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The pathogenicity of Vairimorpha necatrix (Microspora: Microsporidia) against the tomato moth, Lacanobia oleracea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its potential use for the control of lepidopteran glasshouse pests
Author(s) -
Down Rachel E,
Bell Howard A,
KirkbrideSmith Anne E,
Edwards John P
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.872
Subject(s) - lepidoptera genitalia , biology , noctuidae , microsporidia , biological pest control , botany , pest control , agronomy , spore
A droplet feeding technique was used to feed known amounts of Vairimorpha necatrix (Kramer) spores to larvae of the tomato moth, Lacanobia oleracea (L) in order to assess the susceptibility of this lepidopteran pest to the pathogen. All first‐ to fourth‐instar larvae died as a result of ingesting 1000 or more V necatrix spores. Two forms of death were observed, which were dependent on the dose and the age of the insect when treated. For first‐instar larvae, rapid death (within 6 days of dosing) occurred after ingestion of 2000 spores, whereas lower doses resulted in a proportion of larvae dying from chronic infection (microsporidiosis). For more advanced stages, increasing spore doses were required to give rapid death, such that a dose of 200 000 spores was needed to give 80% mortality within 6 days for third‐instar larvae. Rapid death was not observed in fourth‐ to sixth‐instar larvae. In all cases successful pupation and adult emergence were much reduced compared with non‐infected larvae. Suspensions of V necatrix were sprayed on to tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) plants maintained in small glasshouses prior to infestation of the plants with L oleracea larvae. The numbers and biomass of pest larvae retrieved from the plants sprayed with V necatrix were significantly reduced by up to 40% and 70%, respectively, compared with plants sprayed with water (control). Similarly, plants sprayed with V necatrix showed a reduction in damage of up to 45% compared with the control plants. British Crown copyright 2004. Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published for SCI by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.