Biological control of the South American rice water weevil, Oryzophagus oryzae, using light traps with Beauveria bassiana in irrigated rice field

The South American rice water weevil, Oryzophagus oryzae (Costa Lima), is an important pest of irrigated rice in Brazil. Its larvae damage the plant root system. The practice of biological control of this insect needs to be improved. Thus, a research was carried out to verify the mortality rates of...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Carolina Maria Tomasoni, Diego Heiber, Eduardo Rodrigues Hickel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Essentia Editora IFFluminense 2018-08-01
Series:Vértices
Subjects:
Online Access:http://essentiaeditora.iff.edu.br/index.php/vertices/article/view/10015
Description
Summary:The South American rice water weevil, Oryzophagus oryzae (Costa Lima), is an important pest of irrigated rice in Brazil. Its larvae damage the plant root system. The practice of biological control of this insect needs to be improved. Thus, a research was carried out to verify the mortality rates of O. oryzae, by the infection of individuals with Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. in light traps set in irrigated rice field. Two traps received an apparatus of fungal contamination, with mass of B. bassiana, prepared in autoclaved rice. A third trap, without apparatus, was maintained as a control. Insects captured from October 2013 to March 2014 were kept in the laboratory to verify mortality and fungal infection, characterized by the mycelial growth on body. The mortality rate of individuals artificially infected was 73.1%, whereas in the control was 0.8% (natural infection). Light traps with apparatus of fungal contamination were effective on the biological control of O. oryzae adults.
ISSN:1415-2843
1809-2667