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Member Symposium

Synergy in Biological Control of invasive insects: Utilizing the Ecology and Behavior of Natural Enemies

3: Synergizing biocontrol in citrus: Suppression of Argentine ants amplifies natural enemy impacts on sap sucking pests

On-Demand

Presenting Author(s)

Mark S. Hoddle

University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California

Co-Author(s)

KM

Kelsey McCalla

University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Ivan Milosavljevic (he/him/his)

University of California Riverside
Riverside, California

Invasive sap sucking pests, such as psyllids, scales, and mealybugs, infesting citrus in southern California have developed mutualisms with the invasive Argentine ant, Linepithema humile. Ants protect hemipteran pests from natural enemies, and in return, ants are rewarded with honeydew. This food-for-protection mutualism is extremely disruptive to biological control and reduces the efficacy of free pest control services provided by natural enemies. Novel ant control technologies, such as the use of biodegradable hydrogel beads loaded with sucrose solution can effectively deliver ultra-low concentrations of insecticide to foraging ants providing significant levels of control and concomitant decreases in hemipteran pest densities. This presentation will provide details on the population level impacts hydrogels have on ant, pest hemipteran, and natural enemy populations.