Entomophthoralean fungi have long been recognized as promising candidates for biological insect pest control. However, due to technical challenges, no preparation based on these fungi has been established for practical use so far. Low water availability is a key limiting factor of conidial discharge and germination. In the present study, sporulation of psyllid-pathogenic entomophthoralean fungus Pandora cacopsyllae Eilenberg,...

Many native South African grass species have become invasive elsewhere in the world. The application of biological control to invasive grasses has been approached with trepidation in the past, primarily due to concerns of a perceived lack of host specific herbivores. This has changed in recent times, and grasses are now considered suitable candidates. The Tetramesa Walker genus (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) has been found to cont...

Thrips of the subtropical genus Scirtothrips are emerging as important pests in several crops. Scirtothrips dorsalis has been increasingly invading new areas outside of its native region of South and East Asia causing economic damage to several crops. Scirtothrips inermis is another polyphagous species with worldwide distribution. Both species are polyphagous, and in recent years have emerged as key pests in strawberry. In thi...

Several spiny leguminous tree species within the genus Neltuma Raf. (formerly Prosopis L.) (Fabaceae) occur as widespread invasive alien plants in South Africa, exerting severe negative socio-economic and ecological impacts. Given these impacts, South Africa recently released the leaf-tying moth Agnippe sp. #1 (syn. Evippe sp. #1) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) as a biological control agent against invasive Neltuma species in 2021...

Fly infestations threaten farming and livestock operations, contributing to animal irritation and the spread of serious diseases. In this study, the application of Bacillus velezensis PHP1601 (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) treatments (10 5 and 10 10 endospore g −1 ) to pig manure slurries was evaluated as a means of controlling fly reproductive cycles. Two cycles of fly emergence were evaluated over a 33 days period for each replic...

For reliable pest suppression, benefits of habitat management for natural enemies of agricultural pests need to be consistent over time. Unfortunately, most research projects allow only for one or two years of data collection. Here, we present a five-year study on effects of fungicide reduction and altered plant architecture on arthropod abundances and natural pest control in an experimental vineyard. The vineyard rows were di...

Post-harvest fruit and vegetable rot produced by Botrytis cinerea (Helotiales: Sclerotiniaceae) causes significant reductions in food availability and drastically increases economic losses. The use of microbial-based tools for pathogen management holds promise. In particular, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by microbes (e.g., bacterial compounds) are becoming increasingly more frequent as an alternative to chemical a...

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici , is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat worldwide. This study dealt with investigating the biocontrol activity of mycorrhizal colonization and/or application of Streptomyces viridosporus HH1 against stripe rust of wheat. In vitro, data showed that S. viridosporus HH1 had a strong anti-spore germination effect on uredospores of P. striiformis (90% reduction)...

Floral field margins are known to benefit invertebrate species diversity and abundance within agricultural landscapes, but variation in success limits widespread uptake. Understanding how variation within floral field margins can affect certain entomological groupings is lacking but would allow for a more individualised design of margins to enhance biological control. This meta-analysis aims to answer the question; do floral f...

In Australia there are five weedy Sporobolus grass (WSG) species that heavily impact agricultural industries and native biodiversity. WSG have been the subject of several efforts to find host-specific pathogens with potential for classical and inundative biocontrol. Most of these studies are only discussed in unpublished reports or theses, so in this paper we synthesise the available peer-reviewed and ‘grey’ literature that di...