Review of Liriomyza huidobrensis (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on potatoes in South Africa, with special reference to biological control using entomopathogens and parasitoids

Authors

  • Thabu Mugala Stellenbosch University
  • Diedrich Visser ARC-VIMP, Roodeplaat
  • Antoinette Paula Malan Stellenbosch University
  • Pia Addison Stellenbosch University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/2254-8854/2022/a11455

Keywords:

biocontrol agents, Entomopathogenic nematodes, Entomopathogenic fungi, Potato leafminer

Abstract

Although agriculture is crucial to economic growth in South Africa, the industry faces several challenges, including the effects of pests and diseases that contribute to crop loss. Such losses severely affect the maintenance of food security. Therefore, a major challenge is finding effective, environmental-friendly control measures for insect pests. Potatoes are among the four most widely consumed vegetable crops worldwide. However, a potato crop can be infested by various pests, like the devastating leaf miner, Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) (Diptera: Agromyzidae). The leaf miner species has, since the early 2000s, become an important pest of various vegetable crops in South Africa. The species is highly invasive, causing up to 70 % damage of solanaceous crops. The damage that is caused by the leaf miner is direct, resulting from the female flies feeding on the leaf mesophyll during oviposition, and the larvae mining the leaves. Indirect damage is induced through pathogens entering through perforations that act as vectors of plant diseases. Biocontrol agents, e.g.  entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), and parasitoids have shown potential against L. huidobrensis. This review investigates the biology and morphological identification of L. huidobrensis, its host range in the Western Cape, and the potential of associated biocontrol agents, like EPNs, EPF and parasitoids, as future control options.

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Author Biographies

  • Diedrich Visser , ARC-VIMP, Roodeplaat

    Diedrich Visser is an applied entomologist specialising in the ecology and control of vegetable pests.

     

  • Antoinette Paula Malan, Stellenbosch University

    Antoinette Paula Malan does research in the use of entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi as biological control agents of insects, in an integrated pest management system.

  • Pia Addison , Stellenbosch University

    Pia Addison works in the field of Integrated Pest Management of fruit and vegetable crops, with a focus on basic ecology and taxonomy.

     

References

Leigh Steyn torrance@sun.ac.za

Erik van Nieukerken: erik.vannieukerken@naturalis.nl

Prof Hannalene du Plessis Hannalene.DuPlessis@nwu.ac.za

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Published

2022-09-19

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

1.
Review of Liriomyza huidobrensis (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on potatoes in South Africa, with special reference to biological control using entomopathogens and parasitoids. Afr. Entomol. [Internet]. 2022 Sep. 19 [cited 2024 Dec. 11];30. Available from: https://www.africanentomology.com/article/view/11455