Assemblage of entomopathogenic fungi infesting immature stages of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera): High diversity but low effect on host populations
Populations of herbivorous insects are considered to be primarily regulated by natural enemies. However, little is known about the ecological role of entomopathogenic fungi. There is very little data on the diversity and prevalence of fungal pathogens in natural insect populations. In this study, th...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science
2023-06-01
|
| Series: | European Journal of Entomology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-202301-0023_assemblage_of_entomopathogenic_fungi_infesting_immature_stages_of_noctuidae_lepidoptera_high_diversity_but_l.php |
| _version_ | 1797351329098629120 |
|---|---|
| author | Robin GIELEN Tiit TEDER Kadri PÕLDMAA Toomas TAMMARU |
| author_facet | Robin GIELEN Tiit TEDER Kadri PÕLDMAA Toomas TAMMARU |
| author_sort | Robin GIELEN |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Populations of herbivorous insects are considered to be primarily regulated by natural enemies. However, little is known about the ecological role of entomopathogenic fungi. There is very little data on the diversity and prevalence of fungal pathogens in natural insect populations. In this study, the percentage mortality attributable to fungal pathogens for the immature stages of three noctuid moths feeding inside the stems of the herbaceous plant, Typha latifolia, were determined. The average percentage mortality caused by fungal pathogens was around 8%, with the value never exceeding 20% at any of the studied sites. As many as ten species of fungi were identified in the 52 infected larvae/pupae collected, this high diversity is consistent with the results of comparable studies. The prevalence of fungal infections did not correlate with host population density or performance of the host insects. This study contributes to the emerging generalisation that populations of insects commonly harbour diverse assemblages of pathogenic fungi, but with low overall prevalence. A significant contribution of these antagonists to regulating insect populations is unlikely. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:58:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa59e52680b142c4ac3e315aa7f3a31f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1210-5759 1802-8829 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:58:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Entomology |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa59e52680b142c4ac3e315aa7f3a31f2024-01-19T13:16:33ZengInstitute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of ScienceEuropean Journal of Entomology1210-57591802-88292023-06-01120118218610.14411/eje.2023.023eje-202301-0023Assemblage of entomopathogenic fungi infesting immature stages of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera): High diversity but low effect on host populationsRobin GIELEN0Tiit TEDER1Kadri PÕLDMAA2Toomas TAMMARU3Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, EE-50409 Tartu, Estonia; e-mails: robin.gielen@ut.ee, tiit.teder@ut.ee, toomas.tammaru@ut.eeDepartment of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, EE-50409 Tartu, Estonia; e-mails: robin.gielen@ut.ee, tiit.teder@ut.ee, toomas.tammaru@ut.eeDepartment of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, EE-50409 Tartu, Estonia; e-mail: kadri.poldmaa@ut.eeDepartment of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, EE-50409 Tartu, Estonia; e-mails: robin.gielen@ut.ee, tiit.teder@ut.ee, toomas.tammaru@ut.eePopulations of herbivorous insects are considered to be primarily regulated by natural enemies. However, little is known about the ecological role of entomopathogenic fungi. There is very little data on the diversity and prevalence of fungal pathogens in natural insect populations. In this study, the percentage mortality attributable to fungal pathogens for the immature stages of three noctuid moths feeding inside the stems of the herbaceous plant, Typha latifolia, were determined. The average percentage mortality caused by fungal pathogens was around 8%, with the value never exceeding 20% at any of the studied sites. As many as ten species of fungi were identified in the 52 infected larvae/pupae collected, this high diversity is consistent with the results of comparable studies. The prevalence of fungal infections did not correlate with host population density or performance of the host insects. This study contributes to the emerging generalisation that populations of insects commonly harbour diverse assemblages of pathogenic fungi, but with low overall prevalence. A significant contribution of these antagonists to regulating insect populations is unlikely.https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-202301-0023_assemblage_of_entomopathogenic_fungi_infesting_immature_stages_of_noctuidae_lepidoptera_high_diversity_but_l.phppopulation dynamicsmortalityinsect pathogenssurvivalparasitoids |
| spellingShingle | Robin GIELEN Tiit TEDER Kadri PÕLDMAA Toomas TAMMARU Assemblage of entomopathogenic fungi infesting immature stages of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera): High diversity but low effect on host populations European Journal of Entomology population dynamics mortality insect pathogens survival parasitoids |
| title | Assemblage of entomopathogenic fungi infesting immature stages of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera): High diversity but low effect on host populations |
| title_full | Assemblage of entomopathogenic fungi infesting immature stages of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera): High diversity but low effect on host populations |
| title_fullStr | Assemblage of entomopathogenic fungi infesting immature stages of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera): High diversity but low effect on host populations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assemblage of entomopathogenic fungi infesting immature stages of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera): High diversity but low effect on host populations |
| title_short | Assemblage of entomopathogenic fungi infesting immature stages of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera): High diversity but low effect on host populations |
| title_sort | assemblage of entomopathogenic fungi infesting immature stages of noctuidae lepidoptera high diversity but low effect on host populations |
| topic | population dynamics mortality insect pathogens survival parasitoids |
| url | https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-202301-0023_assemblage_of_entomopathogenic_fungi_infesting_immature_stages_of_noctuidae_lepidoptera_high_diversity_but_l.php |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robingielen assemblageofentomopathogenicfungiinfestingimmaturestagesofnoctuidaelepidopterahighdiversitybutloweffectonhostpopulations AT tiitteder assemblageofentomopathogenicfungiinfestingimmaturestagesofnoctuidaelepidopterahighdiversitybutloweffectonhostpopulations AT kadripoldmaa assemblageofentomopathogenicfungiinfestingimmaturestagesofnoctuidaelepidopterahighdiversitybutloweffectonhostpopulations AT toomastammaru assemblageofentomopathogenicfungiinfestingimmaturestagesofnoctuidaelepidopterahighdiversitybutloweffectonhostpopulations |