Initiation of fungal epizootics in diamondback moth populations within a large field cage: proof of concept for auto-dissemination

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Vickers, R. A., Furlong, M. J., White, A. and Pell, J. K. 2004. Initiation of fungal epizootics in diamondback moth populations within a large field cage: proof of concept for auto-dissemination. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 111 (1), pp. 7-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0013-8703.2004.00140.x

AuthorsVickers, R. A., Furlong, M. J., White, A. and Pell, J. K.
Abstract

Adult diamondback moths (DBM), Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), inoculated with the fungus Zoophthora radicans, were released within a large field cage containing DBM-infested potted broccoli plants. Larvae and pupae on exposed and caged control plants were examined on five occasions over the next 48 days for evidence of Z. radicans infection. Infected larvae were first detected on exposed plants 4 days after the initial release of adults, and after 48 days the infection level reached 79%. Aerially borne conidia were a factor in transmission of the fungus. Infection had no effect on possible losses of larval and adult cadavers due to scavengers in field crops. In a trial to measure the influence of infection on dispersal, twice as many non-infected as infected males were recaptured in pheromone traps, although the difference in cumulative catch only became significant 3 days after release of the males. In a separate experiment, when adult moths were inoculated with Beauveria bassiana conidia and released into the field cage, DBM larvae collected from 37 of 96 plants sampled 4 days later subsequently died from B. bassiana infection. The distribution of plants from which the infected larvae were collected was random, but the distribution of infected larvae was clustered within the cage. These findings suggest that the auto-dissemination of fungal pathogens may be a feasible strategy for DBM control, provided that epizootics can be established and maintained when DBM population densities are low.

KeywordsEntomology
Year of Publication2004
JournalEntomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
Journal citation111 (1), pp. 7-17
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0013-8703.2004.00140.x
Open accessPublished as non-open access
Funder project or code436
509
Utilising populations of natural enemies for control of cereal aphids
ISSN00138703
0013-8703
PublisherWiley

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