Efficacy of Metarhizium brunneum and Beauveria bassiana isolates against the European tent caterpillar, Malacosoma neustria Linnaeus, 1758 (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

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Topkara E. F., Yanar O., Sahin F., YANAR Y., YANAR D.

EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL, vol.32, no.1, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 32 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1186/s41938-022-00588-6
  • Journal Name: EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Arab World Research Source, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Keywords: Entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium brunneum, European tent caterpillar, Virulence, BACILLUS-THURINGIENSIS
  • Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background The European tent caterpillar Malacosoma neustria Linnaeus, 1758 (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), a worldwide pest, feeds on a wide variety of woody and shrub-like plants in its larval stage and causes extensive economic losses. In the fight against this species, environmentally friendly biological control methods should be preferred instead of chemical control. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Metarhizium brunneum (ORP-13) and Beauveria bassiana (GOPT-301-2) isolates against the fourth instar larvae of M. neustria under laboratory conditions. Results M. neustria eggs were collected from the Kizilirmak Delta of Samsun Province, Turkey, and the fourth instar larvae were used in the experiment. Larvae in the control group were fed on sterilized leaves of Eleagnus rhamnoides. Both fungal isolates were applied onto the larvae at 2 ml for each concentration (1 x 10(6), 1 x 10(7), and 1 x 10(8) conidia ml(-1)). Ten larvae were placed in each group, and sterilized E. rhamnoides leaves were offered to the larvae. The study was carried out in 9 replicates for each group, and the larvae were observed for 14 days. As a result of the study, it was found that the survival rates of the larvae decreased as concentration increased. It was determined that both isolates caused 100% mortality at 1 x 10(8) conidia ml(-1) concentration. The lowest LC50 value was found in larvae exposed to the ORP-13 isolate. Conclusion It has been suggested that M. brunneum and B. bassiana isolates were virulent for M. neustria larvae and can be used for biological control of this species.