Several parasitoids which were found abundantly in a particular region of India, they are now not available in that area. There is a great need to conserve these parasitoids
Dear Ahmad
You did noe explain about the area. do you use insectcide in the area or not? it is effective factor.
meybe some insecticide can causes on abundance of the parasitoid.
first, you find major of decline of abundance of the parasitoid,after use guidlines of biological control conservation .
One key point may be semi-natural habitats in the agricultural landscapes. These areas (which aren't directly managed and show a bigger variety of plants) are kind of islands for all kind of insects like pollinators or parasitoids. Like Fatemeh says, pesticide use can have an influence, especially how and when they are applied. The choice of insecticides that are safe for non-target organisms (this should be tested/proved by the regulatory authorities) and the right use of the substances can at least reduce negative impacts.
Diversity of natural enemy complex is greatly influenced by the pest management practices adopted. I have developed a water jetting system for management of sucking pests of mulberry which found encourage the population of predatory coccinellids in mulberry ecosystem. The same practice may be adopted for agricultural and horticultural crops too. Please refer the following articles.
1.Sakthivel, N., Balakrishna R. and S.M.H. Qadri (2011) Comparative efficacy of water jetting and chemical measures against major sucking pests of mulberry and their safety to natural enemies. Journal of Biopesticides, 4 (2): 219-230.
2. Sakthivel, N., Qadri, S.M.H., Balakrishna, R., Mukund V. Kirsur S. Mahiba Helen (2012) Management Strategies Papaya Mealybug Infesting Mulberry (Technical Bulletin), Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board, Government of India, Allikkuttai (Post), Salem – 636 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
Are the host aphid still persistent? You could try to do some mass rearing in the lab on the aphid most preferred host plant, release and monitor the establishment.
You have not discussed the system, if it is agriculture, horticulture and forest ecosystem. We usually are not applying insecticides in forest ecosystem as i am from the same area, just rear parasitoides and release them in forests, Just you have to rear these.In agriculture system you have to have rear them in lab and then mass release of such parasitoides at proper phonological stage of the pest to establish /to synchronize.In addition , put some area refugia of crop where both pest and parasitoid are established,that is possible in some abandoned land.Sometimes trap cropping is helpful
insecticides have a huge effects on natural enemies. so must use selective and safe of them in an IPM to protect natural enemies .
Conservation bio control enhanced natural enemies population including parasitoids.
if there is no application of pesticide, then the best way is encouragement of natural enemies by, plantation of host crop or plant near or the surrounding of your area, stop the application of pesticide (if it is applied), and after harvesting remain some of plant on the field, leave it naturally do not interfere more.
Avoid spray of chemical insecticides. Spray of water with reasonable pressure helps to washout the sucking pests including aphids. This practice is compatible with biocontrol agents.
They can multiplied in the insectaries in research centres and then released to the environment to deal with the enemies
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