IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2022) 13-1

Research articleerd

Potential Use of Predatory Bug Eocanthecona furcellata for
Biological Control of Plutella xylostella in Chinese Kale
Production
JUREEPORN SUKHATIPHUM
National Biological Control Research Center (NBCRC), Upper North eastern Regional Center,
Khon Kaen University, Thailand

PANIDA KRUAYSAWATNational Biological Control Research Center (NBCRC), Upper North eastern Regional Center,
Khon Kaen University, Thailand

NUTCHAREE SIRI
National Biological Control Research Center (NBCRC), Upper North eastern Regional Center,
Khon Kaen University, Thailand

PRAKAIJAN NIMKINGRAT
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University,
ThailandUBON TANGKAWANIT*
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University,
Thailand
Email: ubonta@kku.ac.th
Received 30 December 2021

Accepted 2 May 2022(*Corresponding Author)

Abstract Predatory bug Eocanthecona furcellata was investigated for the potential ofbiological control agent to Plutella xylostella in the laboratory and greenhouse condition.
Predation rate of 3rd to 4th instar nymphs E. furcellata on 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar larvae P.
xylostella were studied in the laboratory. The results showed that predation rate of 4th and5th nymphal instars of E. furcellata were higher than 3rd instar. Feeding rate were greater
when they feed on 2nd and 3rd instar larvae than feed on 4th instar larvae of P. xylostella. The
efficiency of E. furcellata in controlling P. xylostella under greenhouse conditions wasconducted. When P. xylostella population reached to economic threshold (ET), 20 of E.
furcellata were released to chinese kale greenhouse (18 m3), Results showed that pest
population was reduced 10.32% after 5 days of release when compared to control.
Additionally, percentage of plant damage from released predatory bug greenhouse waslower than non-released greenhouse. Therefore, it is possible to release the predatory bug E.
furcellata in vegetable production as a biological control agent.
Keywords predation, biological control, diamondback moth

INTRODUCTION
Plutella xylostella (L.) is an important pest to Brassicaceae including Chinese kale (Brassicaoleracea var. alboglabra). The first instar larvae feed on mesophyll tissues inside the leaf, whereas,other instar larvae are surface feeders. They consume leaves, buds, flowers, siliques, and the green
outer layer of stems (Sarfraz et al., 2005). The damage varies, depending on plant growth stage,
plant varieties, larval densities and size. If larvae are numerous, they can consume the entire leaf
except the veins. P. xylostella has been a serious pest of vegetable crops for many decades. The
annual cost for its global control is estimated at US$ 4-5 billion per year (Zalucki et al., 2012). The
short generation time, high fecundity and broad host usage within Brassicaceae host plant of P.
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IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2022) 13-1xylostella are the important factors for insecticide resistance for example chlorantraniliprole,
Spinosad, chlorfenapyr and lufenuron, an insect growth regulator (IGR) (Arruda et al., 2020).
A method to delay the evolution of insecticide resistance is to integrate the use of control
methods such as chemical and biological controls (Mccord and Yu, 1987). Eocanthecona furcellata
Wolff (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a common predatory stink bug in Southeast Asia (Tuan et al.,2016). It has been mass-reared and used as a biological control agent in Thailand (Suasa-ard, 2010).
It has been reported for controlling many caterpillars worm such as Mythimna separata,
Helicoverpa armigera, and Heliothis assulta etc. Predation of E. furcellata gradually increased
from the 2nd instar to 5th instar nymph when fed on Maruca vitrata (Pillai and Agnihotri, 2013) andSpodoptera litura (Tuan et al., 2016). Even though, there are some studies of feeding efficiency
and utilization of E. furcellata for many insect pests, there are not many studies of E. furcellata fed
on P. xylostella. Tuan et al. (2016) revealed predation rate of each stage and life table of E.
furcellata when fed on 4th larval instar but not all stage. Therefore, this study revealed the predation
rate for 3rd -5th nymphal stages of E. furcellata when fed on 2nd-4th larval stages of P. xylostella forfinding suitable stages for biological control. Additionally, E. furcellata was evaluated for its
efficiency as a biological control agent in the greenhouse.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to examine predation rate of the E. furcellata in predation life
stages and to evaluate its efficiency as a biological control agent in the chinese kale greenhouse.
METHODOLOGY
Insect Rearing
Plutella xylostella was collected from chinese kale production area in Khon Kaen Province,Thailand. Thirty larvae were transferred in an aluminum cage (90x 60x 60 cm) with 15 days oldchinese kale in a pot inside the cage. The larvae were maintained in the cage until they became topupae. Pupae were transferred to the mating cage (10 cm in diameter and 10 cm in height). Newly
emerged adults were provided with cotton balls soaked with 20% honey water as food source.
Shredded of chinese kale leaves was used as the substrate for oviposition by the diamondback mothand the F3 was then used in the experiment. E. furcellata were taken from a colony (10thgeneration) maintained at NBCRC, Upper Northeastern Regional Center. The experimental insect
was maintained in the laboratory at room temperature, 28 ± 5°C, relative humidity of 60 ± 10%.
BioassayLaboratory: The experiment was examined in the laboratory using Completely Randomized
Design (CRD) with 10 replications. A newly hatched of 3rd, 4th and 5th nymphs of E. furcellata weretest for predation rate. One of each nymph was transferred into a container (7x 9x 4 cm) withcotton balls soaked with water, and a chinese kale leaf. Second larval instar of P. xylostella (n = 20)
were provided daily as a food until predator change to a new nymphal stage. Then, the experiments
were repeated, 3rd and 4th instar larvae of P. xylostella were provided instead as a pray. Predation
rate were recorded every day until E. furcellata change to new nymphal stage. The data werestatistically analyzed using Statistix 10 (Analytical software, 2013) and treatments were comparedusing Tukey's HSD test (P < 0.05).
Greenhouse: The experiment was examined in the 8 chinese kale greenhouses (18 m3) at NBCRC.
Forty pots of chinese kale were use as the experimental units for each greenhouse. The populationof P. xylostella was artificial infestation by releasing a cluster of eggs/pot when plants were 30 days
old. After eggs hatched to the larvae, the population were recorded. When the population reached tothe economic threshold level (ET) (1 larva/plant), Twenty of E. furcellata were released into theⒸ ISERD143

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2022) 13-1greenhouse. While, control greenhouse was not released. The experiment was studied with 4replications. The data were statistically analyzed using Paired sample t-test using Statistix 10(Analytical software, 2013). Percentage of leaf area damage was recorded in level of injury (0=nodamage, 1 = < 25% damage, 2 = 25-50% damage, 3 = 50-75% damage, 4 = >75% damage). The
percent reduction of P. xylostella was statistically calculated according to the equation ofHenderson and Tilton (1955).
(1)
Where, Ta = population of insect counts after treatment, Cb = population of untreated insect
count before treatment, Tb = population of insect counts before treatment, and Ca = population of
untreated insect count after treatment.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Prey consumption of E. furcellata fed on larvae of P. xylostella was significantly different. The
third nymphal instar of E. furcellata fed on 3rd and 4th instar larvae more than 2nd instar larvae,whereas, 4th and 5th nymphal instar of E. furcellata fed on younger more than the older prey (Table1). Predation rate of E. furcellata may involve with a prey species. Tiwari et al. (2017) revealed
that when E. furcellata fed on S. litura, and M. vitrata, predation rate of prey consumed slightly
increased with increasing prey stage. However, when E. furcellata fed on Spilarctia obliqua and S.
frugiperda predation rate of prey consume decreased with increasing prey size (Kumar et al., 2001;Keerthi et al., 2020). Rani and Wakamura 1993 suggested that physical stimuli such as host shapeor movement had no influence on acceptability of the prey to E. furcellata.
Table 1 Prey consumption of different stages of Eocanthecona furcellata fed
on larvae of Plutella xylostella
P. xylostella 1/Treatment
E. furcellata

2nd instar

3rd instar

4th instar

3rd nymph
4th nymph
5th nymph
F-testCV (%)

28±0.50 B
71±5.91 A
71±2.65 A**
24.33

65±4.50 A
79±4.72 A
60±5.35 AB**
30.2850±1.91 A
24±0.82 B
38±2.08 B*
26.08

1/Within each column, mean±SD followed by the same capital letter indicate

no significantly different (P>0.05)

However, Kumar et al. (2001) revealed that visualization of the predator and movement of
prey increases the predation rate. In this case, the active movement of 2 nd and 3rd instar larvae of P.
xylostella may be a factor of high predation rate of 4th and 5th nymphal stage of predator. Contrast
to 4th and 5th nymphal stage, 3rd nymphal stage may difficult to handle the active prey movement.
The results of laboratory experiment for predation of E. furcellata lead to a decision to releaserd3 nymphal stage of E. furcellata as a biological control in chinese kale greenhouse. Twenty of 3rdnymphal stage in a bio-product were released into the greenhouse after diamond back moth reachto 1 larva/plant. The results revealed that the number of P. xylostella was not significant different
between treatment and control (Table 2). However, population of P. xylostella was reduced at 3days after E. furcellata released. The percent reduction of P. xylostella at 3-5 day after predator
released were 10.32, 21.79 and 18.06%, respectively. During 1-2 days after predator released thepopulation in treatment was not reduced. At that period, most of P. xylostella was 2nd instar which
was not suitable for the predator stage. Two day later, most of pest population was 3rd instar, andpredator was changing nymphal stage from 3rd to 4th nymph. Then the population was reduced(Percent reduction was higher). Therefore, in case of a serious outbreak, 4 th nymphal stage may useⒸ ISERD144IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2022) 13-1

instead. Level of chinese kale leaf damage in control greenhouse increased from level 1 to level 3,whereas, level of chinese kale leaf damage in control greenhouse was level 1 and level 2.
However, applying in open field condition may have some factors such as temperature,various pests, other natural enemies and chemical insecticide which involving the efficiency ofpredator.
Table 2 Number of Plutella xylostella in chinese kale greenhouse and level of leave damage
with released and non-released Eocanthecona furcellata as a biological control
agent, and percentage reduction.
Plant age(day)

non-released
Insect/plant362/
37383940412.32±1.15a1/
2.21±1.12a
2.17±1.09a
2.12±1.04a
2.06±1.00a
1.75±1.00a

Level of leavedamage111223

released
Insect/plant
1.44±0.15a
1.42±0.14a
1.40±0.15a
1.18±0.18a
1.00±0.26a
0.89±0.24a

Reduction (%)

Level of leavedamage
111
1
1
2

na
-3.52
-3.94
10.32
21.79
18.06

1/Within each row, mean±SD followed by the same small letter indicate no significantly different (P>0.05)
2/ Eocanthecona furcellata was released into the greenhouse.

CONCLUSION
E. furcellata is an effective predator of P. xylostella, the third nymphal stage consumed 3rd and 4thlarval instar than 2nd instar. In contrast, 4th and 5th nymphal stage consumed 2nd and 3rd instar morethan 4th instar. E. furcellata is an alternative biological control agent in chinese kale green house. It
can reduce pest population and level of leaf damage.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was funded by National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). We are grateful to theNational Biological Control Research Center (NBCRC), Upper North-Eastern Regional Center,
Thailand for the experimental area and supplying specimen of E. furcellata.
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