Impact of the entomopathogenic fungus Verticillium lecanii on development of an aphid parasitoid, Aphidius colemani.
The parasitoid Aphidius colemani developed normally (approximately 90% adult emergence) when its cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) host was treated with Verticillum lecanii conidia 5 or 7 days after parasitization. Fungus exposure 1 day before or up to 3 days after parasitization, however, reduced A. colemani emergence from 0 to 10%. Also, numbers of spores and mycelial fragments in aphid homogenates were much higher in aphids exposed to the fungus up to 3 days after parasitization than in aphids treated after 5 or 7 days. Our results suggest that the parasitoid and fungus may be used together for aphid biocontrol as long as fungus applications are timed to allow late-instar development of the parasitoid.
Kim
Jeong Jun
JJ
Applied Entomology Division, NIAST, RDA, Sedundong 249, Suwon 441-707, Republic of Korea. jjkim66@hotmail.com
Kim
Kyu Chin
KC
Roberts
Donald W
DW
D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000469:parasitology*; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000502:physiology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*