POTENTIAL CASCADE EFFECTS OF COMPETITION ON BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF INSECTS HERBIVORES

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.5962513012

• Palavras-chave: -

• Keywords: Parasitoids, predators, population regulation, resource availability

• Abstract: In natural ecosystems, many insect species can interact in different ways. Herbivore insects can compete for host plants, shelter, mating, and oviposition sites. Additionally, natural enemies can compete for their herbivore prey (food) or host (development) in the same habitat. Therefore, competition can regulate the populations of herbivore insects, which can be important pests, and their respective natural enemies. Competition can affect the efficacy of biological control strategies. Competition for resources (prey/host) will reduce its access to at least one of the competing species. Also, competition can alter the behavior of natural enemies, such as foraging, predation, and parasitism rates, which in turn will affect pest populations. In some situations, competition between natural enemies may lead to pest resurgence, due to mutual interference of biocontrol agents and a lack of efficient pest control. In others, competition can have a synergistic effect in pest control, in which multiple natural enemy actions add up to a complimentary biological control, increasing its final effect on pest populations. The understanding and adequate management of competition effects in the habitat is essential to guarantee efficient and sustainable pest control.