Impact of Entomopathogenic Fungus, Verticillium Lecanii (Zimmerman) Viegas on Natural Enemies of Cabbage Aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (Linnaeus) and other Beneficial Insects

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Authors

  • Department of Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences GKYK Campus, Bangalore-560065, Karnataka ,IN
  • Project Directorate of Biological Control, Post Bag No. 2491 H.A. Farm Post, Bangalore-560024, Karnataka ,IN
  • Project Directorate of Biological Control, Post Bag No. 2491 H.A. Farm Post, Bangalore-560024, Karnataka ,IN

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18311/jbc/2007/15044

Keywords:

Beneficial insects, Cabbage aphid, natural enemies safety, Verticillium lecanii

Abstract

The entomopathogenic fungus, Verticillium lecanii (Zimm.) Viegas was evaluated in the laboratory for its safety to natural enemies of cabbage aphid, Trichogramma chilonis Ishii and two species of silk worms using different formulations and inoculation methods. The fungus was not pathogenic to Chrysoperia carnea (Stephens), Coccinella septempunctata (Linnaeus), Episyrphus baiteatus (De Geer) and Sumia cynthia ricini (Boisduval), but was found to be pathogenic to Bombyx mori (Linnaeus). Aphid mummification and Diaeretiella rupae adult emergence were significantly affected by the fungus. Parasitism, adult emergence and adult longevity of Trichogramma chilonis were affected by fungal treatments. The adverse effects of the fungus on all insects tested were less than 25 percent. Our results suggest that V. Lecanii is compatible with natural enemies of cabbage aphid and T. chilonis and is harmless to silk worm, therefore can be used for integrated management of cabbage aphid.