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​Entomolo​gy​

​Entomolo​gy​

Our work focuses on the development of arthropod pest control tools that are effective, environmentally friendly, and respectful for the natural enemies and pollinators. We also study entomological biodiversity in different agroecosystems and the effect of environmental factors on the biology of arthropods.

Grupo de investigación dependiente del

Crop Protection

Crops suffer significant economic losses due to insect and mite pests. After many decades in which its control has been based on the use of chemical insecticides and acaricides, concern about its side effects makes it necessary to promote a more sustainable control, focused on the use of environmentally friendly tools

In this context, the main lines of research of our group are:

  • Efficacy of pest control methods
  • Undesired side effects on natural enemies and pollinators
  • Entomological biodiversity in Mediterranean agroecosystems
  • Effect of environmental conditions on the biology of pest arthropods and their natural enemies
  • Effect of the landscape structure on pests, their natural enemies and biological control

​Investigation

The effect of temperature on the biology of a Spanish population of D. suzukii has been studied, applying mathematical models to describe the patterns obtained.

The results obtained constitute essential information to be included in demographic models that predict the population dynamics of this pest:

  • The lower and upper thermal thresholds to complete the development, estimated by the mortality model, were 8.7 and 30.9ºC.
  • The longest development duration was 65.6 days at 10ºC and the shortest, 9.5 days at 28ºC.
  • The lower and upper thresholds of development predicted were 2.0-4.7ºC and 34.0-34.9ºC, determining the range of temperatures at which a fraction of development can be completed if the exposure period is not lethal.
  • Total and daily fecundity were maximum at 22ºC (341 eggs / female and 12 eggs / female / day).
  • The lower and upper thresholds for the population increase were estimated at 9.8 and 30.6ºC, determining a wider range than that previously mentioned for this species.
  • The optimum temperature predicted for the population increase was 25.3ºC.

Effect of landscape structure on pests and beneficial arthropods of the olive grove

The environment in which arthropods develop their activity is not restricted to the agricultural plot, therefore the structure of the surrounding landscape is key to understanding different processes of the agroecosystem, such as the development of pests and their biological control. Our results indicate that:

  • A complex landscape, with a high diversity of land uses and wild elements, is related to lower populations of the olive fly, Bactrocera oleae, and the olive moth Prays oleae.
  • There is a direct effect of the landscape on the olive fly, related to the abundance of its nutritious plant, the olive grove, which conditions the population of the insect, its movement and the damage caused to the crop.
  • The landscape indirectly affects the olive fly through its effect on the populations of potential soil-dwelling predators.
  • Landscape complexity affects also other important arthropods of the agroecosystem that are natural enemies of pests and pollinators, such as green lacewings, hover flies, or bees.

    Study of predation in the olive grove agroecosystem

    Predation is a natural process that contributes to the biological control of pests. We have studied the predation of B. oleae in relation to the landscape and the importance of different arthropods as potential predators of pests through molecular methods and functional response studies:

  • Predation of the olive fly by soil-dwelling arthropods is greater in complex landscapes, with olive groves surrounded by abundant Mediterranean scrub, although local factors, such as intensity of tilling, are those that affect predation largely.
  • Specific markers have been designed to detect the presence of DNA from B. oleae and Philaenus spumarius (vector of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa) in the gut of potential generalist predators.
  • In the case of the olive fly, the application of molecular markers points to spiders and earwigs as important predators of B. oleae.
  • Among the species of carabid beetles that inhabit the soil, Pterostichus globosus is a more voracious predator of B. oleae than the most abundant species in the olive groves of Madrid, Orthomus barbarus.​

Miembros

Coordinador de Grupo

  • Manuel González
    Evaluación en campo de distintas estrategias de control de la mosca del olivo y su efecto sobre los enemigos naturales
    2004 - 2007 | AGL2004-07516-C02-02
  • Ignacio Armendáriz
    Desarrollo de estudios básicos y métodos para el control integrado de Xylotrechus arvicola (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) en vid
    2004 - 2007 | RTA04-117-C2
  • Susana Pascual
    Red ibérica de evaluación de eficacia y efectos secundarios de tratamientos para el control de plagas en el olivar
    2009 - 1899 | AC2009-00045-00-00
  • Susana Pascual
    RIESPO: Red ibérica de evaluación de eficacia y efectos secundarios de tratamientos para el control de plagas en el olivar
    2010 - 1899 | AC2010-00051-00-00
  • Manuel González
    Desarrollo y evaluación en campo de nuevos métodos de control de la mosca del olivo más respetuosos con el medio ambiente
    2008 - 2010 | AGL2007-66130-C03-01/AGR
  • Manuel González
    Investigación de métodos el control del “tigre del almendro” (Monosteira unicostata (Mulsant &Rey)) compatibles con la agricultura ecológica. MAPAMA.
    2008 - 2011 | AEG08-021-C4-2
  • Manuel González
    Investigación de métodos compatibles con la agricultura ecológica para el control del “gusano cabezudo” (Capnodis tenebrionis (Linnaeus 1758)).”. MAPAMA.
    2008 - 2011 | AEG08-021-C4-1
  • María Dolores Ochando
    Análisis de la estructura genética de poblaciones de insectos plaga mediante herramientas moleculares y efectos de la composición y configuración del paisaje. Aplicación a Bactrocera oleae.
    2011 - 2014 | AGL2010-15
  • Manuel González
    Evaluación en campo de un sistema de captura masiva de la mosca de la cereza (Rhagoletis cerasi). BAYER CROPSCIENCE S.L.
    2017 - 1899 | CON17-046
  • Danilo Vera
    Etiología de la “Muerte Regresiva” en teca en Ecuador y rol de insectos en su dispersión. Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID).
    2018 - 2019 | AECID382243
  • Antonieta de Cal
    Análisis molecular y estudio de la diversidad genética de microorganismos asociados con la muerte regresiva en teca acorde al convenio INIAP-AECID.
    2019 - 2020 | CON19‐255
  • José Luis Alonso
    Disponibilidad de fitosanitarios y estrategias de control integrado en cerezo. Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación.
    2021 - 1899 | GO 3122
  • Mejora de la protección del cultivo del olivo frente a plagas. Servicios ecosistémicos, resiliencia espacial y genética del paisaje
    2019 - 2021 | PR87/19-22645
  • Manuel González
    Mejoras agronómicas para el cultivo del cerezo en la zona norte de Cáceres. INIA y Junta de Extremadura.
    2015 - 2018 | CC13-047
  • AMIGA: Assessing and monitoring impacts of genetically modified plants on agro-ecosystems EU
    2011 - 2016 | 289706 SPI Cooperation
  • IPM Strategies against Drosophila suzukii
    2014 - 2016 | 266505 FP7-ERANET EUPHRESCO II
  • Susana Pascual
    Control biológico de conservación de la mosca del olivo, Bactrocera oleae: Efecto de la estructura del paisaje e importancia de la depredación.
    2014 - 2018 | RTA2013-00039-C03-03
  • Impacto de contaminantes sobre la abundancia y diversidad de polinizadores silvestres y abejas melíferas. Evaluación de efectos sobre el sistema inmunitario y reproductivo.
    2014 - 2019 | RTA2013-00042-C10-01
  • Andrea Carolina Wanumen Riaño
    Evaluación del riesgo ecológico de insecticidas utilizados contra plagas hortícolas en el agente de control biológico Nesidicoris tenuis Reuter (Heteroptera: Miridae) (08-07-2016)
    Dirección: Ángeles Adán del Río e Ismael Ignacio Sánchez Ramos | Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos)
  • Elena Seris Barrallo
    Estudio de trampas y atrayentes para la mejora de la selectividad del trampeo masivo de Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae) (2011)
    Dirección: Manuel González Núñez | Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos)

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