Trichomycetes in Argentinean Aquatic Insect Larvae

Investigations of larval aquatic Diptera (Chironomidae, Simuliidae, Culicidae), Coleoptera (Scirtidae), and Plecoptera (Gripopterygidae, Notonemouridae) in Buenos Aires Province and three Provinces in Patagonia (Rio Negro, Chubut, Neuquen) have revealed 19 species of gut fungi (Zygomycota: Trichomycetes). Three of the species represent new monotypic genera: Coleopteromyces amnicus, Plecopteromyces patagoniensis, and Stachylinoides arctata. This is the first report of a Harpellales living in a Coleoptera larva. New species were Carouxella coemeteriensis, Paramoebidium digitoideum, Smittium esteparum, S. tronadorium, and Stachylina platensis. In addition, what may be new species of Smittium and Stachylina are described but not named. Two of the species, Harpella meridianalis and Smittium cylindrosporum, were previously know only from southern Chile. The other six previously described species found in Argentina have a wider geographic distribution, including Smittium morbosum which is pathogenic to mosquito larvae. A key to Argentinean species of Trichomycetes and comments on their biogeography are provided

Control of Bemisia tabaci by entomopathogenic fungi isolated from arid soils in Argentina

Entomopathogenic Hypocreales were isolated from arid soils in Argentina using Tenebrio molitor as bait and tested for their biological performance at 30°C and 45–65% RH. Conidial germination was tested in three vegetable oils (sunflower, olive and maize) at two concentrations (1% and 10%) to evaluate their compatibility for further liquid formulations. According to radial growth and germination results, we selected four isolates to test their pathogenicity against second instar B. tabaci nymphs with the selected oil formulations at 30°C. CEP381 and CEP401 showed the highest radial growth. Isolates CEP381, CEP401, CEP413 and CEP409 (Metarhizium spp.) had similar germination percentages as compared with water control when germinated on either sunflower, olive or maize oils at 10% v/v. The highest mortality of B. tabaci was observed for the isolates CEP381 in sunflower oil and CEP401 in olive oil. Molecular identification of isolates was performed using ITS4–5 primers. All isolates belong to the Metarhizium core group. Tested isolates could grow and infect B. tabaci nymphs at 30°C in some of the vegetable oils as carriers, providing new possibilities for integrated pest management of Bemisia tabaci.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Hongos patógenos de insectos en Argentina (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales)

Se informa de tres especies de hongos Entomophthorales en insectos encontrados en cultivos agrícolas en la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina: Zoophthora radicans Batko (Brefeld); Entomophthora planchoniana Cornu y Pandora gammae (Weiser) Humber. Se incluyen las medidas de las estructuras fúngicas

Trichomycetes in Argentinean Aquatic Insect Larvae

Fil: Lichtwardt, Robert W.. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. University of Kansas; USAFil: Ferrington, Leonard C.. Department of Entomology and kansas Biological Survey. University of Kansas; USAFil: López Lastra, Claudia Cristina. Centro de Estudios en Parasitología y Vectores (CEPAVE). Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin

Natural occurrence of entomophthoroid fungi of aphid pests on Medicago sativa L. in Argentina

Four species of entomophthoroid fungi, Pandora neoaphidis (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae), Zoophthora radicans (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae), Entomophthora planchoniana (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae) and Neozygites fresenii (Neozygitales: Neozygitaceae) were found to infect Aphis craccivora, Therioaphis trifolii, and Acyrthosiphon pisum and unidentified species of Acyrthosiphon on lucerne in Argentina. Samples were collected from five sites (Ceres, Rafaela, Sarmiento, Monte Vera and Bernardo de Irigoyen) in the province of Santa Fe. In this study, Zoophthora radicans was the most important pathogen and was recorded mainly on Acyrthosiphon sp. Zoophthora radicans was successfully isolated and maintained in pure cultures. This study is the first report of entomophthoroid fungi infecting lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) aphids in Argentina

Entomophthora ferdinandii (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) causing natural infections of Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) in Argentina

The identity and activity of an entomopathogenic fungus belonging to the Entomophthora muscae species complex and infecting Musca domestica in poultry houses from La Plata, Argentina, is reported. Entomophthora caused natural infections between September 2001 and September 2003. Primary conidia of this fungus were on average 29.5 ± 1.2 × 23.4 ± 2.4 µm and contained, on average, 10.5 ± 0.1 nuclei (range: 7–15) with an average diameter of 4.8 ± 0.1 µm. This fungus is identified as E. ferdinandii Keller (this specific epithet includes a nomenclaturally required spelling correction); this is a first record of E. ferdinandii in South America and of any member of the E. muscae species complex from flies in Argentina.Fil: Lopez Lastra, Claudia Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Siri, Augusto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Juan Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Eilenberg, Jørgen. The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University; DinamarcaFil: Humber, Richard A.. United States Department Of Agriculture. Agriculture Research Service; Estados Unido

Efecto de la calidad del agua de criaderos de mosquitos (Diptera: Culicidae) sobre la patogenicidad e infectividad de las zoosporas del hongo Leptolegnia chapmanii (Straminipila: Peronosporomycetes)

Effect of water quality in mosquito breeding sites on the pathogenicity and infectivity of zoospores from the fungus Leptolegnia chapmanii (Straminipila: Peronosporomycetes). The fungus Leptolegnia chapmanii is highly pathogenic to mosquito larvae in Argentina. We studied if physical and chemical characteristics of the water from mosquito breeding sites affect pathogenicity, and the infectivity of zoospores of L. chapmanii. Water samples were taken from pools filled by rains, urban ditches with domestic waste water, pools filled by overflow from Río de la Plata, and flower vases from the Cemetery of La Plata city. Sub-samples of water were analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics, while other sub-samples were used for laboratory bioassays. Containers with 150 ml of water samples, 25 Aedes aegypti larvae, and 2.8 x 105 zoospores of L. chapmanii, were incubated under controlled environment, and larval mortality was recorded after 48 h. There were highly significant differences among mortalities in water from cemetery vases (70.2%), rain pools water (99.5%), and pools with water from Rio de la Plata (95%). There were no significant differences among larval mortalities in water from ditches, rain pools and Río de la Plata pools. Leptolegnia chapmanii was successful as a biological control agent in all kinds of tested water qualities, producing high larval mortality. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (1-2): 371-380. Epub 2009 June 30