Baculoviruses (BV) are highly effective against lepidopteran pests of economic importance such as Spodoptera exigua. The combined use of entomopathogens and macrobiological control agents requires the study of their relationships. Laboratory bioassays were developed to evaluate the interactions between the multiple nucleopolyhedroviruses of S. exigua (SeMNPV) and Autographa californica (AcMNPV), and the predator Chrysoperla carnea. The microscopic examination of predator's excreta (larval drops and meconia) after the ingestion of BV-infected S. exigua revealed the presence of viral occlusion bodies (OBs). The reinfection of S. exigua larvae with BVs-contaminated excreta by using OBs water suspensions or by direct application both yielded high mortality values but different speed-of-kill results. Meconia killed before in suspensions due to their higher viral load and larval excretion drops did so in direct application due to their liquid nature and their easiness of consumption. The prey-mediated ingestion of SeMNPV and AcMNPV triggered slight effects in C. carnea, which were probably derived from the food nutritional quality. Chrysoperla carnea larvae did not discriminate between healthy and BV-infected S. exigua, while a preference was shown for S. exigua (healthy or infected) vs. Macrosiphum euphorbiae. Our findings present C. carnea, and particularly its larvae, as a promissory candidate for BV dispersion in the field.
Keywords: AcMNPV; SeMNPV; excretion products; horizontal transmission; occlusion bodies.