Susceptibility of Vespula vulgaris (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) to Generalist Entomopathogenic Fungi and Their Potential for Wasp Control

Abstract

The pathogenicity of Vespula vulgaris wasp workers and larvae to a range of fungi was determined. All fungi were isolated in New Zealand and included isolates from Vespula, known generalist insect pathogens, and isolates generally nonpathogenic to insects. Workers and larvae were highly susceptible to pathogenic isolates at high spore concentrations (>1.75 × 105 cfu/individual). Eight isolates, two of Metarhizium anisopliae, five of Beauveria bassiana, and one of Aspergillus flavus were pathogenic while a single isolate of M. flavouiride var. novazealandicum, Cladosporium sp., and Paecilomyces sp. were not. The transfer of spores between workers, and between workers and larvae, was also investigated using several different application methods. Transfer of spores occurred between treated and untreated individuals, and for some of the application methods sufficient spores were transferred to cause mortality of the nontreated individuals. These findings are related to the potential of fungi for the control of wasps.