Biological control of Gonipterus: Uncovering the associations between eucalypts, weevils and parasitoids in their native range

Garcia, André; Allen, Gordon; Oberprieler, Rolf G.; Ramos, Ana Paula; Valente, Carlos; Reis, Ana Balcão; Franco, José Carlos; Branco, Manuela

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2019.04.004

Cited by 13 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Beyond the virulence traits addressed in the present study, additional efforts should be placed on determining the most tolerant fungal strains to heat, dehydration (osmotic stress), UV-tolerance, mass production of spores, as well as bioefficacy under field applications before developing a commercial mycoinsecticide against this insect pest. Taken all together, the present study paves the way for the development of an effective mycoinsecticide against G. platensis in Brazil that has minimal negative impact on the environment and beneficial insects 33 . After examining a significant range of fungal strains, the highly virulent strains chosen here, B. bassiana (IBCB-240) and M. anisopliae (IBCB-364), appear to be excellent candidates for the development of new mycoinsecticides for use in a commercial biological control program specifically designed to manage this invasive pest in Brazilian eucalyptus plantations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Entomopathogenic fungi as the microbial frontline against the alien Eucalyptus pest Gonipterus platensis in Brazil

Jordan

Santos

Oliveira

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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The eucalyptus snout beetle (ESB), Gonipterus platensis, is endemic to Australia but has become a major invasive, destructive pest of Brazilian eucalyptus plantations. Efforts to develop insecticides based on entomopathogenic fungi against ESB are limited by the lack of known virulent strains. We therefore explored the virulence of indigenous Brazilian strains of major entomopathogenic fungi—Beauveria spp. and Metarhizium anisopliae—against ESB adults. We found widely varying virulence and later capacities for conidial production on infected adult cadavers. Two strains stood out, B. bassiana IBCB-240 and M. anisopliae IBCB-364, as especially lethal for ESB adults under laboratory conditions, sporulated abundantly on infected insects, and also outperformed comparable strains used in commercial mycoinsecticides. Notably, B. bassiana IBCB-240 exhibited lower LT50 values at low inoculum levels (≤ 107 conidia mL−1) and smaller LC50 values than M. anisopliae IBCB-364. Taken together, this study emphasizes natural variation in virulence among indigenous Beauveria and Metarhizium strains against ESB adults and identifies fungal strains with superior lethality to existing commercialized strains for managing this eucalyptus pest in Brazil.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Entomopathogenic fungi as the microbial frontline against the alien Eucalyptus pest Gonipterus platensis in Brazil

Jordan

Santos

Oliveira

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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“…In their native range, several species of Gonipterus may co‐exist utilizing the same hosts (Mapondera et al ., 2012; Garcia et al ., 2019), which makes it more challenging to differentiate species, particularly those that are part of complexes of cryptic species. Six species were found in this study in a small plantation area, two of them still undescribed, whereas the other four are in need of revision or are in the process of being described.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The discovery of cryptic species in the genus rendered much of the knowledge about their native ranges, host specificity, distribution and natural enemies obsolete, and therefore, recent surveys were conducted in the weevils' native ranges to ascertain their correct identities and associations with host plants and natural enemies (Garcia et al ., 2019; Schröder et al ., in prep.). It is now also evident that other undescribed species belong to the G. scutellatus complex and that more may exist in areas not covered by previous studies (Mapondera et al ., 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As the challenges with Gonipterus continue, a renewed interest has arisen to search for new agents to augment the biocontrol in areas where parasitism by A. nitens is suboptimal and, in light of current taxonomic knowledge, to better understand the trophic relationships among the weevils and their hosts and parasitoids. The existence of a variety of egg and larval parasitoids of Gonipterus has been progressively unveiled (Tooke, 1955; Tribe, 2003; Loch, 2008; Colless, 2012; Valente et al ., 2017), and some of the tritrophic relationship between weevils, parasitoids and host trees has been recently investigated (Garcia et al ., 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gonipterus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in subtropical Australia: host associations and natural enemies

2021

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Gonipterus is a genus of defoliating weevils that causes significant impact in commercially grown eucalypts in their native range in southern Australia and as invasive pests in Western Australia and several countries overseas. The diversity of species in this genus is still in the process of discovery, and in subtropical Australia, its diversity and ecological parameters are largely unknown. We surveyed Gonipterus phenology, species composition and trophic associations in South East Queensland, where little has been recorded about this genus. Surveys were conducted once a month in a non‐commercial plantation of native eucalypts, where three species of trees were sampled regularly and others checked on an ad hoc basis. On each sampling occasion, adult weevils, larvae and egg capsules were collected, adults identified, larvae reared and egg capsules individualized in small containers for emergence of larvae and parasitoids. Two peaks of egg‐laying occurred, whereas numbers of adults and larvae had only one peak each. Six species of Gonipterus were collected: two described but in need of revision, two undescribed but previously recognized and two undescribed and hitherto unrecognized, each with a different pattern of host–tree association. Three egg‐parasitoid species, Anaphes nitens, Centrodora damoni and Euderus sp. were reared from egg capsules, varying in prevalence according to the tree species from which the eggs were collected.

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“…and Euderus sp. [ 11 ], while control of the pupae of this pest, which occurs in the soil, has been deficient.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Steinernema diaprepesi (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) parasitizing Gonipterus platensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

et al. 2020

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Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) can control pests due to mutualistic association with bacteria that reproduce and kill the host from septicemia, making the environment favourable for nematode development and reproduction. The objective of this study was to identify an EPN isolate collected in eucalyptus cultivation and to determine its pathogenicity with regard to Gonipterus platensis Marelli (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Four steel-mesh traps with two seventh-instar Galleria mellonella larvae were buried 5 cm deep in the soil in a commercial Eucalyptus plantation. After 7 days, the traps were packed in plastic bags and transported to laboratory to isolate the EPNs using White traps. The obtained nematodes were multiplied in G. mellonella larvae and identified by sequencing their D2/D3 expansion of the 28S rDNA region by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and specific primers for ITS regions. Steinernema diaprepesi was identified and inoculated into G. platensis pupae at doses of 500, 1000 and 5000 infective juveniles (IJs) to determine its pathogenicity to this pest. At 8 days after inoculation, the mortality rate of the G. platensis pupae was 80% with the lowest concentration and 100% with the others. The emergence of nematodes and the rapid degradation of G. platensis pupae were observed in those inoculated with IJs. The pathogenicity to the G. platensis pupae indicates potential for using this nematode in the integrated management of this insect.

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Biological control of Gonipterus: Uncovering the associations between eucalypts, weevils and parasitoids in their native range

Cited by 13 publications

References 32 publications

Entomopathogenic fungi as the microbial frontline against the alien Eucalyptus pest Gonipterus platensis in Brazil

Entomopathogenic fungi as the microbial frontline against the alien Eucalyptus pest Gonipterus platensis in Brazil

Gonipterus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in subtropical Australia: host associations and natural enemies

Steinernema diaprepesi (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) parasitizing Gonipterus platensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

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