Grapholita molesta, which causes fruit infestation damage, produces overlapping generations, making chemical control ineffective. Excessive pesticide use causes the "3R" problem, necessitating eco-friendly alternatives. Although Ocimum basilicum repels many pests, its effects on G. molesta are unclear. Olfactory, fruit infestation, and oviposition tests showed that O. basilicum repelled G. molesta and significantly reduced fruit infestation and egg laying. To identify the repellent compounds in O. basilicum, volatile compounds were extracted using headspace adsorption. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-electrophysiological detection identified four key components. Electroantennogram and behavioral assays showed that 6-methylhept-5-en-2-one (10 μL/mL), 2-ethyltoluene (0.1 μL/mL), styrene (0.1 μL/mL), and ethyl carbonate (1 μL/mL) mediated the repellent effect, significantly reducing G. molesta fruit infestation and egg production. 6-Methylhept-5-en-2-one was most effective, decreasing fruit infestation in the field and lab and total egg production. This study reveals the repellent mechanism of O. basilicum volatiles, supporting plant-based repellent development for sustainable pest control.

Aromatic plants contribute to integrated pest management by repelling pests (push) or attracting natural enemies (pull). Ocimum basilicum (basil) and Mentha canadensis (mint) were hypothesized to exhibit both effects, showing push-pull impact on cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii) and their predators. Two years of field surveys indicated that the mean aphid abundance decreased by 30.45% +/- 4.45% within 15 m of basil and mint strips, while predator populations of Hippodamia variegata and Chrysoperla sinica increased by 31.41% +/- 8.52% and 35.63% +/- 5.97%. Rubidium labeling revealed that 55.56% +/- 0.19% of the two predator species dispersed from the functional strips into adjacent cotton fields within 15 m. This resulted in a significantly higher biological control index in the intercropping treatment groups compared with the controls. Laboratory olfactory behavioral assays, including Y-tube and cage tests, confirmed that the field repellent effect was mediated by volatiles emitted from basil and mint. The results showed that cotton aphids exhibited a generally low mean selection rate (19.54% +/- 5.76%) for cotton-basil and cotton-mint combinations, which was significantly lower than their preference for cotton-cotton combinations. This indicated a pronounced basil and mint repellent effect. These results demonstrate that incorporating aromatic plants along cotton field margins can simultaneously attract predators and suppress pests, representing an effective push-pull strategy. This study provides a practical example of integrating aromatic plants as functional plants into cotton agroecosystems.

Intercropping flowering plants is a habitat management strategy that seeks to enhance pest suppression by attracting natural enemies. The predators that are attracted often rely on plant-emitted volatiles to locate resource-rich patches for foraging for prey and nectar/pollen. In this study, a two-year field experiment was run in an insecticide-free apple orchard that was intercropped with the herb Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson. In olfactometer trials, both the leaves and flowers of C. monnieri were significantly attractive to two selected predators, i.e., the coccinellid Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) and the green lacewing Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder). A total of 32 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from flowers and 24 VOCs from leaves were identified from C. monnieri using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Under field conditions, six predator species were recorded on flowering C. monnieri plants, including the ladybeetles Propylaea japonica (Thunberg), H. axyridis, and Hippodamia variegata (Goeze), the green lacewing C. sinica, the crab spider Misumenops tricuspidatus (Fabricius), and the syrphid fly Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer). Based on predator exclusion trials, the Relative Biocontrol Service Index was significantly higher in the C. monnieri plots than in the bare-ground control plots in both 2020 and 2021. We found that intercropping apple orchards with C. monnieri attracted six species of aphid predators and enhanced the biological control of the pest Aphis spiraecola Patch. These results support the integration of flowering plant intercropping into integrated pest management (IPM) programs to enhance pest suppression in apple orchards.

Planting flower strips around crops can regulate herbivores and predatory insects in agricultural landscapes. We conducted a three-year experiment in a cotton field comparing three plant species as flower strips (Lobularia maritima, Cnidium monnieri, and Ammi visnaga) and no flowers as a control. Field trials from 2021 to 2023 showed that the flower strips effectively attracted Hippodamia variegata, Chrysoperla sinica, Orius sauteri, and Eupeodes corollae. The population density of aphids (Aphis gossypii, Aphis atrata, and Acyrthosiphon gossypii) in the treatment plots was significantly lower than that in the control plots at distances of 0.5-5 m (2021-2023), 5.5-10 m (2021), and 10.5-15 m (2022) from the flower strips. The population densities of the main predators (H. variegata and C. sinica) in the C. monnieri treatment plots were higher than those in the control plots across the 0.5-15 m range from the flower strips in both 2021 and 2022. Rubidium marking showed that both H. variegata and C. sinica moved from the flower strips into cotton fields within a 15 m range, with transfer rates of 44.4-100% and an average migration rate of 72.2%. An exclusion cage experiment showed that, from June 25 to July 17, 2023, the biological services index in cotton fields with flower strips was higher than that in the control plots at different distances. These results demonstrate that flower strips located within 15 m of cotton fields promote predator movement and effectively suppress cotton aphids.

Grapholita molesta is a globally prevalent fruit-boring pest characterized by its overlapping generations, resulting in annual economic losses. Mentha haplocalyx, as a functional plant, exhibits effective pest-repelling properties against a range of pests. To date, no studies have investigated the repellent effects of M. haplocalyx on G. molesta. through both field and laboratory investigations, M. haplocalyx reduced G. molesta fruit infestation from 33.00 % to 9.67 % in the field and from 77.78 % to 56.67 % in the laboratory. In the behavioral response experiment, the repellency rate of M. haplocalyx against 1-day-old unmated male and female G. molesta adults exceeded 80 %. Eight and five compounds that elicited electroantennographic detection responses in female and male G. molesta adults, respectively, were identified through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The electroantennogram responses revealed that all of the tested active compounds elicited antennal sensitivity. The olfactory behavioral response experiments revealed that among the 8 electroantennographic detection active compounds tested in female adults, 6-methylhept-5-en-2-one (0.1, 1, and 10 mu L/mL), ether (0.1 mu L/mL), 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (0.1 and 1 mu L/mL), ethyl 3-methyl-2-butenoate (1 mu L/mL), decanal (1 mu L/mL), p-xylene (1 and 10 mu L/mL), and octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (10 mu L/mL) exhibited significant repellent effects on female G. molesta adults, but decamethylcyclopentasiloxane did not demonstrate tropism at all of the tested concentrations. In male adults, ethyl isovalerate (0.1, 1, and 10 mu L/mL), benzoylthiocarbimide (0.1 mu L/mL), ethyl carbonate (0.1 and 1 mu L/mL), nonanal (0.1 and 1 mu L/mL), and 6-methylhept-5-en-2-one (1 and 10 mu L/mL) showed significant repellent effects. This study proposes an innovative intercropping strategy that can effectively suppress G. molesta, thereby providing valuable insights for sustainable and eco-friendly pest management in agriculture.

Intensive agriculture has reduced farmland biodiversity and impaired sustainable pest control. Although planting functional plants is a key strategy for restoring farmland ecosystem balance, its specific ecological effects have yet to be clarified. From 2024-2025, monoculture and mixed plantings of Cnidium monnieri, Lobularia maritima, and Ammi visnaga were established at cotton fields to determine their regulatory effects on major pests, natural enemies, and yield of cotton. All three-species plants and their combination supported seven common predatory natural enemies. At distances of 0.5-22.5 m from functional plant strips, Aphis gossypii and Frankliniella intonsa populations were significantly lower than those in the control plot located 50 m away from the sampling area, while Hippodamia variegata populations were significantly higher. DNA detection showed that the detection rates of A. gossypii and F. intonsa predated by H. variegata were significantly lower in plots planted with three functional plants and their combination than in control plots in July. In contrast, no significant differences were observed in the detection rates for H. variegata and Orius sauteri across all treatments in June and August. Compared with the control, C. monnieri, A. visnaga and the combination increased cotton bolls per plant and seed cotton yield, with 11% higher number of bolls in A. visnaga and 7% higher seed cotton yield in combination plots. This study confirmed that planting functional plants achieves conservation biological control and increases cotton yield, providing a scientific basis for sustainable cotton production.

Habitat management, such as the planting of companion plants, enhances biodiversity and biological control in agricultural systems. Here, we focused on the abundance, spillover, and biocontrol abilities of predators in pear crops with companion flower strips. Companion plant Cnidium monnieri attracted four predator species: Harmonia axyridis, Propylaea japonica, Chrysoperla sinica, and Episyrphus balteatus. Predator abundance during the full bloom stage of C. monnieri was significantly higher than during the other stages. The predator H. axyridis present on flower strips migrated to pear trees at distances of 2-18 m from the flower strips. The predators inhabiting the pear tree migrated to the flower strips after pest control; approximately 28.89 % of the predators onflower strips originated from the pear trees. Exclusion cage tests quantitatively assessed predator-mediated biological control of pear psyllids and showed that the control effect decreased as the distance from the C. monnieri strips increased. The biocontrol services index was 2.24 times higher at a distance of 2 m from the C. monnieri strips than a distance of 18 m. Our results suggest that companion plant C. monnieri enhances the predatory natural enemy population and effectively suppress the pear psyllid population in pear orchards.

Neoseiulus bicaudus Wainstein (Acari: Phytoseiidae) serves as an effective biological control agent for managing spider mites and small pests. The cold acclimation of predatory mites significantly influences their distribution patterns and survival at low temperatures. In this study, we examined the effects of cold acclimation on the cold tolerance of N. bicaudus and investigated the physiological responses associated with different durations of cold acclimation (6-hour: 3 °C for 6 h; 24-hour: 3 °C for 24 h; 7-day: 9 °C for 7 day) using metabolomics. Cold acclimation significantly enhanced the low-temperature survival capability of N. bicaudus. Moreover, this process elicited a range of physiological and metabolic adaptations in predatory mites. Specifically, a 7-day cold acclimation period yielded the most pronounced changes. The cold acclimation response of 24-hour and 7-day was attributed to the reprogramming of metabolites involved in sugar metabolism (e.g., D-fructose and maltose), amino acid metabolism (e.g., DL-phenylalanine and L-serine), and lipid metabolism (e.g., octanoate, (9Z)-hexadecenoic acid, cholesterol, glycerophospholipids, lysophospholipids). Additionally, 24-hour acclimation at 3 °C enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and peroxidase, along with increased levels of antioxidants like zeaxanthin, coenzyme Q10, and retinol. After 7 days of cold acclimation, the levels of various antioxidants, including glutathione, zeaxanthin, γ-tocopherol, retinol, xanthine, and carnosine, were markedly elevated. Collectively, these physiological adaptations are strongly correlated with the maintenance of homeostasis in N. bicaudus under low-temperature stress, suggesting they collectively contribute to its enhanced survival capacity.

Plant volatiles play a critical role in mediating insect host location behavior and offer eco-friendly alternatives for chemical control. Monolepta signata is a widespread phytophagous pest in East Asia that poses a significant threat to various crops. In this study, we evaluated the electrophysiological and behavioral responses of adult M. signata to 26 binary and ternary mixtures of 13 plant-derived volatile compounds extracted from cotton and corn leaves. Electroantennogram (EAG) recordings revealed that females exhibited the strongest responses to mixtures 20, 23, and 12, whereas males were the most responsive to mixtures 26, 19, and 4. Y-tube olfactometer assays showed significant behavioral attraction of females to mixtures 1, 20, 23, and 26, and males to mixtures 19, 22, and 23. Field trials demonstrated that mixtures 22, 23, and 26 attracted significantly more adults than the control, with mixture 23 (α-phellandrene + trans-2-hexen-1-ol + 1-heptene) achieving the highest trap capture. These findings highlight the potential of specific volatile blends, especially ternary mixtures, as effective attractants of M. signata, and support their application in environmentally sustainable pest monitoring and management strategies.

The release of natural enemies to control pests is generally based on the occurrence of the target pest and the control ability of the released natural enemies. However, under complex field conditions, the efficacy of pest control can be influenced by non-target prey that coexists with the target pest. Neoseiulus bicaudus (Wainstein) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), a generalist predator, feeds on various species, including Tetranychus turkestani (Ugarov et Nikolskii) (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). T. turkestani and F. occidentalis often coexist and cause great damage to numerous crops. This study investigated the predation and preference of N. bicaudus towards two coexisting prey species at different prey stages, five prey ratios, and two densities. Additionally, to assess the impact of non-target prey, we evaluated its effect on the predation of target prey by predatory mites, with the two species acting as both target and non-target pests for each other. The results indicated that N. bicaudus preferred T. turkestani over F. occidentalis, showing a higher preference for mite larvae and eggs (17.90 and 17.70 individuals per day, respectively) compared to female adults and the two stages of thrips. The presence of non-target prey can promote the consumption of target prey by predatory mites. The impact index of female adult of T. turkestani on second instar nymphs of F. occidentalis was the highest (2.44). In conclusion, developing effective pest management strategies requires careful consideration of the complex dynamics and interactions among pests.

The predatory mite Neoseiulus bicaudus (Wainstein) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is used against spider mites, whiteflies, and thrips. Knowledge of the cold acclimation and cold storage techniques for natural enemy biological control agents can promote their development and utilization. This study assessed the impact of cold acclimation on the cold tolerance of N. bicaudus. Then, a cold storage program for N. bicaudus was designed by implementing cold acclimation, followed by an evaluation of the impact of storage on the performance of N. bicaudus. After acclimation at temperatures ranging from 0 to 18 °C for a duration of 2 h to 7 d, the survival rate of mites significantly increased at low temperatures (-6 °C); The survival rate significantly increased to 90% after acclimating at 12 °C for 7 d. In addition, the supercooling point of mites significantly decreased when the acclimation temperature was below 0 °C. After cold acclimation, the survival time of N. bicaudus was 68.3 d and 60.5 d when kept at 9 °C and 12°C, respectively. The fecundity, longevity and predation capacity of female adults were unaffected by 30 d of storage at 12 °C. Furthermore, the storage did not affect the efficiency of N. bicaudus against spider mite Tetranychus turkestani Ugarov & Nikolskii (Acari: Tetranychidae). The process of cold acclimation significantly improved both cold tolerance and cold storage. Cold acclimation at 3 to 21 °C followed by 30 d of storage at 12 °C or 9 °C is recommended for maintaining the quality of N. bicaudus.

Functional plants possess the ability to attract natural enemies or repel pests, and they play an important role in ecological regulation. While most studies have focused on the impacts of individual plants or plant combinations with similar functions on pests, there is a scarcity of research on the effects of combining plants with different functions, particularly in the case of orchard pests. In this study, we combined plants (Cnidium monnieri (L.) or Brassica napus L.) that attract predators with plants (Ocimum basilicum L. or Mentha haplocalyx Briq.) that repel pests to determine if these combinations can enhance biocontrol of Aphis spiraecola Patch on apple trees. All four combinations reduced the A. spiraecola population on apple trees. B. napus & M. haplocalyx achieved the highest reduction rate (88.58%), followed by C. monnieri & O. basilicum (88.06%), B. napus & O. basilicum (86.11%), and C. monnieri & M. haplocalyx (79.41%). Cage exclusion tests on 29 June and 4 July 2023 showed that biocontrol services index of all combinations was significantly higher than that of the control. Rubidium marking test showed that 61.90%–71.43% of Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder) individuals in trees had transferred from functional plants. Behavioral responses and field trapping indicated that compounds such as cis-citral, nepetalactone, caryophyllene, beta-pinene, and eugenol, which are present in repellent plants, had significant repellency against A. spiraecola. The use of functional plant combinations in apple orchards can enhance biocontrol of A. spiraecola by promoting predators and by repelling aphid. This supports the potential of functional plant combinations in agroforestry ecosystems for pest biocontrol.

Neoseiulus bicaudus is a predatory mite species that could potentially be used for the biological control of spider mites and thrips. Floral resources can provide excellent habitats and abundant nutrients for natural enemies. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of eight floral resources on the longevity, fecundity, and predation ability of N. bicaudus. Among the considered plants, Cnidium monnieri led to the highest longevity (24 days) and fecundity (13.8 eggs) of N. bicaudus, while Tagetes erecta resulted in the lowest longevity (7 days) and fecundity (0.1 eggs) observed in the predatory mites. By comparing the effects of three nectar and pollen plants on the predation of predatory mites, it was observed that N. bicaudus still exhibited a type II functional response to Tetranychus turkestani. In the presence of pollen, the predation efficacy (a/Th) of N. bicaudus exhibited a lower value, compared to that in the absence of pollen (Control: a/Th = 24.00). When pollen was supplied, the maximum consumption (1/Th) of predatory mites was higher than in its absence (Control: 1/Th = 9.90 d−1), with the highest value obtained in the presence of B. officinalis pollen (B. officinalis: 1/Th = 17.86 d−1). The influence coefficient of predation of N. bicaudus on T. turkestani in the presence of pollen was compared in the presence of three nectar and pollen plants: Cnidium monnieri, Centaurea cyanus, and Borago officinalis. At low prey densities, the influence coefficient of C. cyanus exceeded that of B. officinalis, and the overall influence coefficient values were negative (i.e., the presence of pollen reduced predatory mite feeding on T. turkestani). They exhibited similar values at high prey densities, and all of the influence coefficient values were close to 0 (i.e., the presence of pollen had no effect on predatory mite feeding on T. turkestani). The findings revealed that diverse plant species exert differential impacts on N. bicaudus, with some influencing its lifespan and others affecting its reproductive capabilities. Furthermore, the presence of nectar and pollen plants had a significant impact on predatory mite feeding on T. turkestani at low prey densities; however, this effect diminished as the prey density increased. Therefore, we recommend planting C. monnieri, C. cyanus, and B. officinalis in the field to ensure an ample population of predatory mites. The obtained results hold significant implications for the utilization of nectar and pollen plants in eco-friendly pest management strategies within agricultural contexts.

Plant volatiles play an important role in the recruitment of arthropod natural enemies and are widely used in foraging by many species. Therefore, identification of plants that release useful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for influencing natural enemies and for the control of pests can be helpful in biological control. Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss. can convene many predatory enemies (beetles, hoverflies, lacewings) as a functional plant. The Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder) is a dominant generalist predator, and can control the population of various pests in agricultural fields. However, how C. monnier recruits C. sinica and the chemical association between them is unknown. In this study, we tested the attractiveness of odor released by flowers and leaves of C. monnieri to C. sinica in Y-tube olfactometer. Next, we conducted solid phase microextraction (SPME), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and electrophysiological studies (EAG) to analyze the compounds and identified the volatile components which have effects on C. sinica. We also used a Y-tube olfactometer to verify the effectiveness of the volatile components on C. sinica under laboratory conditions. In olfactometer trials, C. sinica adults preferred flowers compared with leaves and fresh air. In GC-MS and EAG trials, seventy-six volatiles extracted from C. monnieri, twelve antenna-active components in three different concentrations (0.1 μg/mL, 1 μg/mL, 10 μg/mL) were detected for EAG. In the last behavioral identification assays, four synthetic compounds (10 μg/mL) had significant attractiveness of adult C. sinica antenna (i.e., γ-terpinene, trans-β-Ocimene, nerolidol, (Z)-3-Hexen-1-ol). These studies suggest that there is a chemical association between natural enemies C. sinica and the functional plant C. monnieri. This study provides a basis that can facilitate the production and application of attracting natural enemy and possible advance the biological control in agricultural ecosystems.

Plant volatiles play an important role in the recruitment of arthropod natural enemies and are widely used in foraging by many species. Therefore, identification of plants that release useful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for influencing natural enemies and for the control of pests can be helpful in conservation biological control. Cnidium monnieri (L.) can convene many predatory enemies (lady beetles, hoverflies, lacewings) as a functional plant. The Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder) is a dominant generalist predator, and can control the population of various pests in agricultural fields. However, how C. monnier recruits C. sinica and the chemical association between them is unknown. In this study, we tested the attractiveness of odor released by flowers and leaves of C. monnieri to C. sinica in Y-tube olfactometer. Next, we conducted solid phase microextraction (SPME), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and electrophysiological studies (EAG) to analyze the compounds and identified the volatile components which have effects on C. sinica. We also used a Y-tube olfactometer to verify the effectiveness of the volatile components on C. sinica under laboratory conditions. In olfactometer trials, C. sinica adults preferred flowers compared with leaves and fresh air. In GC–MS and electroantennography trials, seventy-six volatiles extracted from C. monnieri, twelve antenna-active components in three different concentrations (0.1 μg/mL, 1 μg/mL, 10 μg/mL) were detected for electroantennography. In the last behavioral identification assays, four synthetic compounds (10 μg/mL) had significant attractiveness of adult C. sinica antenna (i.e., γ-terpinene, trans-β-Ocimene, nerolidol, (Z)-3-Hexen-1-ol). These studies suggest that there is a chemical association between natural enemies C. sinica and the functional plant C. monnieri. This study provides a basis that can facilitate the production and application of attracting natural enemy and development and application of enhancing attractants.

Neoseiulus bicaudus Wainstein (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a beneficial predatory mite to control spider mites. To evaluate the suitable storage conditions of N . bicaudus , the survival of adult females was observed under different combinations of low temperature (3, 6, 9, or 12°C), food (F) or no food (NF), and high (H) or low (L) humidity conditions for 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 d. Predator mites’ longevity and survival time of 50% and 80% individuals (ST 50,80 ) were measured and compared between treatments. After storage, female and male living mites were paired at 26°C. The progeny parameters were evaluated after storage. Results revealed that survival rate decreased as storage temperature decreased. At 3 and 6°C, fewer mites survived after 28 d. At 9°C, ~50% of the females survived in the FH treatment after 35 d. At 12°C, >80% survived 7–35 d in the FH treatment. Moreover, longevity and ST 50,80 were significantly greater in the FH treatment than in the FL or NFH treatments at 3, 9, and 12°C. The highest longevity (48.6 ± 3.7 d) and ST 50 (51.6 d) occurred at 12°C in the FH treatment. There was no effect on progeny hatching or survival rates when adults were stored at 9 or 12°C for 28 d. At 9°C, the total preadult development time was 4.20–5.25 d. At 12°C, the total development time was 4.87–4.93 d and there was no significant difference between the storage treatment and control group. These results demonstrated that N . bicaudus females can be successfully stored at 9°C for ~21 d and 12°C for ~28 d with little effect on adult survival or progeny parameters.

[目的]为全面了解超高产棉花品种的特征特性,实现较好的棉花生产效益,更好地服务于南疆棉花生产,为超高产品种的选育提供借鉴.[方法]以新陆中42号为材料,2017—2018年在棉花生长发育期分别测定棉花株高、光合速度、水分蒸腾、水分利用率、CO2变化、湿度、光照、叶温、冠层结构、产量形成、叶绿素含量及其铃在棉株空间上的分布等主要因素变化.[结果]不同生育时期棉花主茎叶片光合速率(Pn)以盛蕾期最高;果枝叶片光合速率以盛铃期最高,果枝叶片光合速率低于同期主茎叶片光合速率;SPAD值呈波浪状,叶色表现"三黄三黑";水分利用率主茎叶片和果枝叶片的变化趋势基本相同,呈先上升后下降再上升再下降的变化曲线,7月5日调查时主茎叶片和果枝叶片的水分利用率均为最高;棉花主茎叶片和果枝叶片的叶温变化趋势基本一致,在花铃期时叶片温度较高,但果枝叶叶温一般较主茎叶低0～2.0℃;相同部位不同时期表现浅U型曲线,花铃期是棉花吸收大量CO2的时期.棉花单株结铃8.55个,以植株主茎节位作为棉株空间结构分类参考量,按照有序样本最优分割为5个段数,结铃部位主要集中在第5～10主茎节位;果枝第一节位结铃7.55个;棉铃脱落主要集中于主茎第5～13节位.[结论]应加强选育高光合、理想株型、后期功能型的高产优质新品种;实现棉花生物学产量与经济系数的同步提高;栽培上在狠抓成铃总数的同时注重增加铃重,在最佳结铃期内提高结铃强度;建立棉花超高产向光要产和向温要产的栽培技术体系.

Habitat management, such as adding insectary plants to agroecosystems, is a useful technique for biological control. It can improve pest control through natural enemy augmentation and conservation. We evaluated use of the insectary plant Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss. to increase the diversity and population density of natural enemies, promote the movement of natural enemies, and improve suppression of the spirea aphid (Aphis spiraecola Patch). An apple orchard experiment included C. monnieri as the treatment and the absence of C. monnieri as the control. The results suggested that C. monnieri can foster predatory natural enemies, such as Propylaea japonica, Harmonia axyridis, Hippodamia variegata, Chrysoperla sinica, and Episyrphus balteata. Density of the predators on the apple trees in the treatment was significantly higher than in the control. Density of spirea aphids on the apple trees in the treatment was significantly lower than in the control. Rubidium (Rb) was used as a tracking marker transferred along the food chain of C. monnieri (4.08 mu g/ml) - celery aphid (Semiaphis heraclei) (0.46 mu g/ml) - lady beetle (0.51 mu g/ml) in a laboratory experiment. The highest Rb content in a lady beetle (0.62 mu g/ml) was found 3 days after marking. Combined with field sampling and Rb marking, the results showed that 24.2% and 42.7% of H. axyridis on the apple trees moved from the insectary plant C. monnieri in 2018 and 2019, and that 53.2% and 48.4% of C. sinica on the apple trees transferred from C. monnieri in 2018 and 2019. The insectary plant C. monnieri attracts and fosters predatory natural enemies, which then move to the apple trees and suppress spirea aphids. These findings illustrate an effective method for enhancing biological control of aphids in apple orchards.

BACKGROUND Generalist predators play a key role in the biocontrol of insect pests in agricultural systems. However, predators are subject to frequent mortality events due to periodic disturbance regimes such as crop planting and harvest, which inevitably affect the population development of predators. Conservation of predators in this critical period is important for double-cropping systems such as winter wheat and summer maize, the most widely used cropping system in North China. RESULTS Planting Cnidium monnieri flower strips at field borders could not only serve as a bridge habitat to conserve the dominant predator Propylaea japonica in wheat fields during harvest but also help the predator immigrate to adjacent maize fields. The predator abundance was 7-fold higher on flower strips than that on natural vegetation strips during the wheat postharvest period and before the maize plant emergence for about a month, and its abundance in maize fields planted with flower strips was nearly 2-fold higher than that in maize fields planted with natural vegetation strips. Moreover, 77.56% of predators that entered maize fields were proven to originate from flower strips. CONCLUSION Our findings provided evidence that manipulating flower strips as a bridge habitat in wheat-maize rotation fields could conserve P. japonica during crop phenophase changes, and we quantitatively testified that the proportion of this predator in maize fields derived from flower strips. In practice, such a strategy may also be applied in other double-cropping and triple-cropping systems.

农业昆虫学是植物保护专业的核心课程之一,教学方法影响着学生学习该课程的兴趣和掌握知识的能力.而传统的教学方法存在课程设置单一、学生积极性不高、师生互动不足等问题.为了适应新时代应用型人才培养的要求,结合新疆地域特点,对农业昆虫学进行了课堂讲授内容的改革,以帮助学生掌握害虫发生新动态以及害虫防治方法;对实验课程的改革,以学生为本,促进理论和实践的结合和教学模式的多样化;对考核方式的改革,激发学生学习主动性.通过采取一系列改革措施,取得了良好的教学效果,不仅提高了教学质量,还增加了学生学习的积极性和主动性,激发他们对农业昆虫学的学习兴趣.