp. Pada Tanaman Cabai Rawit

Pest attacks on chili plants are the main limiting factor in cultivation activities. The research aims to determine the effect of single application of botanical pesticide maja-gadung (PMG), single application of secondary metabolite Beauveria bassiana BIO (BIO B10), combined application of PMG and BIO B10 on pest populations, predator populations and plant growth and production of chili. The reesearh used a factorial Completely Randomized Block Design (RAKL) with 3 replications, so there were 9 treatment combinations (0 ml/l PMG, 4 ml/l PMG, 8 ml/l BIO B10, 0 ml/l PMG, 2 ml/l BIO B10, 4 ml/l BIO B10, 4 ml PMG+2 ml/l BIO B10, 4 ml/ml PMG+4 ml BIO B10, 8 ml/l PMG+2ml/l BIO B10, 8 ml/l PMG+4 ml/l BIO B10). The variables observed were Thrips sp population, predator population, plant height, number of leaves, and fruit weight per plant. The results showed that the single application treatment of PMG with a concentration of 4 ml/l and 8 ml/l was able to suppress the population of Thrips sp. by 21.6% and 41.4% compared to the control. The single application treatment of BIO B10 with concentrations of 2 ml/l and 4 ml/l was able to suppress the population of Thrips sp. by 66.5% and 65.5% compared to the control. The best combination application is PMG and BIO B10with a concentration of 8 ml/l + 4 ml/l which is able to suppress the population of Thrips sp. by 76.9% compared to the control. The application treatment of PMG andBIO B10 did not affect plant height, number of leaves, and fruit weight per plant.

An exploratory survey and assessment of the hoverfly diversity (Diptera: Syrphidae) from the Pyrenees of Girona, Spain

Syrphidae are pollinators, pest predators and decomposers in European ecosystems. Camprodon (Girona province, Spain) is a valley with rich vegetation and high habitat diversity in the eastern Pyrenees. However, hoverfly biodiversity in this valley was poorly known. To explore the high potential of this area for Syrphidae, a survey with hand-net was undertaken in July/August 2020 in the valley. The list of Syrphidae species from the valley increases to 88, whilst that of the Girona province now extends to 119 species. Chrysotoxum lessonae Giglio-Tos, 1890 is reported for the first time from the Iberian Peninsula. The specimens of Xylota tarda Meigen, 1822 and Cheilosia hypena (Becker, 1894) represent the first documented records of these species for the Iberian Peninsula and Spain, respectively; i.e. these two species were known to occur in the Iberian Peninsula and Spain but without further locality details. A total of 19 species were new to the region of Catalonia and 23 to the Girona province. Cheilosia Meigen, 1822 was the genus with the highest number of species recorded, as expected from the combination of mountains, diversity of forest vegetation, and presence of rivers/streams of the Camprodon valley. Faunistic results from this fieldwork are relevant to knowledge of Diptera from Catalonia, a region of Spain where this insect family is understudied.

Abiotic and biotic drivers of strawberry productivity across a rural-urban gradient

While many cities have embraced urban agriculture, research examining crop productivity in urban environments is limited. Little is known about how abiotic and biotic factors affecting productivity on urban farms compare with those in rural environments. In this study, we investigated environmental factors influencing strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) productivity for two cultivars at ten farms across a rural-urban gradient in Michigan, USA over a three-year period. We evaluated key drivers of production, namely temperature, pathogens, pests, and pollinators, which we hypothesized would be altered by urbanization. We found no direct effect of urbanization on strawberry production or fruit pathogen and pest damage. However, temperature, an environmental correlate of urbanization, significantly influenced crop productivity. In particular, cooler temperatures at rural farms and warmer temperatures at urban farms limited fruit number in the peak production year. We found no relationship between urbanization and overall abundances of arthropod pests, their predators, or pollinators. However, we found opposite effects of urbanization for two arthropod groups – Vespidae (paper wasps) and Araneae (spiders). Vespidae abundance was positively associated with increased urbanization. These omnivorous wasps are both predators of strawberry pests and pests of fruits themselves. Conversely, spiders, which are predators of strawberry pests, were negatively associated with urbanization. Greater pollinator visitation incrementally improved fruit weight, but only at low to moderate levels of pathogen and pest damage. At high levels of damage, the benefits of pollination were not apparent. Our study reveals that environmental drivers of variation in crop yield, such as pathogen and herbivore damage and pollinator visitation, can be comparable across rural-urban gradients. Some factors, however, such as temperature stress and the abundances of certain pest and beneficial organisms may be affected by urbanization.

The first chromosome-level genome assembly of a green lacewing Chrysopa pallens and its implication for biological control.

Many lacewing species (Insecta: Neuroptera) are important predators of pests with great potential in biological control. So far, there is no chromosome‐level published genome available for Neuroptera. Here we report a high‐quality chromosome‐level reference genome for a green lacewing species Chrysopa pallens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), which is one of the most important insect natural enemies used in pest biocontrol. The genome was sequenced using a combination of PacBio and Hi‐C technologies and assembled into seven chromosomes with a total size of 517.21 Mb, occupying 96.07% of the genome sequence. A total of 12,840 protein‐coding genes were identified and approximately 206.21 Mb of repeated sequences were annotated. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that C. pallens diverged from its common ancestor with Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera) approximately 300 million years ago. The gene families involved in digestion, detoxification, chemoreception, carbohydrate metabolism, immunity, nerves and development were significantly expanded, revealing the potential genomic basis for the polyphagia of C. pallens and its role as an excellent biocontrol agent. This high‐quality genome of C. pallens will provide an important genomic resource for future population genetics, evolutionary and phylogenetic investigations of Chrysopidae as well as comparative genomic studies of Neuropterida and other insects.