Effect of temperature and host plant leaf morphology on the efficacy of two entomopathogenic biocontrol agents of Thrips palmi (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

• Published in: Bulletin of entomological research Vol. 95; no. 4; pp. 321 - 327
• Main Authors: Cuthbertson, A.G.S., North, J.P., Walters, K.F.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.07.2005
• Subjects: Agricultural practices; ambient temperature; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biological control; biological control agents; Capsicum frutescens; Chrysanthemum; Chrysanthemum morifolium; Control; Cucumis sativus; entomopathogenic fungi; entomopathogenic nematodes; Experiments; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Host plants; Humidity; imidacloprid; Insecta - growth & development; Insecta - parasitology; Insecta - physiology; Insecticides; Integrated pest management; Leaves; Lecanicillium muscarium; Morphology; Mortality; Nematodes; Pest control; Pest Control, Biological - methods; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plant Leaves - anatomy & histology; Plant Leaves - parasitology; plant morphology; Protozoa. Invertebrates; Quarantine; Rhabditida - physiology; Steinernema feltiae; Temperature; Temperature effects; Thripidae; Thrips palmi; Thysanoptera; Torrubiella confragosa; Treatment Outcome; Verticillium - physiology; Verticillium lecanii; United Kingdom > UK; Steinernema feltiae; integrated pest management; Lecanicillium muscarium; temperature; Thrips palmi; biological control; Verticillium lecanii; imidacloprid; Entomopathogen; Temperature; Insecta; Biological control; Environmental factor; Fungi; Pest; Beneficial animal; Host plant; Fungi Imperfecti; Nematoda; Parasitic efficiency; Integrated pest management; Thallophyta; Plant leaf; Thysanoptera; Arthropoda; Morphology; Helmintha; Thripidae; Nemathelminthia; Invertebrata
• ISSN: 0007-4853; 1475-2670
• DOI: 10.1079/BER2005363

The efficacy of two entomopathogenic biocontrol agents, Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) and Verticillium lecanii (Zimmerman) Viégas (reclassified now as Lecanicillium muscarium (Petch) Zare & Gams), against Thrips palmi Karny was investigated. Assessments of the effect of temperature on the efficacy of S. feltiae indicated that higher mortality of T. palmi was recorded at 20°C compared to either 15 or 25°C, whereas significantly higher T. palmi mortality followed application of L. muscarium at 25°C. Testing the control agents efficacy on three host plants; chrysanthemum, sweet pepper and cucumber, under constant temperature and high humidity conditions produced no significant difference in the level of T. palmi larval mortality on each host plant. Incorporating the chemical insecticide imidacloprid with both biological agents in a combined control strategy increased T. palmi juvenile mortality. The potential role of S. feltiae and L. muscarium within integrated pest management programmes for the control of T. palmi is discussed.