<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Small banded pine weevil Pissodes castaneus is one of the most dangerous pests of Pinus sylvestris plantations and thickets. The lack of effective and environmentally safe methods of limiting the number of the pest justified to undertake the studies aimed at the laboratory and field evaluation of biological activity of entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana used to reduce the numbers of small banded pine weevil.In laboratory, the beetles were reared on the sections of fresh Scots pine twigs that were treated with five suspensions containing from 1 × 104 to 1 × 108 conidia of B. bassiana in 1 ml. During the 3-week rearing, insect mortality was determined and median lethal concentration LC50 was calculated. The field treatments consisted of spraying 4-year-old P. sylvestris trees with two formulations of fungus containing 1 × 108 conidia ml−1 of suspension. Treatments consisted of spraying 4-year-old P. sylvestris trees with two fungus formulations containing 1 × 108 conidia ml−1.High insecticidal activity of B. bassiana was found because the pathogen caused the death of 14-94% of P. castaneus beetles, LC50 = 6.51 × 105 conidia ml−1. Field treatments did not result in the reduction of plant damage caused by small banded pine weevil; therefore, the spraying of trees with B. bassiana cannot be recommended to protect the young stands of P. sylvestris against pest.</abstract>

Small banded pine weevil Pissodes castaneus is one of the most dangerous pests of Pinus sylvestris plantations and thickets. The lack of effective and environmentally safe methods of limiting the number of the pest justified to undertake the studies aimed at the laboratory and field evaluation of biological activity of entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana used to reduce the numbers of small banded pine weevil.In laboratory, the beetles were reared on the sections of fresh Scots pine twigs that were treated with five suspensions containing from 1 × 104 to 1 × 108 conidia of B. bassiana in 1 ml. During the 3-week rearing, insect mortality was determined and median lethal concentration LC50 was calculated. The field treatments consisted of spraying 4-year-old P. sylvestris trees with two formulations of fungus containing 1 × 108 conidia ml−1 of suspension. Treatments consisted of spraying 4-year-old P. sylvestris trees with two fungus formulations containing 1 × 108 conidia ml−1.High insecticidal activity of B. bassiana was found because the pathogen caused the death of 14-94% of P. castaneus beetles, LC50 = 6.51 × 105 conidia ml−1. Field treatments did not result in the reduction of plant damage caused by small banded pine weevil; therefore, the spraying of trees with B. bassiana cannot be recommended to protect the young stands of P. sylvestris against pest.

The role of fungus Beauveria bassiana in reducing the number of Pissodes castaneus (Col., Curculionidae) in young forests

Forest Research Institute, Department of Forest Protection, Sękocin Stary, Braci Leśnej 3, 05-090 Raszyn,

University of Kardynal Stefan Wyszynski, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Wóycickiego 1/3, 01-938 Warsaw,

Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Faculty of Animal Sciences, Department of Animal Environment Biology, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw,

Folia Forestalia Polonica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Small banded pine weevil Pissodes castaneus is one of the most dangerous pests of Pinus sylvestris plantations and thickets. The lack of effective and...

The role of fungus Beauveria bassiana in reducing the number of Pissodes castaneus (Col., Curculionidae) in young forests

Published Online: Dec 30, 2016

Page range: 214 - 219

Received: Aug 18, 2016

Accepted: Oct 24, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ffp-2016-0024

Keywords
Beauveria bassiana, Pissodes castaneus, Pinus sylvestris, biological control

© 2017

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The role of fungus Beauveria bassiana in reducing the number of Pissodes castaneus (Col., Curculionidae) in young forests

Published Online: Dec 30, 2016

Page range: 214 - 219

Received: Aug 18, 2016

Accepted: Oct 24, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ffp-2016-0024

KeywordsBeauveria bassiana, Pissodes castaneus, Pinus sylvestris, biological control

© 2017

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Beauveria bassiana, Pissodes castaneus, Pinus sylvestris, biological control