Effect of Two Entomopathogenic Fungi in Controlling Aleurodicus cocois (Curtis, 1846) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

Abstract

A B S T R A C TAleurodicus cocois (Curtis, 1846), the coconut whitefly, is a very damaging pest in Peru, mainly in avocado trees (Persea americana Mill.). It has been determined that entomopathogenic fungi can infect and kill white flies and can be used as biological control agents. The object of this research was to determine if there is any synergic action of the entomopathogenic fungi Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Wize) Brown & Smith 1957 and Verticillium lecanii (Zimmerman, 1892) Viégas 1939, in controlling A. cocois. Plastic sterile dishes were prepared where 5 mL 2% agar were used for each stage; leaves infested with A. cocois were placed upon these. Three different treatments were applied by sprinkling: P. fumosoroseus (P), V. lecanii (V) or the mixture of the two fungi. These treatments were evaluated at one, two and seven days in the case of nymph I and eggs, and after four, eight and 12 days for nymph II, NIII and NIV. The lethal effect of V. lecanii on the second nymph instar of A. cocois was better than that of P. fumosoroseus and than the mixture of both fungi; the highest mortality percentage appeared from day eight to day 12. A small increase was observed in the effect of the mixture of the two entomopathogenic fungi on the IV nymph instar, and the effect of P. fumosoroseus was the lowest.

Paecilomyces and Its Importance in the Biological Control of Agricultural Pests and Diseases

“…Nymphal and larval stages tend to be more vulnerable than eggs as they have defence structures in their chorion. P. fumosoroseus is capable of affecting whitefly Aleurodicus cocois at various developmental stages [ 234 ]. Similarly, the physical barriers of Leptinotarsa decemlineata pupae make them more resistant than their larvae to Isaria fumosorosea infection [ 235 ].…”

Co-inoculum of Beauveria brongniartii and B. bassiana shows in vitro different metabolic behaviour in comparison to single inoculums

“…To increase the biocontrol efficacy, combinations of different antagonist organisms have been utilized: fungal mixtures 6,7 and bacterial/fungal mixtures 5,8–10 or only bacterial mixtures 11,12 . The application of a dual inoculum composed by Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium flavoviride to control grasshoppers populations was used, for example, to overcome some of the temperature constraints encountered in the use of a single species 13 .…”

A Review of the Biology and Control of Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), with Special Reference to Biological Control Using Entomopathogenic Fungi

“…Common species of EPF (B. bassiana, M. anisopliae, and I. fumosorosea) with potential importance in biological control have been commercially produced and documented [88,89]. EPF that infect and kill all developmental stages of the whitefly species complex are mostly derived from the genera Verticillium, Isaria, and Aschersonia [25]. Most of the EPF involved in B. tabaci control studies were species from the following genera: Aschersonia, Beauveria, Isaria (Paecilomyces), Lecanicillium (formerly Verticillium), and Metarhizium [1].…”

“…Species such as Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Isaria fumosoroseus, Ashersonia spp., and Verticillium lecanii are the most common EPF with potentials as biocontrol agents for B. tabaci [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. EPF are known to infect and kill all life stages of B. tabaci [ 25 ]. This paper is therefore intended to discuss the management of B. tabaci , with special reference to biological control using EPF as a component of an IPM system.…”