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Virulence of the insect-pathogenic fungi Metarhizium spp. to Mormon crickets, Anabrus simplex (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 October 2021

Drauzio E. N. Rangel Open the ORCID record for Drauzio E. N. Rangel [Opens in a new window] ,
Helen G. Bignayan ,
Hernani G. Golez ,
Chad A. Keyser ,
Edward W. Evans  and
Donald W. Roberts Open the ORCID record for Donald W. Roberts [Opens in a new window]
Drauzio E. N. Rangel*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT84322-5305, USA Universidade Brasil, São Paulo, SP08230-030, Brazil
Helen G. Bignayan
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT84322-5305, USA Bureau of Plant Industry, National Mango Research and Development Center, Jordan, Guimaras5045, Philippines
Hernani G. Golez
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT84322-5305, USA Bureau of Plant Industry, National Mango Research and Development Center, Jordan, Guimaras5045, Philippines
Chad A. Keyser
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT84322-5305, USA AgBiome, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC27709, USA
Edward W. Evans
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT84322-5305, USA
Donald W. Roberts
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT84322-5305, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Drauzio E. N. Rangel, Email: drauzio@live.com
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Abstract

The Mormon cricket (MC), Anabrus simplex Haldeman, 1852 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), has a long and negative history with agriculture in Utah and other western states of the USA. Most A. simplex populations migrate in large groups, and their feeding can cause significant damage to forage plants and cultivated crops. Chemical pesticides are often applied, but some settings (e.g. habitats of threatened and endangered species) call for non-chemical control measures. Studies in Africa, South America, and Australia have assessed certain isolates of Metarhizium acridum as very promising pathogens for Orthoptera: Acrididae (locust) biocontrol. In the current study, two isolates of Metarhizium robertsii, one isolate of Metarhizium brunneum, one isolate of Metarhizium guizhouense, and three isolates of M. acridum were tested for infectivity to MC nymphs and adults of either sex. Based on the speed of mortality, M. robertsii (ARSEF 23 and ARSEF 2575) and M. brunneum (ARSEF 7711) were the most virulent to instars 2 to 5 MC nymphs. M. guizhouense (ARSEF 7847) from Arizona was intermediate and the M. acridum isolates (ARSEF 324, 3341, and 3609) were the slowest killers. ARSEF 2575 was also the most virulent to instar 6 and 7 nymphs and adults of MC. All of the isolates at the conidial concentration of 1 × 107 conidia ml−1 induced approximately 100% mortality by 6 days post application of fungal conidia. In conclusion, isolates ARSEF 23, ARSEF 2575, and ARSEF 7711 acted most rapidly to kill MC under laboratory conditions. The M. acridum isolates, however, have much higher tolerance to heat and UV-B radiation, which may be critical to their successful use in field application.

Keywords

Biological control of insectsinsect-pathogenic fungusMetarhizium acridumMetarhizium robertsiivirulence
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 112 , Issue 2 , April 2022 , pp. 179 - 186
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

*

Deceased.

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