Insect Biological Control in China: Insect Biological Control in China:

Progress and PerspectiveProgress and Perspective

FangFang--HaoHao Wan, Wan, GuiGui--Fen ZhangFen Zhang, , JianJian--Ying Ying GuoGuo, , WanWan--XueXue Liu, Liu, NianNian--Wan Yang Wan Yang

Institute of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesChinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

wanfh@mail.caas.net.cn

I Bio‐control HistoryI I BioBio‐‐control Historycontrol History

Earliest Records 1

Introduction of Southern FloraIntroduction of Southern FloraIntroduction of Southern Flora •The earliest record of biological control application was documented in “Introduction of Southern Flora” in Jin Dynasty (AD 304)

•The predatory ants were used to control the citrus pests in Tang Dynasty (AD 877) and Ming Dynasty (AD 1401)

••The earliest record of The earliest record of biological control application biological control application was documented in was documented in ““Introduction of Southern Introduction of Southern FloraFlora”” in Jin Dynasty (AD in Jin Dynasty (AD 304)304)

••The predatory ants were The predatory ants were used to control the citrus used to control the citrus pests in Tang Dynasty (AD pests in Tang Dynasty (AD 877) and Ming Dynasty (AD 877) and Ming Dynasty (AD 1401)1401)

Pioneers and Continuators of BioControl2

PANG XF (1929‐2004)

PU ZL (1912‐1997)QIU SB (1910‐2011) ZHANG GX (1921‐2010)

ZHAO XF (1917 ‐ 2001) ZHAO SH (1914 ‐ 1999)

1950s‐1970s:  Early Achievements

Early Introduction of Natural EnemiesEarly Introduction of Natural Enemies3

Trichogramma against sugarcane insect pests

Rodolia cardinalis

Rodolia rufopilosa

Icerya aegyptiaca(Egyptian cottony cushion scale) 

Eriosoma lanigerum (Woolly apple aphis)Aphelinus mali

Conservation and Utilization of Conservation and Utilization of Native Natural Enemy Native Natural Enemy 

4

• A state wide investigation of natural enemy resources in 1980s;

• More than 350 species in agricultural field: 115 parasitoids, 198 predators, and over 30 predacious mites

• Conservation and utilization of these native natural enemies

1980s‐2000s:   Parallel development in both basic scientific research and field application

Mass Rearing and ProductionMass Rearing and Production5

TrichogrammaTrichogramma

T. chilonisIshii T. dendrolimi T. ostriniae T. japonicun

Since 1980s:

• Large‐egg production techniques has been developed for mass production of Trichogramma, year output can have 4 billion to 6 billion individuals;

• Large‐scale application to control maize pests has been reached 1 ‐ 3 million ha per year in northern China.

Aphelinidae

Encarsiaformosa

• 1960s-1980s: Using Aphelinus mali and Aphytis yanonensis to control Eriosoma lanigerum (woolly apple aphids)

• 1980s-2000s: Mass production of Encarsia formosa to control greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum

• 2000s -: Mass rearing technique for producing Encarsia sophiaand Eretmocerus hayati to control Bemisia tabaci

Eretmocerushayati

Aphytisyanonensis

Aphelinusmali

Encarsiasophia

Mass Rearing and ProductionMass Rearing and Production5

Predatory Mites

Phytoseiuluspersimilis

Neoseiuluscucumeris

• 1970s-1980s: Utilization of predatory mites in orchards and greenhouses

• 1990s – at present: Commercial production of P. persimilis

Mass Rearing and ProductionMass Rearing and Production5

Field release

Ladybird beetles

Mass Rearing and ProductionMass Rearing and Production

• 1990s – 2000s: over 35 artificial diets were developed for mass rearing of H. axyridis and P. japonica

• “Make To Order” is commercially producing for mass rearing ladybirds

Harmonia axyridis Propylaea japonica Coccinella septempunctata

5

II Development of mass rearing technology

IIII Development of mass rearing Development of mass rearing technologytechnology

ParasitoidsParasitoids

Large-Egg Production System: Trichogramma1

Alternative host: tussah eggs

Tomato Maize

Orchard

Rice Sugarcane

棉田JasmineChilly Cotton

ParasitoidsParasitoids

Large-Egg Production System: Trichogramma1

ParasitoidsParasitoids

55-- Room Production System: Room Production System: En. En. formosaformosa andand Er. hayati2

Clean seedlings

Whitefly

Whitefly nymphs

Wasp

Develop and separate wasp and whitefly

ParasitoidsParasitoids

Microplitis mediator HalidayAlternative host: armyworm

Diapause Production System: Microplitis mediator3

PredatorPredator

artificial diets 

Artificial Diet Rearing System: Ladybird beetles4

Main ProducersMain Producers

Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Beijing Academy of A & F Sciences Jilin Agricultural University

Hebei Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Hunan Academy of Agricultural SciencesChinese Academy of

Tropic Agricultural Sciences

Main Products for Non-benefit Use

Main ProductsMain Products

Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing Academy of A & F Sciences

Trichogramma spp. 15 billion (individuals)Predator mites: 1-2 billionAnastatus japonicus ： 150 millionEncarsia formosa： 12 millionLacewings: 2 millionLadybird beetles: 8 million

III   Large Area ApplicationsIII   Large Area ApplicationsIII   Large Area Applications

Application in Maize and Forest EcosystemApplication in Maize and Forest Ecosystem

Corn bore worm

Trichogramma dendrolimi

The average parasitism rate reached above 65%. Application area is around 1‐3 million ha/year in China.

Dendrolimus punctatus

Application in Organic Rice Production SystemApplication in Organic Rice Production System

Trichogrammajaponicun

Cnaphalocrocismedinalis

Chilosuppressalis

T. japonicum is used to control rice insect pests for organic rice production in Guangdong and Hunan provinces, and the parasitism rate reached above 70%.

NE-Pool

Organic rice products

Organic rice production base Release of Trichogramma

Leaf roller

FrogFrog

Chilo suppressalis Light trap

leafhopper

giant Amazon snail

Fish

Duck

softshell turtle

Application in Transgenic Cotton + Maize EcosystemApplication in Transgenic Cotton + Maize Ecosystem

Cotton bollwormMicroplitis mediator

The parasitism rate reached above 70%

Transgenic Bt CottonRefuge crop-maize

Application in Application in OrchardOrchard

Aphis Mites scale insect  Psyllidae

Combination release of predators and parasitoids to control different insect pests in orchards (apple, pear, orange)

Trichogramma Aphidiidae

Ladybird beetlesPredatory mites

Application in Greenhouses Application in Greenhouses ‐‐ VegetablesVegetables

whiteflies

aphis

Ladybird beetle Lacewings Encarsia sp.

超级害虫

Science 254：1444-1447,1991

Nature 443: 888 - 890, 2006

烟粉虱烟粉虱(B/Q(B/Q型型) ) -- 农业超级害虫农业超级害虫

Specialist enemy

Alien species

Competitor

Generalist enemy

Original region

Specialist enemy

Alien species Competitor

Generalist enemy

Invasion region

Escape from specialist enemy, weak control of local native NE Escape from specialist enemy, weak control of local native NE

♀ ♂

Encarsia sophia Eretmocerus hayati

PakistanSpain♂♀

Introducing specialists, reIntroducing specialists, re--establishing natural ecoestablishing natural eco--balancebalance

Ecological adoption – interference competition – stable population

♂♀Specialist

Banker plant

①③

②

④

Bemisia tabaci

Bio-control + Ecological manipulation

Trapping crop

Repellent crop

Combination release of two wasps plus ecological

manipulation reached good control of Bemisia tabaci.

IIV  Opportunities & PerspectivesV  Opportunities & Perspectives

SOCIETY DEMANDSSOCIETY DEMANDS

• Market Access System• National Act

Food Safety Systems in China Food Safety Systems in China 

• Market orientation• Enterprise behavior• Government promotion

Pollution‐free food

Green food

Organic  food

To meet the demands of human healthTo meet the demands of human health

1

To meet the demands of environmentTo meet the demands of environment

Environmental  friendlyEnvironmental  friendly

SOCIETY DEMANDSSOCIETY DEMANDS1

MODE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONMODE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

Great opportunity to inundative release of natural enemies

Agricultural land use pattern shifting

Small farming system                           Large‐scale farming system

2

Rapid increases of greenhouse productiongreenhouse production

Vegetable production in greenhouses in China (more than 5 million ha) The output value was about $110 billion in 2010.

MODE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONMODE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION2

CLIMATE CHANGECLIMATE CHANGE

2005 2020

Reduce  40 ‐ 45 %

CO2em

ission

 pe

r GDP

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (2009)

Greenhouse gas emission reduction is an arduous and urgent task

Greenhouse gas emission reduction is Greenhouse gas emission reduction is an arduous and urgent taskan arduous and urgent task

3

Mountain pine beetleDendroctonus ponderosae

pine trees

Scientists examined the beetle’s outbreak and estimated that its net greenhouse 

gas impacts over 21 yr (990 Mt carbon dioxide equivalents, CO2e) are comparable 

to about 5 yr of emissions from Canada’s transportation sector (200 Mt CO2 e in 

2005).

Kurz et al., 2008, Nature

What we can do?

CLIMATE CHANGECLIMATE CHANGE3

CO2

control

no‐control

PROFESSIONAL SERVICEPROFESSIONAL SERVICE

• Commercial production of natural enemies

• Professional team

4

GOVERNMENT FUNDSGOVERNMENT FUNDS

Government supportingGovernment supporting

Ministry of Science and Technology, China

Ministry of Agriculture, China

Ministry of Environment , China

National Natural Science Foundation of China

National level:  top level design, regional distributionNational level:  top level design, regional distribution

5

International CollaborationInternational Collaboration6