Journal of Pest Science (2009) 82, 247-250

Rodrigo Lasa, Trevor Williams and Primitivo Caballero (2009)
The attractiveness of phagostimulant formulations of a nucleopolyhedrovirus-based insecticide depends on prior insect diet
Journal of Pest Science 82 (3), 247-250
Abstract: The multiply-enveloped nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV) of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) is being employed on an increasing scale as the basis for bioinsecticidal products for control of this pest in greenhouse crops in Europe. The mortality of diet-reared S. exigua larvae was determined after feeding on lettuce leaf discs contaminated by mixtures of SeMNPV occlusion bodies and 1 of 13 substances reported to have phagostimulant properties. Of the substances tested, wheatgerm and soya flour resulted in significantly increased mortality compared to the virus alone. However, these preferences disappeared when larvae were reared on lettuce. We conclude that (1) the activity of potential phagostimulant substances depends on the prior feeding experience of S. exigua and, (2) laboratory tests using diet-reared insects require validation using plant-reared larvae before being developed for field testing.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Trevor Williams, Primitivo Caballero, Rodrigo Lasa

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
formulation/storage of bioagents

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Spodoptera exigua	Lettuce (Lactuca)
Alphabaculovirus spexiguae (entomopathogen)	Spodoptera exigua	Lettuce (Lactuca)