On Fuzzy Control of Soybean Aphid

Abstract

This paper uses a methodology based in Fuzzy Sets Theory in order to describe the interaction between the prey, Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae)—the soybean aphid, and its predator, Orius insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and to propose a biological control to soybean aphid. Economic thresholds were already developed for this pest. The model includes biotic (predator) and abiotic (temperature) factors, which affect the soybean aphid population dynamics. The dynamic model results in a fuzzy model that preserves the biological meaning and nature of the predator-prey model. The paper also includes a comparison between the fuzzy model and real data reported in the literature. Subsequently, we propose a biological control to soybean aphid by another fuzzy rule-based system. This model has allowed to predict timing and releasing number of predators for soybean aphid biological control. On the one hand, the soybean aphid has still not found in Brazil. Therefore, before any eventual invasion, a predictive model to enhance biological control program is desirable. On the other hand, the soybean aphid has become the most devastating insect pest of soybeans in the United States. Brazil is the second largest exporter of soybean at present, after the USA and before Argentina. According to the Bureau of Agriculture of the USA, it has been estimated that Brazil will be the largest soybean exporter in 2023.