TY - JOUR
T1 - Honeydew management to promote biological control
AU - Fernández de Bobadilla, Maite
AU - Ramírez, Natalia M.
AU - Calvo-Agudo, Miguel
AU - Dicke, Marcel
AU - Tena, Alejandro
PY - 2024/2
Y1 - 2024/2
N2 - Honeydew is the excretion of plant-feeding hemipterans and it is one of the most abundant source of carbohydrates for parasitoids and predators in agroecosystems. Being so abundant, honeydew mediates direct and indirect interactions that affect biological control. We describe these interactions and identify honeydew-management strategies to reduce pest pressure. First, the presence of nondamaging honeydew producers in cover crops and hedges increases the efficacy of parasitoids and predators. Second, breaking the mutualism between ants and honeydew-producing pests with alternative sugar sources promotes biological control of these pests. Third, we propose to explore honeydew volatiles to attract biological control agents and repel pests, as well as to induce plant defenses. Finally, we urge reducing the use of systemic pesticides that contaminate honeydew and negatively affect biological control agents that feed on it. Overall, we propose that honeydew management is integrated in pest management programs to contribute to sustainable agriculture.
AB - Honeydew is the excretion of plant-feeding hemipterans and it is one of the most abundant source of carbohydrates for parasitoids and predators in agroecosystems. Being so abundant, honeydew mediates direct and indirect interactions that affect biological control. We describe these interactions and identify honeydew-management strategies to reduce pest pressure. First, the presence of nondamaging honeydew producers in cover crops and hedges increases the efficacy of parasitoids and predators. Second, breaking the mutualism between ants and honeydew-producing pests with alternative sugar sources promotes biological control of these pests. Third, we propose to explore honeydew volatiles to attract biological control agents and repel pests, as well as to induce plant defenses. Finally, we urge reducing the use of systemic pesticides that contaminate honeydew and negatively affect biological control agents that feed on it. Overall, we propose that honeydew management is integrated in pest management programs to contribute to sustainable agriculture.
U2 - 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101151
DO - 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101151
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85182356513
SN - 2214-5745
VL - 61
JO - Current Opinion in Insect Science
JF - Current Opinion in Insect Science
M1 - 101151
ER -