Potential enhancement of the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) nuclear polyhedrosis virus with the triterpene azadirachtin

• Published in: Environmental entomology Vol. 25
• Main Authors: Cook S.P, Webb R.E, Thorpe K.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.10.1996
• Subjects: azadirachtin; azadirachtine; biological control; botanical insecticides; control biologico; crecimiento; croissance; diet; dieta; growth; insecticidas; insecticidas de origen vegetal; insecticide; insecticide d' origine vegetale; insecticides; invertebrate viruses; larvae; larvas; larve; lutte biologique; lymantria dispar; microbial pesticides; mortalidad; mortalite; mortality; moulting; muda; mue; nuclear polyhedrosis virus; pesticide microbien; plaguicidas microbianos; quercus alba; regime alimentaire; sinergismo; supervivencia; survie; survival; synergism; synergisme; virus de invertebrados; virus des invertebres; virus poliedrosis nuclear; virus polyedrose nucleaire
• ISSN: 0046-225X; 1938-2936
• DOI: 10.1093/ee/25.5.1209

Second-instar gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), larvae were placed on semi-synthetic diet and white oak, Quercus alba L., seedlings that had been surface-treated with azadirachtin and gypsy moth nuclear polyhedrosis virus. Both treatments affected larval development (weight gain and molting) and survival. When consumed together, larvae died significantly faster compared with larvae, which consumed only azadirachtin or virus. The combination also resulted in lowered larval survival compared with that observed when only 1 material was consumed. The combination of azadirachtin and virus should result in good foliage protection if used against gypsy moth larvae. However, the addition of azadirachtin to viral formulations could also result in less virus being produced within the larval cadaver and released into the environment because the affected larvae are smaller.