Revista Brasileira de Entomologia (2018) 62, 260-266

Priscilla T. Nascimento, Marcos A.M. Fadini, Fernando H. Valicente and Paulo E.A. Ribeiro (2018)
Does Bacillus thuringiensis have adverse effects on the host egg location by parasitoid wasps?
Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 62 (4), 260-266
Abstract: This study investigated the interaction between two pest biological control agents, the parasitoid wasp Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and the entomopathogen Bacillus thuringiensis (Bacillales: Bacillacea) (Bt). The aim of this study was to evaluate if the presence of Bt (formulated products Agree^®, Dipel^® and HD1 and HD11 strains) interferes in the oviposition preference of T. pretiosum to eggs of Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Using an olfactometry test, the eggs of H. zea were bathed with the commercial formulations, with the Bt suspensions or distilled water, and offered to the parasitoid wasps in order to evaluate parasitism. The results showed that H. zea eggs sprayed with commercial formulations and Bt strains did not interfere in the choice made by the parasitoid. The parasitoid wasp is not able to distinguish between eggs with or without B. thuringiensis treatment, independently of strains suspension or commercial formulations. Therefore, these two control agents may be used together without negative interaction.
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Database assignments for author(s): Fernando H. Valicente, Marcos A.M. Fadini

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.
	Helicoverpa zea		Brazil (south)
Trichogramma pretiosum (parasitoid)	Helicoverpa zea		Brazil (south)