Abstract
Five non-spore-forming bacteria were isolated from the European cockchafer, Melolontha melolontha (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Their potential was tested against the three economic insect pests, the great spruce bark beetle, Dendroctonus micans Kugelann (Coleoptera: Curculionidae); the pine processionary, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae); and the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (Linn.) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), to find an effective biological control agent. All isolated bacteria were cultured and identified using VITEK bacterial identification systems and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The bacteria were identified as Enterobacter cloacae complex (isolate 1M), Serratia marcescens (isolate 3M), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (isolate 4M), Kocuria kristinae (isolate 5M), and Serratia liquefaciens (isolate 8M). Laboratory experiments, carried out to evaluate the virulence of these isolates, showed that all isolated bacteria had a pathogenic effect on the tested pests. E. cloacae had 35, 56.7, and 84%; S. marcescens 50, 60.9, and 47.8%; P. aeruginosa 55, 69.6, and 48%; K. kristinae 40, 43.5, and 16%; and S. liquefaciens 45, 65.2, and 36% mortality rates on the larvae of D. micans, T. pityocampa, and L. dispar, respectively. The isolated bacteria can be considered in integrated pest control programs.
Highlights
New pest management strategies tend to minimize the impact on the environment and non-target organisms (Ruiu et al 2013)
The successful use of entomopathogens results in an alternative pest management for insect control. Bacteria and their toxins are the most commercially microbial insecticides used successfully in biological control. Entomopathogenic bacteria such as Bacillus thuringiensis are generally known as lower risk pesticides than chemicals
Entomopathogenic bacteria are commonly isolated from host insects or soil (Thiery and Frachon 1997)
Summary
New pest management strategies tend to minimize the impact on the environment and non-target organisms (Ruiu et al 2013). Entomopathogenic bacteria are commonly isolated from host insects or soil (Thiery and Frachon 1997). Isolation and characterization of nonspore-forming bacteria from M. melolontha larvae were presented and their potentials on three economic insect pests were documented. Insect samples Samples of M. melolontha larvae were collected from Ordu province, Turkey, targeting isolate entomopathogenic bacteria.
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