Authors: Davidson, G.; Chandler, D.

Source: Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 98, Number 6, December 2005 , pp. 1848-1855(8)

Publisher: Entomological Society of America

Abstract:

Laboratory experiments were done to measure the susceptibility of larvae and adults of the onion maggot, Delia antiqua (Meigen) (Diptera: Muscidae: Anthomyiidae) to 27 isolates of entomopathogenic fungi from four genera [Beauveria Vuillemin, Lecanicillium (Petch) Zare & W. Gams, Metarhizium Sorokin, and Paecilomyces Bainier]. A novel bioassay was developed for D. antiqua larvae by using a diet based on mixed vegetable powder. When evaluated in a virulence screen, the fungal isolates caused less mortality of D. antiqua larvae than adults. Only three isolates caused >50% mortality of larvae, whereas 12 isolates caused >50% mortality of adults. Fungal species was a statistically significant factor affecting the mortality of larvae but not of adults. The fungal isolates causing the most mortality of larvae tended to belong to Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin. Two M. anisopliae isolates (389.93 and 392.93) were evaluated in dose-response bioassays. The median lethal concentrations of the isolates against larvae were 6.1 × 10⁷ conidia ml⁻¹ for isolate 389.93 and 7.6 × 10⁷ conidia ml⁻¹ for isolate 392.93. The emergence of adult flies from pupae was reduced at high concentrations of conidia (3.0 × 10⁸ and 1.0 × 10⁸ conidia ml⁻¹). The median lethal concentrations of the isolates against adults were 1.7 × 10⁷ and 4.0 × 10⁷ conidia ml⁻¹, respectively. Some of the fungal isolates examined may have potential as biological control agents of larvae of D. antiqua and related species.

Keywords: onion maggot; Delia antiqua; entomopathogenic fungi

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/0022-0493-98.6.1848

Publication date: 2005-12-01

More about this publication?

• Journal of Economic Entomology is published bimonthly in February, April, June, August, October, and December. The journal publishes articles on the economic significance of insects and is divided into the following sections: apiculture & social insects; arthropods in relation to plant disease; forum; insecticide resistance and resistance management; ecotoxicology; biological and microbial control; ecology and behavior; sampling and biostatistics; household and structural insects; medical entomology; molecular entomology; veterinary entomology; forest entomology; horticultural entomology; field and forage crops, and small grains; stored-product; commodity treatment and quarantine entomology; and plant resistance. In addition to research papers, Journal of Economic Entomology publishes Letters to the Editor, interpretive articles in a Forum section, Short Communications, Rapid Communications, and Book Reviews.
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