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Title: SUSCEPTIBILITY OF LARVAL STAGES OF THE APHID PARASITOIDS APHIDIUS COLEMANI AND A. MATRICARIAE TO THE ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGUS BEAUVERIA BASSIANA

Author
item FILOTAS, M - CORNELL UNIVERSITY
item SANDERSON, J - CORNELL UNIVERSITY
item WRAIGHT, STEPHEN

Submitted to: Society for Invertebrate Pathology Annual Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/18/2005
Publication Date: 8/7/2005
Citation: Filotas, M., Sanderson, J., Wraight, S.P. Susceptibility of larval stages of the aphid parasitoids aphidius colemani and a. matricariae to the entomopathogenic fungus beauveria bassiana. Society for Invertebrate Pathology Annual Meeting Proceedings. 38:81.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, and the melon aphid, Aphis gossypii, are common pests of commercial greenhouse crops throughout the United States. The hymenopteran parasitoids Aphidius colemani and Aphidius matricariae are commonly used for the biological control of these pests, however, their compatibility with the Beauveria bassiana-based BotaniGard, the only microbial insecticide commercially available for use against aphids in U.S. greenhouses, has not been fully investigated. While some studies have shown a high level of susceptibility of A. colemani to other B. bassiana-based products, we observed few negative effects on a natural population of A. matricariae when BotaniGard was applied to green peach and melon aphids on potted chrysanthemum in the greenhouse. We are currently conducting a series of laboratory assays investigating susceptibility of larval stages of A. colemani and A. matricariae to sprays of BotaniGard applied simultaneously and at varying intervals after parasitization of nymphal green peach and melon aphids. Mortality and mycoses will also be measured for nymphs exposed to sprays of BotaniGard alone to investigate impact of parasitization on susceptibility to fungal infection.