First report of Lema bilineata Germar (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) damaging Physalis peruviana (L.) in Brazil

Abstract

Increased production of the Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) in Brazil has given rise to interest in identifying the phytophagous species that might damage this crop to inform preventive control and integrated pest management strategies. In this study, we report the occurrence and describe the damage that larvae and adults of Lema bilineata Germar (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) cause in P. peruviana. The number of L. bilineata individuals, both larvae and adults, significantly affected the total consumption of P. peruviana leaves. We also report, for the first time, three natural enemies, including a fungus, a fly, and an ant, which are associated with this pest in Brazil and may play a role in biological control strategies.

Isolation of Beauveria Strains and Their Potential as Control Agents for Lema bilineata Germar (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

“…Larvae were kept until adulthood, and adult specimens were observed under a stereoscopic microscope (Stemi 508, Zeiss; 2.5×) for species confirmation. Insects were reared in the laboratory under controlled conditions (25 ± 1 • C, 70 ± 10% RH, and 14L:10D photoperiod) [4]. The adults were kept in 120 mL plastic containers with small orifices for gas exchange.…”

“…Lema bilineata Germar (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a defoliating insect that feeds on host plants of the Solanaceae family [1]. It causes considerable economic damage during its larval and adult phases in crops of Physalis peruviana (L.) in Chile and Argentina [2]; Italy [3]; and, recently, Brazil [4]. Moreover, this Coleoptera has been reported to damage Physalis viscosa (L.) in Australia [5], and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) in Argentina and South Africa [6,7].…”

“…Currently, no authorized biological or chemical pesticides for controlling L. bilineata are available in Brazil. The damage caused by this coleoptera on P. peruviana and the absence of commercial pesticides have led producers and agricultural technicians to seek alternatives [8], which include biological controls [4,9]. In this regard, the search in the wild for natural enemies, such as parasitoids, predators, and entomopathogenic fungi, associated with this coleoptera pest species is crucial for guiding new research on organisms with the potential to be used in conservation biological control strategies or applied biological control programs [4,10,11].…”

“…The damage caused by this coleoptera on P. peruviana and the absence of commercial pesticides have led producers and agricultural technicians to seek alternatives [8], which include biological controls [4,9]. In this regard, the search in the wild for natural enemies, such as parasitoids, predators, and entomopathogenic fungi, associated with this coleoptera pest species is crucial for guiding new research on organisms with the potential to be used in conservation biological control strategies or applied biological control programs [4,10,11]. A highly diverse range of entomopathogenic fungi can be naturally present in agroecosystems, acting as regulators of arthropod pest populations [12,13].…”

“…In 2018, during the collection of L. bilineata individuals in P. peruviana crops in the Paraná state (Brazil), it was observed that L. bilineata adults were infected by Beauveria bassiana ((Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin) (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) [4]. Although entomopathogenic fungi have been widely used against a number of insect pests, no data on the efficacy of these fungi against L. bilineata are available.…”