Fungi Associated with Horse-Chestnut Leaf Miner Moth <i>Cameraria ohridella</i> Mortality

• Main Authors: Irena Nedveckytė, Dalė Pečiulytė, Vincas Būda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
• Series: Forests
• Subjects: leaf miner; <i>Cameraria ohridella</i>; entomopathogenic fungi; <i>Lecanicillium aphanocladii</i>
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/1/58

The total mortality of the leaf-miner horse-chestnut pest, <i>Cameraria ohridella</i>, collected in nature, and the mortality associated with mycoses were assessed under laboratory conditions in stages: for eggs mortality rates of 9.78% and 61.97% were found, respectively; for caterpillars, 45.25% and 5.59%, respectively; and for pupae 21.22% and 100%, respectively. At the egg stage, <i>Cladosporus cladosporioides</i> caused mycosis most often (27% of all mycoses); at the caterpillar stage there was no pronounced predominant fungus species; at the pupal stage both <i>Cordyceps fumosorosea</i> and <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> (32% and 31%, respectively) were most dominant; whereas at the adult stage <i>Lecanicillum aphanocladii</i> (43%) were most dominant. <i>C. ohridella</i> moths remained the most vulnerable during the pupal and caterpillar stages. Maximum diversity of fungi associated with the leaf-miner moth was reached during the period of development inside the chestnut leaf (Shannon–Wiener index—<i>H′ </i>= 2.608 at the caterpillar stage, <i>H′ </i>= 2.619 at the pupal stage), while the minimum was reached in the adult stage (<i>H′ </i>= 1.757). In the caterpillar and pupa stages, saprophytic fungi were most often recorded. Comparative laboratory tests revealed novel properties of the fungus<i> L. aphanocladii,</i> its effectiveness as the leaf-miner moth‘s entomopathogen and its suitability for field application trials while developing environment-friendly methods for horse-chestnut pest control.