An Opportunistic Bacterial Pathogen, Pseudomonas alcaligenes , May Limit the Perpetuation of Oryctes Virus, a Biocontrol Agent of Oryctes rhinoceros L.

Pseudomonas alcaligenes was detected at a high concentration (10 9 -10 10 cells mL -1 ) in the haemolymph of some dead Oryctes rhinoceros grubs collected from its breeding sites in the three southern districts, viz. Alleppey, Quilon and Kottayam of Kerala State, India. In a laboratory colony maintained for production of Oryctes virus, an important biocontrol agent of this major coconut pest, approximately 52% of the grubs succumbed to septicaemia with similar symptoms. The bacterium was found to be a component of the gut microflora of healthy grubs. Occurrence of the viral infection naturally or when induced in the laboratory in the O. rhinoceros grubs, appeared to be one of the biotic stress factors for P.alcaligenes to become an opportunistic pathogen. A preponderance of this bacterial infection in field populations during the periods when natural viral infection in grubs was above average, agrees with this observation. This finding becomes significant as infection by the opportunistic bacterial pathogen, P. alcaligenes , reduces the production of Oryctes virus inoculum in nature and limits the field-perpetuation of this viral biocontrol agent.     

Vermicomposting of Taro (Colocasia esculenta) with two epigeic earthworm species

The bioconversion potential of two epigeic species (Eisenia foetida Sav. and Eudrilus eugeniae Kinberg) of earthworms was assessed in terms of efficiency and sustainability of vermicomposting of Taro (Colocasia esculenta (Linn) Schott in Schott and Endl). In different vermireactors, each run in triplicates with one of the two species of earthworms, and 60 g of 6:1 Colocasia:cowdung as feed, vermicasts were produced with steadily increasing output in all the reactors. E. eugeniae was found to be more efficient producer of vermicasts than E. foetida. In all reactors, the earthworms grew well, increasing their weights and number.     

绿僵菌大孢变种的生物学特征及其对蛴螬的毒力研究

以报道较多的蛴螬病原真菌 布氏白僵菌、绿僵菌小孢变种作参照菌,系统研究了新分离鉴定的绿僵菌大孢变种的生物学特性,测定了其在偏低的自然气温下对蛴螬的致病能力.结果表明,绿僵菌大孢变种与参照菌的培养要求接近,最适宜的温度为25 ℃.3种供试的培养基中,PPDA为最适宜的培养基,其次为SDAY.在偏低的温度环境下绿僵菌大孢变种对蛴螬的毒杀能力强于布氏白僵菌,土壤和喷雾处理后累计僵虫率分别达88.23%和76.47%,有很好的田间应用前景.     

Chemical and microbiological changes during vermicomposting of coffee pulp using exotic (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eudrilus eugeniae</Emphasis>) and native earthworm (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Perionyx ceylanesis</Emphasis>) species

Coffee pulp is the main solid residue from the wet processing of coffee berries. Due to presence of anti-physiological and anti-nutritional factors, coffee pulp is not considered as adequate substrate for bioconversion process by coffee farmers. Recent stringent measures by Pollution Control authorities, made it mandatory to treat all the solid and liquid waste emanating from the coffee farms. A study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of an exotic (Eudrilus eugeniae) and a native earthworm (Perionyx ceylanesis) from coffee farm for decomposition of coffee pulp into valuable vermicompost. Exotic earthworms were found to degrade the coffee pulp faster (112 days) as compared to the native worms (165 days) and the vermicomposting efficiency (77.9%) and vermicompost yield (389 kg) were found to significantly higher with native worms. The multiplication rate of earthworms (280%) and worm yield (3.78 kg) recorded significantly higher with the exotic earthworms. The percentage of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium and magnesium in vermicompost was found to increase while C:N ratio, pH and total organic carbon declined as a function of the vermicomposting. The plant nutrients, nitrogen (80.6%), phosphorus (292%) and potassium (550%) content found to increase significantly in the vermicompost produced using native earthworms as compared to the initial values, while the calcium (85.7%) and magnesium (210%) content found to increase significantly in compost produced utilizing exotic worms. Vermicompost and vermicasts from native earthworms recorded significantly higher functional microbial group’s population as compared to the exotic worms. The study reveals that coffee pulp can be very well used as substrate for vermicomposting using exotic (Eudrilus eugeniae) and native earthworm (Perionyx ceylanesis).     

Control of Leaf-footed Bug Leptoglossus zonatus and Shield-backed Bug Pachycoris klugii with Entomopathogenic Fungi

The pathogenicity of three isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuil. and one isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok. (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) was assessed in the laboratory against adults of the leaf-footed bug Leptoglossus zonatus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Coreidae) and the shield-backed bug Pachycoris klugii Burmeister (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae), the two most frequent pest species in physic nut ( Jatropha curcas L., Euphorbiaceae) plantations in Nicaragua. In a dipping bioassay, the median lethal concentration (LC) of the most efficient strain, M. anisopliae NB, was determined as 4.34 106 50 conidia/ml for adult P. klugii . In a field trial, a scheduled high-volume spray regime using B. bassiana increased fruit yield by 28%, and was more effective than malathion or an aqueous extract of ground neem seeds. The effectiveness of M. anisopliae was further tested in field cages covering entire trees and containing a predetermined number of insects. Mineral oilbased ultra-low volume controlled droplet applications of M. anisopliae at a rate of 1 1010 conidia/tree were made using hand-held Micron ULVA + sprayers. The corrected mortalities ranged from 65% in P. klugii to 94% in L. zonatus.     

Interaction of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok., Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. and the parasitoid Oomyzus sokolowskii (Kurdjumov) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) with larvae of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Chemical insecticides are broadly applied to control diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.). Diamondback moth is a major pest of cruciferous worldwide, and resistance of this pest to insecticide has been often reported. Thus, this research investigated the interactions among the fungi Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok., Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill., and the larval-pupal parasitoid Oomyzus sokolowskii (Kurdjumov) before and after application of the fungi on DBM larvae offered to the parasitoid. The experiment was carried out at 26+/-l degreeC, 75+/- 5% RH and 12h photophase using a completely randomized design, with eight treatments with six replications each. The isolates E9 of M. anisopliae and ESALQ 447 of B. bassiana, were used at the concentration of 10(7) conidia ml(-1). The results showed that M. anisopliae and B. bassiana reduced the parasitism of P. xylostella by O. sokolowskii. Additive effects were found on the mortality of P. xylostella with the different combinations among the fungi and parasitoid, except for the treatment B. bassiana inoculated 24h before exposition of the larvae to O. sokolowskii. The isolates were more efficacious when applied after exposition of the larvae to the parasitoid. The efficiency of O. sokolowskii was negatively influenced by the presence of the fungi, mainly when the fungi were applied 24h before diamondback's larvae were exposed to the parasitoid. The association of the fungi with the parasitoid presents potential to be tested in field. The use of these natural enemies in the integrated management of P. xylostella may economically improve the cabbage productive system, especially for organic farming.     

Selection of entomopathogenic fungi for the control of the western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera

Abstract:  The western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte (Col., Chrysomelidae), a serious pest of maize, has been recently introduced into Europe. Several approaches for its control are presently under investigation including microbial agents. During a field survey in Hungary in 2005, naturally occurring entomopathogenic fungi were found to attack this pest. These novel isolates together with standard isolates were tested for virulence against D. v. virgifera larvae and adults. Twenty strains of Metarhizium anisopliae , Beauveria bassiana and Beauveria brongniartii were used in bioassays in the laboratory. Larvae and adults were dipped into a spore suspension with a concentration of 1 × 10⁷ conidia (con.)/ml. They were kept for 14 days at 22°C (±2°C) and 70% relative humidity. The number of infected larvae and adults were counted and infection rates were calculated. Adults were significantly more susceptible to entomopathogenic fungi than larvae. The most virulent isolate infected about 47% of larvae ( M. anisopliae Ma2277), whereas the infection rate in adults was up to 97% ( M. anisopliae Ma2275). Isolates of M. anisopliae caused significantly higher mortalities than isolates of B. brongniartii and B. bassiana . Most of the adult beetles were killed within 12 days. Isolates from D. v. virgifera were more virulent than those from other hosts.     

Pilot-scale vermicomposting of pineapple wastes with earthworms native to Accra, Ghana

Pineapple wastes, an abundant organic waste in Accra, Ghana, were vermicomposted using native earthworms (Eudrilus eugeniae Kinberg) collected from the banks of streams and around bath houses of this city. Triplicate pilot-scale vermidigesters containing about 90 earthworms and three other control boxes with no earthworms were fed pineapple pulp or peels, and the loss of wet mass was monitored over 20 weeks. In a second experiment, a 1:1 mixture of pineapple peels and pulp (w/w) was fed to triplicate pilot-scale vermicomposters and control boxes during a 20 week period. One month after feeding ended, the vermicompost and composted (control) waste was air dried and analyzed. During the first experiment, the vermicomposted pineapple pulp and peels lost 99% and 87% of their wet mass, respectively, indicating the potential for vermicomposting. Fresh pineapple waste exhibited an initial pH of 4.4, but after 24 weeks, the vermicompost and compost had acquired a neutral to alkaline pH of 7.2–9.2. The vermicompost contained as much as 0.4% total N, 0.4% total P and 0.9% total K, and had a C:N ratio of 9–10. A reduction of 31–70% in the Escherichia coli plus Salmonella loads and 78–88% in the Aspergillus load was observed during vermicomposting. The rapid breakdown of pineapple wastes by E. eugeniae demonstrated the viability of vermicomposting as a simple and low cost technology recycling this waste into a soil amendment that could be used by the 2500 vegetable producers of Accra and its surrounding areas.     

绿僵菌MaFZ-13对橙带蓝尺蛾幼虫致病力及林间防治效果

【目的】橙带蓝尺蛾Milionia basalis近年来在我国南方地区严重危害罗汉松Podocarpusmacrophyllus和竹柏Podocarpus nagi,扩散蔓延速度快,造成了很大的损失。本研究旨在评估金龟子绿僵菌Metarhizium anisopliae MaFZ-13菌株对橙带蓝尺蛾幼虫的致病力,探寻橙带蓝尺蛾生物防治新资源。【方法】通过绿僵菌MaFZ-13不同浓度(1.0×10⁵~1.0×10⁹孢子/mL)孢子悬浮液接种橙带蓝尺蛾幼虫,运用时间-剂量-死亡率(TDM)模型对生物测定结果进行分析,同时通过林间喷施1.0×10⁸孢子/mL绿僵菌孢子悬浮液进行林间防治效果试验。【结果】橙带蓝尺蛾幼虫累计死亡率随着绿僵菌MaFZ-13孢子悬浮液孢子浓度的增加和接种时间的延长而增大。接种1.0×10⁹孢子/mL孢子悬浮液8 d后以及接种1.0×10⁸孢子/mL孢子悬浮液10 d后,幼虫死亡率均达到100%;接种1.0×10⁷孢子/mL孢子悬浮液15 d后幼虫死亡率为95.6%。应用TDM模型对生测数据进行分析,结果表明所建模型通过Hosmer-Lemeshow拟合异质性检验,并由模型估算出了该菌株对橙带蓝尺蛾幼虫的致死剂量和致死时间。绿僵菌MaFZ-13菌株接种4, 5, 6和7 d后的半致死剂量(LC₅₀)对数估计值分别为7.99, 7.12, 6.46和5.83。以1.0×10⁷, 1.0×10⁸和1.0×10⁹孢子/mL的孢子浓度接种时,绿僵菌MaFZ-13菌株对橙带蓝尺蛾幼虫的LT₅₀值分别为5.19,3.99和2.81 d。林间用1.0×10⁸孢子/mL绿僵菌孢子悬浮液喷洒9 d后橙带蓝尺蛾幼虫死亡率可达到85.8%,防治效果为85.05%。【结论】绿僵菌MaFZ-13对橙带蓝尺蛾幼虫具有较强的致病力,林间防治效果良好,具有较好的应用潜力。     

Nomuraea rileyi: a plausible fungi selectively controlling lepidopteron, Paraponyx stratiotata L. damaging queen palm (Livistona rotundifolia L.)

Queen Palm (Livistona rotundifolia) is cultivated extensively for both local and foreign ornamental markets with the desired characteristics of even and ever green, pest and disease free healthy palm and quality leaves. The root borer, Paraponyx stratiotata (Lepidoptera) is recently encountered on young palm roots and damaging them within. They emerged as a new pest on L. rotundifolia grown in all the area. Different entomopathogens were evaluated and determined the potential of Nomuroea rileyi selectively due to its greater infective ability. Field collected root borer larvae were reared and N. rileyi was evaluated both in-vitro and in net house conditions. Treatments comprising Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Trichoderma sp., N. rileyi, a standard check with 3% Carbofuran and water as a control were evaluated in potted seedlings (3 months old) of queen palms. Among the entomopathogens tested, N. rileyi was found more effective and recorded the best of 61% mortality. Subsequent experiment had been conducted with commercial bio-products alone or in combination with local isolates as treatments; N. rileyi, B. bassiana, M. anisopliae, B. bassiana + M. anisopliae, N. rileyi + M. anisopliae, N. rileyi+ B. bassiana, and water as a control were evaluated. Among these treatments N. rileyi was alone more effective than in combination with or other entomopathogens alone. In vitro study revealed LD50 of N. rileyi as best spore load of 1 x 10(8) spores/ml compare to other treatments. This proves the potential of N. rileyi on P. stratiotata. The application of N. rileyi had claimed not only to reduce the incidence of root damage but also to sustain the growth and vigor of the L. rotundifolia to most fit for exporting.     

Microbial pathogens of the coconut pest Oryctes rhinoceros: influence of weather factors on their infectivity and study of their coincidental ecology in Kerala,India

The rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros L., is an economically important pest of the coconut palm. Management of this pest has been accomplished using microbial agents viz., Oryctes virus (OrV) and an entomofungal pathogen Metarhizium anisopliae. Recently an opportunistic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas alcaligenes has also been noticed to cause septicaemia in the grubs when under stress. To unravel the influence of abiotic weather factors and the interactions amongst these microbial pathogens, a 3 year study was conducted from September 1996 to August 1999 in three of the southern districts of Kerala, India. Of the 6627 grubs and 307 adults collected from various breeding sites of the pest, 5% of the grubs and 22% of the adults had natural virus infection, 3% larvae died of M. anisopliae mycosis and 20% larvae succumbed to bacterial septicaemia. Oryctes virus infection in grubs and adults was negatively correlated to minimum temperature (correlation co-efficient, r = –0.4, and –0.6 respectively, sample size, n = 0). Increase in relative humidity increased the fungal activity (r = 0.8) whereas, maximum temperature had a negative impact (r = –0.7). Occurrence of virus infection in grubs and adults was positively correlated (r = 0.6), supporting the contention of active transmission of the virus pathogen between these two stages. The bacterial septicaemia in the grubs was marginally correlated with virus infection and P. alcaligenes undermined the efficiency of the virus pathogen.     

Effect of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae (Deuteromycetes) upon the coffee berry borer (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) under field conditions

The effect of three strains of the fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and two strains of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin upon the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari), was studied in three coffee farms at different altitudes (450-1,100 m above sea level) in Soconusco, Chiapas, Mexico. The maximum average percentage mycosis varied according to altitude. At 450 m asl (El Rincon) mycosis was 14.3% for B. bassiana and 6.3% for M. anisopliae; at 880 m asl (Santa Anita) mycosis was 40.6% for B. bassiana and 12.6% for M. anisopliae, and at 1,100 m asl (Alpujarras) 33.9% for B. bassiana and 22. 1% for M. anisopliae. The effect of fungal mycosis through time was not significant (P > 0.01) in any of the farms, but there was a significant difference between the strains of the fungus (P < 0.01); the best strains being Bb25 and Ma4 at the lower altitude, Bb26 and Ma4 for the middle altitude and Bb26 and Ma4 at the higher altitude. Environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity and rain were not correlated with the percentage mycosis caused by B. bassiana and M. anisopliae. However, in the case of B. bassiana there was a significant, positive correlation (P < 0.01) between the infestation levels of the pest and the mycosis response of the entomopathogen.     

二疣犀甲室内生物学特性及形态观察

【目的】 对二疣犀甲Oryctes rhinoceros室内生物学特性及形态进行系统观察。【方法】 在室内一定条件下（温度26±1℃, RH 75%~95%, 光周期10L∶14D）以牛粪和锯末混合物（4∶1, m/m）饲养二疣犀甲各虫态, 每6 h观察记录各虫态的形态学特征及其发育情况, 并测量各虫态的重要发育指标, 如体长、 体宽、 体重等。【结果】 二疣犀甲属于全变态昆虫, 一生经历4个虫态, 分别为卵、 幼虫、 蛹和成虫。二疣犀甲卵的发育历期平均为8.88 d, 整个幼虫期平均需156.82 d, 预蛹和蛹的平均发育历期分别为9.45 d和33.75 d, 二疣犀甲完成一个世代需要326~455 d。1龄幼虫体长为4.16 mm, 体重0.64 g, 之后随龄期迅速增加, 至3龄时, 体长为65.66 mm, 体重增加到12.14 g。蛹期平均体长为51.62 mm, 体重为9.72 g。早期羽化的成虫个体较晚期羽化的大, 表现为体长、 体宽、 角长及体重存在显著差异(P≤0.05)。二疣犀甲成虫具有雌雄二型现象, 子代性比(雌∶雄)为1.23∶1。【结论】 二疣犀甲O. rhinoceros是椰子等棕榈科植物的重要害虫, 基础生物学和形态学研究是防控技术研究的基础, 本研究结果可为生产上防治该虫提供理论依据。     

Attempts to control cabbage root flies Delia radicum L. and Delia floralis (Fall.) (Dipt., Anthomyiidae) with entomopathogenic fungi: laboratory and greenhouse tests

One laboratory and three greenhouse experiments were conducted to study the pathogenicity and efficacy of Finnish isolates of entomopathogenic hyphemycetous fungi against cabbage root flies. In Petri dishes, exposure to 1.5 × 10¹⁰ spores of Metarhizium anisopliae per dish caused 40–50% mortality of undifferentiated second- and third-stage larvae of Delia floralis , and 1 × 10⁷ spores per dish caused 40–50% mortality of Delia radicum larvae. In one greenhouse test, 1 × 10⁸ and 1 × 10⁹ spores of M. anisopliae and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus reduced the root damage of head cabbage by 20–70% compared with untreated controls, although this was not accompanied by significant reductions in the number of pupae. Only M. anisopliae consistently grew out of larvae and pupae of D. floralis during incubation that followed their recovery from the soil at the end of an experiment testing different formulations of M. anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana , but the frequency of the latent infections of the pest by M. anisopliae was not associated with reduced severity of damage to seedlings of head cabbage.     

Characterization of a newly discovered China variety of Metarhizium anisopliae (M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium) for virulence to termites, isoenzyme, and phylogenic analysis

The efficacy of a new virulent Metarhizium anisopliae variety (M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium, DQ288247) obtained from Odontotermes formosanus in China was evaluated against the subterranean termite, O. formosanus, in the laboratory. The new variety was compared with four other virulent M. anisopliae isolates and was found to be highly infectious and virulent against termites. M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium could cause approximately 100% mortality of termites 3 days post-inoculation in the concentration of 3x10(8) conidia/ml. There were also differences in relative hyhal growth and isoenzymes. M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium showed a different isoenzyme band pattern from the four isolates of M. anisopliae (AB027337, AB099510, AB099941 and AF280631). The phylogenetic tree of the 18S rDNA sequences revealed the taxonomic and evolutionary position of M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium. M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium and four isolates of M. anisopliae formed a monophyletic group, supported by a 99% bootstrap value. M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium formed a distinct variety, which had a special characterization of unique bands of isoenzyme, high virulence and low repellency against termites when compared with four other isolates of M. anisopliae.     

Potential of two epigeic and two anecic earthworm species in vermicomposting of water hyacinth

The potential of two epigeic species (Eudrilus eugeniae Kinberg, and Perionyx excavatus Perrier) and two anecic species (Lampito mauritii Kinberg and Drawida willsi Michaelson) of earthworms was assessed in terms of efficiency and sustainability of vermicomposting water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes, Mart. Solm.). In different vermireactors, each run in duplicate with one of the four species of earthworms, and 75 g of 6:1 water hyacinth:cowdung as feed, vermicasts were produced with steadily increasing output in all the reactors. E. eugeniae was by far the most efficient producer of vermicasts, followed by the other epigeic P. excavatus. The two anecics came next, with D. willsi being the least effective which could generate only about half the quantity of vermicasts achieved in a corresponding time by E. eugeniae. In all the reactors, the earthworms grew well, increasing their weights by more than 250%. The maximum net gain of weight (average 30.7 g) was by E. eugeniae, followed by P. excavatus, L. mauritii and D. willsi. This trend, which followed the efficiency of vermicast production, was also shown in terms of reproductive ability as measured by the number of offspring produced by the four species.     

Susceptibility of Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) to Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae

The susceptibility of Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) to selected strains of the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin was evaluated through bioassays with direct immersion or foliar exposure under laboratory conditions. Results showed that A. planipennis adults were susceptible to B. bassiana and M. anisoplae. Significant time-mortality response was found for each isolates. Isolate B. bassiana GHA killed A. planipennis adults at a faster rate compared with other isolates tested, with the lowest average time-to-death values. The LC50 values estimated under direct immersion method ranged from 1.7 x 10(5) to 1.9 x 10(7), 3.5 x 10(4) to 5.3 x 10(5), and 4.1 x 10(3) to 2.9 x 10(5) conidia/ml for B. basissiana and from 3.2 x 10(6) to 1.1 x 10(7), 4.5 x 10(3) to 4.5 x 10(5), and 1.4 x 10(2) to 1.2 x 10(5) conidia/ml for M. anisopliae at 4, 5, and 6 d after treatment, respectively. By days 5 and 6, B. bassiana GHA outperformed all other isolates tested except ARSEF 7234, followed by ARSEF 7152, 6393, and 7180. Significant concentration-mortality response was also observed for two B. bassiana GHA formulations, BotaniGard ES and Mycotrol O, and M. anisopliae F52 when insects were treated through foliar exposure. The LC50 values ranged from 114.5 to 309.6, 18.4 to 797.3, and 345.3 to 362.0 conidia/cm2 for BotaniGard, Mycotrol, and M. anisopliae F52, respectively. Based on the results of these bioassays, the efficacy of both B. bassiana GHA formulations and M. anisopliae F52 were similar against adult A. planipennis. The potential use of entomopathogenic fungi for management of A. planipennis in North America is discussed.     

Susceptibility of Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) to Entomopathogenic Fungi from Ethiopia

The efficacy of 13 isolates of entomopathogenic fungi belonging to Beauveria , Metarhizium or Paecilomyces spp. was assessed against Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Prostephanus truncatus (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) using a total immersion bioassay technique in the laboratory. Fungi were applied at concentrations of 1 ×10 7 and 1 ×10 8 conidia mL -1 for P. truncatus and S. zeamais , respectively. All isolates tested were virulent to P. truncatus (98-100% mortality, and median survival time (MST) ranged from 2.85-4.05 days). Metarhizium anisopliae and B. bassiana were also virulent to S. zeamais (92-100% mortality, MST ranged from 3.58-6.28 days). The isolate of Paecilomyces sp. was found to be the least virulent against S. zeamais , causing only 26.32 ±4.29% mortality with MST of 10.38 ±0.29 days. P. truncatus proved more susceptible to the entomopathogenic fungi tested than S. zeamais . One M. anisopliae (PPRC-EE) and three B. bassiana isolates (PPRC-HH, PPRC-9609 and PPRC-9614) were selected for further study and dose-mortality relationships were assessed on S. zeamais . The tested concentrations ranged from 1 ×10 4 -1 ×10 7 conidia mL -1 . M. anisopliae (PPRC-EE) showed the lowest LC 50 (3.39 ×10 5 conidia mL -1 ) followed by B. bassiana PPRC-HH (2.04 ×10 6 conidia mL -1 ). PPRC-9609 and PPRC-9614 showed slight differences in LC 50 but not at LC 90 . The results revealed the higher potency of M. anisopliae as compared with the B. bassiana isolates tested. The study suggests that the use of entomopathogenic fungi may hold promise as an alternative method to control pests of stored-products in Ethiopia.     

薇甘菊甲醇提取物对二疣犀甲生长发育的影响

【目的】探讨入侵杂草薇甘菊Mikania micrantha的利用价值, 及其在棕榈害虫二疣犀甲Oryctes rhinoceros生态防控中的应用前景。【方法】采用浸渍法和室内饲喂法, 研究了薇甘菊甲醇提取物对二疣犀甲取食量、 卵孵化、 化蛹、 羽化及幼虫发育等的影响。【结果】薇甘菊提取物对二疣犀甲具有很好的生长发育调节活性。拒食活性研究结果表明, 在不同供试浓度下, 其对二疣犀甲3龄幼虫均表现拒食活性, 且拒食率与处理浓度呈正相关。薇甘菊提取物处理二疣犀甲的卵后, 孵化率明显降低, 且孵化期延长, 10 mg/mL提取物处理后孵化率仅达66.66%, 孵化期比对照延迟3 d, 同时初孵幼虫死亡率也高达40.43%。采用添加薇甘菊提取物的饲料饲喂1龄幼虫后, 幼虫体重增长减缓, 在处理浓度为10和5 mg/g时, 处理后90 d体重增加量分别为3.83 g和4.53 g, 而对照组体重增加量达到6.87 g。薇甘菊提取物处理老熟幼虫后, 对其化蛹具有抑制作用, 造成化蛹率降低, 化蛹时间延长及蛹的畸形。经薇甘菊提取物处理二疣犀甲蛹后, 成虫羽化率降低, 羽化时间明显延长, 且畸形成虫数量增加, 主要表现为翅无法正常伸展、 虫体瘦小、 无法正常爬行等。【结论】薇甘菊具有开发为生物源昆虫生长调节剂、 并在二疣犀甲防控中应用的潜力。     

Potential of a Dried Rice/Mycelium Formulation of Entomopathogenic Fungi to Suppress Subterranean Pests in Small Fruits

The potential of a dried rice/mycelium formulation of three species of entomopathogenic fungi ( Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces farinosus ) was assessed according to five criteria: storage life, field efficacy against two subterranean pests of cranberry, persistence and efficacy against first-instar black vine weevil larvae in potted strawberry and field persistence in a cranberry bog. The number of conidia sporulated from the formulation did not decline between 4 and 20 days. In small plot field trials, the numbers of black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus (F.), were significantly lower in plots treated with 1000 gm - 2 of formulated M. anisopliae than in untreated plots. In similar trials, the numbers of adult cranberry girdler, Chrysoteuchia topiaria (Zeller), inside emergence cages were significantly lower on plots treated with the formulated M. anisopliae than on untreated plots. The formulation suppressed first-instar black vine weevil larvae in potted strawberry regardless of the species of entomopathogenic fungus or the post-inoculation interval. M. anisopliae was periodically isolated for up to 637 days from plots in cranberry bogs treated with the formulation. In general, the dried rice/mycelium formulation may be a useful fungal mycopesticide for the management of subterranean pests of small fruits, especially if applied at high rates to areas of serious pest infestation.