How to translate text using browser tools
1 August 2006 Examination of the Interaction Between the Black Vine Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and an Entomopathogenic Fungus Reveals a New Tritrophic Interaction
Ryan M. Kepler, Denny J. Bruck
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize the behavior of black vine weevil larvae, Otiorhynchus sulcatus (F.), in the presence of two possible control options: the synthetic pyrethroid bifenthrin and the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metch.) Sorokin. Five third-instar black vine weevil were placed in two-choice soil olfactometers that allowed larvae to infest one of two pots. Larvae were allowed to choose between M. anisopliae (1 × 106 spores/g dry media) and untreated media, bifenthrin (25 ppm) and untreated media, as well as M. anisopliae– and bifenthrin-treated media. For all comparisons, experiments were conducted without plants in the system to test for innate responses, as well as with plants to test host–plant influence. Larvae were significantly deterred by bifenthrin without plants present in the system. No significant effect on larval preference was observed when M. anisopliae was present in media for trials without plants. M. anisopliae–treated media was preferred by black vine weevil larvae over bifenthrin without plants present in the two-choice soil olfactometer. When plants were included, a significant attraction to M. anisopliae–treated media was observed over untreated media. Unlike comparisons without plants, larvae were not repelled by bifenthrin when plants were included in the two-choice soil olfactometer. The attraction of black vine weevil larvae to pots containing plants and fungus indicates the operation of a previously undescribed tritrophic interaction. This behavior may be useful in the development of more effective biological control programs.

Ryan M. Kepler and Denny J. Bruck "Examination of the Interaction Between the Black Vine Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and an Entomopathogenic Fungus Reveals a New Tritrophic Interaction," Environmental Entomology 35(4), 1021-1029, (1 August 2006). https://doi.org/10.1603/0046-225X-35.4.1021
Received: 31 October 2005; Accepted: 1 April 2006; Published: 1 August 2006
JOURNAL ARTICLE
9 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
bifenthrin
insect behavior
Metarhizium anisopliae
olfactometer
Tritrophic interaction
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top