Applied Entomology and Zoology (2006) 41, 471-477

Kazim Sezen and Zihni Demirbag (2006)
A new isolate of Melolontha melolontha entomopoxvirus in Turkey: Morphology, infectivity and prevalence in the field
Applied Entomology and Zoology 41 (3), 471-477
Abstract: A virus infection caused by Melolontha melolontha L. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) entomopoxvirus (MmEPV) was recorded in 0.87% of 1,260 larvae collected in 2001-2002 in Trabzon, Turkey. The diseased larvae had dark brown or black and white spots, compared to the normal white-cream colour of healthy larvae. MmEPV infections reduced the larval life span from 6 mo to 15±5 d (Mean±S.D.). Based on light and electron microscopic observations, the average length of the spheroids was 5.45±2.34 μm (Mean±S.D.) and the average width was 2.89±1.13 μm (Mean±S.D.) (n=50). The presence of a virus was also demonstrated in a DNA-DNA hybridization assay. The bioassays carried out to determine the infectivity of MmEPV proved its effectiveness against the third-instar larvae of the M. melolontha. The highest insecticidal activity determined in the M. melolontha larvae was 93.3% at the concentration of 7.5×10⁶ spheroids/ml. Our results suggest that a Turkish isolate of MmEPV is promising for biological control of the M. melolontha larvae.
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Database assignments for author(s): Kazim Sezen

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Melolontha melolontha	Hazelnut (Corylus)	Turkey
Melolontha melolontha entomopoxvirus (entomopathogen)	Melolontha melolontha	Hazelnut (Corylus)	Turkey