Environmental Entomology (1985) 14, 146-148

W.A. Ramoska and Theresa Todd (1985)
Variation in efficacy and viability of Beauveria bassiana in the chinch bug (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) as a result of feeding activity on selected host plants
Environmental Entomology 14 (2), 146-148
Abstract: Adult chinch bugs, Blissus leucopterus leucopterus (Say), were inoculated with dried conidia of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. and incubated in growth chambers with various host plants, liquid diet, or water. Results from these bioassays showed that mortality in the populations that had fed on sorghum and corn were reduced when compared with insects bioassayed on other food sources. More importantly, fungal presence and development in the cadavers of insects fed on sorghum and corn was significantly reduced when compared to the populations fed on other host plants, artificial diet, or water. These results indicate the presence of a plant produced fungal inhibitor fortuitously protecting the insect feeding upon it.
(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:
evaluation - screening - selection

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Blissus leucopterus	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	U.S.A. (mid S)
	Blissus leucopterus	Sorghum (crop)	U.S.A. (mid S)
Beauveria bassiana (entomopathogen)	Blissus leucopterus	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	U.S.A. (mid S)
Beauveria bassiana (entomopathogen)	Blissus leucopterus	Sorghum (crop)	U.S.A. (mid S)