Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis on Habrobracon hebetor during combined biological control of Plodia interpunctella |
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| Authors: | Akinkurolere Rotimi Oluwafemi Qiong Rao Xi-Qiao Wang Hong-Yu Zhang |
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| Institution: | State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Institute of Urban Pests, and Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan;, Wuhan Service Station for Vegetable Crops, Wuhan, China;, Laboratory of Food Storage Technology, Biology Department, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria |
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| Abstract: | Abstract The suitability of combining microbial pesticides and an insect parasitoid for pest management of stored cereal in China was evaluated using laboratory assays. For this purpose, interactions between Bacillus thuringiensis ( Bt ), Bt -intoxicated host larvae and the parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) were tested against Plodia interpunctella Hübner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) . Bt or H. hebetor alone caused 41.67% and 35.35% P. interpunctella larval mortality respectively. The Bt –parasitoid combined treatment significantly increased mortality of P. interpunctella (86%). Progeny development of H. hebetor was dependent upon its susceptibility to Bt . Fewer parasitoids emerged from Bt –parasitoid combined treatment than in non- Bt treatments. However, since Bt did not prevent parasitoid development, a combined treatment with Bt and parasitoid release could produce better protection against P. interpunctella than either treatments when used singly, because their lethal effects were additive to each other. |
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| Keywords: | Bacillus thuringiensis Habrobracon hebetor pest management Plodia interpunctella |
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