Factors affecting the toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis and Bacillus sphaericus to fourth instar larvae of Chironomus tepperi (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Abstract

Laboratory bioassays (48 h duration, 25 ± 1 °C) were used to determine the toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis ( B.t.i.) and Bacillus sphaericus to fourth instar larvae of Chironomus tepperi, a major pest of rice in southern Australia. Bioassays were conducted using different combinations of larval ages and densities to determine if these factors affected toxicity. The effects of temperature and substrate type on B.t.i. toxicity were also investigated. Tests were conducted using a commercial B.t.i. formulation (VectoBac WDG, 3000 ITU/mg), a spore/crystal mixture derived from the VectoBac WDG strain, and VectoLex WDG, a commercial B. sphaericus formulation (650 ITU/mg). VectoBac WDG was highly toxic to fourth instar C. tepperi in bioassays using a sand substrate (LC 50 0.46 mg/L, older larvae); younger fourth instar larvae were more susceptible (LC 50 0.20 mg/L). Increasing larval densities (from 10 to 30 per bioassay cup) increased LC 50 values for both age groups, significantly so in the case of older larvae (higher density LC 50 0.80 mg/L). Use of a soil substrate increased the LC 50 value (older larvae, 10 per cup) to 0.99 mg/L. Similar differences in toxicity relative to larval age and substrate type were found in bioassays using the B.t.i. spore/crystal mixture. VectoBac WDG and the spore/crystal mixture both showed similar (approximately 6-fold) declines in activity between 30 and 17.5 °C. At lower temperatures (between 17.5 and 15 °C), activity of the spore/crystal mixture declined much more rapidly than that of VectoBac WDG. VectoLex WDG showed very low toxicity to C. tepperi larvae, and the overall impact of larval age and density was relatively minor (LC 50 values 1062–1340 mg/L). Autoclaving VectoLex WDG did not substantially reduce its toxicity (LC 50 1426 mg/L), suggesting that formulation additives (i.e., surfactants and other adjuvants) are responsible for much of the toxicity occurring at the high product concentrations required to cause C. tepperi mortality. Whilst VectoLex WDG was ineffective against C. tepperi, VectoBac WDG has the potential to provide selective control of this rice pest at economically viable application rates.