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Title: SYSPASTOSPORA PARASITICA A MYCOPRASITE OF THE FUNGUS BEAUVERIA BASSIANA ATTACKING THE COLORADO POTATO BEETLE LEPTINOTARSA DECEMLINEATA: A TRITROPHIC ASSOCIATION.

Author
item Posada-Florez, Francisco
item Vega, Fernando
item Rehner, Stephen
item BLACKWELL, MEREDITH - DEPT.BIOLOGY LSU.
item Weber, Donald
item SUH, SUNG-OUI - DEPT. OF BIOLOGY LSU
item Humber, Richard

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/12/2004
Publication Date: 7/15/2004
Citation: Posada, F.J., Vega, F.E., Rehner, S.A., Blackwell, M., Weber, D.C., Suh, S., Humber, R.A. 2004. Syspastospora parasitica on beauveria bassiana attacking the colorado potato beetle.. Journal of Insect Science. Vol.#4, Pg. 24

Interpretive Summary: The Colorado potato beetle is one of the most devastating pests of potatoes. Several organisms are known to attack and kill the Colorado potato beetle, including the insect pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. As part of our sampling for B. bassiana on Colorado potato beetles, we found specimens which had a parasitic fungus identified as Syspastospora parasitica attacking B. bassiana. This information provides scientists working on biological control with identification methods for the parasitic fungus S. parasitica.

Technical Abstract: Colorado potato beetles are commonly infected with the insect pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. We found some of the B. bassiana to be infected with a parasitic fungus identified as Syspastospora parasitica. This is the first report of the parasitic fungus S. parasitica on Colorado potato beetles infected with B. bassiana.