TY - JOUR
T1 - Predicting the potential geographical distribution of parasitic natural enemies of the Dubas bug (Ommatissus lybicus de Bergevin) using geographic information systems
AU - Al-Kindi, Khalifa M.
AU - Al-Wahaibi, Ali K.
AU - Kwan, Paul
AU - Andrew, Nigel R.
AU - Welch, Mitchell
AU - Al-Oufi, Mohammed
AU - Al-Hinai, Zakariya
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Authors.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - The Dubas bug (Ommatissus lybicus de Bergevin) is a pest species whose entire lifecycle occurs on date palms, Phoenix dactylifera L, causing serious damage and reducing date palm growth and yield. Pseudoligosita babylonica Viggiani, Aprostocetus nr.Beatus, and Bocchus hyalinus Olmi are very important parasitic natural enemies ofOmmatissus lybicus in northern Oman. In this study, random farms were selected to(a) model the link between occurrences of the Pseudoligosita babylonica, Aprostocetusnr beatus, and Bocchus hyalinus (dependent variables) with environmental, climatological, and Dubas bug infestation levels (the independent variables), and (b) producedistribution and predictive maps of these natural enemies in northern Oman. Themultiple R2 values showed the model explained 63%, 89%, and 94% of the presenceof P. babylonica, A. nr beatus, and Bocchus hyalinus, respectively. However, the distribution of each species appears to be influenced by distinct and geographically associated climatological and environmental factors, as well as habitat characteristics.This study reveals that spatial analysis and modeling can be highly useful for studyingthe distribution, the presence or absence of Dubas bugs, and their natural enemies.It is anticipated to help contribute to the reduction in the extent and costs of aerialand ground insecticidal spraying needed in date palm plantations.
AB - The Dubas bug (Ommatissus lybicus de Bergevin) is a pest species whose entire lifecycle occurs on date palms, Phoenix dactylifera L, causing serious damage and reducing date palm growth and yield. Pseudoligosita babylonica Viggiani, Aprostocetus nr.Beatus, and Bocchus hyalinus Olmi are very important parasitic natural enemies ofOmmatissus lybicus in northern Oman. In this study, random farms were selected to(a) model the link between occurrences of the Pseudoligosita babylonica, Aprostocetusnr beatus, and Bocchus hyalinus (dependent variables) with environmental, climatological, and Dubas bug infestation levels (the independent variables), and (b) producedistribution and predictive maps of these natural enemies in northern Oman. Themultiple R2 values showed the model explained 63%, 89%, and 94% of the presenceof P. babylonica, A. nr beatus, and Bocchus hyalinus, respectively. However, the distribution of each species appears to be influenced by distinct and geographically associated climatological and environmental factors, as well as habitat characteristics.This study reveals that spatial analysis and modeling can be highly useful for studyingthe distribution, the presence or absence of Dubas bugs, and their natural enemies.It is anticipated to help contribute to the reduction in the extent and costs of aerialand ground insecticidal spraying needed in date palm plantations.
KW - Aprostocetus nr. beatus
KW - Bocchus hyalinus
KW - Dubas bug
KW - GIS
KW - Natural enemies
KW - Pseudoligositababylonica
KW - Spatial statistical analysis
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U2 - 10.1002/ece3.4286
DO - 10.1002/ece3.4286
M3 - Article
C2 - 30250704
AN - SCOPUS:85054857043
SN - 2045-7758
VL - 8
SP - 8297
EP - 8310
JO - Ecology and Evolution
JF - Ecology and Evolution
IS - 16
ER -