The European pepper moth Duponchelia fovealis Zeller (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is reported for the first time in South America, in the State of Parana, Brazil. D. fovealis causes damage to strawberries and weakens the plants. Three natural enemies controlling D. fovealis were found and identified as Apanteles sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Hyaliodocoris insignis (Heteroptera: Miridae) and the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana . Key words: Neotropical region, Fragaria × ananassa , European pepper moth, natural enemies. RESUMEN El primer reporte de Duponchelia fovealis Zeller (Lepidoptera:Crambidae) fue por danos a la fresa (Fragaria x ananassa) en America del Sur en el Estado del Parana, Brasil. Se encontraron tres enemigos naturales para controlar D. fovealis identificados como Apanteles sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Hyaliodocoris insignis (Heteroptera: Miridae) y el hongo entomopatogenico Beauveria bassiana . Palabras clave: region Neotropical, Fragaria × ananassa , “Polilla del pimiento europeo”, enemigos naturales.

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First record of Duponchelia fovealis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in South America Primer registro de Duponchelia fovealis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) en América del Sur

Entomopathogenic fungi were collected from insects, belonging to orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Diptera, with signs of infection. Single-spore colonies were identified based on morphological traits and ribosomal ITS sequences. The most commonly found fungi were Fusarium oxysporum Schlechtendal and Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin. Isolation of Trichoderma atroviride Bisset, Aspergillus flavipes (Bainier and Sartory) Thom and Church, Aspergillus iizukae Sugiyama, Penicillium mallochii Rivera, Urb and Seifert, Penicillium adametzioides S. Abe ex G. Smith, and Mucor nidicola Madden, Stchigel, Guarro and Starks associated to insects is reported for the first time. Tests with B. bassiana isolates against Duponchelia fovealis Zeller (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), showed high larval mortality in vitro and in greenhouse, demonstrating its potential as biological control agent. Understanding the fungal microbiota from insects can provide promising isolates for use in integrated pest management programs. This is the first report characterizing the mycobiota in insects collected in strawberry crops, and evaluating the pathogenicity of B. bassiana against D. fovealis, a pest that causes severe losses to farmers.

Fungi isolated from insects in strawberry crops act as potential biological control agents of Duponchelia fovealis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Duponchelia fovealis Zeller is a polyphagous insect that has been recently reported attacking strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne). Despite its economic importance there are few studies on this pest because it is difficult to rear it in the laboratory. With a constant supply of insects, studies on alternative methods of pest control can be conducted. This study aimed at developing an artificial diet for rearing D. fovealis with biological characteristics similar to those reared on their natural diet. This study was carried out in a climate-controlled room (25°C ± 2°C, RH 70% ± 10%, and 14L : 10D). The natural diet consisted of 'San Andreas' strawberry leaves (D1), while the artificial diet (D2) was developed in which beans, casein, soy protein, yeast and wheat germ are used as sources of protein. Five instars were identified. D. fovealis completed its life cycle in 38 and 40 days when fed D1 and D2, respectively. Survival was highest for the larvae fed the artificial diet. Females fed D1 lay a mean of 300.2 ± 62.3 eggs, while those fed D2, 220.3 ± 41.8 eggs. The artificial diet is suitable for the continuous rearing of D. fovealis in the laboratory.

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Biological parameters of Duponchelia fovealis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) reared in the laboratory on two diets

Combining biocontrol agents with different mechanisms of action to control Duponchelia fovealis, an invasive pest in South America

Duponchelia fovealis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an invasive species that has had a large impact on strawberry crops in Brazil. Pesticides have had limited effectiveness and the use of biological control agents to improve its management is the most appropriate approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pathogenicity and virulence of entomopathogenic fungi—isolated from soil—against Duponchelia fovealis larvae under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Pathogenicity screenings were performed for twenty isolates from Beauveria bassiana, Beauveria caledonica, Isaria javanica, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Lecanicillium sp. against third instar larvae of D. fovealis at the concentration of 109 conidia·mL−1. Lethal concentration (LC50) and lethal time (LT50) were determined for the most pathogenic isolates and for one commercial mycoinsecticide. Mortality rates varied from 10 to 89%. The isolates B. bassiana Bea1, Bea110, Bea111 and I. javanica Isa340 were the most pathogenic. The most virulent isolates were B. bassiana Bea111 and I. javanica Isa340 with LC50 values of 2.33 × 106 and 9.69 × 105 conidia·mL−1, respectively. Under greenhouse conditions, the efficacy of LC50 of the isolates I. javanica Isa340 and B. bassiana Bea111 were 45% and 52%, respectively. Our results indicate that these isolates are strong candidates for application in the control of D. fovealis. This study is the first evaluation of soil-borne entomopathogenic fungi against D. fovealis.

Susceptibility of Duponchelia fovealis Zeller (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to Soil-Borne Entomopathogenic Fungi.

Our study was conducted in the Turkish provinces of Adana and Mersin during 2011 and 2012, and represents the first study to report the presence, damage, distribution and parasitoid of Duponchelia fovealis Zeller as a pest of strawberries in Turkey. D. fovealis was determined to overwinter in larval stages and to morph into adult moths in mid-March. Larvae hatched from eggs deposited on mulching material and near plant roots in soil, causing damage due to feeding activity on plant stems, young leaves, and fruit. At the maximum, larval abundance was 58.33 individuals per ten plants. Despite an abundant number of larvae, fruits were not directly impacted by feeding activities; however, damaged fruit rotted. All of the areas surveyed were found to be infested by D. fovealis larvae. As a natural enemy of the pest, Campoletis rapax (Gravenhorst, 1829) was found to be the parasitoid present in larvae plus pupae. D. fovealis hosted C. rapax and C. rapax was recorded as the first species to parasitize in the literature and its presence is a first record for Turkish fauna. The parasitization level increased as the season ended, reaching a value of 26.68%. The pest was determined to be dispersed throughout strawberry growing areas. Since damage may increase in the future, the pest must be closely monitored.

https://www.entomoljournal.com/vol2Issue4/pdf/29.1.pdf

A new pest, Duponchelia fovealis Zeller, on strawberries in Turkey - damage, distribution and parazitoid

Abundance, distribution of thrips species occurring on citrus as well as damage level of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is studied in Yenice, Tarsus, Turkey during 2013-2014. As a result, 10 different thrips species were investigated. Thrips fauna was dominated by the F. occidentalis having 98.25% of total adult of the thrips population. The coefficient of determination (r2) of Taylor indices ranged from 0.62 and 0.92 for larvae and 0.43 and 0.92 for adult F. occidentalis. The values coefficient b of Taylor were always less than 1 (two-tailed t test, P < 0.0001), indicating a regular population distribution. Majority of larval or adult F. occidentalis was detected in flowers. The highest thrips densities with mean of 6 or 7 individuals (larvae+adult) per flower in nontreated plots did not cause any damage to flowering parts or developing fruits. Spraying of citrus lemon against thrips is not warranted.

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An analysis of western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in lemons: Its abundance, distribution and damagernstatus

Okan Özgür

Papers

A new pest, Duponchelia fovealis Zeller, on strawberries in Turkey - damage, distribution and parazitoid

An analysis of western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in lemons: Its abundance, distribution and damagernstatus