Abstract
Two systems of plots of 16 m 2 established in natural meadowlands in the Department of Sarthe were used for a study of infecting populations of cockchafer larvae with 5 diseases: the milky disease caused by Bacillus popilliae “melolontha,” the rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsiella melolonthae, the virosis caused by Vagoiavirus (= Entomopoxvirus) melolonthae, the coccidiosis caused by Adelina melolonthae, and the mycosis caused by Beauveria tenella. The principal ecopathological characters of these diseases have already been determined in the laboratory. The effects on populations of cockchafer larvae were examined for 4 years by successive samplings during the periods of activity of the insects. The development of the population levels was followed and cases of disease were recorded by rearing the larvae collected. This experiment, designed to test the suitability of these organisms as agents of microbiological control of the larvae, showed that Beauveria had the greatest activity. The other diseases became and remained established in the contaminated soils, especially the virosis.
Published Version
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