Pathogens of mass-produced natural enemies and pollinators

• Published in: Quality Control and Production of Biological Control Agents pp. 133 - 165
• Main Author: van Lenteren, J.C
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Wallingford, UK CABI Publishing 2003; CABI
• Subjects: animals; arthropods; beneficial arthropods; beneficial organisms; beneficial species; bestuivers (dieren); biocontrol agents; biological control agents; Biological Control of Pests; biological control organisms; Biologische bestrijding van plagen; disease resistance; entomopathogens; eukaryotes; invertebrates; mass rearing; massakweek; natural enemies; natuurlijke vijanden; organismen ingezet bij biologische bestrijding; pathogenen; pathogens; Pest control; pollinators; resistance to disease
• ISBN: 9780851996882; 0851996884
• DOI: 10.1079/9780851996882.0133

Pathogens are found in both field-collected and mass-reared natural enemies. This raises concern regarding their quality and efficacy in biological pest-control programmes. Some pathogens affect the performance of natural enemies and crop pollinators by lowering their efficacy, whereas others alter their reproduction. It is therefore important to screen individuals for pathogens on a routine and continual basis. Special attention should be given to field-collected arthropods and those exchanged among rearing facilities. In order to obtain high efficacy in pest control, the release of pathogen-free natural enemies in biological control programmes is of the utmost importance. This chapter first provides an overview of the types of pathogens to which beneficial arthropods are susceptible and describes the symptoms that may be associated with infection. Next, diseases of natural enemies and insect pollinators are presented according to host genus.