Environmental Entomology (1994) 23, 190-192

R.R. James and B. Lighthart (1994)
Susceptibility of the convergent Lady beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to four entomogenous fungi
Environmental Entomology 23 (1), 190-192
Abstract: We tested the susceptibility of a predatory beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville, to five entomogenous fungi, all of which are being considered of used for pest control, Metarhizium anisopliae, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, Nomuraea rileyi, and two strains of Beauveria bassiana. First instar beetles larvae were exposed in laboratory bioassays to five concentrations of fungal preparations ranging from 104 to 108 conidia/ml. M. anisopliae caused up to 97% mortality, and aphid derived stain of B. bassiana caused up to 95% mortality, a beetle derived strain of B. bassiana caused up to 75% mortality, and P. fumosoroseus caused up to 56% mortality. The rate of mortality was dependent on exposure concentration. No infection was detected with N. rileyi. We conclude that M. anisopliae, B. bassiana and P. fumosoroseus have the potential to infect H. convergens if used in crops where this predator occurs, whereas N. rileyi does not. The original host species of the fungi did not indicate their degree of virulence towards the beetle, probably because most of the fungi tested have very broad host ranges in general.
(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:
environment/habitat manipulation
application technology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Beauveria bassiana (entomopathogen)
Cordyceps fumosorosea (entomopathogen)
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)
Hippodamia convergens (predator)
Metarhizium rileyi (entomopathogen)