The Lygus bug is a major pest of a variety of crops including cotton, seed alfalfa and strawberries. Current strategies rely on broad spectrum insecticides for control. While these insecticides do reduce Lygus bug populations, several undesirable side effects are the result. Biological control of other crop pests is inhibited, environmental contamination can occur, and worker safety problems are exacerbated. The objective of this proposal is to develop a practical low cost system of mass rearing and augmentative release of Anaphes iole to control populations of Lygus hesperus, Lygus elisus and Lygus lineolaris in agricultural crops. The potential of this parasitoid has been demonstrated in small field trials. What needs to be done now is to improve the current mass production system for the parasitoid, and develop the necessary field data with large scale field trials for timing of releases, numbers to release, and sampling protocols.
Anticipated Results:With the development of an efficient low cost mass production of Anaphes iole, large numbers of the parasitoid could be released at appropriate times to parasitize Lygus bug eggs. This activity has the potential of substantially reducing Lygus populations in agricultural crops. By using the parasitoid to control Lygus instead of pesticides, many of the problems related to pesticide use could be reduced. These would include insecticide resistance, environmental contamination, and worker safety concerns.