Effects of UV-LED lighting on the life history characteristics of the natural enemy Nesidiocoris tenuis and the pest Bemisia tabaci: mechanisms of optical manipulation for enhancing pest management

• Published in: Biocontrol science and technology Vol. 35; no. 9; pp. 987 - 1002
• Main Authors: Park, Young-gyun, Lee, Joon-Ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 02.09.2025; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Age-stage, two-sex life table; Agricultural land; Aleyrodidae; Bemisia tabaci; Biological control; fertility life table; Insect migration; Insects; Life history; Light emitting diodes; Lighting; Miridae; Natural enemies; Nesidiocoris tenuis; Offspring; Pest control; Pests; phototaxis; Population dynamics; Predators; Sex; Sex ratio
• ISSN: 0958-3157; 1360-0478
• DOI: 10.1080/09583157.2025.2533833

In Korea and Japan, a strategy has recently been proposed to use UV (ultraviolet) or near-UV LED lights to enhance the establishment of natural enemies in agricultural lands. To determine the mechanism behind this use of light from the perspective of population dynamics, we examined the effects of UV-LED lighting on the life history characteristics of the predator Nesidiocoris tenuis and its prey Bemisia tabaci, as well as the sex ratio and survival rate of the next generation. We used two different life table analysis methods, depending on the data source, to compare changes to the life history characteristics of the two study insects. In the UV-LED lighting treatment, the preoviposition period of N. tenuis doubled, and the female sex ratio of the offspring (F1) generation of B. tabaci decreased by 25 percent compared to the control. Overall, the UV-LED lighting tested had a negative impact on the reproduction of both of the test insects. However, it seems that these negative effects on reproduction would likely be outweighed by the positive effect of UV-LED lighting (from an IPM perspective) on insect movement and migration reported in earlier studies. Since these characteristics do not exclusively affect predators and can also influence population dynamics of pests through similar mechanisms, it is necessary to maintain a favourable environment for the predators and devise means to reduce the inflow of pests when using this strategy to enhance biological control efficiency.