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The First Trial of a Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum Mycoinsecticide for the Control of the Red Locust in a Recognised Outbreak Area

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

R. E. Price ,
E. J. Müller ,
H. D. Brown ,
P. D'Uamba  and
A. A. Jone
R. E. Price
Affiliation:
ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
E. J. Müller
Affiliation:
ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
H. D. Brown
Affiliation:
ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
P. D'Uamba
Affiliation:
Departmento de Sanidade Vegetal, Direccão Nacional de Agricultura, Caixa Postale 3658 Maputo, Mozambique
A. A. Jone
Affiliation:
Departmento de Sanidade Vegetal, Direccão Nacional de Agricultura, Caixa Postale 3658 Maputo, Mozambique
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Abstract

The outbreak areas of the red locust are seasonally inundated wetland areas supporting a rich biodiversity. The potential for environmental damage from the repeated use of broad-spectrum insecticides for locust control in these ecologically sensitive wetlands is therefore great. This paper describes the first trial of a Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum (LUBILOSA isolate IMI 330189) mycoinsecticide as an alternative, more environmentally benign, intervention strategy for managing red locust populations in their outbreak areas. Following initial bioassay tests in the laboratory, which gave 90–93% kill of 3rd instar hoppers within 6–9 days, an oil based formulation of aerial conidia was applied at a rate of 5 × 1012 conidia/ha using a motorised ‘Solo’ knapsack sprayer to treat 3rd and 4th instar hopper bands in the Buzi outbreak area near Beira in Mozambique. Caged samples of 3rd instars succumbed quickly with a median time to kill of 3.6–3.9 days and 98–100% kill recorded within 8–9 days. The 4th instars took longer to die, with a median lethal time of 5.9–6.1days and > 90% mortality after 21 days. Mortality in control samples was low with 13–23% mortality after 21 days. During this mortality assessment period mean minimum and maximum air temperatures ranged from 26–34°C and relative humidity ranged from 85–100%. Observations on treated bands in the field showed that the cohesion of the 3rd instar bands broke down within 6 days, while controls still behaved normally. Unfortunately observations on the 4th instar band had to be terminated after 10 days due to heavy flooding. This preliminary field trial demonstrated the feasibility of using a Metarhizium mycoinsecticide, applied through conventional spray equipment, for controlling the red locust in its outbreak areas.

Résumé

Les foyers de reproduction et d'essaimage du criquet rouge envahissent saisonnièrement les zones humides abritant une riche diversité en espèces. Les risques de dégradation de l'environnement lors des efforts répétés d'utilisation des pesticides à large spectre dans la lutte contre le criquet deviennent grands dans ces zones humides écologiquement sensibles. Cet article décrit les premiers essais de lutte antiacridienne par emploi de Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum (isolât IMI 330189 de LUBILOSA). Ce myco-insecticide est employé en guise d'une alternative moins polluante au point de vue environnement et comme une stratégie d'intervention de contrôle des populations du criquet rouge dans les foyers de reproduction. Partant des premiers essais de laboratoire qui ont donné lieu à 90–93% de mortalité chez les larves de troisième stade endéans 6–9 jours, une formulation huileuse à base de conidies a été appliquée au moyen d'un pulvérisateur à dos de marque Solo et à une concentration de 5 × 1012 conidies/ha pour le traitement des bandes de larves de 3ème et 4ème dans le site de reproduction grégarigène de Buzi près de Beira au Mozambique. Des échantillons de larves encagées de 3ème stade succombaient rapidement sous l'action du produit dans un intervale de 3,6–3,9 jours et on enregistrait 98–100% de mortalité endéans 8–9 jours. Les larves de 4ème stade ont mis un temps relativement long pour mourir dans un interval moyen de 5,9–6,1 jours et leur mortalité était de moins de 91% après 21 jours. Chez les témoins une basse mortalité de 13–23% était observée après 21. Au cours de l'expérience sur la mortalité, les températures minima et maxima de l'air se rangeaient entre 26–34°C tandis que l'humidité relative entre 85–100%. Les observations sur les bandes larvaires traitées en champs ont montré que la cohésion des bandes de larves de 3ème stade se dissolvait endéans 6 jours, pendant que les larves témoins se comportaient normalement. Malheureusement les observations sur les bandes de larves du 4ème stade ont dû se faire après 10 jours suite aux fortes inondations qui prévalaient. Les essais préliminaires en champs ont prouvé la possibilité d'utiliser un myco-insecticide à base de Metarhizium une fois que celui-ci est appliqué par des moyens classiques.

Keywords

criquet rougeNomadacris septetnfasciataMetarhizium anisopliae var. acridummyco-insecticide essai biologique en laboratoireessais en champsred locustNomadacris septemfasciataMetarhizium anisopliae var. acridummycoinsecticidelaboratory bioassayfield trials
Type
Research and Review Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , December 1999 , pp. 323 - 331
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1999

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