Environmental Entomology (1983) 12, 1344-1349

J.A. Millstein, G.C. Brown and G.L. Nordin (1983)
Microclimatic moisture and conidial production in Erynia sp. (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae): In vivo production rate and duration under constant and fluctuating moisture regimes
Environmental Entomology 12 (5), 1344-1349
Abstract: Erynia sp. conidiation on larval alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica, was studied in the laboratory under constant and fluctuating saturation deficits. At optimum conditions of saturated still air (0.0 mm of Hg, 100% relative humidity [RH]), the fungus would discharge conidia for up to 50 h. Peak conidia discharge occurred ca. 3 h after exposure to saturation deficits up to 0.9 mm of Hg. Minimal conidia discharge occurred at 1.8 of mm Hg saturation deficit. Periodic intervals of high-saturation deficits had increasingly repressive effects on both conidia discharge rate and duration as saturation deficits during these intervals increased. However, the fungus had the ability to resume conidia discharge if the environment was returned to optimal and < 15 h had elapsed. Wind, at 4 liters/ min with an RH of 90%, had an almost identical effect on conidia discharge repression as still air at 75.6% RH.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Hypera postica
Zoophthora phytonomi (entomopathogen)	Hypera postica