Engytatus varians as agent for dispersal of Spodoptera exigua nucleopolyhedrovirus
The interaction between the mirid predator Engytatus varians (Distant) and a Mexican isolate (SeSIN6) of Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV) was examined under laboratory conditions. In a choice test, E. varians females and males demonstrated no preference for virus-infected Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) second instar compared with non-infected at two diferent post-inoculation times (48 and 72 h). Similarly, prey search time (5–6 h) did not difer signifcantly for each type of prey. Bioassays were performed to confrm the viability of occlusion bodies (OBs) from predator’s faces collected at 48, 96, and 144 h after exposure to virus-infected S. exigua larvae. The proportion of larval mortality was between 0.20 and 0.62 across all times and both E. varians sexes. Another experiment was performed to evaluate the dispersal of SeSIN6 OBs by physical contact with E. varians adults on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Miller) leafets treated with the pathogen. Engytatus varians adults were exposed to OB-treated tomato leafets during 24 or 48 h using a clip cage. After each exposure time, these adults were removed and placed on clean uncontaminated leafets for periods of 4–48 h. These leafets were then exposed to groups of S. exigua second instars in clip cages. The proportion of virus-induced larval mortality of S. exigua (ranging from 0.45 to 1.0) was signifcantly afected by the duration of exposure of E. varians adults on OB-treated or untreated tomato leafets. Our results reveal the potential of E. varians as an agent for the dispersal of SeMNPV OBs.
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | Engytatus varians, Insectos fitófagos, Spodoptera exigua, Lepidópteros, Virus poliedrosis nuclear, Control biológico de plagas, |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-022-01549-6 |
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