Parasitoid Beetles

Biological control involved using known predators, parasitoids and pathogens of the powder-post beetles. Predators kill and consume their host immediately, whereas parasitoids lay their eggs inside the host that will slowly be eaten internally by the growing larvae. For Dinoderus minutus, known predators include Teretriosoma nigrescens (Coleoptera: Histeridae) that has also been reported to successfully suppressed other stored-product pests (Pöschko, 1994). The braconid wasp, Doryctus jarbus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was reported as parasitoid of eggs and larvae of D. minutus. Several species of chalcid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) were listed parasitizing Sinoxylon anale (Gumovsky, 2010). Despite the potential of using biocontrols for suppressing bostrichid beetles population, limiting factors such as the possible risk of the exotic biocontrol agents on the endemic, non-target species and the optimum condition for successful mass breeding at the introduced environment continue to hamper biocontrol application. Entomopathogenic fungi have been known to severely infect insect pests. The fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) is virulence on a broad range of insect hosts. Over 200 …show more content…
In absence of its natural predators, these species thrived, causing substantial damages and economical loss to human. Understanding the biological and ecological requirements will help in managing the exotic powder-post beetles. Heavy reliance on toxic chemicals for control of these pests will no longer be applicable. The phasing out of methyl bromide and absence of effective alternatives still remain as one of the main challenges in finding suitable remedial method for controlling powder-post beetles. Preventive methods still remain as the best way to control the powder-post beetle population below the economic threshold