Perillus bioculatus (Pentatomidae) as a Potential Biological Agentin the Control of the Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB) (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)

In the agricultural production, Perillus bioculatus is used as a biological control agent in an attempt to control the Colorado potato beetle (CPB; Leptinotarsa decemlineata), the most important potato pest. The utilization of this predator decreases the application of chemical insecticides, which is particularly significant due to the beetle’s resistance to insecticides and its sustainability in potato production. Although the initial attempts to introduce the P. bioculatus to Europe were unsuccessful, in recent years the expansion of this species has been recorded in several European countries. Perillus bioculatus feeds on the eggs, larvae, and adults of the CPB and, if the CPB is not represented in the field, it feeds on other pests, mainly from the Chrysomelidae and Coccinellidae families. Despite a fact that P. bioculatus is effective in controlling the CPB, there are a number of challenges to a successful control of the beetle, such as the reduction of the P. bioculatus population due to the attacks by the parasitic wasps on their eggs, unsynchronized occurrences with the CPB, or a negative impact of chemical insecticides that can completely destroy a population. Therefore, it is significant to develop the integrated crop-protection strategies that include the biological control agents in order to reduce a negative impact of insecticides on the environment and human health.