Coconut rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros; CRB) was discovered in 2015 in a small outbreak in... more Coconut rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros; CRB) was discovered in 2015 in a small outbreak in Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. This was the first record of CRB from Solomon Islands and a response plan was prepared. An awareness programme was launched and where CRB sightings were confirmed, delimitation surveys were carried out. Following the launch of the awareness programme, later in 2015, CRB was also reported from the Shortland Islands in the Western Province. Other islands were surveyed from 2015 to 2020. If CRB presence was confirmed, beetles were collected and analysed for haplotype and presence of the classical biological control agent, Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV). A distribution map and timeline of invasion were developed. The initial populations belonged to two distinct haplotypes: CRB-G (clade IA) in Honiara and CRB-S (clade II) in Shortland Islands. Despite control measures, by 2020 CRB-G had spread to islands in eight provinces and CRB-S had spread to i...
Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 2021
The coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB: Oryctes rhinoceros Linnaeus) is one of the most damaging pest... more The coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB: Oryctes rhinoceros Linnaeus) is one of the most damaging pests to coconut and oil palms in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Adults bore into the crown and damage developing fronds, which affects tree development and yield. The insect is native to South and Southeast Asia and was inadvertently introduced into the Pacific in 1909. It has since spread to several Pacific island nations and territories, causing significant economic impact on these important coconut and palm-growing regions. In the 1950s and 1960s, an international biological control effort was initiated to search for and release natural enemy species. Release of the Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus Huger (OrNV) and the species complex of Metarhizium Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) was successful in controlling CRB in its invaded range. Recently a new biotype of the beetle, known as CRB-G, has spread into the Pacific Islands causing unprecedented levels of damage due to the failure of p...
Uno de los principales problemas fitosanitarios en los cultivos de mora (<em>Rubus glaucus ... more Uno de los principales problemas fitosanitarios en los cultivos de mora (<em>Rubus glaucus </em>Benth) del Ecuador es el hongo <em>Botrytis cinerea </em>causante de la enfermedad del "moho gris". El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la capacidad antagónica de cuatro hongos frente al patógeno <em>B. cinerea</em>. Para llevar a cabo esta investigación se aislaron dos microorganismos endófitos del cultivo de mora (<em>Clonostachys </em>sp.<em> </em>y<em> Alternaria </em>sp.) y se utilizaron aislados de <em>Trichoderma asperellum </em>y<em> Trichoderma </em>sp. de la colección de INIAP. Se utilizó la técnica de cultivos duales. Se utilizó la escala de Bell para evaluar el antagonismo y se calculó el porcentaje de inhibición del crecimiento micelial para el efecto antagónico. <em>T. asperellum </em>y<em> Trichoderma </em>sp. alcanzaron el grado I en la e...
The microbial control agent Invade® has been produced and sold in New Zealand since 1990, for con... more The microbial control agent Invade® has been produced and sold in New Zealand since 1990, for control of the native grass grub, Costelytra zealandica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). A two-tier quality control strategy is employed by certification of the bacterial starter cultures and rigorous testing of each batch post-production, prior to dispatch for sale. Starter cultures are individually tested for purity and virulence and each batch fermentation is tested and assessed for cell density, purity, virulence and long term viability. The experiences of developing quality control procedures for Invade® are discussed.
La agricultura atraviesa una crisis mundial, la productividad y la sostenibilidad son dos factore... more La agricultura atraviesa una crisis mundial, la productividad y la sostenibilidad son dos factores que los agricultores están desafiando para producir más alimentos, preservar el medio ambiente y la salud de los seres vivos. Los países desarrollados y subdesarrollados necesitan adoptar nuevas alternativas productivas, que mejoren la calidad de los alimentos, preservando el medio ambiente y los ecosistemas. Actualmente, el abuso y mal uso de los productos químicos ha causado una serie de problemas como contaminación (suelo y agua) y resistencia de las plagas a los ingredientes activos. El cambio climático y otras transformaciones por las que atraviesa la agricultura, generaron hace décadas la aparición de la industria de insumos biológicos, que son productos amigables con el medio ambiente y la salud humana. Estos productos tienen características y modos de acción que ayudan al control de plagas con menos riesgos que el uso de pesticidas. Esta revisión recopila la importancia, el uso y las aplicaciones de productos biológicos basados en hongos benéficos en América Latina, destacando el proyecto "Biocontrol para Sistemas Agrícolas Sustentables" ejecutado en Ecuador, financiado por MFAT Nueva Zelandia, el cual ha demostrado la eficiencia del uso de microorganismos en la agricultura a través de los resultados de las investigaciones llevadas a cabo durante la ejecución de este Proyecto. Además, se mencionan aspectos relacionados con el control de calidad de productos biológicos y las regulaciones para su registro.
The commercial use of the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium spp. in biopesticides has gained mor... more The commercial use of the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium spp. in biopesticides has gained more interest since the discovery that several species of this genus are able to colonize roots. In general, commercial products with Metarhizium are formulated based on conidia for insect pest control. The process of mass production, harvesting, and formulation of infective conidia can be detrimental for conidial viability. Entomopathogenic fungi such as Metarhizium spp. are able to produce high concentrations of resistant structures, known as microsclerotia, when grown in liquid media. Microsclerotia are desiccation tolerant, with excellent storage stability, and are capable of producing high quantities of infective conidia after rehydration. The aim of this study was to evaluate microsclerotia production by different isolates of Metarhizium spp. and determine the effect of microsclerotia coated onto maize seeds on plant growth in the presence of soil-borne pathogen Fusarium graminearum. ...
Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association, 2013
Outbreaks of insect pests can cause major losses in pasture productivity, but farmers are often p... more Outbreaks of insect pests can cause major losses in pasture productivity, but farmers are often poorly equipped to evaluate risk factors, predict pest impacts and determine appropriate control actions. Decision tools are described for pasture pest management using three case studies. For grass grub, "at risk" paddocks are identified based on factors such as time since sowing, soil type and larval damage the previous autumn/ winter. Targeted populations measurements can then be taken and a decision to control grass grub made using this objective measurement and/or an assessment of the pasture value, termed the insurance approach. For manuka beetle, pesticide application decisions are based on damage scores of individual paddocks and the correlation between these scores and larval densities. With porina, information on moth flight times, larval populations and pasture damage are used to make key control decisions. For all pests, decisions to control should be made in conjunc...
Beauveria pseudobassiana formed three-dimensional aggregates of cells (CAs) in liquid culture. CA... more Beauveria pseudobassiana formed three-dimensional aggregates of cells (CAs) in liquid culture. CAs were formed mainly by blastospores and conidia, distinct from microsclerotia formed through adhesion of hyphae. The formation, germination and sporulation of CAs were studied, as well as the pathogenicity of conidia produced from them against adults of black beetle. After 4 days of culture, CAs were formed, becoming compact and melanised after 10 days of incubation. Electron microscopy showed three-dimensional CAs averaging 431.65 µm in length with irregular shapes and rough surfaces, where cells were trapped within an extracellular matrix. CAs germinated after 2 days of incubation on agar-plates producing hyphae and forming phialides and conidia after 4 days. Produced conidia caused 45% mortality of black beetle adults. CAs germination and sporulation on soil were directly correlated with soil moisture, reaching 80% and 100% germination on the surface of soil with 17% and 30% moisture, respectively. CAs maintained 100% germination after 2 years of storage under refrigeration. These CAs could have a similar function as microsclerotia in nature, acting as resistant structures able to protect internal cells and their ability to sporulate producing infective conidia, suggesting their potential to be used as bioinsecticides to control soil-dwelling insects.
Cultures of the bacterium Serratia entomophila (Enterobacteriaceae) have been applied as the biol... more Cultures of the bacterium Serratia entomophila (Enterobacteriaceae) have been applied as the biological control product Invade for the control of grass grub for more than a decade However the use of the bacterium is limited by the specific requirements of the live microbial cultures for distribution and delivery The cultures must be maintained under refrigeration and applied through a modified seed drill To overcome these problems we have developed a system for stabilising the bacterium in a biopolymer matrix which can then be incorporated into claybased granules The resulting formulation can be stored at ambient temperatures for extended periods and applied to the soil through conventional farm machinery Such thermostable formulations of sensitive microorganisms are likely to have a wide application in the biological control of pests and diseases
Adult Odontria smithii were observed defoliating young olive trees (Olea europea) in an organic o... more Adult Odontria smithii were observed defoliating young olive trees (Olea europea) in an organic orchard in the Waihopai valley, Marlborough, in late January 2001. Defoliation continued until mid May with a marked decrease in the numbers of beetles collected from individual trees toward the end of this period. Damage to trees varied greatly with no discernable pattern within the orchard. Soil samples were taken from the orchard and surrounding unimproved grassland and matagouri (Discaria toumatou) scrub in early May but congregations of larvae were not detected. In the laboratory, O. smithii adults were found to consume foliage from a range of native trees or shrubs. However, in twoway choice tests, matagouri was the only native foliage that beetles preferred to olive leaves. Commercially available formulations of Pyrethrum and Neem produced a reduction in beetle feeding on olive leaf but caused negligible beetle mortality in laboratory tests. A synthetic pyrethroid treatment (Fastac ‚) reduced feeding to below 1% of leaf area consumed by untreated beetles and killed 73% of the exposed beetles over the seven-day trial. Further study into the cause of beetle aggregation and feeding on individual trees may highlight an interception strategy to solve this localised problem.
The bacterium Serratia entomophila has been incorporated into prill formulations to improve distr... more The bacterium Serratia entomophila has been incorporated into prill formulations to improve distribution and application of this insect pathogen to pasture for biological control of the New Zealand grass grub Costelytra zealandica While bacteria can survive in ambient conditions for long periods within the prills their field efficacy depends on successful release of bacteria from the prills and colonisation of the surrounding soil Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effects of soil moisture on rate of release of bacteria from prill formulations Prills were held in soil adjusted to four soil moisture contents (ranging from field capacity to wilting point) and the release of bacteria was determined by dilution plating Bacteria were released most rapidly at high soil moistures and populations were maintained at 103104 colony forming units per g soil in most treatments Measurement of release of S entomophila from prills in soil cores subjected to various watering regi...
Pseudomonas fluorescens strain F113 which has biocontrol capacity against the plant pathogenic fu... more Pseudomonas fluorescens strain F113 which has biocontrol capacity against the plant pathogenic fungus Pythium ultimum was formulated and applied to onion seed using patented biopolymer technology developed at AgResearch Lincoln Initial loadings on seeds ranged between 86 x 10611 x 107 bacteria/seed In a preliminary screening of four different formulations shelf life studies indicated that most formulations maintained high cell numbers on seed stored at 4deg;C for up to 70 days Bacterial numbers declined on seed stored at 20deg;C but significant numbers of bacteria remained viable after 70 days storage In a second experiment the two formulations giving best shelflife at 20deg;C were monitored for stability at 20deg;C for 4 weeks Packaging material had a significant effect on bacterial survival on seed Germination of freshly treated seeds was not affected by seed treatment The study has demonstrated the potential to treat seed with fluorescent pseudomonads with biocontrol capability
Hylastes ater was first recorded in New Zealand in 1929 and is now established in all exotic pine... more Hylastes ater was first recorded in New Zealand in 1929 and is now established in all exotic pine plantations. During maturation feeding adults damage and may kill young pine seedlings, which can significantly impact regenerative plantings. The insectpathogenic fungus Beauveria caledonica is frequently isolated from individual beetles and frass collected from breeding populations of H. ater in Pinus radiata stumps and is being evaluated as a biological control agent for this and other bark beetles. As part of this investigation, novel formulations are being developed for delivery of fungal inoculum to the target insect. Survival of inoculum in a formulation is obviously critical for it to be functionally effective, and studies have been done to assess the suitability of different materials for this purpose. Data are presented on survival of B. caledonica conidia in gel, biopolymer-coated rice, and biopolymer-clay formulations.
The New Zealand grass grub (Costelytra zealandica) is distributed throughout the South Island but... more The New Zealand grass grub (Costelytra zealandica) is distributed throughout the South Island but surprisingly has not been recorded west of Reefton In 2006 pasture damage from rootfeeding scarab larvae on the West Coast initially attributed to grass grub was found to be caused by manuka beetles Pyronota spp Winter surveys during 20082012 between Karamea and Hokitika confirmed that most damage patches were caused by manuka beetle larvae but there was a small localised population of C zealandica associated with Westport airport and golf course In 2012 a network of phenolbaited pheromone traps was established around this epicenter during the grass grub flight season with traps spaced at approximately 05 km intervals Traps within the identified zone of grass grub infestation caught 15 beetles per night Single male beetles were trapped up to 75 km from the epicenter but with no evidence of established populations from larval sampling It is likely that the localised grass grub population...
The Australian black beetle Adoryphorus couloni (also known as the redheaded cockchafer) was foun... more The Australian black beetle Adoryphorus couloni (also known as the redheaded cockchafer) was found in large numbers in Barrington Park in Christchurch in May 2008 Severely damaged areas comprised 1020 of the park with populations reaching over 300 larvae/m2 The thatch layer produced on sports fields appears ideal for this insect which favours grasslands with high organic matter levels and could explain the very high grub numbers To reach a population of this size A couloni had probably colonised and remained undetected in the park for several years In Australia the insect is a serious pest of pastures Severe damage occurred in Tasmania in the 1980s and 1990s when the insect spread through the central Midlands stripping bare thousands of hectares of pasture The beetle was accidentally introduced to Canterbury through Lyttelton harbour in the 1960s and has slowly spread around the Port Hills in lowquality hill pastures The outbreak in Christchurch marks the first move of this pest int...
Phenol the attractant pheromone of adult males of the native New Zealand grass grub Costelytra ze... more Phenol the attractant pheromone of adult males of the native New Zealand grass grub Costelytra zealandica (White) is produced in the beetles as the result of bacterial degradation of tyrosine A lure consisting of a resin impregnated with phenol has been widely used to monitor male beetle flight activity The present formulation is highly attractive for the first week in the field but then loses activity rapidly A number of phenolcontaining formulations were tested to improve the lure A new formulation gave lower catches that were more stable with time producing data more suitable for population density estimation Phenylacetaldehyde a bacterial metabolite of phenylalanine was tested as a possible synergist to phenol Field results showed that this floral compound exhibited no behaviourallyactive properties to grass grubs when tested together with phenol Catches with water traps were compared with those in sticky delta and flat delta traps in two vineyards and in pasture Water traps cau...
The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Ascomycota Hypocreales) has recently been fou... more The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Ascomycota Hypocreales) has recently been found capable of producing compact hyphal aggregates (microsclerotia) under specific culture conditions that become pigmented during growth The microsclerotia can be formulated and are stable when dried for storage Upon rehydration hyphae grow from the microsclerotes develop into a fungal pellet and produce large quantities of conidia In this study microsclerotia were produced using New Zealand USA and Mexican strains of M anisopliae and characterised for production requirements stability and conidial production Microsclerotia were produced in shake flasks and fermenter vessels and differences were observed in growth and production according to strain and CN ratio The potential of microsclerotia formulations for biocontrol of redheaded cockchafer (Adoryphorus couloni Coleoptera Scarabaeidae) is currently under evaluation
The bacterial biocontrol agent Serratia entomophila and the insecticide diazinon were applied as ... more The bacterial biocontrol agent Serratia entomophila and the insecticide diazinon were applied as separate granular formulations with ryegrass seed and compared with a seedonly control treatment on three pastures of different ages and composition on the North Island volcanic plateau In the first 2 years diazinon and S entomophila significantly reduced healthy grass grub populations compared with the control However by the third year populations in the diazinon treatments had recovered and were significantly higher than in S entomophila or control plots Grass grub populations were reduced by disease outbreaks after S entomophila was applied which infected >40 of grass grub larvae in the treated plots in year two Bacterial extraction from soil a year after application confirmed establishment and persistence of S entomophila in treated plots Visual positive pasture growth responses were noted in both the S entomophila and diazinontreated plots
Some species in the genus Pyronota are known to be serious pests of pasture. The establishment of... more Some species in the genus Pyronota are known to be serious pests of pasture. The establishment of new dairy pastures on recently flipped soils on Cape Foulwind, Buller provided a unique opportunity to investigate the flight behaviour and biology of Pyronota festiva and P. setosa from 2008—2012. Flight behaviour was monitored by fixed-vane interruption traps and by field observations. Adults of both species flew through late spring/early summer (Nov—Dec) of each year and seasonal flight timing was consistent between years. Pyronota festiva flight timing and duration were similar to those previously reported in the literature and were slightly female dominated. Pyronota setosa flights started one to two weeks in advance of P. festiva and were dominated by males (>95%). Female P. setosa were rarely observed flying and were rarely caught in sweep-net sampling. Pyronota setosa beetles were never observed swarming or congregating and feeding on the foliage of mÄnuka. These differences...
Coconut rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros; CRB) was discovered in 2015 in a small outbreak in... more Coconut rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros; CRB) was discovered in 2015 in a small outbreak in Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. This was the first record of CRB from Solomon Islands and a response plan was prepared. An awareness programme was launched and where CRB sightings were confirmed, delimitation surveys were carried out. Following the launch of the awareness programme, later in 2015, CRB was also reported from the Shortland Islands in the Western Province. Other islands were surveyed from 2015 to 2020. If CRB presence was confirmed, beetles were collected and analysed for haplotype and presence of the classical biological control agent, Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV). A distribution map and timeline of invasion were developed. The initial populations belonged to two distinct haplotypes: CRB-G (clade IA) in Honiara and CRB-S (clade II) in Shortland Islands. Despite control measures, by 2020 CRB-G had spread to islands in eight provinces and CRB-S had spread to i...
Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 2021
The coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB: Oryctes rhinoceros Linnaeus) is one of the most damaging pest... more The coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB: Oryctes rhinoceros Linnaeus) is one of the most damaging pests to coconut and oil palms in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Adults bore into the crown and damage developing fronds, which affects tree development and yield. The insect is native to South and Southeast Asia and was inadvertently introduced into the Pacific in 1909. It has since spread to several Pacific island nations and territories, causing significant economic impact on these important coconut and palm-growing regions. In the 1950s and 1960s, an international biological control effort was initiated to search for and release natural enemy species. Release of the Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus Huger (OrNV) and the species complex of Metarhizium Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) was successful in controlling CRB in its invaded range. Recently a new biotype of the beetle, known as CRB-G, has spread into the Pacific Islands causing unprecedented levels of damage due to the failure of p...
Uno de los principales problemas fitosanitarios en los cultivos de mora (<em>Rubus glaucus ... more Uno de los principales problemas fitosanitarios en los cultivos de mora (<em>Rubus glaucus </em>Benth) del Ecuador es el hongo <em>Botrytis cinerea </em>causante de la enfermedad del "moho gris". El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la capacidad antagónica de cuatro hongos frente al patógeno <em>B. cinerea</em>. Para llevar a cabo esta investigación se aislaron dos microorganismos endófitos del cultivo de mora (<em>Clonostachys </em>sp.<em> </em>y<em> Alternaria </em>sp.) y se utilizaron aislados de <em>Trichoderma asperellum </em>y<em> Trichoderma </em>sp. de la colección de INIAP. Se utilizó la técnica de cultivos duales. Se utilizó la escala de Bell para evaluar el antagonismo y se calculó el porcentaje de inhibición del crecimiento micelial para el efecto antagónico. <em>T. asperellum </em>y<em> Trichoderma </em>sp. alcanzaron el grado I en la e...
The microbial control agent Invade® has been produced and sold in New Zealand since 1990, for con... more The microbial control agent Invade® has been produced and sold in New Zealand since 1990, for control of the native grass grub, Costelytra zealandica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). A two-tier quality control strategy is employed by certification of the bacterial starter cultures and rigorous testing of each batch post-production, prior to dispatch for sale. Starter cultures are individually tested for purity and virulence and each batch fermentation is tested and assessed for cell density, purity, virulence and long term viability. The experiences of developing quality control procedures for Invade® are discussed.
La agricultura atraviesa una crisis mundial, la productividad y la sostenibilidad son dos factore... more La agricultura atraviesa una crisis mundial, la productividad y la sostenibilidad son dos factores que los agricultores están desafiando para producir más alimentos, preservar el medio ambiente y la salud de los seres vivos. Los países desarrollados y subdesarrollados necesitan adoptar nuevas alternativas productivas, que mejoren la calidad de los alimentos, preservando el medio ambiente y los ecosistemas. Actualmente, el abuso y mal uso de los productos químicos ha causado una serie de problemas como contaminación (suelo y agua) y resistencia de las plagas a los ingredientes activos. El cambio climático y otras transformaciones por las que atraviesa la agricultura, generaron hace décadas la aparición de la industria de insumos biológicos, que son productos amigables con el medio ambiente y la salud humana. Estos productos tienen características y modos de acción que ayudan al control de plagas con menos riesgos que el uso de pesticidas. Esta revisión recopila la importancia, el uso y las aplicaciones de productos biológicos basados en hongos benéficos en América Latina, destacando el proyecto "Biocontrol para Sistemas Agrícolas Sustentables" ejecutado en Ecuador, financiado por MFAT Nueva Zelandia, el cual ha demostrado la eficiencia del uso de microorganismos en la agricultura a través de los resultados de las investigaciones llevadas a cabo durante la ejecución de este Proyecto. Además, se mencionan aspectos relacionados con el control de calidad de productos biológicos y las regulaciones para su registro.
The commercial use of the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium spp. in biopesticides has gained mor... more The commercial use of the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium spp. in biopesticides has gained more interest since the discovery that several species of this genus are able to colonize roots. In general, commercial products with Metarhizium are formulated based on conidia for insect pest control. The process of mass production, harvesting, and formulation of infective conidia can be detrimental for conidial viability. Entomopathogenic fungi such as Metarhizium spp. are able to produce high concentrations of resistant structures, known as microsclerotia, when grown in liquid media. Microsclerotia are desiccation tolerant, with excellent storage stability, and are capable of producing high quantities of infective conidia after rehydration. The aim of this study was to evaluate microsclerotia production by different isolates of Metarhizium spp. and determine the effect of microsclerotia coated onto maize seeds on plant growth in the presence of soil-borne pathogen Fusarium graminearum. ...
Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association, 2013
Outbreaks of insect pests can cause major losses in pasture productivity, but farmers are often p... more Outbreaks of insect pests can cause major losses in pasture productivity, but farmers are often poorly equipped to evaluate risk factors, predict pest impacts and determine appropriate control actions. Decision tools are described for pasture pest management using three case studies. For grass grub, "at risk" paddocks are identified based on factors such as time since sowing, soil type and larval damage the previous autumn/ winter. Targeted populations measurements can then be taken and a decision to control grass grub made using this objective measurement and/or an assessment of the pasture value, termed the insurance approach. For manuka beetle, pesticide application decisions are based on damage scores of individual paddocks and the correlation between these scores and larval densities. With porina, information on moth flight times, larval populations and pasture damage are used to make key control decisions. For all pests, decisions to control should be made in conjunc...
Beauveria pseudobassiana formed three-dimensional aggregates of cells (CAs) in liquid culture. CA... more Beauveria pseudobassiana formed three-dimensional aggregates of cells (CAs) in liquid culture. CAs were formed mainly by blastospores and conidia, distinct from microsclerotia formed through adhesion of hyphae. The formation, germination and sporulation of CAs were studied, as well as the pathogenicity of conidia produced from them against adults of black beetle. After 4 days of culture, CAs were formed, becoming compact and melanised after 10 days of incubation. Electron microscopy showed three-dimensional CAs averaging 431.65 µm in length with irregular shapes and rough surfaces, where cells were trapped within an extracellular matrix. CAs germinated after 2 days of incubation on agar-plates producing hyphae and forming phialides and conidia after 4 days. Produced conidia caused 45% mortality of black beetle adults. CAs germination and sporulation on soil were directly correlated with soil moisture, reaching 80% and 100% germination on the surface of soil with 17% and 30% moisture, respectively. CAs maintained 100% germination after 2 years of storage under refrigeration. These CAs could have a similar function as microsclerotia in nature, acting as resistant structures able to protect internal cells and their ability to sporulate producing infective conidia, suggesting their potential to be used as bioinsecticides to control soil-dwelling insects.
Cultures of the bacterium Serratia entomophila (Enterobacteriaceae) have been applied as the biol... more Cultures of the bacterium Serratia entomophila (Enterobacteriaceae) have been applied as the biological control product Invade for the control of grass grub for more than a decade However the use of the bacterium is limited by the specific requirements of the live microbial cultures for distribution and delivery The cultures must be maintained under refrigeration and applied through a modified seed drill To overcome these problems we have developed a system for stabilising the bacterium in a biopolymer matrix which can then be incorporated into claybased granules The resulting formulation can be stored at ambient temperatures for extended periods and applied to the soil through conventional farm machinery Such thermostable formulations of sensitive microorganisms are likely to have a wide application in the biological control of pests and diseases
Adult Odontria smithii were observed defoliating young olive trees (Olea europea) in an organic o... more Adult Odontria smithii were observed defoliating young olive trees (Olea europea) in an organic orchard in the Waihopai valley, Marlborough, in late January 2001. Defoliation continued until mid May with a marked decrease in the numbers of beetles collected from individual trees toward the end of this period. Damage to trees varied greatly with no discernable pattern within the orchard. Soil samples were taken from the orchard and surrounding unimproved grassland and matagouri (Discaria toumatou) scrub in early May but congregations of larvae were not detected. In the laboratory, O. smithii adults were found to consume foliage from a range of native trees or shrubs. However, in twoway choice tests, matagouri was the only native foliage that beetles preferred to olive leaves. Commercially available formulations of Pyrethrum and Neem produced a reduction in beetle feeding on olive leaf but caused negligible beetle mortality in laboratory tests. A synthetic pyrethroid treatment (Fastac ‚) reduced feeding to below 1% of leaf area consumed by untreated beetles and killed 73% of the exposed beetles over the seven-day trial. Further study into the cause of beetle aggregation and feeding on individual trees may highlight an interception strategy to solve this localised problem.
The bacterium Serratia entomophila has been incorporated into prill formulations to improve distr... more The bacterium Serratia entomophila has been incorporated into prill formulations to improve distribution and application of this insect pathogen to pasture for biological control of the New Zealand grass grub Costelytra zealandica While bacteria can survive in ambient conditions for long periods within the prills their field efficacy depends on successful release of bacteria from the prills and colonisation of the surrounding soil Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effects of soil moisture on rate of release of bacteria from prill formulations Prills were held in soil adjusted to four soil moisture contents (ranging from field capacity to wilting point) and the release of bacteria was determined by dilution plating Bacteria were released most rapidly at high soil moistures and populations were maintained at 103104 colony forming units per g soil in most treatments Measurement of release of S entomophila from prills in soil cores subjected to various watering regi...
Pseudomonas fluorescens strain F113 which has biocontrol capacity against the plant pathogenic fu... more Pseudomonas fluorescens strain F113 which has biocontrol capacity against the plant pathogenic fungus Pythium ultimum was formulated and applied to onion seed using patented biopolymer technology developed at AgResearch Lincoln Initial loadings on seeds ranged between 86 x 10611 x 107 bacteria/seed In a preliminary screening of four different formulations shelf life studies indicated that most formulations maintained high cell numbers on seed stored at 4deg;C for up to 70 days Bacterial numbers declined on seed stored at 20deg;C but significant numbers of bacteria remained viable after 70 days storage In a second experiment the two formulations giving best shelflife at 20deg;C were monitored for stability at 20deg;C for 4 weeks Packaging material had a significant effect on bacterial survival on seed Germination of freshly treated seeds was not affected by seed treatment The study has demonstrated the potential to treat seed with fluorescent pseudomonads with biocontrol capability
Hylastes ater was first recorded in New Zealand in 1929 and is now established in all exotic pine... more Hylastes ater was first recorded in New Zealand in 1929 and is now established in all exotic pine plantations. During maturation feeding adults damage and may kill young pine seedlings, which can significantly impact regenerative plantings. The insectpathogenic fungus Beauveria caledonica is frequently isolated from individual beetles and frass collected from breeding populations of H. ater in Pinus radiata stumps and is being evaluated as a biological control agent for this and other bark beetles. As part of this investigation, novel formulations are being developed for delivery of fungal inoculum to the target insect. Survival of inoculum in a formulation is obviously critical for it to be functionally effective, and studies have been done to assess the suitability of different materials for this purpose. Data are presented on survival of B. caledonica conidia in gel, biopolymer-coated rice, and biopolymer-clay formulations.
The New Zealand grass grub (Costelytra zealandica) is distributed throughout the South Island but... more The New Zealand grass grub (Costelytra zealandica) is distributed throughout the South Island but surprisingly has not been recorded west of Reefton In 2006 pasture damage from rootfeeding scarab larvae on the West Coast initially attributed to grass grub was found to be caused by manuka beetles Pyronota spp Winter surveys during 20082012 between Karamea and Hokitika confirmed that most damage patches were caused by manuka beetle larvae but there was a small localised population of C zealandica associated with Westport airport and golf course In 2012 a network of phenolbaited pheromone traps was established around this epicenter during the grass grub flight season with traps spaced at approximately 05 km intervals Traps within the identified zone of grass grub infestation caught 15 beetles per night Single male beetles were trapped up to 75 km from the epicenter but with no evidence of established populations from larval sampling It is likely that the localised grass grub population...
The Australian black beetle Adoryphorus couloni (also known as the redheaded cockchafer) was foun... more The Australian black beetle Adoryphorus couloni (also known as the redheaded cockchafer) was found in large numbers in Barrington Park in Christchurch in May 2008 Severely damaged areas comprised 1020 of the park with populations reaching over 300 larvae/m2 The thatch layer produced on sports fields appears ideal for this insect which favours grasslands with high organic matter levels and could explain the very high grub numbers To reach a population of this size A couloni had probably colonised and remained undetected in the park for several years In Australia the insect is a serious pest of pastures Severe damage occurred in Tasmania in the 1980s and 1990s when the insect spread through the central Midlands stripping bare thousands of hectares of pasture The beetle was accidentally introduced to Canterbury through Lyttelton harbour in the 1960s and has slowly spread around the Port Hills in lowquality hill pastures The outbreak in Christchurch marks the first move of this pest int...
Phenol the attractant pheromone of adult males of the native New Zealand grass grub Costelytra ze... more Phenol the attractant pheromone of adult males of the native New Zealand grass grub Costelytra zealandica (White) is produced in the beetles as the result of bacterial degradation of tyrosine A lure consisting of a resin impregnated with phenol has been widely used to monitor male beetle flight activity The present formulation is highly attractive for the first week in the field but then loses activity rapidly A number of phenolcontaining formulations were tested to improve the lure A new formulation gave lower catches that were more stable with time producing data more suitable for population density estimation Phenylacetaldehyde a bacterial metabolite of phenylalanine was tested as a possible synergist to phenol Field results showed that this floral compound exhibited no behaviourallyactive properties to grass grubs when tested together with phenol Catches with water traps were compared with those in sticky delta and flat delta traps in two vineyards and in pasture Water traps cau...
The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Ascomycota Hypocreales) has recently been fou... more The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Ascomycota Hypocreales) has recently been found capable of producing compact hyphal aggregates (microsclerotia) under specific culture conditions that become pigmented during growth The microsclerotia can be formulated and are stable when dried for storage Upon rehydration hyphae grow from the microsclerotes develop into a fungal pellet and produce large quantities of conidia In this study microsclerotia were produced using New Zealand USA and Mexican strains of M anisopliae and characterised for production requirements stability and conidial production Microsclerotia were produced in shake flasks and fermenter vessels and differences were observed in growth and production according to strain and CN ratio The potential of microsclerotia formulations for biocontrol of redheaded cockchafer (Adoryphorus couloni Coleoptera Scarabaeidae) is currently under evaluation
The bacterial biocontrol agent Serratia entomophila and the insecticide diazinon were applied as ... more The bacterial biocontrol agent Serratia entomophila and the insecticide diazinon were applied as separate granular formulations with ryegrass seed and compared with a seedonly control treatment on three pastures of different ages and composition on the North Island volcanic plateau In the first 2 years diazinon and S entomophila significantly reduced healthy grass grub populations compared with the control However by the third year populations in the diazinon treatments had recovered and were significantly higher than in S entomophila or control plots Grass grub populations were reduced by disease outbreaks after S entomophila was applied which infected >40 of grass grub larvae in the treated plots in year two Bacterial extraction from soil a year after application confirmed establishment and persistence of S entomophila in treated plots Visual positive pasture growth responses were noted in both the S entomophila and diazinontreated plots
Some species in the genus Pyronota are known to be serious pests of pasture. The establishment of... more Some species in the genus Pyronota are known to be serious pests of pasture. The establishment of new dairy pastures on recently flipped soils on Cape Foulwind, Buller provided a unique opportunity to investigate the flight behaviour and biology of Pyronota festiva and P. setosa from 2008—2012. Flight behaviour was monitored by fixed-vane interruption traps and by field observations. Adults of both species flew through late spring/early summer (Nov—Dec) of each year and seasonal flight timing was consistent between years. Pyronota festiva flight timing and duration were similar to those previously reported in the literature and were slightly female dominated. Pyronota setosa flights started one to two weeks in advance of P. festiva and were dominated by males (>95%). Female P. setosa were rarely observed flying and were rarely caught in sweep-net sampling. Pyronota setosa beetles were never observed swarming or congregating and feeding on the foliage of mÄnuka. These differences...
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