Feeding on Beauveria bassiana-treated Frankliniella occidentalis causes negative effects on the predatory mite Neoseiulus barkeri

Abstract

The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana and the predatory mite Neoseiulus barkeri are both potential biocontrol agents for their shared host/prey Frankliniella occidentalis. The combination of the two agents may enhance biological control of F. occidentalis if the fungus does not negatively affect N. barkeri. This study evaluated the indirect effects of B. bassiana strain SZ-26 on N. barkeri mediated by F. occidentalis using the age-stage, two-sex life table. When fed on the first instar larvae of F. occidentalis that had been exposed for 12 h to the SZ-26 suspension, the developmental time of preadult N. barkeri was significantly longer, and the longevity and fecundity were significantly lower than that of N. barkeri fed on untreated F. occidentalis. The mean generation time (T), net reproductive rate (R0), finite rate of increase (λ), intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) and predation rates were correspondingly affected. The data showed that B. bassiana has indirect negative effects on N. barkeri population dynamics via influencing their prey F. occidentalis larvae, which indicates that there is a risk in combining B. bassiana with N. barkeri simultaneously for the biocontrol of F. occidentalis. The probable mechanism for the negative effects is discussed.

Susceptibility of Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), a Eucalyptus pest, to entomopathogenic fungi

“…The use of fungi can complement the biological control of T. peregrinus with Cleruchoides noackae (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), Hemerobius bolivari (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae), and Chysoperla externa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) as the main natural enemies reported for this pest (Nadel and Noack, 2012;Souza et al, 2012;Garcia et al, 2013). However, entomopathogenic fungi can cause adverse effects to the biological life history parameters of natural enemies (Agboton et al, 2013;Wu et al, 2015). Thus, the application of entomopathogenic fungi should be carefully adjusted to complement the biological systems of pest control (Furlong, 2004;Oreste et al, 2016).…”

Pesticide-mediated interspecific competition between local and invasive thrips pests

“…Development of resistance to either of these two major insecticides used in China, would be problematic because of the lack of alternatives37. To help mitigate problems with either species, integrated pest management (IPM) programs that emphasize the conservation of biological control agents or use of microbial biopesticides should be implemented233738394041424344.…”

Provisioning predatory mites with entomopathogenic fungi or pollen improves biological control of a greenhouse psyllid pest

“…The population growth of A. limonicus may be affected by dry conidia when the mites fed on the mixture of dry conidia and T. orientalis pollen. B. bassiana SZ‐26 conidia had no direct pathogenicity to the predatory mite N. barkeri – the conidia were not able to penetrate the cuticle of N. barkeri and could be ingested by N. barkeri , although the fungi had indirect harmful effects on the life table parameters and body size of N. barkeri when feeding on B. bassiana ‐treated F. occidentalis . Similarly, feeding on N. tanajoae ‐treated M. tanajoa reduced the survival rates and oviposition of the predatory mite T. aripo .…”

“…B. bassiana SZ-26 conidia had no direct pathogenicity to the predatory mite N. barkeri -the conidia were not able to penetrate the cuticle of N. barkeri and could be ingested by N. barkeri, although the fungi had indirect harmful effects on the life table parameters and body size of N. barkeri when feeding on B. bassiana-treated F. occidentalis. [76][77][78] Similarly, feeding on N. tanajoae-treated M. tanajoa reduced the survival rates and oviposition of the predatory mite T. aripo. 52 Also, B. bassiana dry residue significantly reduced the survival rates and fecundity of A. swirskii under laboratory conditions.…”