Over the last few decades, important advances have been made in our understanding of host-parasitoid relations and their applications to biological pest control. Not only has the number of agent species increased, but new manipulation techniques for natural enemies have also been empirically introduced, particularly in greenhouse crops. This makes biocontrol more complex, requiring a new mathematical modelling approach appropriate for the optimization of the release of agents. We developed a temperature- and stage-dependent dynamic mathematical model of the host-parasitoid system with an improved functional response. The model is appropriate not only for simulation analysis of the efficiency of biocontrol agents, but also for the application of optimal control methodology for the optimal timing of agent releases, and for the consideration of economic implications. Based on both laboratory and greenhouse trials, the model was validated and fitted to the data of Chelonus oculator (F.) (Hym.: Braconidae), a biological control agent against the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua Hübner (Lep.: Noctuidae). We emphasize that this model can be easily adapted to other interacting species involved in biological or integrated pest control with either parasitoid or predator agents.
1_HostLabDevelopment
Data for evaluation of biological parameters of the host species Spodoptera exigua: (a) laboratory trial, developmental time. MS Excel 2007 File (read only). Data include temperature (º C), egg, I-instar, II-instar, III-instar, IV-instar, V-instar, VI-instar, total larvae, and pupae development (in days).
2_HostLabAdults
Data for evaluation of biological parameters of the host species Spodoptera exigua: (a) laboratory trial, longevity and fecundity of adults. MS Excel 2007 File (read only). Data include temperature (º C), female fecundity (no. eggs/female), female and male longevity (in days).
3_ParasitoidDevelopment
Data for evaluation of biological parameters of the parasitoid species Chelonus oculator: (a) Laboratory trial, developmental time. MS Excel 2007 File (read only). Data include temperature (º C), time inside of host, outside of host, pupa, and total immature (in days).
4_ParasitoidLong
Data for evaluation of biological parameters of the parasitoid species Chelonus oculator: (a) Laboratory trial, longevity of adults. MS Excel 2007 File (read only). Data include temperature (º C), sex, and longevity (in days).
5_ParasitoidFecundity
Data for evaluation of biological parameters of the parasitoid species Chelonus oculator: (a) Laboratory trial, fecundity of adults. MS Excel 2007 File (read only). Data include temperature (º C), and fecundity (no. eggs/female).
6_HostTransition
Data for host transition, Spodoptera exigua, found at the corresponding stages in greenhouse pepper crop. MS Excel 2007 File (read only). Data include cage number, accumulated degree-days (º C x day), number of eggs, I-instar, II-instar, III-instar, IV-instar, V-instar, total larvae, number of pupae, and adults (no. individuals / cage).
7_ParasitoidTransition
Data for parasitoid transition, Chelonus oculator, found at the corresponding stages in laboratory trials. MS Excel 2007 File (read only). Data include accumulated degree-days (º C x day), number inside host, number outside host+pupa, and total immatures.
8_FunctionalResponse
Data for the evaluation of functional response of the parasitoid species Chelonus oculator: (b) greenhouse trial. MS Excel 2007 File (read only). Data include host densities (X) (no. eggs/patch), parasitoid densities (Y) (female adults/m2), and parasitized host (Xa) (replications 1 to 12) (parasitized egg/patch).
9_ModelValidation
Data for model validation. MS Excel 2007 File (read only). Data include time (in days), real parasitoid immature number, and model parasitoid inmature number (no./100 m2 of greenhouse crop).
10_Simulation
Values of simulation results for the development of different stages of host Spodoptera exigua, when it is supposed that, from day 30 till day 60, entrance of host adults to the greenhouse takes place at a rate of 50 adults per day, and parasitoid Chelonus oculator, when releases of parasitoid adults (600 adults/100 m2, with sex ratio 1:1) on days 32 and 38 were considered in the greenhouse. MS Excel 2007 File (read only). Data include time (in days), host egg, host larvae, host pupae, host adults, parasitoid eggs, parasitoid larvae+pupae, and parasitoid adults (No./100 m2 of greenhouse crop).