The role of native vegetation on infection rates of Calacarus heveae (Acari: Eriophyidae) by Hirsutella thompsonii (Ascomycota: Ophiocordycipitaceae)

• Published in: Experimental & applied acarology Vol. 63; no. 2; pp. 157 - 169
• Main Authors: Nuvoloni, Felipe Micali, de Castro, Elizeu Barbosa, Feres, Reinaldo José Fazzio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-06-2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acari; Acari - microbiology; Agricultural ecosystems; Agroforestry; Animal Ecology; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Animals; Ascomycota; Ascomycota - physiology; Biological control; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Brazil; Crop fields; Entomology; Eriophyidae; Euphorbiaceae; Forestry; Hevea - parasitology; Hevea brasiliensis; Hirsutella; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Life Sciences; Microclimate; Mites; Pathogens; Pest control; Pest Control, Biological; Pests; Plantations; Rubber; Rubber trees; Seasons; Vegetation; Brazil; Ecological management; Pest mite; Entompathogen
• ISSN: 0168-8162; 1572-9702
• DOI: 10.1007/s10493-014-9771-5

Hirsutella thompsonii
(Fischer) (Ascomycota: Ophiocordycipitaceae), a fungal pathogen, often causes high mortality in populations of
Calacarus heveae
Feres (Acari: Eriophyidae), an important pest mite in rubber tree plantations (
Hevea brasiliensis
Muell. Arg., Euphorbiaceae). However, the ecological and climatic factors regulating this host-pathogen system are poorly known. We compared fungal infections in agroforestry and traditional rubber plantations to evaluate the role of native vegetation and climatic factors on infection rates of
C.
heveae
by
H.
thompsonii
. While the prevalence of
H.
thompsonii
was higher in managed rubber tree plantations, the abundance of
C.
heveae
was about three times higher in traditional plantations. Abundance of
C. heveae
, agroecosystem management type and microclimatic variables were responsible for driving the infection rates of
H.
thompsonii
. Native vegetation was a source for
H.
thompsonii
and also modified the crop’s microclimate, which contributed to its maintenance in the crop fields. Therefore, appropriate management practices may enhance the effects of entomopathogens on conservative biological control of pest mites in agroforestry systems.