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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Plant Genetic Resources and Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #350386
Title: Entomopathogenic fungi as biological control agents of macadamia felted coccid (Eriococcus ironsidei) in Hawaii

Author
item GUTIERREZ-COARITE, ROSEMARY - University Of Hawaii
item HELLER, WADE - University Of Hawaii
item WRIGHT, MARK - University Of Hawaii
item Keith, Lisa
item Sugiyama, Lionel
item MOLLINEDO, JAVIER - University Of Hawaii
item CHUN, STACEY - Hawaii Department Of Agriculture

Submitted to: Hawaiian Entomological Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/16/2018
Publication Date: 4/27/2018
Citation: Gutierrez-Coarite, R., Heller, W., Wright, M., Keith, L.M., Sugiyama, L.S., Mollinedo, J., Chun, S. 2018. Entomopathogenic fungi as biological control agents of macadamia felted coccid (Eriococcus ironsidei) in Hawaii. Hawaiian Entomological Society Proceedings. 50:9-16.

Interpretive Summary: A study was conducted to identify entomopathogenic species naturally infesting Eriococcus ironsidei (Macadamia felted coccid) in Hawaii macadamia nut orchards and to confirm their pathogenicity to E. ironsidei.

Technical Abstract: Entomopathogenic fungi play a vital role as biological control agents of insect populations. These fungi can kill an insect by attacking and infecting its insect host. Different entomopathogenic fungi were observed infesting Eriococcus ironsidei in a macadamia nut orchard in Honokaa, Hawaii. Here, we report the results of the isolation of the unidentified fungal pathogens observed infesting E. ironsidei on macadamia leaves and their identification using molecular techniques. We evaluated the susceptibility of E. ironsidei to the isolated fungi, and to one commercial formulation of the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, in the laboratory environment by contact method bioassays, to assess whether any of the isolated pathogens may potentially contribute to suppression of E. ironsidei populations. The entomopathogens were identified as Chlorocillium griseum and Pleurodesmospora coccorum. Results of this study confirmed that C. griseum, P. coccorum and B. bassiana cause mortality in E. ironsidei up to 67, 78 and 100 %, respectively. The present investigation indicates that E. ironsidei is affected by the pathogenicity of these fungi which may play a role in regulating insect pest populations.