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Control of Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a pest in Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

Yong Jung Kwon
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Biology, Kyungpook National University, Taegu 702–701 Korea
Shafqat Saeed*
Affiliation:
Entomological Research Sub-Station, Old Shujabad Road, Multan, Pakistan
Marie José Duchateau
Affiliation:
Behavioural Biology, University of Utrecht, PO Box 80.086, Utrecht, 3508 TB the Netherlands
*
1 Corresponding author (e-mail: [email protected]).

Abstract

The bumble bee Bombus terrestris L. is an important pollinator of commercial crops. Mass-rearing of bumble bees under controlled conditions is susceptible to pest outbreaks such as the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella L. This study showed that pollen collected from pollen traps at honey bee colonies can be contaminated with eggs of the Indian meal moth and that the eggs can hatch under bumble bee rearing conditions. Storage of pollen at −60 °C for more than 3 weeks can prevent an infestation of P. interpunctella in bumble bee colonies via pollen. Storage at −20 °C is less effective. Although P. interpunctella larvae slightly prefer pollen as their food source, they also feed on bumble bee pupae, especially when little pollen is present in a bumble bee colony. Spraying with the microbial insect pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis Aizawai at a concentration of 1 g/L water can control P. interpunctella (99.8% mortality) without harm to the bumble bee colonies. Higher concentrations have a negative impact on bumble bee colonies. Other B. thuringiensis strains, Kurstaki and Kurstaki Plus, are less effective.

Résumé

Le bourdon Bombus terrestris L. est un pollinisateur important des récoltes commerciales. L'élevage massif de bourdons en conditions contrôlées peut donner lieu à des épidémies de ravageurs, tels que la pyrale indienne de la farine, Plodia interpunctella L. Notre étude démontre que le pollen récolté dans les pièges à pollen de colonies d'abeilles peut être contaminé par des oeufs de la pyrale indienne de la farine et que ces oeufs peuvent éclore dans les conditions d'élevage des bourdons. L'entreposage du pollen à −60 °C pendant plus de 3 semaines peut prévenir l'infestation des colonies de bourdons par P. interpunctella; un entreposage à −20 °C est moins efficace. Bien que les larves de P. interpunctella aient une faible préférence pour le pollen comme source de nourriture, ils se nourrissent aussi de nymphes de bourdons, particulièrement lorsqu'il y a peu de pollen dans la colonie de bourdons. La vaporisation de l'agent pathogène des insectes, Bacillus thuringiensis Aizawai, à une concentration de 1 g/L d'eau peut contrôler P. interpunctella (99,8 % de mortalité) sans endommager les colonies de bourdons; les concentrations plus fortes ont cependant un effet négatif. D'autres lignées de B. thuringiensis, telles que Kurstaki et Kurstaki Plus, sont moins efficaces.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2003

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