Asian longhorned beetle bioassays to evaluate formulation and dose-response effects of Metarhizium microsclerotia

J Invertebr Pathol. 2019 May:163:64-66. doi: 10.1016/j.jip.2019.03.005. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Abstract

Asian longhorned beetles (ALB; Anoplophora glabripennis), are invasive wood borers susceptible to Metarhizium brunneum. This fungus can be prepared as dried microsclerotia which, after rehydration, produce infective conidia within weeks. Wood samples coated with formulated microsclerotia were attached to trees in the Ohio USA ALB-eradication zone and collected after 4-week periods. Adult ALB exposed to these samples had 100% mortality. In an experiment comparing formulations with or without humectant hydrogel, hydrogel did not significantly increase mortality of exposed ALB. In a dose-response experiment with 5 application rates, ALB survival decreased with increasing application rate and conidial density.

Keywords: Anoplophora glabripennis; Asian longhorned beetle; Biological control; Entomopathogenic fungi; Invasive pest; Metarhizium brunneum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Assay
  • Coleoptera / microbiology*
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Metarhizium* / growth & development
  • Metarhizium* / pathogenicity
  • Pest Control, Biological / methods*
  • Spores, Fungal / growth & development
  • Spores, Fungal / pathogenicity