Evaluation of Trichogramma cacaeciae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and Blattisocius mali (Mesostigmata: Blattisociidae) in the Post-Harvest Biological Control of the Potato Tuber Moth (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae): Use of Sigmoid Functions

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Solano-Rojas et al., in their article “Evaluation of Trichogramma cacaeciae (Hymenoptera:

Trichogrammatidae) and Blattisocius mali (Mesostigmata: Blat-tisociidae) in the post-harvest biological control of the potato tuber moth (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae): Use of sigmoid functions” explored biological control of potato pests using an antagonistic mite and parasitoid. Biological control is considered as safe approach and lesser chances of developing resistance. The work presented in this article is well designed, excused and presented. All the sections are very clearly described. However, there few minor “typos” and “adjustments” needed for be fixed.

1. Line 27, delete space after “discusses” and before “a new”
2. Line 27-28, rewrite this sentence to correct grammatical form
3. Line 63, delete “but”
4. Line 72, replace full stop “.” with question mark “?”
5. Line 115, replace “in turn, another” with “and”
6. Line 127, delete “in turn”
7. Line 169-170, shift this sentence “The environmental values during the test were 22.7±4.0 oC and 52.2±14% RH with diffuse illumination” to line 112.
8. Why authors carried out this experiment for 49 days?
9. Line 223-226, shift the Figure title below the Figure
10. Line 289, “I” of the “Introduction” will not be capitalized.
11. Line 307 and Line 313, replace “is like that” with “similar to” or “in line with"

Author Response

Thank you for your review work, we consider your contributions very valuable. The changes that have been made, according to your suggestions, are listed below.

1. Line 27, delete space after “discusses” and before “a new”. DONE

2. Line 27-28, rewrite this sentence to correct grammatical form. DONE

3. Line 63, delete “but”. DONE

4. Line 72, replace full stop “.” with question mark “?”. DONE

5. Line 115, replace “in turn, another” with “and”. DONE

6. Line 127, delete “in turn”. DONE

7. Line 169-170, shift this sentence “The environmental values during the test were 22.7±4.0 ^oC and 52.2±14% RH with diffuse illumination” to line 112. DONE

8. Why authors carried out this experiment for 49 days? ANSWER: Because of pandemic restrictions, we had to terminate the trial. Nevertheless, the time was enough for one generation of PTM. Of course, it would have been interesting, to have a second generation, especially for the predatory mite. This was our original idea, but it was not possible.

9. Line 223-226, shift the Figure title below the Figure. DONE

10. Line 289, “I” of the “Introduction” will not be capitalized. DONE

11. Line 307 and Line 313, replace “is like that” with “similar to” or “in line with". DONE

Reviewer 2 Report

The  potato tuber moth is  an important pest of potato, it is good to evelate the biological control efficacay of natural enemies insects against this pest. The authors assessed the control efficacay  of Trichogramma cacaeciae and Blattisocius mali  in lab using sigmoid functions . Although the manuscript was generally good prepared, the manuscript needs to be improved.

1.Line 32-92  there are 9 paragrphs for the introduction, perhaps it needs to be  comiled in briefly.

2.Line 105-108  I wonder if those released 15 PTM adults were kept in the cylindrical  plastic container throughout the test process, or they were put away 3 or 4 days after the release.

3.Line 110  216 adult predator mites  were released per container, why?

Author Response

Thank you for your review work, we consider your contributions very valuable. The changes that have been made, according to your suggestions, are listed below.

1. Line 32-92, there are 9 paragrphs for the introduction, perhaps it needs to be comiled inbriefly. ANSWER: Thank you very much for your proposal. Nevertheless, we consider that it is quite summarized. Indeed, we had to introduce the characteristics of the pest species and the two entomophagous used; as well as we needed to recall the evaluation methods of efficiency of the entomophagous.

2. Line 105-108, I wonder if those released 15 PTM adults were kept in the cylindrical plastic container throughout the test process, or they were put away 3 or 4 days after the release. ANSWER: Yes, they were put out, but after 15 days, when the adult PTMs died and there were no problems of escape of the parasitoid adults.

3. Line 110-216, adult predator mites were released per container, why? ANSWER: We consider that it would be the most suitable stage for release. In all previous work we have always used adults. Indeed, at commercial level, releases are carried out with larvae, nymphs and adults.

Reviewer 3 Report

Materials and Methods

    The ages of the potato tuber moth, the parasitoid, and the mite should be added.

Discussions

    The reason of the different percentages of parasitization should be explained.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Thank you for your review work, we consider your contributions very valuable. The changes that have been made, according to your suggestions, are listed below.

The ages of the potato tuber moth, the parasitoid, and the mite should be added.

Discussions

The reason of the different percentages of parasitization should be explained.

DONE. New lines 105-109: "two days old".