Predatory beetle

Defensive Compounds. Clerid beetles such as Trichodes apiarius were found to contain considerable amounts of cantharidin 48, accompanied by small to minute amounts of palasonin 49 [ 122,265]. Previously, the latter has been known only from seeds and fruits of the Indian shrub, Butea frondosa (Leguminaceae). It is suggested that these predatory beetles feed on cantharidin producing oede-merid and meloid beetles, see below. Several clerid species are canthariphilous [266,267],... 

The insects attracted by flowers, and especially their eggs, grubs, and caterpillars, will in turn become food for birds, predatory beetles, parasitic wasps, voles, and amphibians. Many creatures regarded as garden pests are actually a valuable food source for other creatures. 

There are many other scolytid species that utilize these and similar compounds to effect intraspecific communication. Francke et al. (18) have discovered several spiroketals as active components of scolytid pheromones. Additionally, several parasites and predators utilize the pheromones produced by their scolytid prey as kairomones. For example, the predatory beetle, Temnochlla chlorodla, responds specifically to exo-brevicomin produced by female D. brevlcomls (19). This same phenomenon has been demonstrated recently in Lepidoptera the egg parasite Trlchogramma sp. uses the Hellothls zea (Boddie) sex pheromone to locate the H. zea eggs (20). 

Alfalfa Coooinellide (predatory beetles)UT,NY Davis,Gauthier... 

The most important useful species is the ladybird, but ground beetles, soft beetles, predatory beetles and rove beetles are also known enemies of pests. 

Control Catch adults on yellow sticky traps vacuum adults from leaves indoors, release Encarsia formoso parasitic wasps to control greenhouse whitefly outdoors, attract native parasitic wasps and predatory beetles spray with insecticidal soap, kinoprene (Fnstar), or garlic oil as a last resort, spray with pyrethrin. 

Scale predatory beetles Chilocorus nigrltus, Lindorus lophanthae Soft scales, especially soft brown scale. Minimum order of several hundred sufficient for a greenhouse confine 10-20 beetles for a month to an infested houseplant. Reliable, especially indoors. 

Pyridopyrazines. Bicyclic alkaloids from the spring-tail Tetrodontophora bielanensis (Collembola). The hemolymph and defensive secretion of this soil insect contains as main components 2,3-dimethoxypy-rido[2,3-bJpyrazine (formula I, C,H,N302, Mr 191.19, mp. 125°C ) and 3-isopwpyl-2-methoxypyrido[2,3-bjpyrazine (formula n, C,H,3N30, Mr 203.24, oil). Both compounds have strong repellent effects on predatory beetles. 

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