Biodiversity of beet webworm microsporidia in Eurasia

Julia Malysh,Jiang Xingfu,Svetlana Malysh,Andrei Frolov,Yuri Tokarev,Y Tokarev,V Glupov

doi:10.1051/bioconf/20201800019

Abstract

The beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis (LS) has eruptive type of population dynamics and high migratory activity. The LS outbreaks are therefore difficult to predict and the pest belongs to the category of highly dangerous pests. However, during periods of depressions this insect is not observed within the most of its range and is very susceptible to infection by pathogens, including various species of microsporidia, some of which are not specific parasites of the order Lepidoptera. The distribution of LS microsporidia in Eurasia is quite extensive. During the study period of LS from 2003 to 2019, we have found 6 species of microsporidia. The parasite list includes not only species known for Lepidoptera such as Nosema sp. and Vairimorpha thomsoni, but also Vairimorpha (Nosema) ceranae as the typical pathogen from Apis mellifera, as well as Endoreticulatus cf poecilimonae, a pathogen similar to Endoreticulatus poecilimonae from Poecilimon thoracicus. Moreover, two isolates from the genus Tubulinosema identified in LS belong to the group of parasites with a very wide host range, including humans. In laboratory experiments, LS proved high sensitivity to microsporidia N. pyrausta from Ostrinia nubilalis and N. tyriae from Tyria jacobaeae. Its susceptibility to Paranosema locustae from Locusta migratoria has also been discovered.

Highlights

Beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis (L.) is a dangerous insect pest that damages many agricultural crops such as beets, soybeans, sunflowers, corn and others
Beet webworm microsporidia were found in Russia
In the 70-80s of the 20th century, two species of microsporidia were discovered in beet webworm, namely Nosema loxostegi [2] and Vairimorpha (Nosema) thomsoni [3]

Summary

Introduction

Beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis (L.) is a dangerous insect pest that damages many agricultural crops such as beets, soybeans, sunflowers, corn and others. The beet webworm outbreaks are difficult to predict and the pest belongs to the category of highly dangerous pests. At the same time, during periods of depressions this insect is not observed within the most of its range and is very susceptible to infection by pathogens, including various species of microsporidia, some of which are not specific parasites of the order Lepidoptera.

Results

Conclusion