Effects of insect activity, soil, and cuticular factors on virulence of Beauveria bassiana toward Blissus leucopterus hirtus
2012
Boyle, David | Christopher Cutler, G.
The fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) is a potential biological control agent of hairy chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus hirtus Montandon (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae), but its virulence against this important turf grass pest is limited. To gain insight into why high numbers of conidia are needed for rapid kill, conidial persistence on insects was monitored under several experimental conditions. One day after exposure to a concentrated B. bassiana suspension, most conidia were removed from insects, particularly at warmer temperatures. Removal was higher when soil was present, suggesting that the insects may have transferred the conidia to soil. Most conidia on insects lost viability within 2 days. In contrast, conidia stored in soil under the same conditions as the insects remained viable. Earlier instar nymphs were more susceptible to lethal fungal infection than were adults. Materials recovered from a hexane rinse of adult insects inhibited conidial germination. These results have implications for applied aspects of chinch bug biological control with B. bassiana.
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