Spatial separation of semiochemical Lurem‐TR and entomopathogenic fungi to enhance their compatibility and infectivity in an autoinoculation system for thrips management

Abstract

BACKGROUNDThe effect of spatial separation of the semiochemical Lurem‐TR, which has been found to inhibit conidia of entomopathogenic fungi when put together, on the persistence of conidia of Metarhizium brunneum and M. anisopliae was evaluated in the greenhouse and field in order to develop an autodissemination strategy for the management of Megalurothrips sjostedti on cowpea crop. Influence of spatial separation of the semiochemical on thrips attraction and conidial acquisition by thrips from the autoinoculation device was also investigated in the field.RESULTSPersistence of conidia of M. brunneum and M. anisopliae increased with distance of separation of Lurem‐TR. Direct exposure of fungus without separation from Lurem‐TR recorded the lowest conidial germination as compared with the other treatments. Attraction of thrips to the device also varied significantly according to distance between device and semiochemical, with a higher number of thrips attracted when Lurem‐TR was placed in a container below the device and at 10 cm distance. There was no significant difference in conidial acquisition between spatial separation treatments of conidia and Lurem‐TR. Attraction of other insect pests to the device did not significantly vary between treatments. Positive correlations were found between conidial acquisition and thrips attraction.CONCLUSIONThis study suggests that spatial separation of fungal conidia from Lurem‐TR in an autoinoculation device could provide a low‐cost strategy for effective management of thrips in grain legume cropping systems. © 2015 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Performance of Metarhizium anisopliae‐treated foam in combination with Phytoseiulus longipes Evans against Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard (Acari: Tetranychidae)

“…). These results suggest that the fungus‐treated foam approach could be a sustainable strategy against this pest and an alternative to expensive inundative applications, as suggested by Mfuti et al …”

“…5). These results suggest that the fungus-treated foam approach could be a sustainable strategy against this pest and an alternative to expensive inundative applications, as suggested by Mfuti et al 27 The fungus-treated foam and the release of P. longipes did not provide additional benefits to the fungus alone in terms of mite infestation, the LMDI and the number of T. evansi recorded on leaf 3. The treated foam used alone or combined with the predatory mites had the same effect on mite infestation in treatments T5 and T7.…”

Effects of Entomopathogenic fungi and Bacillus thuringiensis‐based biopesticides on Spoladea recurvalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

“…However, recently, autodissemination contamination devices were developed to infect fruit flies (Dimbi, Maniania, Lux, Ekesi, & Mueke, ), tsetse flies (Maniania, , ) and thrips (Niassy, Maniania, Subramanian, Gitonga, & Ekesi, ). These have been tested in the field with success (Ekesi, Dimbi, & Maniania, ; Maniania, Ekesi, Odulaja, Okech, & Nadel, ; Mfuti et al., ). This novel cost‐effective autodissemination strategy could consequently also be exploited or adapted for S. recurvalis population suppression.…”

Integrated pest management in western flower thrips: past, present and future

“…Use of LUREM‐T together with the WFT predator O. laevigatus increased the abundance of the latter . The ‘lure and infect’ strategy employs LUREM‐T for autodissemination of the entomopathogenic fungus M. anisopliae by attracting thrips to particular traps provided with fungal inoculum …”