Microbial Control of Invasive Forest Pests with Entomopathogenic Fungi: A Review of the Current Situation

Abstract

The health of the forestlands of the world is impacted by a number of insect pests and some of them cause significant damage with serious economic and environmental implications. Whether it is damage of the North American cypress aphid in South America and Africa, or the destruction of maple trees in North America by the Asian long horned beetle, invasive forest pests are a major problem in many parts of the world. Several studies explored microbial control opportunities of invasive forest pests with entomopathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and some are successfully utilized as a part of integrated forest pest management programs around the world. This manuscript discusses some invasive pests and the status of their microbial control around the world with entomopathogenic fungi.

Abundance of Entomopathogenic Fungi in Leaf Litter and Soil Layers in Forested Habitats in Poland

“…According to Bałazy [ 17 ], the soils of seminatural environments constitute an important reservoir of EPF populations in the natural landscape, from which they can spread into the habitats of cultivated fields and meadows. Entomopathogenic fungi provide an invaluable service of suppressing pest populations and preventing pest outbreaks in forest habitats [ 14 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

The Threat of Pests and Pathogens and the Potential for Biological Control in Forest Ecosystems

“…Non-native insects target healthy trees that typically lack the resistance to these recently arrived species. They are responsible for the mortality of millions of trees in Europe and North America, and their potential for invasion and subsequent spread constitutes a major threat to the health of the world's forests [23][24][25].…”

Identification of Entomopathogenic Fungi as Naturally Occurring Enemies of the Invasive Oak Lace Bug, Corythucha arcuata (Say) (Hemiptera: Tingidae)

“…There are several invasive insect pests in forest ecosystems that have been targets of various management practices, including microbial control with native or introduced entomopathogens [ 29 ]. The biological control of pests by using entomopathogenic fungi is an attractive alternative to the use of chemical pesticides, mainly because these fungi are safer for humans, animals, and the environment [ 30 ].…”

“…The biological control of pests by using entomopathogenic fungi is an attractive alternative to the use of chemical pesticides, mainly because these fungi are safer for humans, animals, and the environment [ 30 ]. More than 700 fungal species from 100 orders are estimated as potential bioagents; however, a majority of important insect pathogens belong to the phylum Ascomycota and order Hypocreales, as well as to Entomophthoromycota, order Entomophthorales [ 29 , 31 ]. The search for virulent fungal isolates against a target host preferably begins with the resident (native) antagonists, because these will be adapted for survival in the target environment.…”