Biological control of Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae) and Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) by Bombus impatiens (Hymenoptera: Apidae) vectored Beauveria bassiana in greenhouse sweet pepper

Abstract

The ability of bumble bees to disseminate conidia of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin from hive-mounted dispensers to greenhouse sweet peppers for the control of tarnished plant bug (TPB) and western Xower thrips (WFT) was investigated in greenhouse trials using large screened enclosures. Samples collected from the enclosures (four treatments) on two sampling dates showed that 97, 90, 91, and 42% of the collected bees, Xowers, leaves, and TPB, respectively, showed detectable densities of B. bassiana on the Wrst sampling date. On the second sampling date, 99, 96, 87, and 30% of collected bees, Xowers, leaves, and TPB, respectively, showed detectable densities of the fungus. Mean mortalities of TPB collected from cages treated with B. bassiana were 34 and 45% compared to 9 and 15% in the controls on the Wrst and second sampling dates, respectively. Mean infection rates of WFT were 40 and 34% compared to 3% in the controls on the Wrst and second sampling dates, respectively. These results indicate that bumble bees are an eVective means of vectoring the fungal conidia to the crop. The pollinator vector technology is a novel example of integrating agro-ecosystem processes of pollination and pest management, that reduces the reliance on insecticides and increases crop yields and quality.

A laboratory evaluation to determine the compatibility of microbiological control agents with the pollinator Bombus terrestris

“…As a consequence, the conidia of the fungus B. bassiana GHA are able to survive and grow on the bumblebee body, resulting in death of the insect. In contrast, Al‐Mazra'awi et al 20 reported that B. bassiana GHA is safe for use in combination with the Eastern North American bumblebee, B. impatiens , in a vector system to control pest insects; however, it should be mentioned that in the latter experiments the fungus B. bassiana was applied as a dry formulation. In the same year, Al‐Mazra'awi et al 36 made a similar report that honey bees were not affected when exposed to dormant conidia via walking through a dry powder formulation of B. bassiana conidia.…”

“…In contrast, in the present tests the bumblebees were treated via contact with a water suspension of the conidia, and this may explain the high worker toxicity observed. Al‐mazra'awi et al 20 and Fernandes et al 31 also reported negative side effects on B. impatiens and A. mellifera when the surfactant Tween 80 was added to Botanigard ® , leading to good germination. In this context, the present authors believe that the toxicity of the fungus B. bassiana may differ owing to differences in conidial thermotolerance and the type of formulation and exposure method.…”

“…Bombus terrestris and Bombus pratorum L. have both been reported as hosts for B. bassiana 19. However, no adverse effects have been recorded from the pollinator Bombus impatiens Cresson after treatment with B. bassiana 20. By contrast, high mortality was reported in B. terrestris after treatment with B. bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.)…”

Expression of Defense Responses in Tomato against Vascular Wilt and Fruit Borer through Consortia of Fluorescent Pseudomonads and Entomopathogenic Fungi

“…Recently, entomopathogenic microorganisms provide an alternative method to reduce the use of synthetic pesticide in integrated pest management in sustainable agriculture (Liu et al, 2002;Al-mazaawi et al, 2006 (Vanitha and Parthasarathy, 2017) has been used extensively for the control of wide range of insect pests and also induce systemic resistance by activating lipoxygenase pathways. It is also known to be a plant growth promoting fungi (PGPF), when applied as consortial mode into soil.…”

Topically applied myco-acaricides for the control of cattle ticks: overcoming the challenges

“…in areas used to rear silkworm (Bombyx mori Steinhaus) with no adverse effect . In fact, Butt et al (1998) used honeybees to vector M. anisopliae for the control of the pollen beetle, Meligethes aeneus Fabricius, while the bumble bee, Bombus impatiens Cresson, has successfully vectored B. bassiana (Al-Mazra'awi et al 2006). Utilizing isolates with a broad ecological host range is not without merit.…”