Network Modeling for Post-Entry Management of Invasive Pest Species in the Philippines: The Case of the Colorado Potato Beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say, 1824) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Simple Summary: Crop switching is an important climate change adaptation strategy. New crops may need to be cultivated to provide food security as traditional staple crops become less suited to the changing climate in the bread baskets of many countries. For example, potato farming in the Philippines is being scaled up to supplement the cultivation of rice to meet the needs of a growing population. Since new crops introduced for this purpose can also be vulnerable to invasive pests, it is necessary to develop methods for planning pest management strategies that consider the complex interactions that can occur in farm ecosystems. In this paper, we develop a graph theoretic model for assessing pest management options for the prospective case of the entry of the Colorado potato beetle in potato farms in the Philippines. Two biological control agents and use of chemical pesticides are considered as alternative strategies. The model results indicate that the biological control strategies outperform the use of chemical pesticides. The concurrent use of both biological control agents could be less effective due to competition between the two species. Crop shifting is considered as an important strategy to secure future food supply in the face of climate change. However, use of this adaptation strategy needs to consider the risk posed by changes in the geographic range of pests that feed on selected crops. Failure to account for this threat can lead to disastrous results. Models can be used to give insights on how best to manage these risks. In this paper, the socioecological process graph technique is used to develop a network model of interactions among crops, invasive pests, and biological control agents. The model is applied to a prospective analysis of the potential entry of the Colorado potato beetle into the Philippines just as efforts are being made to scale up potato cultivation as a food security measure. The modeling scenarios indicate the existence of alternative viable pest control strategies based on the use of biological control agents. Insights drawn from the model can be used as the basis to ecologically engineer agricultural systems that are resistant to pests.

Automated summary

Crop switching is an important strategy to address climate change, but it is necessary to consider pest management when introducing new crops. Potato farming in the Philippines is being scaled up to meet the needs of a growing population. In this paper, a graph theoretic model is developed to assess pest management options for the potential entry of the Colorado potato beetle in potato farms in the Philippines. The use of biological control agents outperforms chemical pesticides, but the concurrent use of both agents may be less effective.