DETERMINATION OF RELEASE TIME OF LYSIPHLEBUS TESTACEIPES (CRESSON, 1880) (HYMENOPTERA: APHIDIIDAE) AFTER APPLICATION OF VARIOUS ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI FOR INTEGRATED CONTROL OF THE SCHIZAPHIS GRAMINUM (ROND., 1852) (HEMIPTERA: APHIDIDAE)

ABSTRACT

The interactions between pathogens and parasitoids must be evaluated for possible pest control, taking into consideration the occurrence or not of the interruption of the larval development when a parasitized host is infected or when an infected host is offered the parasitoid; and, in addition, evaluating whether these relationships are harmful to the parasitoid or the host. The aim of this study was to evaluate the best release time of the parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes and the best concentration of the fungiBeauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and Lecanicillium lecanii in the control of the aphid S. graminum. The parasitoid was released at 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the application of two concentrations (10⁴ and 10⁸ conidia/mL) of B. bassiana, M. anisopliae, P. fumosoroseus, and L. lecanii. As a control treatment, sterilized distilled water was sprayed. The entomopathogenic fungus most harmful to the development of the parasitoid was L. lecanii at the higher concentration. For the use of the fungus B. bassiana, M. anisopliae and P. fumosoroseus combined with L. testaceipes to control S. graminum, the best time of parasitoid release was immediately after the application of the fungus (0h).

KEY WORDS
Parasitoid; microbial control; pathogen-parasitoid-pest interaction