The potential forEntomophaga maimaigato regulate gypsy mothLymantria dispar(L.) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) in Europe

Abstract

Gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L., is one of the most important pests of deciduous trees in Europe. In regular cycles, it causes large-scale defoliation mostly of oak, Quercus spp., forests. Government authorities in the most infested countries in Europe conduct large-scale applications of pesticides against gypsy moth. In 1999, a new natural enemy, the entomopathogenic fungus Entomophaga maimaiga, was successfully introduced into a gypsy moth population in Bulgaria. Recent investigations suggest that now E. maimaiga is quickly spreading in Europe. Herein, past studies are reviewed regarding this fungus with special emphasis on its potential for becoming an important factor regulating gypsy moth populations in Europe, focusing on the host's population dynamics in relation to the fungus, the influence of environmental conditions on fungal activity, the influence of E. maimaiga on the native entomofauna, including other gypsy moth natural enemies, and spread of the fungus. Based on this analysis, the potential of E. maimaiga for providing control in European gypsy moth populations is estimated.

No Long-Term Decrease in Caterpillar Availability for Invertivorous Birds in Deciduous Forests in Hungary

“…The other reason is the expected change in the status of the Gypsy moth (L. dispar). This species is certainly the major defoliator in broadleaved forests of East-Central Europe [45][46][47]. Its larvae are densely hairy and usually not eaten by birds (and therefore this species was not included in our analysis).…”

“…However, as a dominant defoliator, it imposes a strong competitive pressure on other spring defoliators on oaks [42] and may limit the abundance of other larvae that are suitable food for invertivorous birds. Entomophaga maimaiga Humber, Shimazu and R.S.Soper (Entomophthoraceae), a strongly host specific pathogen of the Gypsy moth [48][49][50] was released in Bulgaria in 1999 [51], from where it spread to many other Eastern European countries [45,[52][53][54]. This pathogen can cause significant mortality in Gypsy moth populations, as observed in several countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia) in 2013 and 2014.…”

Infection of Drosophila suzukii with the obligate insect-pathogenic fungus Entomophthora muscae

“…Therefore, control measures operating by release of infected animals that disseminate the pathogens, or enhancement of entomophthoralean fungi in the environment of agroecosystems (e.g. by providing refuges adjacent to crops) might be the most practical way to circumvent the challenging development of formulations for spray application (Tobin and Hajek 2012 ; Zúbrik et al 2016 ). An advantageous attribute for application in pest control is that members of the E. muscae species complex are dipteran-specific, which in comparison with generalist pathogens implies a smaller range of susceptible non-target species.…”

Occurrence of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) in the Slovak Republic and its outbreaks during 1945–2020

“…In 2013, E. maimaiga was found for the first time in Slovakia (Zúbrik et al 2014). The impact of this fungus on the L. dispar population should not be underestimated since that time, especially when certain indications are suggesting it was introduced a few years earlier, as was finally recognised (Zúbrik et al 2014(Zúbrik et al , 2016(Zúbrik et al , 2018b. Zúbrik et al (2016) stated that interactions between E. maimaiga and gypsy moth population dynamics can be very strong.…”