Calyx fluid proteins of two Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) biotypes in Kenya: Implications to biological control of the stem borer Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Environmental Entomology

Publication Date

12-1-1990

Abstract

The pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Wize) Brown & Smith to the onion maggot, Delia antiqua (Meigen), was studied at 50% RH in the laboratory. Conidiospores of P. Fumosoroseus sprayed on puparia of the onion maggot at the concentration 1 × 10 8 ml -1 (=4 × 10 5 cm -2) increased pupal mortality to 47.5% as compared with 6.6% in the controls. There was no latent effect on adults that emerged from treated puparia. Spores of B. Bassiana sprayed at the same concentration had no effect on pupal and adult mortality. Sixteen additional species of fungi were recovered from test puparia during reisolation of B. Bassiana and P. Fumosoroseus. Species from the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, Geotrichum, Penicillium, Mucor, and Scopulariopsis were isolated, A. Clavatus Desmazières being the most common among them. This fungus grew faster than the entomopathogens in vitro and might have inhibited their action in vivo.

Keywords

Biological control, Delia antiqua, Insecta, Relative humidity

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS