Advancing Sustainable Agriculture: Potential of Life Story Strategies of Solitary and Gregarious Microgastrinae Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to Enhance Biological Control

Vladimir Žikić, José L. Fernández-Triana, Aleksandra Trajković and Maja Lazarević ()
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Vladimir Žikić: Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia
José L. Fernández-Triana: Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
Aleksandra Trajković: Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia
Maja Lazarević: Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-22

Abstract: The life history strategies of solitary and gregarious Microgastrinae parasitoids are both valued for their potential in biological control, but they have rarely been directly compared to fully understand their roles in integrated pest management (IPM) programs. This paper provides a detailed comparison of these two strategies, focusing on critical traits, such as host specialisation, mating behaviour, and the mechanisms used to overcome host immune defences. Instead of treating these strategies holistically, the study isolates and examines each trait while also identifying synergistic interactions and their underlying causes. Key IPM success factors, including parasitism efficiency, host acceptance, and susceptibility to natural enemies, are defined to assess the effectiveness of each strategy. The results show that while gregarious parasitoids tend to have broader host ranges and higher fecundity, solitary parasitoids offer greater host specificity and reduced vulnerability to predators. Despite both strategies receiving similar overall performance scores, this study identifies monophagy as a particularly significant factor, offering insight into why some IPM programs succeed more effectively than others under seemingly identical environmental conditions. This study highlights host specificity and ecological adaptability as essential for effective, sustainable pest management, supporting the integration of both parasitoid types to enhance IPM efficacy.

Keywords: parasitoids; competition; sustainable agriculture; biological control; IPM (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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