Lantero, E., Ortega, M., Sánchez-Ramos, I., González-Núñez, M., Fernández, C.E., Rescia, A.J., Matallanas, B., Callejas, C., Pascual, S.

Effect of local and landscape factors on abundance of ground beetles and assessment of their role as biocontrol agents in the olive growing area of southeastern Madrid, Spain

BioControl, 64 (6), pp. 685-696.

DOI: 10.1007/s10526-019-09974-w

RESUMEN

Designing biological control strategies for the harmful olive fruit fly pest (Bactrocera oleae, Rossi) by predators, requires the study of their biology and effectiveness. We have studied the relationship between ground beetle activity density and local (soil condition) and landscape factors in the olive area of southeastern Madrid. The efficiency of the most abundant species, Orthomus barbarous (Dejean) (Coleoptera: Carabidae) was analysed by functional response experiments. Also, this species was described by molecular methods through barcoding. The two dominant species, O. barbarus and Pterostichus globosus (Fabricius) showed different responses to landscape structure, but soil condition was more relevant than landscape structure for both species, and for activity density of ground beetles as a whole. P. globosus is more efficient than O. barbarus, and it is possible that in the study area other taxa are relevant as B. oleae predators.