Sustainable Control of Taro Beetles via Scoliid Wasps and Metarhizium anisopliae
Taro Scarab beetles (Papuana uninodis, Coleoptera:
Scarabaeidae) inflict severe damage on important root crops and
plants such as Taro or Cocoyam, yam, sweet potatoes, oil palm and
coffee tea plants across Africa and Asia resulting in economic
hardship and starvation in some nations. Scoliid wasps and
Metarhizium anisopliae fungus - bio-control agents; are shown to be
able to control the population of Scarab beetle adults and larvae using
a newly created simulation model based on non-linear ordinary
differential equations that track the populations of the beetle life
cycle stages: egg, larva, pupa, adult and the population of the scoliid
parasitoid wasps, which attack beetle larvae. In spite of the challenge
driven by the longevity of the scarab beetles, the combined effect of
the larval wasps and the fungal bio-control agent is able to control
and drive down the population of both the adult and the beetle eggs
below the environmental carrying capacity within an interval of 120
days, offering the long term prospect of a stable and eco-friendly
environment; where the population of scarab beetles is: regulated by
parasitoid wasps and beneficial soil saprophytes.
1] J. A. Powell (2009). Coleoptera. In Vincent H. Resh & Ring T. Cardé.
Encyclopedia of Insects (2nd ed.). Academic Press. p. 1132. ISBN 978-
0-12-374144-8.
[2] A. Carmichael (2005). Taro beetle (Papuana uninodis) Updated on
1/8/2007 8:26:32 AM Available online: PaDIL -
http://www.padil.gov.au
[3] L. Smee (1965). Insect pests of sweet potato and taro in the Territory of
Papua and New Guinea, their habits and control. Papua New Guinea
Agric. J. 17:99-101
[4] E. Jarvis (1932). The biological control of cane-grubs. Tropical
Agriculture 9(11): 331–333.
[5] F. Faithpraise, J. Idung, C. R. Chatwin, R. C. D. Young, P.M. Birch
(2014a). Biological Control of Taro Scarab Beetle
(Papuanauninodis,Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Instars via scoliid and
Voria tachinidae Parasiod Wasps. International Journal of Applied
Biology and Pharmaceutical Technology, Volume 5, Issue 3, 47-55 July
–Sept 2014, ISSN: 0976-4550
[6] G. Zimmerman (1992). Use of fungus Beauveria brongniartii for the
control of European cockchafers, Melolontha spp., in Europe. In: Use of
pathogens in scarab pest management. (Glare, T.R. and Jackson, T.A.,
eds.) Intercept: Andover. 199–207.
[7] A. Rath (1992). Metarhizium anisopliae for control of the Tasmanian
pasture scarab (Adroryphorus couloni). In: Use of pathogens in scarab
pest management (Glare, T.R. and Jackson, T.A., eds.). Intercept:
Andover. 217–222.
[8] G. O. Bedford (1986). Biological control of the rhinoceros beetle
(Oryctes rhinoceros) in the South Pacific by baculovirus. Agriculture,
Ecosystem and Environment 15: 141–147
[9] D. F. Waterhouse and K. R. Norris, (1987). Biological Control: Pacific
Prospects. Inkata Press, Melbourne. 454 pp.
[10] E. C. Young (1986). The rhinoceros beetle project: History and review
of the research programme Agriculture. Ecosystems and Environment
15: 149-166.
[11] T. R. Glare (1992). Fungal pathogens of scarabs. pp. 6377. In T. R.
Glare and T. A. Jackson (eds.), Use of Pathogens in Scarabs Pest
Management. Intercept: Andover
[12] D.E. Shaw (1984). Microorganisms in Papua New Guinea. Research
Bulletin No. 33, Department of Primary Industry PNG, 344 pp.
[13] W. Theunis and I. Aloali’I, (1999). Susceptibility of taro beetle
(Papuana uninodis, Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) to new Bacillus popilliae
isolates from Papuana spp. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 73: 255–
359.
[14] M. G. Klein (1990). Efficacy against soil-inhabiting insect pests. In:
Entomopathogenic nematodes in biological control. Gaughler, R. and
Kaya, H.K. eds.). CRC Press: Boca Raton FL USA. 195–214.
[15] E. Erin Morris and Parwinder S. Grewal. “Susceptibility of the Adult
Japanese Beetle, Popillia japonica to Entomopathogenic Nematodes”. J
Nematol. 2011 Sep-Dec; 43(3-4): 196–200.
[16] F. Faithpraise, P. Birch, R. Young, J. Obu, B. Faithpraise and C.
Chatwin (2013). Automatic plant pest detection & recognition using kmeans
clustering algorithm & correspondence filters, International
Journal of Advanced Biotechnology and Research, Vol. 4, Issue 2, 2013,
pp 1052-1062, ISSN 0976-2612
[17] W. Theunis, I. Aloali'I, R. Masamdu, and B. Thistleton (1993).
Prospects for biological control of taro beetles, Papuana spp .
(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), in the South Pacific. Research extension
series. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. p66-72
[18] S. Sar, T. Solulu and A. Darie (1990). Taro beetle on betelnut (Areca
catechu). pp. 55. In 1989 Annual R.esearch Report. Agric. Res. Div.,
Dept. of Agric. And Livestock, Papua New Guinea.
[19] B. M. Thistleton (1984). Taro beetles. Entomology Bull. No. 29. Harvest
10: 32-35.
[20] S. Bhattacharjee, S. Saha, and D. Raychaudhuri (2010). Scoliid wasps
(Hymenoptera: = Vespoidea) of Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, West
Bengal, India. Munis Entomology & Zoology, 5 (2): 661-669
[21] M. G. Elliott (2011). Annotated catalogue of the Australian Scoliidae
(Hymenoptera). Technical Reports of the Australian Museum, Online
22: 1–17. (16 February 2011)doi:10.3853/j.1835-4211.22.2011.1562
ISSN 1835-4211
[22] I. Barbara and P. Barratt (2003) .Aspects of reproductive biology and
behaviour of scoliid wasps” Doc Science Internal Series 147 Published
by Department of Conservation PO Box 10-420 Wellington, New
Zealand October 2003, ISSN 1175.6519. ISBN 0.478.22513.X
http://www.doc.govt.nz
[23] K. V. Krombein (1963). The Scoliidae of New Guinea, Bismarck
Archipelago, and Solomon Islands. Nova Guinea, Zoology,22:543-651,
[24] R. M. Misra (1996). Some observations on the life history and behaviour
of Scolia (Discolia) affinis Guerin (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae) a parasite
of Holotrichia consanguinea Blanch (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Indian
Forester 112: 1174.1178.
[25] E.E. Grissell (2007). Scoliid Wasps of Florida, Campsomeris, Scolia,
and Trielis spp. (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Scoliidae), Featured Creatures.
DPI Entomology Circulars 179 and 185, University of Florida
[26] D. K. Yeates, D. P. Logan and C. Lambkin (1999). Immature stages of
the bee fly Ligyra satyrus (F.) (Diptera: Bombyliidae): A
hyperparasitoid of canegrubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Australian
Journal of Entomology (1999) 38, 300–304
[27] T. A. Ugine. Metarhizium (Order: Hypocreales, Family: Clavicipitaceae)
Biological control, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences,
Department of Entomology. Cornell University.
http://www.biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/pathogens/Metarhizium.h
tml (Retrieved 14/05/14)
[28] N. K Maniania, S. Sithanantham, S. Ekesi, K. Ampong-Nyarko, J.
Baumgärtner, B. Löhr, and C. M. Matoka (2003). A field trial of the
entomopathogenous fungus Metarhizium anisopliae for control of onion
thrips, Thrips tabaci. Crop Prot. 22: 553-559.
[29] E. J. Scholte, K. Ng'habi, J. Kihonda, W. Takken, K. Paaijmans, S.
Abdulla, G. F. Killeen, and B. G. J. Knols, (2005). An
entomopathogenic fungus for control of adult African malaria
mosquitoes. Science 308: 1641-1642.
[30] N. Meyling and J. Eilenberg (2007). Ecology of the entomopathogenic
fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae in temperate
agroecosystems: Potential for conservation biological control. Biol.
Control 43: 145-155.
[31] G. Hu, and R. A. St. Leger (2002). Field studies using a recombinant
mycoinsecticide (Metarhizium anisopliae) reveal that it is rhizosphere
competent. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68: 6383-6387.
[32] R. Moslim, M. B. Wahid, N. Kamarudin, S. R. A. Ali and N. H. Hamid
(2006). Research Into the Commercialization of Metarhizium Anisopliae
(Hyphomycetes) for Biocontrol of the Rhinoceros Beetle,Oryctes
Rhinoceros (Scarabaeidae), In Oil Palm Journal of Oil Palm Research
(Special Issue - April 2006), P. 37-49
[33] D. I. Swan (1974). A review of the work on predators, parasites and
pathogens for the control of Oryctes rhinoceros (Coleoptera:
Scarabaeidae) in the Pacific area.Commonwealth Institute of Biological
Control misc. pub. no. 7. 64 p.
http://www.bioag.novozymes.com/en/products/europe/biocontrol/Pages/
default.aspx
[34] L. K. Tanigoshi, G., B. S. Gerdeman and G. H. Spitler, (2008).
Evaluation of Novel Mode of Action Insecticides to Control Tuber Flea Beetle in Potato, 2008. Washington State University. Mount Vernon
Northwestern Research and Extension Center Mount Vernon, WA
98273-4768.
http://www.mountvernon.wsu.edu/ENTOMOLOGY/RecentReports/TF
B.bioassays.08.html
[35] Y. Tanada, and H. K. Kaya (1993). Insect Pathology, Academic Press,
San Diego, CA.
[36] S. Dara An update on the Bagrada bug March 15, 2013.
http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9531
[37] F. E. Klassische (1969). Klassische Runge-Kutta-Formeln fünfter and
siebenter Ordnung mit Schrittweiten-Kontrolle, Computing Arch.
Elektron. Rechnen) 4 1969 93-106.
[38] J. R. Dormand, and P. J. Prince (1981). High order embedded Runge-
Kutta formulae, J. Comput. Appl. Math. 7 (1981), no.1, 67-75.
[39] J. Butcher (2007) Runge-Kutta methods. Scholarpedia, 2(9):3147.
[40] R. Schreiber (2007) MATLAB. Scholarpedia, 2(7):2929.
[41] F. Faithpraise, C. R. Chatwin, J. Obu , B. Olawale, R. C. D. Young, and
P.M. Birch, (2014b). Timely Control of Aphis craccivora Using an
automatic robotic drone management system (ARDMS). Systems
Science & Control Engineering – An Open Access Journal, Taylor &
Francis, in press
[42] F. Faithpraise, C. R. Chatwin, J. Obu , B. Olawale, R. C. D. Young, and
P.M. Birch, (2014c). Sustainable Control of Anopheles Mosquito
Population. Environment, Ecology & Management, Vol 3(1). 1-19
[43] F. Faithpraise, J. Idung, B. Usibe, C. Chatwin, R. Young, P. Birch
(2014d) Natural control of the mosquito population via Odonata and
Toxorhynchites. International Journal of Innovative Research in Science,
Engineering and Technology (IJIRSET). Vol. 3, Issue 5, ISSN: 2319-
8753. May 2014
[44] F. M. Freimoser, S. Screen, S. Bagga, G. Hu, and R. J. St. Leger, R.J.
(2003). EST analysis of two subspecies of Metarhizium anisopliae
reveals a plethora of secreted proteins with potential activity in insect
hosts. Microbiology 149 (Pt 1): 239–247. doi:10.1099/mic.0.25761-0
1] J. A. Powell (2009). Coleoptera. In Vincent H. Resh & Ring T. Cardé.
Encyclopedia of Insects (2nd ed.). Academic Press. p. 1132. ISBN 978-
0-12-374144-8.
[2] A. Carmichael (2005). Taro beetle (Papuana uninodis) Updated on
1/8/2007 8:26:32 AM Available online: PaDIL -
http://www.padil.gov.au
[3] L. Smee (1965). Insect pests of sweet potato and taro in the Territory of
Papua and New Guinea, their habits and control. Papua New Guinea
Agric. J. 17:99-101
[4] E. Jarvis (1932). The biological control of cane-grubs. Tropical
Agriculture 9(11): 331–333.
[5] F. Faithpraise, J. Idung, C. R. Chatwin, R. C. D. Young, P.M. Birch
(2014a). Biological Control of Taro Scarab Beetle
(Papuanauninodis,Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Instars via scoliid and
Voria tachinidae Parasiod Wasps. International Journal of Applied
Biology and Pharmaceutical Technology, Volume 5, Issue 3, 47-55 July
–Sept 2014, ISSN: 0976-4550
[6] G. Zimmerman (1992). Use of fungus Beauveria brongniartii for the
control of European cockchafers, Melolontha spp., in Europe. In: Use of
pathogens in scarab pest management. (Glare, T.R. and Jackson, T.A.,
eds.) Intercept: Andover. 199–207.
[7] A. Rath (1992). Metarhizium anisopliae for control of the Tasmanian
pasture scarab (Adroryphorus couloni). In: Use of pathogens in scarab
pest management (Glare, T.R. and Jackson, T.A., eds.). Intercept:
Andover. 217–222.
[8] G. O. Bedford (1986). Biological control of the rhinoceros beetle
(Oryctes rhinoceros) in the South Pacific by baculovirus. Agriculture,
Ecosystem and Environment 15: 141–147
[9] D. F. Waterhouse and K. R. Norris, (1987). Biological Control: Pacific
Prospects. Inkata Press, Melbourne. 454 pp.
[10] E. C. Young (1986). The rhinoceros beetle project: History and review
of the research programme Agriculture. Ecosystems and Environment
15: 149-166.
[11] T. R. Glare (1992). Fungal pathogens of scarabs. pp. 6377. In T. R.
Glare and T. A. Jackson (eds.), Use of Pathogens in Scarabs Pest
Management. Intercept: Andover
[12] D.E. Shaw (1984). Microorganisms in Papua New Guinea. Research
Bulletin No. 33, Department of Primary Industry PNG, 344 pp.
[13] W. Theunis and I. Aloali’I, (1999). Susceptibility of taro beetle
(Papuana uninodis, Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) to new Bacillus popilliae
isolates from Papuana spp. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 73: 255–
359.
[14] M. G. Klein (1990). Efficacy against soil-inhabiting insect pests. In:
Entomopathogenic nematodes in biological control. Gaughler, R. and
Kaya, H.K. eds.). CRC Press: Boca Raton FL USA. 195–214.
[15] E. Erin Morris and Parwinder S. Grewal. “Susceptibility of the Adult
Japanese Beetle, Popillia japonica to Entomopathogenic Nematodes”. J
Nematol. 2011 Sep-Dec; 43(3-4): 196–200.
[16] F. Faithpraise, P. Birch, R. Young, J. Obu, B. Faithpraise and C.
Chatwin (2013). Automatic plant pest detection & recognition using kmeans
clustering algorithm & correspondence filters, International
Journal of Advanced Biotechnology and Research, Vol. 4, Issue 2, 2013,
pp 1052-1062, ISSN 0976-2612
[17] W. Theunis, I. Aloali'I, R. Masamdu, and B. Thistleton (1993).
Prospects for biological control of taro beetles, Papuana spp .
(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), in the South Pacific. Research extension
series. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. p66-72
[18] S. Sar, T. Solulu and A. Darie (1990). Taro beetle on betelnut (Areca
catechu). pp. 55. In 1989 Annual R.esearch Report. Agric. Res. Div.,
Dept. of Agric. And Livestock, Papua New Guinea.
[19] B. M. Thistleton (1984). Taro beetles. Entomology Bull. No. 29. Harvest
10: 32-35.
[20] S. Bhattacharjee, S. Saha, and D. Raychaudhuri (2010). Scoliid wasps
(Hymenoptera: = Vespoidea) of Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, West
Bengal, India. Munis Entomology & Zoology, 5 (2): 661-669
[21] M. G. Elliott (2011). Annotated catalogue of the Australian Scoliidae
(Hymenoptera). Technical Reports of the Australian Museum, Online
22: 1–17. (16 February 2011)doi:10.3853/j.1835-4211.22.2011.1562
ISSN 1835-4211
[22] I. Barbara and P. Barratt (2003) .Aspects of reproductive biology and
behaviour of scoliid wasps” Doc Science Internal Series 147 Published
by Department of Conservation PO Box 10-420 Wellington, New
Zealand October 2003, ISSN 1175.6519. ISBN 0.478.22513.X
http://www.doc.govt.nz
[23] K. V. Krombein (1963). The Scoliidae of New Guinea, Bismarck
Archipelago, and Solomon Islands. Nova Guinea, Zoology,22:543-651,
[24] R. M. Misra (1996). Some observations on the life history and behaviour
of Scolia (Discolia) affinis Guerin (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae) a parasite
of Holotrichia consanguinea Blanch (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Indian
Forester 112: 1174.1178.
[25] E.E. Grissell (2007). Scoliid Wasps of Florida, Campsomeris, Scolia,
and Trielis spp. (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Scoliidae), Featured Creatures.
DPI Entomology Circulars 179 and 185, University of Florida
[26] D. K. Yeates, D. P. Logan and C. Lambkin (1999). Immature stages of
the bee fly Ligyra satyrus (F.) (Diptera: Bombyliidae): A
hyperparasitoid of canegrubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Australian
Journal of Entomology (1999) 38, 300–304
[27] T. A. Ugine. Metarhizium (Order: Hypocreales, Family: Clavicipitaceae)
Biological control, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences,
Department of Entomology. Cornell University.
http://www.biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/pathogens/Metarhizium.h
tml (Retrieved 14/05/14)
[28] N. K Maniania, S. Sithanantham, S. Ekesi, K. Ampong-Nyarko, J.
Baumgärtner, B. Löhr, and C. M. Matoka (2003). A field trial of the
entomopathogenous fungus Metarhizium anisopliae for control of onion
thrips, Thrips tabaci. Crop Prot. 22: 553-559.
[29] E. J. Scholte, K. Ng'habi, J. Kihonda, W. Takken, K. Paaijmans, S.
Abdulla, G. F. Killeen, and B. G. J. Knols, (2005). An
entomopathogenic fungus for control of adult African malaria
mosquitoes. Science 308: 1641-1642.
[30] N. Meyling and J. Eilenberg (2007). Ecology of the entomopathogenic
fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae in temperate
agroecosystems: Potential for conservation biological control. Biol.
Control 43: 145-155.
[31] G. Hu, and R. A. St. Leger (2002). Field studies using a recombinant
mycoinsecticide (Metarhizium anisopliae) reveal that it is rhizosphere
competent. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68: 6383-6387.
[32] R. Moslim, M. B. Wahid, N. Kamarudin, S. R. A. Ali and N. H. Hamid
(2006). Research Into the Commercialization of Metarhizium Anisopliae
(Hyphomycetes) for Biocontrol of the Rhinoceros Beetle,Oryctes
Rhinoceros (Scarabaeidae), In Oil Palm Journal of Oil Palm Research
(Special Issue - April 2006), P. 37-49
[33] D. I. Swan (1974). A review of the work on predators, parasites and
pathogens for the control of Oryctes rhinoceros (Coleoptera:
Scarabaeidae) in the Pacific area.Commonwealth Institute of Biological
Control misc. pub. no. 7. 64 p.
http://www.bioag.novozymes.com/en/products/europe/biocontrol/Pages/
default.aspx
[34] L. K. Tanigoshi, G., B. S. Gerdeman and G. H. Spitler, (2008).
Evaluation of Novel Mode of Action Insecticides to Control Tuber Flea Beetle in Potato, 2008. Washington State University. Mount Vernon
Northwestern Research and Extension Center Mount Vernon, WA
98273-4768.
http://www.mountvernon.wsu.edu/ENTOMOLOGY/RecentReports/TF
B.bioassays.08.html
[35] Y. Tanada, and H. K. Kaya (1993). Insect Pathology, Academic Press,
San Diego, CA.
[36] S. Dara An update on the Bagrada bug March 15, 2013.
http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9531
[37] F. E. Klassische (1969). Klassische Runge-Kutta-Formeln fünfter and
siebenter Ordnung mit Schrittweiten-Kontrolle, Computing Arch.
Elektron. Rechnen) 4 1969 93-106.
[38] J. R. Dormand, and P. J. Prince (1981). High order embedded Runge-
Kutta formulae, J. Comput. Appl. Math. 7 (1981), no.1, 67-75.
[39] J. Butcher (2007) Runge-Kutta methods. Scholarpedia, 2(9):3147.
[40] R. Schreiber (2007) MATLAB. Scholarpedia, 2(7):2929.
[41] F. Faithpraise, C. R. Chatwin, J. Obu , B. Olawale, R. C. D. Young, and
P.M. Birch, (2014b). Timely Control of Aphis craccivora Using an
automatic robotic drone management system (ARDMS). Systems
Science & Control Engineering – An Open Access Journal, Taylor &
Francis, in press
[42] F. Faithpraise, C. R. Chatwin, J. Obu , B. Olawale, R. C. D. Young, and
P.M. Birch, (2014c). Sustainable Control of Anopheles Mosquito
Population. Environment, Ecology & Management, Vol 3(1). 1-19
[43] F. Faithpraise, J. Idung, B. Usibe, C. Chatwin, R. Young, P. Birch
(2014d) Natural control of the mosquito population via Odonata and
Toxorhynchites. International Journal of Innovative Research in Science,
Engineering and Technology (IJIRSET). Vol. 3, Issue 5, ISSN: 2319-
8753. May 2014
[44] F. M. Freimoser, S. Screen, S. Bagga, G. Hu, and R. J. St. Leger, R.J.
(2003). EST analysis of two subspecies of Metarhizium anisopliae
reveals a plethora of secreted proteins with potential activity in insect
hosts. Microbiology 149 (Pt 1): 239–247. doi:10.1099/mic.0.25761-0
@article{"International Journal of Biological, Life and Agricultural Sciences:68519", author = "F. O. Faithpraise and J. Idung and C. R. Chatwin and R. C. D. Young and P. Birch and H. Lu", title = "Sustainable Control of Taro Beetles via Scoliid Wasps and Metarhizium anisopliae", abstract = "Taro Scarab beetles (Papuana uninodis, Coleoptera:
Scarabaeidae) inflict severe damage on important root crops and
plants such as Taro or Cocoyam, yam, sweet potatoes, oil palm and
coffee tea plants across Africa and Asia resulting in economic
hardship and starvation in some nations. Scoliid wasps and
Metarhizium anisopliae fungus - bio-control agents; are shown to be
able to control the population of Scarab beetle adults and larvae using
a newly created simulation model based on non-linear ordinary
differential equations that track the populations of the beetle life
cycle stages: egg, larva, pupa, adult and the population of the scoliid
parasitoid wasps, which attack beetle larvae. In spite of the challenge
driven by the longevity of the scarab beetles, the combined effect of
the larval wasps and the fungal bio-control agent is able to control
and drive down the population of both the adult and the beetle eggs
below the environmental carrying capacity within an interval of 120
days, offering the long term prospect of a stable and eco-friendly
environment; where the population of scarab beetles is: regulated by
parasitoid wasps and beneficial soil saprophytes.
", keywords = "Metarhizium anisopliae, Scoliid wasps, Sustainable
control, Taro beetles, parasitoids.", volume = "8", number = "6", pages = "642-6", }
