Who is eating the Dubas Bug? characterization of biological control through molecular gut analysis.

In this unique multi-faceted project, molecular, ecological and laboratory approaches will be integrated to comprehensively study the complexity of food web interactions in date palm plantations in the Sultanate of Oman. Through these approaches, addressed over spatial and temporal scales, the natural predator community associated with a major pest of this crop, the dubas bug, Ommatissus lybicus, will be identified. Unfortunately, we currently lack knowledge of the role that predators play in biological control of the dubas bug in Oman. The proposed research attempts to breach this barrier. The central premise of the research is that the date palm agroecosystem can be simplified into small sets of distinct primary and secondary interaction pathways. Four specific research objectives are included in this project: (i) development of a molecular framework to examine feeding relations of predators (with regard to feeding on dubas bug) in date palm agroecosystems; (ii) examine the population dynamics of predators, pests and non-pest food resources in date palm plantations; (iii) correlate predation rates with prey availability to delineate food preferences and characterize the key players in dubas bug biological control; and (iv) use cage experiments to further examine the capacity for predators to limit dubas bug populations. Ultimately, results and biological control recommendations will be disseminated through an innovative outreach program that will demonstrate hands-on learning and in-field demonstration, in addition to innovative web, instruction and publication outlets.