Bacillus thuringiensis-based bioinsecticides affect predation of Euborellia annulipes on diamondback moth larvae

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 30; no. 39; pp. 90730 - 90740
• Main Authors: da Silva Nunes, Gilmar, de Souza, Joice Mendonça, Ramalho, Dagmara Gomes, De Bortoli, Sergio Antonio, Polanczyk, Ricardo Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-08-2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bacillus thuringiensis; Bacillus thuringiensis - physiology; Decision making; Dermaptera; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Endotoxins; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Euborellia annulipes; Insecticide Resistance; Larva; Larvae; Moths; Pest Control, Biological; Pests; Population density; Predation; Predators; Predatory Behavior; Prey; Research Article; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Functional response; Feeding preference; Integrated pest management; Earwigs; Plutella xylostella; Bacillus thuringiensis
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28814-0

Interactions between earwigs and entomopathogens, such as
Bacillus thuringiensis
(Bt), are still poorly understood. This study tested whether Bt-based bioinsecticides have any effect on the predation of
Euborellia annulipes
(Lucas) (Dermaptera: Anisolabididae) on
Plutella xylostella
(L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), one of the pests with the largest number of cases of use and resistance to Bt. Fourth instar larvae were Bt infected by feeding on collard green leaves treated with Dipel®WG and XenTari®WG at the manufacturer-recommended doses. We used one no-choice condition, in which the predator had access to uninfected or Bt-infected larvae separately, and four free-choice conditions: uninfected vs Dipel®-infected larvae, uninfected vs XenTari®-infected larvae, Dipel®-infected vs XenTari®-infected larvae, and uninfected vs Bt-infected larvae with both bioinsecticides. Uninfected larvae were less consumed than those infected by both Bt-bioinsecticides in the no-choice condition. There was a higher consumption of uninfected over Dipel®-infected larvae in the free-choice condition. Overall, uninfected larvae were preferred over both Bt-based bioinsecticides infected larvae. We also used six different prey densities. The ringlegged earwig’s predation rate enhanced as the prey population density increased, but the functional response was not affected by Bt-infection, being type II. The predator invested a low amount of handling time on Bt-fed prey and increased the maximum predation rate. Bt-based bioinsecticides cause effects on
E. annulipes
predation by altering their feeding preference and some aspects of its predatory behavior. The results of our study provide an important background for understanding interactions between earwigs and Bt. In addition, they can be used for decision making during approaches to integrated
P. xylostella
management.