Extended studies on the diversity of arthropod-pathogenic fungi in Austria and Poland

Cezary Tkaczyk,Rudolf Wegensteiner,Stanisław Bałazy,Tomasz Krzyczkowski

doi:10.5586/am.2011.014

Cezary Tkaczyk, Rudolf Wegensteiner + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.5586/am.2011.014

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Abstract

Results of studies on diversity of arthropod-pathogenic fungi in selected habitats in Austria and Poland carried out in the years 2006-2007 and 2009-2010 are discussed. In total 47 species of entomopathogenic fungi were found as pathogens of different arthropods in Austria. Twenty six entomophthoralean species from different insects and one species from mites were identified and 16 of them are recorded as new to Austria. From among 21 species of anamorphic Hypocreales (Ascomycota) affecting arthropods in Austria, 13 species so far have not been known from this country. In total 51 species of fungi affecting different arthropods in Poland were recorded, among them 28 species of Entomophthorales and 23 anamorphic Hypocreales (Ascomycota) were separated. The most frequent species of the entomopathogenic fungi both in agricultural and afforested areas in Austria were the common and usually worldwide distributed cordycipitaceous anamorphs Beauveria bassiana, Isaria fumosorosea and in areas of this study less numerous I. farinosa. The most frequent pathogens occurring in mite communities on plants and in wood infested by insects were Hirsutella species. Several entomophthoralean species developed epizootics that caused high reduction in host populations of different arthropods in both countries. Especially interesting is the first record of mycoses (up to 60% mortality), caused by Zoophthora spp. on Phyllobius beetles in a mixed forest near Białowieża. During our joint research, we found the first time in Poland and Europe, the presence of the fungus Furia cf. shandongensis on earwigs and Hirsutella entomophila on Ips typographus adults in forest habitats. From the feeding sites of the latter bark beetle and other subcortical species in oak bark (mostly Dryocoetes villosus) and D. alni in black alder over a dozen of various Lecanicillium strains - including few of the features not allowing to classify them to any of so far known species – were isolated both from the scolytids and from accompanying them mites, but these materials have now been successively elaborated. From the commonly occurring in these materials acaropathogenic species Hirsutella cf. brownorum, H. minnesotensis, H. nodulosa and H. rostrata, the two latter infected also adult bark beetles, whereas from the larvae and pupae some supposed nematophagous anamorphs were isolated, among them Harposporium janus and Haptocillium sp.

Highlights

Entomopathogenic fungi, mostly these infecting numerous species of noxious insects and mites, have been long considered as having a great potential in biological control of pest arthropod and many of these species were included in different ways into the contemporary Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs (Pell et al 2001; Déguine, Ferron 2004; Karg, Bałazy 2009)
47 species of entomopathogenic fungi were found as pathogens of different arthropods in the country
From among 21 species of anamorphic Hypocreales (Ascomycota) affecting arthropods, 13 species so far have not been known from this country; among them 9 have been recognised as pathogens of mites (Tabs 1 and 2)

Summary

Introduction

Entomopathogenic fungi, mostly these infecting numerous species of noxious insects and mites (the latter named recently “acaropathogenic”), have been long considered as having a great potential in biological control of pest arthropod and many of these species were included in different ways into the contemporary Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs (Pell et al 2001; Déguine, Ferron 2004; Karg, Bałazy 2009). During last two decades extended studies on hyphomycetes in the soils under various utilization and management systems (Wegensteiner et al 1998; Hozzank et al 2003), as well on the Entomophthorales taxa – mainly on aphids (Barta et al 2003, 2005) – were undertaken and stimulated by the engagement of participants in the activity of COSTAction 842 and IOBC programs Studies of these fungi have been relatively well developed in Poland beginning from the second half of XIX-th century and incessantly continued up to the present in several universities and institutes. Gams et Zare and Metarhizium Sorokin were tested towards their value for application against important pest insects

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