Bioassays for detection of the entomopathogenic fungus entomophaga maimaiga (Entomophtorales: Entomophtoraceae) in soil from different sites in Bulgaria

Daniela Pilarska, Milcho Todorov, Plamen Pilarski, Virginia Djorova, Leellen Solter, Georgi Georgiev

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, larvae were exposed to soil extracted from 16 sites in Bulgaria where natural gypsy moth populations occur. Azygospores of E. maimaiga were produced in larvae exposed to 11 of the soil samples. Host mortality caused by the fungus varied between 3.3 and 43.3%. The percentage of larvae that died from unknown causes ranged from 3.3 to 66.7%. The results of this study show that the fungal pathogen is widely distributed in Bulgaria and is persisting in sites where epizootics have occurred, a precondition for successful and sustainable control of Lymantria dispar.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)173-177
Number of pages5
JournalActa Zoologica Bulgarica
Volume65
Issue number2
StatePublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Bioassays
  • Bulgaria
  • Entomophaga maimaiga
  • Lymantria dispar
  • Soil samples

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Aquatic Science
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Insect Science

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