Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata最新文献

{"title":"Rice Root Aphids, Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale, Preferentially Choose and Multiply Faster on Monocotyledonous Plants","authors":"Mikhaela Ong,&nbsp;Calla Pickett,&nbsp;Anita Feng,&nbsp;Audrey Lau,&nbsp;Liam Buirs,&nbsp;Gerhard Gries","doi":"10.1111/eea.70014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70014","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Rice root aphids (RRAs), <i>Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale</i> (Sasaki) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), reportedly feed on a wide range of monocotyledonous plants (“monocots”) and dicotyledonous plants (“dicots”). However, possible preference for either monocots or dicots, as well as the mechanisms underlying host plant selection, have not yet been investigated. In two-choice and no-choice laboratory experiments, we tested whether RRAs (1) select monocots or dicots as host plants, (2) multiply faster on monocots or dicots, and (3) choose preferred host plants based solely on olfactory cues. When RRAs were offered a choice between two potted monocots (rye vs. barley), they showed no preference, but when they were offered a choice between rye and a dicot (cannabis, celery, coriander, lettuce, pepper, squash, tomato, or marigold), they invariably selected and multiplied faster on rye. Similarly, in a no-choice experiment, where RRAs were confined in a mesh bag fitted with a single host plant, they multiplied equally well on monocots (rye and barley), but significantly less on any of the eight dicots. In moving-air two-choice Y-tube olfactometer bioassays, which presented olfactory but not visual cues of monocots and dicots, the first- and final choices of RRAs were mostly indifferent, suggesting that RRAs locate their preferred monocots based not solely on plant odor. As RRAs are emerging pests in commercial cannabis and vegetable production, it is conceivable to use rye as a trap crop to divert RRAs from valuable cannabis and vegetable crops. This concept, however, still requires testing in commercial crop production settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 11","pages":"1205-1215"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.70014","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145230643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evidence for Female Autodetection and Plasticity of Pheromone Response in Helicoverpa zea","authors":"Ersa Gjelaj,&nbsp;Russell Easy,&nbsp;N. Kirk Hillier","doi":"10.1111/eea.70011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70011","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study investigated autodetection in female corn earworm, <i>Helicoverpa zea</i> Boddie (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), revealing that their sensitivity to conspecific pheromones is environmentally modulated. We developed an “ungrouped” rearing strategy to minimize pre-exposure. Electroantennogram recordings showed differential responses between ungrouped (naïve) and grouped (pheromone-pre-exposed) females, demonstrating female sensitivity to their own pheromones, influenced by environmental history. Behaviorally, autodetection elicited spacing behavior, most pronounced in naïve females. These findings highlight that pre-exposure can decrease peripheral sensitivity, a crucial consideration for laboratory studies and the development of effective pheromone-based pest management strategies that account for female behavioral adaptation.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 11","pages":"1236-1246"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.70011","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145230781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Paving the Way for Rearing Closterocerus coffeellae: Effect of Adult Food Source and Oviposition Behavior in Leucoptera coffeella","authors":"Mateus P. dos Santos,&nbsp;Ronilson S. Sales,&nbsp;Elisangela L. Bertoldo,&nbsp;Júlio C. G. Silva,&nbsp;Raquel O. de Sousa,&nbsp;Enilde M. S. Souza,&nbsp;Thamires F. de Jesus,&nbsp;Tiago C. Costa-Lima,&nbsp;Raquel Pérez-Maluf,&nbsp;Maria A. Castellani","doi":"10.1111/eea.70010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Closterocerus coffeellae</i> Ihering (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is a parasitoid with potential for application in biocontrol programs of the coffee leaf miner, <i>Leucoptera coffeella</i> (Guérin-Mèneville &amp; Perrottet) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae). Establishing a rearing method for this species is a crucial step in the development of new biological agent control strategies. The study evaluated various food sources to assess adult survival and examined the oviposition behavior of <i>C. coffeellae</i> on its host under laboratory conditions. Adult survival bioassays were conducted using the following food sources: a 10% honey solution (diluted in distilled water), <i>Hibiscus</i> sp. nectar, an artificial diet (water, agar, ascorbic acid, Nipagin, and honey), and a control treatment (no feeding). In the oviposition behavior bioassay, females with and without oviposition experience were selected and offered <i>L. coffeella</i> hosts of three sizes (2, 4, and 6 mm) for oviposition. Adult survival varied among females and males and among the food sources. Males exhibited higher survival rates when fed the artificial diet, whereas females demonstrated greater survival when offered the honey (10%). Females without oviposition experience exhibited the lowest number of searching events and the highest searching time on 4-mm mines, whereas experienced females showed a lower number of searching events and longer searching time when exposed to 6-mm mine. Under laboratory conditions, the females successfully punctured their hosts. The results of this study may be helpful the development basis for the development of a <i>C. coffeellae</i> rearing method that is suitable for implementation in biocontrol programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 11","pages":"1226-1235"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.70010","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145230772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Oviposition behavior and development of the invasive lily leaf beetle on native host plants from the Pacific Northwest United States","authors":"Maggie Freeman,&nbsp;Chris Looney,&nbsp;Liesl Oeller,&nbsp;David W. Crowder","doi":"10.1111/eea.70008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70008","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Invasive insects often feed on novel plant species related to hosts in their native range, including species of conservation concern. The lily leaf beetle, <i>Lilioceris lilii</i> Scopoli (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a Eurasian pest of cultivated lilies, is one such invader first detected in Canada in 1943 that has spread throughout the Northeastern United States and Canada, reaching the Pacific coast by 2011. Although <i>L. lilii</i> is known to feed on nearly 100 plant species across several genera, it is unknown what hosts it will feed on in its new range. We addressed this knowledge gap with experiments of <i>L. lilii</i> on native host plants found in the Pacific Northwest, United States, where it is now well-established and has the potential for population expansion. We conducted oviposition and larval feeding trials with <i>Calochortus tolmiei</i> Hook. &amp; Arn. (Liliaceae)<i>, Fritillaria affinis</i> (Schult. &amp; Schult.f.) Sealy (Liliaceae)<i>, Lilium columbianum</i> Leichtlin (Liliaceae), and <i>Prosartes hookeri</i> Torr. (Liliaceae). Trials showed that female <i>L. lilii</i> oviposited on all hosts tested, and larvae fed on all hosts except <i>P. hookeri.</i> Larvae reared on <i>L. columbianum</i> performed similarly well to larvae that fed on the control lilies. Individuals were only able to be reared to the adult stage on <i>L. columbianum</i> and <i>C. tolmiei</i>, although survival rates were low for <i>C. tolmiei.</i> With numerous susceptible native Liliaceae species of conservation concern in the Pacific Northwest, the establishment of the lily leaf beetle may constitute a new threat to these already vulnerable species across broad regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 11","pages":"1196-1204"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.70008","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145230721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of potential predators of western bean cutworm (Striacosta albicosta) in field corn through molecular gut-content analysis","authors":"Westen R. Archibald,&nbsp;Hannah E. Stowe,&nbsp;Ruby Collins,&nbsp;Samantha Daniel,&nbsp;Robert J. Wright,&nbsp;Julie A. Peterson","doi":"10.1111/eea.70004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70004","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Western bean cutworm, <i>Striacosta albicosta</i> (Smith; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major pest of corn and dry beans in its historic and expanded ranges in the North American western Great Plains and Great Lakes Region, respectively. In corn, <i>S. albicosta</i> ear feeding damage can significantly reduce yield and introduce avenues for secondary fungal infections. Management practices currently rely on transgenic crops expressing effective <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> (Bt) protein, of which only the VIP3A protein is effective against <i>S. albicosta</i>, and/or labor-intensive scouting and chemical control. However, limited research on biological control options for this critical pest has been conducted. This study identifies key trophic interactions between <i>S. albicosta</i> and predatory arthropods in corn fields. Field surveys identified a community of 21 predator taxa present in Nebraska corn fields where <i>S. albicosta</i> eggs and larvae were present. The most common taxa were as follows: <i>Hippodamia convergens</i> (Guérin-Méneville; Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), <i>Coleomegilla maculata</i> (De Geer; Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), <i>Orius insidiosus</i> (Say; Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), and green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Additionally, molecular gut-content analysis via PCR confirmed the predation of <i>S. albicosta</i> by several well-known biological control agents, including <i>H. convergens</i>, <i>O. insidiosus</i>, <i>C. maculata</i>, and Chrysopidae larvae and adults. <i>Coleomegilla maculata</i> consumed more <i>S. albicosta</i> eggs and larvae than <i>H. convergens</i> in feeding trials, although egg consumption by <i>C. maculata</i> was unaffected by the presence of corn pollen, an important supplemental food for this species. Exploring the trophic interactions between <i>S. albicosta</i> and its predators will provide information necessary to improve conservation biological control for <i>S. albicosta</i> integrated pest management.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 11","pages":"1165-1176"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.70004","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145230638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genetic variation in zoophagy and dietary shift in the phytozoophagous tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris","authors":"François Dumont,&nbsp;Mireia Solà Cassi,&nbsp;Caroline Provost","doi":"10.1111/eea.70007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70007","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Phytozoophagous insects, whose diets mainly consist of plant resources, can also feed on animal resources. Within populations, individuals' diets may vary according to their food preferences. The environment and their genetics determine these preferences. The degree of prey voracity (zoophagy) is likely to influence the ecological interactions of individuals. In the case of crop pests, these ecological interactions determine their economic impact. This study aimed to measure the genetic variation in the degree of zoophagy of a phytozoophagous pest, the tarnished plant bug <i>Lygus lineolaris</i> (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Miridae). <i>Ephestia kuehniella</i> Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs were offered, as animal resources, to <i>L. lineolaris</i> individuals from 15 isofemale lines in a laboratory experiment, where individuals from each line did or did not have access to an alternative plant resource. The results indicate that tarnished plant bugs consume a significant quantity of <i>E. kuehniella</i> eggs per day and that this behaviour varies according to the availability of a plant resource. Additionally, the broad-sense heritability (<i>H</i>²) in zoophagy is significant, with an estimated 0.27. Moreover, highly zoophagous lines are less responsive to the availability of plant resources than lowly zoophagous lines. The results suggest that individuals within tarnished plant bug populations exhibit varying levels of prey consumption, which may indicate potential differences in trophic behaviour. However, the relationship between fitness and prey consumption in this phytozoophagous insect has yet to be established.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 11","pages":"1189-1195"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.70007","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145230749","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interspecific competition for space between two hemipteran phytophagous insects associated with Myrtillocactus geometrizans (garambullo) and its consequences for their population structure","authors":"Alejandra J. Moncada-Orellana,&nbsp;Alicia Callejas-Chavero,&nbsp;Salvador Sánchez-Colón,&nbsp;Carlos F. Vargas-Mendoza","doi":"10.1111/eea.70002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70002","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Interspecific competition among insect herbivores is widely regarded as a significant selection pressure that impacts the distribution, abundance, and structure of their populations. Facilitator-mediated interactions, such as mutualism, have the capacity to modify the dynamics of competition. Furthermore, temporal fluctuations have been demonstrated to modify the outcome of competition. This study reanalyzes data on competition for space between two phytophagous insects commonly known as scales, namely <i>Toumeyella martinezae</i> Kondo and González (Hemiptera: Coccidae) and <i>Opuntiaspis philococcus</i> Cockerell (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), considering the presence or absence of <i>Liometopum apiculatum</i> Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (a mutualistic ant species of <i>T. martinezae</i>) and the associated effects on their population structures. A total of 27 <i>Myrtillocactus geometrizans</i> (Mart. ex Pfeiff.) Console 1897 (Cactaceae) plants were selected for the study, with the presence of the study insects. The plants were then classified into one of five conditions: (1) <i>O. philococcus</i> in the absence of competition; (2) <i>T. martinezae</i> in conjunction with the mutualistic ant, <i>L. apiculatum</i>, in the absence of competition; (3) <i>T. martinezae</i> without competition; (4) <i>T. martinezae</i> and <i>O. philococcus</i> in competition, with the mutualistic ant; and (5) <i>T. martinezae</i> and <i>O. philococcus</i> in competition, without the mutualistic ant. A photographic record was maintained for a period of 6 months, during which the population structure was determined according to the size of each individual scale. The total abundance and relative space appropriation for each scale species were then estimated. The study revealed variations in spatial occupation over time. <i>Toumeyella martinezae</i> occupied more space during the initial months of the study, whereas <i>O. philococcus</i> predominated toward the termination of the study period. Competitive interaction significantly affected the population structure, changing over time and between species. In conclusion, the competitive dynamics changed over time, and the presence of the mutualistic ant had a significant effect, allowing the two competitors to coexist.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 11","pages":"1177-1188"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145230551","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustainable control of Dalbulus maidis: A field study with entomopathogenic fungi","authors":"Priscilla T. N. Maia,&nbsp;Nathan M. Santos,&nbsp;Simone M. Mendes,&nbsp;Vinicius M. Marques,&nbsp;Marcos Antonio M. Fadini,&nbsp;Barbara Luísa S. Silva,&nbsp;Dagma D. S. Araujo,&nbsp;Luciano V. Cota,&nbsp;Ivênio R. Oliveira","doi":"10.1111/eea.70003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70003","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Since its first report in Brazil in 1938, <i>Dalbulus maidis</i> (DeLong &amp; Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) has been considered a secondary pest for maize. However, this insect has now become a key corn pest and the main phytosanitary threat to production in Brazil due to its potential to transmit pathogens. This study investigates sustainable tactics for managing the corn leafhopper in an integrated field approach. We evaluated the potential synergistic effects between formulations based on entomopathogenic fungi and corn hybrids with varying resistance levels to maize stunt complex. Along with assessing the incidence and severity of diseases, we evaluated the corn leafhopper's infestation in symptomatic and asymptomatic plants and the correlation with the symptoms caused by the disease at various plant development stages. We studied the following management practices, comprising applications of (i) <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> Balsamo (Hypocreales); (ii) <i>B. bassiana</i> + <i>Cordyceps fumosorosea</i> Wize (Hypocreales); (iii) <i>C. fumosorosea</i>; (iv) <i>Metarhizium anisopliae</i> Metschnikoff (Hypocreales); (v) <i>M. anisopliae</i> + <i>B. bassiana</i>; (vi) chemical control (methomyl—positive control). <i>Dalbulus maidis</i> preferentially infested the low-resistance hybrid, and this hybrid plant also showed higher disease symptom scores. There was a significant interaction between control timing and pathogen incidence; this correlation occurred up to the V6 phenological stage. The combined management of <i>M. anisopliae</i> + <i>B. bassiana</i> and <i>M. anisopliae</i> (alone) resulted in a reduction in <i>D. maidis</i> infestation. We found lower disease scores when these treatments were applied. Our results showed that combining resistant hybrids with entomopathogens results in more productive harvests.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 11","pages":"1156-1164"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.70003","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145230633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of host developmental stage on the foraging behavior and effectiveness of the pincer wasp Gonatopus chilensis","authors":"Eduardo G. Virla,&nbsp;Laura P. Bezdjian,&nbsp;Guido A. Van Nieuwenhove","doi":"10.1111/eea.70005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Gonatopus chilensis</i> (Olmi) (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae) is a host-feeding parasitoid of delphacid planthoppers (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha) with economic importance for maize crops. Several factors, including host acceptance, suitability, and defenses, significantly influence parasitoid–host dynamics and, consequently, the efficacy of parasitoids as biological control agents. Many biological attributes and traits of dryinids in general, and <i>G. chilensis</i> in particular, remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the foraging behavior and effectiveness of <i>G. chilensis</i> and to identify biological factors influencing its performance when using the planthopper <i>Delphacodes sitarea</i> Remes Lenicov &amp; Tesón (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) as hosts. Free-choice and non-choice tests conducted under laboratory conditions revealed that female <i>G. chilensis</i> could forage on host individuals ranging from the first nymphal instar to females of <i>D. sitarea</i>. Notably, the nymphal developmental stage of the host significantly impacted parasitoid effectiveness. Female parasitoids predominantly engaged in host feeding on small nymphs but preferred oviposition on larger nymphs and females. Furthermore, the size and likely the fitness of female parasitoid offspring increased with the instar or stage of the parasitized host. These findings suggest that the biological traits and effectiveness of <i>G. chilensis</i> are directly influenced by the developmental stage of the <i>D. sitarea</i> host.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 11","pages":"1216-1225"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145230742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bacteria associated with the cuticle protect Phyllophaga larvae against infection with Metarhizium pingshaense but not against Beauveria pseudobassiana","authors":"Roberto C. Ortega-García,&nbsp;Ariel W. Guzmán-Franco,&nbsp;Sergio Aranda-Ocampo,&nbsp;Ma. Teresa Santillán-Galicia,&nbsp;Carmela Hernández-Domínguez","doi":"10.1111/eea.70006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Beauveria pseudobassiana</i> S.A. Rehner &amp; Humber (Hypocreales) and <i>Metarhizium pingshaense</i> Q.T. Chen &amp; H.L. Guo (Hypocreales) are fungal pathogens that infect <i>Phyllophaga</i> larvae in the field. Previous laboratory bioassays showed less than 30% mortality in larvae inoculated with conidia of these pathogens, indicating strong resistance to fungal infection. However, injecting <i>M. pingshaense</i> blastospores directly into the larvae's hemocoel caused 100% mortality, suggesting external barriers may limit infection. As some insect-associated bacteria can provide protection against invading pathogens, we hypothesized that bacteria associated with <i>Phyllophaga</i> larvae might offer such protection. We isolated bacteria from the cuticle of <i>Phyllophaga</i> larvae, identified morphotypes based on colony morphology and determined their antagonistic activity against <i>B. pseudobassiana</i> and <i>M. pingshaense.</i> Selected bacterial morphotypes were identified using partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Based on antagonism results, eight isolates were selected and their effect on the germination of conidia from both fungal species was evaluated. Finally, the mortality of antibiotic-treated and untreated <i>Phyllophaga polyphylla</i> Bates <i>(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)</i> larvae was evaluated after inoculation with <i>B. pseudobassiana</i> and <i>M. pingshaense</i>. Of the 90 bacterial isolates obtained, all but two exhibited antagonistic activity against <i>M. pingshaense</i>, and 10 showed antagonism against <i>B. pseudobassiana</i>. Molecular analysis of selected morphotypes (62 isolates) revealed that the two most common genera were <i>Acinetobacter</i> (Moraxellales: Moraxellaceae) with 22 isolates and <i>Serratia</i> (Enterobacterales: Yersiniaceae) with 12 isolates. The remaining isolates were distributed among the families Flavobacteriaceae, Comamonadaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Weeksellaceae and Pseudomonadaceae. Conidial germination of <i>B. pseudobassiana</i> was reduced to below 20% by most isolates, and only two allowed over 80% germination. For <i>M. pingshaense</i>, germination was suppressed to between 6% and 56% in most cases; only one isolate allowed 98% germination. When exposed to <i>M. pingshaense</i>, antibiotic-treated larvae showed 68% mortality, whereas untreated larvae had only 26% mortality. In contrast, mortality from <i>B. pseudobassiana</i> was statistically similar between treated (23%) and untreated (7%) groups. Overall, our results suggest that bacteria can provide protection against <i>M. pingshaense</i> but not <i>B. pseudobassiana</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 11","pages":"1145-1155"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145230741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}