Evaluation of an entomopathogenic fungus,Paecilomyces fumosoroseus(Wize) Brown and Smith (Deuteromycota: Hyphomycetes) obtained from Formosan subterranean termites (Isop., Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract

An isolate of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus was obtained from Coptotermes formosanus collected in Hong Kong, and a commercially available isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae, were both tested against C. formosanus shipped live from China. Survivorship of termites treated with a suspension of 5 · 10 5 M. anisopliae conidia/ml and kept alone declined more rapidly than for those treated at the same concentration of P. fumosoroseus conidia. At a 5 · 10 6 conidia/ml concentration, no significant differences in terms of termite survivorship were observed between the two fungal species. However, among termites kept in groups of 10 after treatment, those sprayed with P. fumosoroseus conidia at either 5 · 10 5 or 5 · 10 6 conidia/ml had significantly lower survivorship than those sprayed with M. anisopliae conidia. All the cadavers of termites treated with P. fumosoroseus and kept alone sporulated and among grouped termites 29% of the cadavers sporulated. By comparison, 53% of the cadavers of termites treated with M. anisopliae and kept alone sporulated, and only 4% of the cadavers of treated termites kept in groups sporulated.

Efeitos de isolados do fungo Isaria (Persoon) sobre o cupim subterrâneo Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

“…Quanto ao I. fumesorosea, este tem demonstrado ser eficiente sobre outras espécies de Coptotermes, chegando a ocasionar 100% de mortalidade sobre Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki) (Yanagawa et al, 2008;Meikle et al, 2005). Testes avaliando a sobrevivência de C. formosanus pulverizados com I. fumesorosea comprovaram que este é até mais virulento do que o produto comercial à base do fungo M. anisopliae (Meikle et al, 2005), e ocasiona maior mortalidade aos térmitas do que este patógeno Cornelius, 2012).…”

“…Testes avaliando a sobrevivência de C. formosanus pulverizados com I. fumesorosea comprovaram que este é até mais virulento do que o produto comercial à base do fungo M. anisopliae (Meikle et al, 2005), e ocasiona maior mortalidade aos térmitas do que este patógeno Cornelius, 2012). Uma formulação à base de blastosporos de I. fumesorosea, com uso de queratina hidrolisada como surfactante, também já foi testada, patenteada e recomendada para o controle de C. formosanus (Dunlap et al, 2007(Dunlap et al, , 2012.…”

“…São fáceis e baratos de serem preparados, além de não serem repelentes, o que facilita a disseminação entre os indivíduos (Wright et al, 2003;Meikle et al, 2005;Wright et al, 2008;Yanagawa et al, 2008;Cornelius, 2012;Dunlap et al, 2012). O uso deste pató-geno tem sido pesquisado e recomendado para o controle desses térmitas na forma de pó seco, pó molhável associado ou não com queratina hidrolisada (Wright et al, 2003;Dunlap et al, 2007;Wright et al, 2008Wright et al, , 2012.…”

Wood production, wood technology, and biotechnological impacts

“…Termites show strong alarm and defence responses towards spore-dusted fellows (rapid bursts of longitudinal oscillatory movement, aggregation of untreated insects, grooming, biting, defecation and burial of infected termites). For successful fungal control in the field, such social behaviour needs to be overcome by strategies such as masking the repellency of spores, addition of attractants, definition of dosage levels below alarm thresholds and selection of less detectable strains (Staples & Milner 2000, Myles 2002, Milner 2003, Meikle et al 2005. Formulations of M. anisopliae with attapulgite clay and surfactant and M. anisopliae treated cellulose baits were reported to overcome repellent effects (Rath & Tidbury 1996, Wang & Powell 2004).…”

“…Marked differences were observed depending on whether individual insects or groups are treated. Fungal spores spread onto groups of termites were removed by mutual grooming within a few hours in contrast to spores applied on individuals (Shimizu & Yamaji 2003, Meikle et al 2005, Yanagawa & Shimizu 2007. Termites show strong alarm and defence responses towards spore-dusted fellows (rapid bursts of longitudinal oscillatory movement, aggregation of untreated insects, grooming, biting, defecation and burial of infected termites).…”