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Effects of entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae on non-target ants associated with Odontotermes spp. (Isoptera: Termitidae) termite mounds in Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2016

E.A. Abonyo ,
N.K. Maniania ,
C.M. Warui ,
E.D. Kokwaro ,
T.M. Palmer ,
D.F. Doak  and
A.K. Brody
E.A. Abonyo
Affiliation:
Zoological Sciences Department, Kenyatta University, PO Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
N.K. Maniania*
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
C.M. Warui
Affiliation:
National Museums of Kenya, PO Box 78420-00500, Nairobi, Kenya Mpala Research Centre, PO Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya
E.D. Kokwaro
Affiliation:
Zoological Sciences Department, Kenyatta University, PO Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
T.M. Palmer
Affiliation:
Mpala Research Centre, PO Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya Department of Biology, University of Florida, Carr Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611–8525, USA
D.F. Doak
Affiliation:
Mpala Research Centre, PO Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
A.K. Brody
Affiliation:
Mpala Research Centre, PO Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya Biology Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
*
*Email: nmaniania@icipe.org
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Abstract

Termites are an important component of savannah ecosystems throughout Africa. Despite their importance in the ecosystem, they can be serious pests of structures, houses, rangelands, tropical forestry, and agriculture. For many decades, chemical insecticides have remained popular for termite management worldwide. However, with the growing environmental concerns over pesticides, biological control using entomopathogenic fungi such as Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin has become an often-considered alternative. Metarhizium anisopliae is an ubiquitous, naturally occurring pathogen, which has been reported infecting over 200 insect species; therefore, there is concern that use of M. anisopliae may affect non-target organisms. The effects of M. anisopliae isolate ICIPE 30 were experimentally tested on the ants which associate with Odontotermes spp. termite mounds. Laboratory bioassays were carried out to assess the effects of direct exposure to M. anisopliae on Crematogaster mimosae and Camponotus spp. In addition, ant diversity was monitored over 18 months from termite mounds treated with M. anisopliae in situ near the Mpala Research Centre in Laikipia District of central Kenya. Results obtained revealed no effects of direct exposure to M. anisopliae isolate ICIPE 30 on the mortality of C. mimosae (F1 = 7.29, P = 0.0072) or Camponotus spp. (F1 = 13.01, P = 0.0004) in the laboratory. No significant difference in Shannon indices of ant diversity from treated and untreated mounds (F1 = 0.016, P = 0.8989) was found. It is evident that M. anisopliae has no negative effects on ants that are associated with Odontotermes spp. termites.

Keywords

Entomopathogenic fungustermitesnon-target organismsantsdiversitybiological control
Type
Research Paper
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 36 , Issue 3 , September 2016 , pp. 128 - 134
Copyright
Copyright © icipe 2016 

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