Dataset Information

Mortality of native and invasive ladybirds co-infected by ectoparasitic and entomopathogenic fungi.

ABSTRACT: Harmonia axyridis is an invasive alien ladybird in North America and Europe. Studies show that multiple natural enemies are using Ha. axyridis as a new host. However, thus far, no research has been undertaken to study the effects of simultaneous infection by multiple natural enemies on Ha. axyridis. We hypothesized that high thallus densities of the ectoparasitic fungus Hesperomyces virescens on a ladybird weaken the host's defenses, thereby making it more susceptible to infection by other natural enemies. We examined mortality of the North American-native Olla v-nigrum and Ha. axyridis co-infected with He. virescens and an entomopathogenic fungus-either Beauveria bassiana or Metarhizium brunneum. Laboratory assays revealed that He. virescens-infected O. v-nigrum individuals are more susceptible to entomopathogenic fungi, but Ha. axyridis does not suffer the same effects. This is in line with the enemy release hypothesis, which predicts that invasive alien species in new geographic areas experience reduced regulatory effects from natural enemies compared to native species. Considering our results, we can ask how He. virescens affects survival when confronted by other pathogens that previously had little impact on Ha. axyridis.

SUBMITTER: Haelewaters D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7648450 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Mortality of native and invasive ladybirds co-infected by ectoparasitic and entomopathogenic fungi.

Haelewaters Danny D Hiller Thomas T Kemp Emily A EA van Wielink Paul S PS Shapiro-Ilan David I DI Aime M Catherine MC Nedvěd Oldřich O Pfister Donald H DH Cottrell Ted E TE

PeerJ 20201104

Harmonia axyridis is an invasive alien ladybird in North America and Europe. Studies show that multiple natural enemies are using Ha. axyridis as a new host. However, thus far, no research has been undertaken to study the effects of simultaneous infection by multiple natural enemies on Ha. axyridis. We hypothesized that high thallus densities of the ectoparasitic fungus Hesperomyces virescens on a ladybird weaken the host's defenses, thereby making it more susceptible ...[more]

PMID: 33194385

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Project description:In 2016, infestation of an exotic polyphagous pest, the rugose spiraling whitefly (RSW), Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), was documented on coconut for the first time in India. Instantaneously, RSW has garnered wide attention owing to its damage severity and rapid spread across the coconut-growing regions of the country. Hence, an attempt was made to devise a sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) module using biological control agents as a mainstay component. The present study documented the identification and characterization of a potential entomopathogenic fungal isolate for the management of RSW. An entomopathogenic fungus isolated from nymphal cadavers of RSW was identified as Simplicillium lanosoniveum based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses. A gradient of five conidial concentrations (1 × 104, 1 × 105, 1 × 106, 1 × 107 and 1 × 108 conidia/mL) of the S.lanosoniveum were tested against eggs, first instars, second to third instars and pupae of RSW. Results revealed that S.lanosoniveum is highly virulent to all developmental stages of RSW by causing mortality rates of 95.20%, 87.33%, 85.38% and 72.85%, in eggs, initial, middle and later instar nymphs of RSW, respectively, at the highest tested concentration (1 × 108 conidia/mL) at seven days after exposure. The LC50 and LT50 values of S.lanosoniveum were 4.72 × 104, 4.94 × 104, 5.11 × 105, 5.92 × 105 conidia/mL and 4.27, 4.86, 4.56, 5.89 days against eggs, initial, middle and later instar nymphs of RSW, respectively. Further, preliminary field trials with S.lanosoniveum strain at 1 × 108 conidia/mL exhibited a significant reduction in the egg and nymphal population by 57.8% and 56.3%, respectively. This report thus demonstrated that the newly isolated S.lanosoniveum is an effective pathogen at suppressing all the developmental stages of RSW. This is the first record of S.lanosoniveum infecting RSW, and it has a great potential to be developed as a mycoinsecticide.

Dataset Information

Mortality of native and invasive ladybirds co-infected by ectoparasitic and entomopathogenic fungi.

Publications

Mortality of native and invasive ladybirds co-infected by ectoparasitic and entomopathogenic fungi.

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