Applying local entomopathogenic fungi strains to the soil can control Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) Wiedemann adults

Abstract

Ceratitis capitata causes direct and indirect damage to fruit production worldwide, reducing productivity and increasing costs. Currently, there is no effective control strategy for fruit fly pupae in the soil. We selected virulent local entomopathogenic fungi (EF) strains for application against pupae of C. capitata and evaluated their effects on the postemergence survival of adults in laboratory conditions. A cage was designed to study mortality in apparently healthy C. capitata adults that emerged from soils previously treated with EF conidia. This approach allowed the selection of four strains of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) and two strains of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) that were virulent to C. capitata pupae. The application of B. bassiana strains LCB53 and LCB289 caused 44.4 and 60.1% corrected pupae mortality and 83.5 and 88.7% corrected mortality of pupae plus adults, respectively. The median lethal time after adult emergence was 4.0 and 3.5 days for LCB53 and LCB289, respectively. The application of conidial preparations to natural soil reduced insect emergence and the adult life span and represents a promising strategy for fruit fly integrated management.

Selecting thermal tolerant strains of entomopathogenic fungi to control Ceratitis capitata (Wiedeman) in tropical semi-arid conditions

“…However, social concerns about food and environmental contaminants caused by insecticide motivated the search for biological approaches using macro and microorganisms (Paranhos et al, 2019;Toledo et al, 2017). Recent works have selected virulent entomopathogenic fungi (EF) strains against fruit flies to be applied using different strategies such as dispersant devices, soil drenching, and toxic baits (Gava et al, 2019;Navarro-Llopis et al, 2015;Toledo-Hernández et al, 2018).…”

Efficacy and residual activity of commercially available entomopathogenic nematode strains for Mediterranean fruit fly control and their ability to infect infested fruits

“…The use of entomopathogens is an ever‐increasing trend that is compatible with all these methods and further contributes to a sustainable environmentally friendly integrated pest management of medfly. Specifically, the use of entomopathogens such as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) and fungi against the soil‐dwelling stage of tephritid flies offers an excellent opportunity for effective management, because, during its life cycle, medfly passes a significant amount of time in the soil because mature larvae drop and burrow in the soil to pupate 11–15 …”

“…Specifically, the use of entomopathogens such as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) and fungi against the soil‐dwelling stage of tephritid flies offers an excellent opportunity for effective management, because, during its life cycle, medfly passes a significant amount of time in the soil because mature larvae drop and burrow in the soil to pupate. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 …”

Biological control of fruit flies: bibliometric analysis on the main biocontrol agents

“…The flies are the fruit pest insects belonging to the family Tephritidae, a major pest of world fruit production (Gava et al, 2020). According to Norrbom et al, 1999, among the representatives of the Tephritidae family, the genera Bactrocera, Rhagoletis, Toxotrypana, Anastrepha, and Ceratitis stand out, the latter two being the ones that are considered of greatest economic relevance.…”