Journal
BIOCONTROL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Volume 28, Issue 4, Pages 317-331Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/09583157.2018.1447084
Keywords
Pine processionary moth; entomopathogenic fungi; Metarhizium brunneum; ovicidal activity; larval mortality; egg masses
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Funding
- Suleyman Demirel University (Department of Scientific Research Projects Management) [4637-YL1-16]
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs
- Economic and Social Research Council
- Forestry Commission
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Scottish Government under the Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Initiative
- Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), University of Lisbon [UID/AGR/00239/2013]
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council [BB/L012472/1] Funding Source: researchfish
- BBSRC [BB/L012472/1] Funding Source: UKRI
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Bioassays were conducted to determine the susceptibility of egg masses and young larvae of two pine processionary moth species, Thaumetopoea pityocampa and Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni, to two strains (ARSEF4556, V275) of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum. Mortality of treated eggs by both strains ranged from 96% to 99% but not all of this was caused by M.brunneum since control groups also experienced egg mortality due to saprophytic fungi. Still, larvae hatched in the laboratory from eggs treated with M.brunneum were all killed by this fungus, acquiring M.brunneum conidia, whereas larval mortality was 0% in the control groups. Young larvae of both pine processionary moth species were also highly susceptible to ARSEF4556 and V275 with larval mortality ranging between 94% and 100%, 8 days post-inoculation, with the vast majority of larvae being killed within the first 2-4 days. Larval mortality was dose dependent. Results were consistent across the two pine processionary moth species, showing that the pathogenicity of M.brunneum to both eggs and young larvae might be promising for biological control of these insect pests. The study also showed that non-target parasitoids of pine processionary moth eggs were also susceptible to M.brunneum. Further work is required to understand and reduce the M.brunneum effect on non-target insects.
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