Improving the Conservation and Effectiveness of Arthropod Parasitoids for Cotton Pest Management

Abstract

Cotton is infested by sucking pests (aphids, jassids, whiteflies, thrips, plant bugs) and bollworms causing deterioration in lint quality and 10–40% losses in crop production. Insecticides used extensively to control these pests cause undesirable secondary effects including the destruction of arthropod parasitoids, which constitute an important component of pest management. When released parasitoids die or become ineffective in cotton ecosystems, the classical biological control fails. Therefore, conservation of potential parasitoids is nowadays considered a major step in maintaining populations in a region where they could reduce the pest population density below economic thresholds and reduce plant damage below economic injury levels. By employing the least disruptive control measures and by adopting proper habitat management, it would be possible to enhance the survival, conservation and physiological/behavioural performance of the generalist and specific parasitoids in cotton-production systems.