Abstract
We evaluated the efficacy of four entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and their compatibility with the bioinsecticide spinosad for control of Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) under laboratory conditions. Three EPF, including Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Criveili) Vuillemin isolates Z1 and Iran 1395C, Lecanicillium (= Verticillium) lecanii (Zimmerman) Zare & Gams, isolate Iran 229, and Purpureocillium (Paecilomyces) lilacinum (Thom) Luangs-ard, Hywel-Jones & Samson, isolate Iran 1026 were tested against third and fifth larval instars of Ephestia kuehniella using a filter paper bioassay. Mortality caused by the EPF ranged from 63.3-72.5% for third instars and 50-65.5% for fifth instars, with LT50 ranging from 8.4-10.5 d and 10.1-12.9 d, respectively. The effect of spinosad at LC10 (= 26.2 ppm) on EPF spore germination was evaluated and found to be negligible, ranging from 0% for B. bassiana Z1 to 5.7% for P. lilacinum. The LC50 values for spinosad against third and fifth instar E. kuehniella larvae were 452.5 and 1446 ppm, respectively. Subsequently, spinosad at LC10 was applied to third instar E. kuehniella larvae 24 h before application of the EPFs at LC50. The addition of spinosad to applications of L. lecanii and B. bassiana Z1 and Iran1395C isolates synergized their pathogenicity to E. kuehniella larvae, whereas the effect was merely additive for P. lilacinum. Our results suggest that these EPF isolates can be used effectively in combination with spinosad for management of E. kuehniella in stored products.
Highlights
The Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a cosmopolitan pest of many stored products, especially grains and flours (BenLalli et al, 2011)
The shortest estimated LT50 value was for third instar larvae exposed to B. bassiana Iran 1395C, but this was not significantly different from LT values obtained for the three other Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF)
All fungal isolates tested were effective against E. kuehniella larvae with no significant differences among them when applied alone
Summary
The Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a cosmopolitan pest of many stored products, especially grains and flours (BenLalli et al, 2011). Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are potential biological control agents that have been used with some success against stored product pests (Draganova & Markova, 2006; Buda & Peciulyte 2008; Barra et al, 2013; Batta & Kavallieratos, 2018). These microorganisms infect arthropods when their spores attach to a host and germinate, producing appressoria that penetrate the host cuticle, enabling subsequent growth of mycelia thoughout the arthropod body (Gabarty et al, 2014; Mora et al, 2017). The results of Draganova & Markova (2006) demonstrated the virulence of four B. bassiana isolates, two M. anisopliae isolates, and one isolate of Lecanicillium (= Verticillium) lecanii (Zimm.) Zare & Gams against E. kuehniella larvae. The isolate 383Bb of B. bassiana was the most virulent of those tested
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