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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #295954
Title: Microsporidia Biological Control Agents and Pathogens of Beneficial Insects

Author
item BJORNSON, SUSAN - Nova Scotia Agricultural College
item Oi, David

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/4/2013
Publication Date: 10/30/2014
Citation: Bjornson, S., Oi, D.H. 2014. Microsporidia Biological Control Agents and Pathogens of Beneficial Insects. In: Weiss, L.M., Becnel, J.J., editors. Microsporidia: Pathogens of Opportunity. First Edition. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p.635-670. doi: 10.1002/9781118395264.ch25.

Interpretive Summary: Microsporidian infections of insects are generally chronic, causing subtle pathologies of reduced fecundity and shorter lifespans. The lack of acute infections that cause rapid mortality, make microsporida ill-suited as biopesticides for arthropod control. Instead, they are considered to be more useful as long-term regulators of pests, and contribute toward the prevention and/or suppression of pest outbreaks. In addition, microsporidia are important pathogens of beneficial arthropods that are used for biological control. They infect beneficial arthropods that regulate pest populations in nature as well as natural enemies and their hosts that are mass-reared in commercial insectaries. This chapter discusses microsporidian pathogens that have been studied extensively relative to their potential or utilization as biological control agents of 1) rangeland grasshoppers, 2) the European corn borer, 3) mosquitoes, 4) red imported fire ants, and 5) the gypsy moth. Aspects of the microsporidium’s pest suppression characteristics are highlighted within the context of the host’s ecology. Microsporidia of biological control agents that are field-collected and mass-reared, as well as pest population-regulating natural enemies are extensively reviewed. These include 29 microsporidia of parasitoids, 15 of predators, and 3 of nematodes.

Technical Abstract: Microsporidian infections of insects are generally chronic, causing subtle pathologies of reduced fecundity and shorter lifespans. The lack of acute infections that cause rapid mortality, make microsporida ill-suited as biopesticides for arthropod control. Instead, they are considered to be more useful as long-term regulators of pests, and contribute toward the prevention and/or suppression of pest outbreaks. In addition, microsporidia are important pathogens of beneficial arthropods that are used for biological control. They infect beneficial arthropods that regulate pest populations in nature as well as natural enemies and their hosts that are mass-reared in commercial insectaries. This chapter discusses microsporidian pathogens that have been studied extensively relative to their potential or utilization as biological control agents of 1) rangeland grasshoppers, 2) the European corn borer, 3) mosquitoes, 4) red imported fire ants, and 5) the gypsy moth. Aspects of the microsporidium’s pest suppression characteristics are highlighted within the context of the host’s ecology. Microsporidia of biological control agents that are field-collected and mass-reared, as well as pest population-regulating natural enemies are extensively reviewed. These include 29 microsporidia of parasitoids, 15 of predators, and 3 of nematodes.