Vibrations as a new tool for pest management – a review

Abstract

Sensory stimuli are essential for arthropod survival and reproduction. Given the widespread use of vibrational communication among diverse taxa, exploiting vibrational senses has great potential for successful pest management. In this review, we summarize our recent findings on vibration-based pest management and future perspectives in the context of integrated pest management. We first examine the management of whiteflies – the tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) – in various facilities where tomatoes are cultivated. We then explore the recent application of vibration for the control of fungus gnats of the genus Neoempheria (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) infesting shiitake mushrooms. Finally, we discuss the control of the brown-winged green stink bug, Plautia stali Scott (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), a pest of fruit trees in Japan. Notably, our trials have demonstrated that vibrational treatments are profitable not only for reducing pest populations but also for indirect benefits such as increased crop yields or the enhancement of pest control effectiveness.