The Investigation of the Biological Control of Icerya purchasi Maskell, 1878 (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) with Entomopathogenic Fungi and Bacteria

ABSTRACT: Entomopathogenic fungi are important biological control agents throughout the world, have been the subject of intensive research for more than 100 years, and can occur at epizootic or enzootic levels in their host populations. Their mode of action against insects involves attaching a spore to the insect cuticle, followed by germination, penetration of the cuticle, and dissemination inside the insect. Strains of entomopathogenic fungi are concentrated in the following orders: Hypocreales (various genera), Onygenales (Ascosphaera genus), Entomophthorales, and Neozygitales (Entomophthoromycota).

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The preliminary assessment and isolation of entomopathogenic fungi to be used in biological control with twospotted spider mite [Tetranychus urticae (acari, tetranychidae)] from East Anatolia

10.1063/1.4981719 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Serkan Örtücü ◽

Ömer Faruk Algur

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Tetranychus Urticae ◽

Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽

Spider Mite ◽

Twospotted Spider Mite ◽

Preliminary Assessment ◽

East Anatolia ◽

Twospotted Spider

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Holistic approach to control Melolontha spp. in organic strawberry plantations

Organic Agriculture ◽

10.1007/s13165-020-00295-2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (S1) ◽

pp. 13-22

Author(s):

Eligio Malusá ◽

Małgorzata Tartanus ◽

Ewa M. Furmanczyk ◽

Barbara H. Łabanowska

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽

Predictive Models ◽

Holistic Approach ◽

Biological Control Agents ◽

Light Traps ◽

Biological Cycle ◽

Effective Reduction ◽

Different Strains ◽

Root Feeding

AbstractTo achieve an effective reduction of the damage by root feeding grubs of Melolontha spp. in organic strawberry plantations, we have tested an approach targeting different stages of the insect’s biological cycle. Adult beetles were caught by using light traps or by manual shaking off trees associated to the monitoring of cockchafer swarm flights supported by forecasts models. Phytosanitary pre-crops and the application of biological control agents were tested against the larvae. The three predictive models utilized to forecast the period of emergence of the cockchafer were suitable to support the deployment of the light traps before the adults’ swarm flights. Traps positioned at 4-m height were more effective in attracting the beetles than those kept at 2-m height. Buckwheat in mixtures with either a mustard or leguminous species used as pre-crops was able to reduce the population of grubs, and considering also its capacity in solubilizing recalcitrant phosphorous sources should enter in a rotation with strawberry or any other crop susceptible to grubs damage. The distribution of two different strains of entomopathogenic fungi resulted in a reduction of the damage to plants due to the cockchafer grubs’ activity, even though the efficacy resulted to be dependent on environmental and agronomic factors, including the kind of formulation used. It is concluded that to assure a sufficient level of control of Melolontha spp. in organic strawberry plantations, it is necessary to integrate several methods that are targeting the different biological stages of the insect and are based on different kinds of practices.

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