Entomopathogenic Fungi Associated with Exotic Invasive Insect Pests in Northeastern Forests of the USA

Abstract

Mycopathogens of economically important exotic invasive insects in forests of northeastern USA have been the subject of research at the Entomology Research Laboratory, University of Vermont, for the last 20 years. Elongate hemlock scale, European fruit lecanium, hemlock woolly adelgid and pear thrips were analyzed for the presence of mycopathogens, in order to consider the potential for managing these pests with biological control. Fungal cultures isolated from insects with signs of fungal infection were identified based on morphological characters and DNA profiling. Mycopathogens recovered from infected insects were subdivided into three groups, i.e., specialized entomopathogenic; facultative entomopathogens; ubiquitous opportunistic contaminants. Epizootics were caused by fungi in the specialized group with the exception of M. microspora, P. marquandii and I. farinosa. Inoculation of insects in laboratory and field conditions with B. bassiana, L. muscarium and Myriangium sp. caused insect mortality of 45 to 95%. Although pest populations in the field seemed severely compromised after treatment, the remnant populations re-established themselves after the winter. Although capable of inducing high mortality, a single localized aerial application of a soil-dwelling fungus does not maintain long-time suppression of pests. However, it can halt their range expansion and maintain populations below the economic threshold level without the use of expensive insecticides which have a negative impact on the environment.

Occurrence and Distribution of Entomopathogenic Fungi in Agricultural Soil of Durg District of Chhattisgarh, India

“…The present findings were in accordance with Gouli et al, (2013) who also isolated EPF such as Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillum. In present investigation, 5.22% of EPF Metarhizium sp.…”

Microfungi Associated with Pteroptyx bearni (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) Eggs and Larvae from Kawang River, Sabah (Northern Borneo)

“…Cultures were identified microscopically using light microscope (OLYMPUS CX41, Olympus Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) after the fungi were fixed with the scotch tape imprint method [ 25 ] and stained with lactophenol cotton blue. Platinum coating on the surface of the microfungi was done by using JEOL auto fine coater (JFC-1600, JEOL Ltd., Tokyo, Japan).…”

The Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Fungi for Antestia Bugs (<i>Antetiopsis intircata</i>: Pentatomidea, Hemimptera) Control

“…Lomer et al indicated that entomopathogenic fungi biopesticide kills 70 -90% of treated locusts within 14-20 days [51]. The mortality of the brown marmorated stink bug after 12 -28 days ranged from 67 to 100% and 40 to 88% by Beauveria and Metarhizium isolates, respectively [52,47,53].…”