Pest Management Science (2018) 74, 1861-1869

Óscar Dembilio, Pilar Moya, Sandra Vacas, Lola Ortega-García, Enrique Quesada-Moraga, Josep A. Jaques and Vicente Navarro-Llopis (2018)
Development of an attract-and-infect system to control Rhynchophorus ferrugineus with the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana
Pest Management Science 74 (8), 1861-1869
Abstract:
Background
A new Beauveria bassiana-based attract and infect device (AID) to control Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was developed. The virulence and persistence of the fungal formulation used in the AID were evaluated in the laboratory. Semi-field and field trials were carried out to validate the results and establish the potential of this device as a control tool.
Results
In laboratory conditions, a 50% lethal time (LT₅₀) of 4.33 days was obtained when adults (7–10 days old) were exposed to the inoculation tunnel (IT) containing 1 × 10¹⁰ conidia g^–1 in an oil-based fungal formulation. This formulation maintained conidium viability at 50% for up to 2 months. Moreover, when adults were exposed to 2.5-month field-aged ITs, mortality still reached 50% 40 days after exposure. In addition, no differences were observed between ITs aged in early spring and those aged in summer, suggesting that the fungal formulation is not strongly affected by environmental factors in Mediterranean basin conditions. Semi-field assays showed that the device allowed an easy transit of weevils through the IT, which were effectively attracted and infected. Using the AIDs in 4-ha plot field trials, a reduction of >50% in the percentage of infested sentinel palms was obtained.
Conclusion
Based on the results obtained in terms of the efficacy and persistence of this new AID in the field and its potential in reducing R. ferrugineus populations and palm infestation, this device could become a key tool for the management of R. ferrugineus.
(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): Vicente Navarro-Llopis, Sandra Vacas, Enrique Quesada-Moraga, Josep A. Jaques

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
application technology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Rhynchophorus ferrugineus
Beauveria bassiana (entomopathogen)	Rhynchophorus ferrugineus