Bishwo P Mainali

Macquarie University · Applied BioSciences

Behavioral responses of Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) to visual and olfactory cues were assessed in a cylindrical black box and a Y-tube olfactometer. Frankliniella occidentalis preferred circular shapes to other five geometrical patterns (rectangle, triangle, inverted triangle, diamond, and modified circle imitating...

Supplementation of host resource can be more economical method for the biological control of insect pest compared to direct release of adult parasitoids. Periodical release of non-viable cold-stored eggs of Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Alydidae) has been found to enhance parasitism of this pest in soybean fields. To find the optimum...

Changes in protein, lipid, and carbohydrate content, and the weight loss of soybean seeds caused by the feeding of 6- to 7-d-old unmated male adults of the pentatomids Peizodorous hybneri (Gmelin) and Halymorpha halys (Stål), and an alydid, Riptortus pedestris (F.), were examined in the laboratory. Our goals were to determine which species had the...

Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (“Q‐fly”), is Australia’s most economically important insect pest of horticultural and commercial crops especially in the eastern regions. The sterile insect technique (SIT) has been adopted as an environmentally benign and sustainable approach for management of Q‐fly outbreaks. High‐performance larval diets...

Queensland fruit fly ('Q-fly'), Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is the most destructive insect pest of horticultural crops in Australia. The sterile insect technique (SIT) has attracted significant interest for sustainable management of Q-fly through the mass rearing and release of sterile flies. Cost-effective diets are requir...

Previously, we assessed the pathogenicity of eleven endemic entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) including six Beauveria isolates, four Metarhizium isolates, and one M. pingshaense, against the agricultural pest Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm, FAW). We found that four Beauveria and one Metarhizium isolates were effective, with Beauveria isolates B-05...

The development of effective pest management strategies for Spodoptera frugiperda is a high priority for crop protection across its invasive ranges. Here, we examined six Beauveria and five Metarhizium fungal isolates against this pest. Two Beauveria isolates (B-0571, B-1311) induced high mortality toward 3rd and 6th instar caterpillars and adults....

Since 2016, the fall armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda , J.E. Smith) has spread from the Americas to invade many regions of the world, including Australia in early 2020. The development of effective pest management strategies for S. frugiperda is a high priority for crop protection. In the invasive range, the degree to which endemic biological contr...

Since 2016, the fall armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda , J.E. Smith) has spread from the Americas to invade many regions of the world, including Australia in early 2020. The development of effective pest management strategies for S. frugiperda is a high priority for crop protection. In the invasive range, the degree to which endemic biological contr...

The Queensland fruit fly (Q‐fly), Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), is a major horticultural pest in Australia. Sterile insect technique (SIT) is increasingly used in area‐wide integrated management of Q‐fly, as well as for eradication of outbreaks in Q‐fly‐free regions. Quality control (QC) procedures are important to monitor and maintain high standar...

Queensland fruit fly is one of the most economically important horticultural pests in Australia. Sterile insect technique (SIT) is now being reconsidered and upscaled to combat this pest so reliable discrimination of released sterile Q-flies from wild flies in monitoring traps is important for effective SIT operations. Stable isotopes provide a per...

Opiine braconids are parasitoids of the immature stages of frugivorous tephritids. The female wasp lays her eggs into the eggs or larvae of the fruit fly host, where the immature wasp develops before emerging as a next‐generation adult from the now dead host pupal case. In support of a new generation of Australian fruit fly parasitoid research, thi...

In Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) programs, the released sterile insects must attain sexual maturity at an early adult age so that a large proportion survive to mature and contribute to reducing reproduction of pest populations. Previous field studies based on release of adult Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (‘Q-fly’), at 2 days...

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is a sustainable pest management tool based on the release of millions of sterile insects that suppress reproduction in targeted populations. Success of SIT depends on survival, maturation, dispersal, and mating of released sterile insects. Laboratory and field cage studies have demonstrated that dietary supplemen...

Queensland fruit fly (Q-fly), Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), is a significant pest of horticultural crops in Australia. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is currently employed to eradicate outbreaks in fruit fly free regions and may also be used to suppress populations in endemic regions. For SIT to succeed, it is imperative that the released steri...

Queensland fruit fly (Q-fly), Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), presents a major threat to Australian fruit production and trade. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is increasingly employed to manage Q-fly. Quality of sterile males released in SIT programs, and hence program efficacy, can be affected by pre-and post-production processes, such as mass r...

The sterile insect technique (SIT), a benign pest control strategy, is currently undergoing a substantial renewal for controlling the Queensland fruit fly (Q-fly), a major horticultural pest in Australia. Production and delivery of high-quality flies is fundamental to effective SIT. While efforts are commonly made to improve production at a factory...

BACKGROUND The sterile insect technique (SIT) is used in Australia to contain and eradicate outbreaks of Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in fruit‐fly‐free regions, and to manage populations in some endemic regions. To assess the likely impact of SIT on wild B. tryoni populations it is important to assess the colocation and synch...

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is used in area-wide integrated management of Queensland fruit fly (Q-fly) Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), as well as to eradicate outbreaks in fruit-fly-free regions. Before exposure to ionising radiation to induce sterility, Q-fly pupae are usually sealed in plastic bags to create hypoxic conditions that have a cr...

The sterile insect technique (SIT) and male annihilation technique (MAT) are important tools for the control of Queensland fruit fly (Q-fly), Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae), a major insect pest of horticultural crops in Australia. In MAT, mature Q-fly males are attracted to a toxic bait using Cuelure, a synthetic analog of rasp...

Larval diets used for artificial rearing can have a significant effect on insect biology. The Queensland fruit fly (aka “Qfly”), Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is one of the greatest challenges for fruit growers in Australia. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is being developed to manage outbreaks in regions that remain free...

Sterile insect technique (SIT) for Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni Froggatt, Australia’s most economically damaging fruit fly species, is currently undergoing a major renewal and expansion. SIT relies on efficient and economical mass-rearing procedures that produce high-quality flies. Two solid larval diets, carrot and lucerne chaff, have t...

In holometabolous insects, larval nutrition is a key factor underpinning development and fitness. Heterogeneity in the nutritional environment and larval competition can force larvae to forage in suboptimal diets, with potential downstream fitness effects. Little is known about how larvae respond to competitive heterogeneous environments, and wheth...

A new sterile insect technique (SIT) program is currently being developed for management of the Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae), the most costly challenge to Australian horticulture in the eastern states. SIT relies on cost-effective mass production of millions of high-quality flies. A recently developed ge...

Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) control programs release flies in large numbers to disrupt the reproduction of pest populations. Pre-release supplements, such as the juvenile hormone analogue methoprene and the phytochemical raspberry ketone, are known to accelerate the sexual maturation of the most devastating pest of Australian horticulture, Bactr...

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is a prevalent pathogen that causes significant yield reduction in soybean production worldwide. SMV belongs to potyvirus and causes typical symptoms such as mild mosaic, mosaic and necrosis. SMV is seed-borne and also transmitted by aphid. Eleven SMV strains, G1 to G7, G5H, G6H, G7H, and G7a were reported in soybean vari...

The aggregation pheromone of Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Alydidae) has been shown to have a kairomonal effect on its egg parasitoids. The addition of non-viable R. pedestris eggs to aggregation pheromone traps was suggested as a means to enhance reproduction of parasitoids attracted to pheromone traps and was found to enhance field...

The effects of three temperatures, 20 °C, 25 °C and 30 °C, and four relative humidity (RH) levels, 30–35%, 50–55%, 70–75%, and 90–95%, on oviposition and development of Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) were investigated. C. chinensis were introduced to 30 g azuki bean seeds (cultivar Hongeon) one day post emergence. Five pairs...

Studies have reported differential attractiveness of yellow, white or blue sticky cards to Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood. This study was conducted to determine whether yellow or blue sticky card is better in attracting these greenhouse pests. Laboratory study that included choice and no-choice tests fo...

Ooencyrtus nezarae Ishii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) acts as a facultative hyperparasitoid of Gryon japonicum (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) sympatric parasitoid of Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Alydidae). A longer period of host egg exploitation by both parasitoid species would be beneficial for O. nezarae, while G. japonicum...

Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a typical polyphagous stink bug causing losses in several host plants including leguminous crops and fruits. Nutritional status of fruits such as apple and orange for the development of H. halys is not yet clear. We evaluated fruits of apple and orange with or without soybean-peanuts as food sou...

Occurrence of soybean pod gall midge (SPGM), Asphondylia yushimai, and soybean pod damage caused by SPGM, and its control efficacy treated with ethofenprox 20EC were first observed at Miryang from 2006 to 2008 in Korea. The typical damage symptoms in soybean pod caused by SPGM were brownish coloration and malformation. By beating method occurrence...

The bean bug, Rip tortus pedestris (Fabricius), is one of the major pests of soybean; this pest mainly feeds on soybean pods. Its population is highest when the soybean plants bear mature seeds. We aimed to determine the effect of bean bug infestation on soybean according to changes in nutrient levels and seed germination potential. Newly emerged a...

This study was conducted to evaluate pest control efficacy of environment-friendly agricultural materials (EFAMs) according to their spray time and frequency against alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica Gyllenhal, at Chinese milk vetch field in Miryang, Korea. Larva, pupa and adult of H. postica occurred more in year 2010 than those in 2011, and the larv...

Occurrence of adult alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica Gyllenhal, was observed at Chinese milk vetch field, and host plant preference of its generation adult was observed at greenhouse and Chinese milk vetch field. The over-wintered adult of the weevil appeared from late March and peaked in mid April while the generation adult appeared from late April...

The aggregation pheromone of Riptortus pedestris (F.) (Hemiptera: Alydidae) is known to attract its egg parasitoids Ooencyrtus nezarae Ishii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Gryon japonicum (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Distribution and composition of these egg parasitoids were compared in a soybean field in the presence and absence of aggrega...

A flower model trap developed by modifying an artificial yellow chrysanthemum flower was more attractive to flower thrips than commercial yellow sticky traps. Installation of these flower model traps (20 traps per 50 m2 plot) was reported to reduce seasonal populations of Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on strawberry flower...

This study was conducted to determine the effects of six different leguminous seeds (cowpea, white kidney bean, soybean cultivars Cheongja and Daepung, mung bean, and azuki bean) on the life history traits of the bean bug Riptortus pedestris (F.) (Hemiptera: Alydidae). The total developmental time from the first instar nymph to adult ranged from 18...

Previous studies reported that of the two egg parasitoids of Riptortus pedestris (F.) (Hemiptera: Alydidae) found in Korea, Gryon japonicum (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) appears in soybean fields much earlier than Ooencyrtus nezarae Ishii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). To explain this phenomenon, we evaluated the interactive influence of tempera...

Our previous study demonstrated that the release of refrigerated non-viable eggs of Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Alydidae) enhanced parasitism rates in soybean fields but did not result in the reduction of R. pedestris populations. This study was further conducted using an open-cage exclusion design in a soybean field in order to eva...

Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Alydidae) is one of the major pests of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) in Korea and Japan. The occurrence of two important egg parasitoids of R. pedestris, Ooencyrtus nezarae Ishii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Gryon japonicum (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), before and after soybean cultivation is...

Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Alydidae) is one of the major pests of soybean in Korea. Ooencyrtus nezarae Ishii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Gryon japonicum (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), two important egg parasitoids of R. pedestris may play an important role in controlling the pest. R. pedestris is mobile stink bug which col...

Yellow sticky flat traps were cut into six geometrical shapes (square, circle, semi-circle, diamond, triangle, and inverted triangle) to evaluate their attractiveness to Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). The square was used as a standard to compare with other shapes in the laboratory. Circle was the most effective, at...

Riptortus clavatus Thunberg (Hemiptera: Alydidae) causes losses in several crops including soybean, sweet persimmon, and apple in Korea and Japan. Though chemical spray is a common control method against the pest, aggregation pheromone traps are widely used in fields. Aggregation pheromone of R. clavatus is known to attract its egg parasitoids as w...

In a previous study, we showed that a chrysanthemum flower model trap, developed by modifying an artificial yellow chrysanthemum flower, was more attractive to the flower thrips Frankliniella intonsa Trybom (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) than a commercial yellow sticky trap. In this study, the optimum deployment density of the chrysanthemum flower model...

Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande and F. intonsa Trybom (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are anthophilous insect pests of many crops worldwide. We evaluated a flower model trap mimicking the chrysanthemum flower as a new method to attract the thrips in the laboratory and a strawberry greenhouse. Both choice and no-choice tests in the laboratory showed t...

Experiment was conducted to assess the optimum interaction between common silkworm races (J-12 and C-12) with different mulberry varieties (Kanva-2, Lun-40, K-22, Khumal-1 and Khumal-3) at humaltar, Lalitpur during the year 2004/05 and 2005/06. The bud initiation and senescence characteristics were found superior in Kanva–2 among the tested cultiva...

Flower model trap (FMT) made from artificial yellow chrysanthemum flower coated with sticky material was originally developed to attract anthophilous Frankliniella thrips species. During evaluation of the FMT in a strawberry greenhouse, it was also found to attract higher number of greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Homoptera:...

The genus Frankliniella is comprised of ubiquitous polyphagous insects that inflict losses on vegetable, fruit and ornamental crops. It is known that 5 species of this genus transmit tospoviruses to a wide variety of plant species. Two of these species, F. occidentalis and F. intonsa, occur sympatrically in Korea. These species cannot be easily ide...

Vegetable farming has become a profitable business along the roadside of mid-hills of Nepal,Dhusatar VDC of Dhadhing is one of the vegetable farming pockets located in mid-hill Just 82 km away from the capital (Kathmandu). A study was carried out in Dhusatar pocket during 1999 through focus group discussion and household survey methods in order to...

A survey was carried out in vegetable pocket areas of Dhankuta, Baglung, Dhading (mid-hills) and Bara (terai) Districts with an objective to find out the magnitude of pesticide use in different vegetable crops. A total of 25-35 vegetable farmers were interrogated from each district using semi-structured questionnaires. Efforts were made to gather i...