Entomopathogenic fungi of the order Entomophthorales (Zygomycotina) in adult black fly populations (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Quebec

1994 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 682-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin P. Nadeau ◽  
Gary B. Dunphy ◽  
Jacques L. Boisvert
Keyword(s):  
Host Specificity ◽  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Adult Stage ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Black Fly ◽  
Simulium Vittatum ◽  
Insect Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Simulium Decorum

Infections by insect-pathogenic fungi of the order Entomophthorales in two adult black fly populations were studied in the Réserve Faunique du Saint-Maurice (Quebec). Entomophaga near limoniae infected Simulium verecundum/rostratum in June whereas Erynia curvispora predominantly parasitized Simulium decorum from the 2nd week of July to September and Erynia conica attacked the Simulium venustum complex, Simulium verecundum/rostratum, and the Simulium vittatum complex from May to September. The fungi did not infect the adult stage of Prosimulium species. Possible evidence of host specificity for Erynia conica is discussed.Key words: Entomophthorales, black fly, host specificity, Entomophaga, Erynia, Simulium.

ECOLOGY OF BLACK FLIES (DIPTERA: SIMULIIDAE) OF THE SOURIS RIVER, MANITOBA AS A BASIS FOR CONTROL STRATEGY

1981 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Westwood ◽  
R. A. Brust
Keyword(s):  
Control Program ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Black Flies ◽  
Black Fly ◽  
Simulium Vittatum ◽  
Late Instar ◽  
Simulium Decorum ◽  
Fly Control ◽  
Wire Cage

AbstractTen species of black flies were collected from the Souris River, Manitoba between April 1977 and October 1978. Adults of Simulium luggeri Nicholson and Mickel, Simulium meridionale Riley, Simulium venustum Say, Simulium verecundum Stone and Jamnback, and Simulium johannseni johannseni (Hart) were collected feeding on livestock and humans, and are well known pest species. Simulium vittatum Zetterstedt was the most abundant species, but was not a pest on man or domestic animals. Simulium tuberosum (Lundström) and Simulium johannseni duplex Shewell and Fredeen were the least abundant species. Simulium j. johannseni, S. j. duplex, S. venustum, S. verecundum, S. tuberosum, and Cnephia dacotensis (Dyar and Shannon) appeared to be univoltine species while S. luggeri, S. meridionale, Simulium decorum Walker, and S. vittatum were multivoltine in the Souris River.An evaluation of cone, plate, rope, and wire cage sampling devices for black fly larvae and pupae indicated that cone samplers provided a more representative sample for population assessment.In a black fly control program, of the Souris River, Manitoba two separate larvicide treatments in spring may be necessary. In the case of two treatments, the first should be aimed at late instar larvae of S. j. johannseni, S. venustum, and S. verecundum. Since the majority of S. luggeri and S. meridionale would be in the egg stage at this time, a second treatment, 10–14 days later, would be necessary to control late instar larvae of these species.

Ecological characterization of two sibling species, IIIL-1 and IS-7, in the Simulium vittatum complex (Diptera: Simuliidae)

1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (7) ◽  
pp. 1308-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter H. Adler ◽  
Ke Chung Kim
Keyword(s):  
Sibling Species ◽  
Polytene Chromosomes ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Black Fly ◽  
Geographic Ranges ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Simulium Vittatum ◽  
Simulium Decorum

Larval polytene chromosomes provided the identification tool that enabled ecological characterization of two black fly sibling species, IIIL-1 and IS-7, in the Simulium vittatum complex. A 4-year study in the eastern United States demonstrated important differences between the two siblings, based primarily on differential occupancy of the stream continuum. Immatures of the IIIL-1 sibling predominated below nonspring-fed reservoirs, downstream of sewage effluent outflows, and in warm downstream areas. Immatures of the IS-7 sibling occurred, with IIIL-1, in cool well-oxygenated flows generally associated with groundwater discharge. These sibling–habitat relations produced sibling gradients along the stream continuum. Over their geographic ranges, the IIIL-1 sibling became increasingly abundant from north to south, relative to IS-7. At mixed-sibling sites, populations were asynchronous; IS-7 generally predominated in early spring and late fall. The major determinants of sibling distributions were those factors affecting respiration: temperature, oxygen, and current. Species such as the black fly Simulium decorum and the midge Chironomus riparius signalled essentially pure populations of IIIL-1. Preimaginal densities of Glossosoma spp. (Trichoptera) also indicated sibling proportions. IIIL-1 and IS-7 shared all pathogens. At mixed-sibling sites, proportionally more larvae of IIIL-1 occurred on rocks than on grasses. Regardless of sibling, larvae on rocks were darker than those on grasses, which suggested differences in the proportion of ingested materials.

scholarly journals Early diverging insect pathogenic fungi of the order Entomophthorales possess diverse and unique subtilisin-like serine proteases

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan A. Arnesen ◽  
Joanna Malagocka ◽  
Andrii Gryganskyi ◽  
Igor V. Grigoriev ◽  
Kerstin Voigt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Specificity ◽  
Serine Proteases ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Protein Domain ◽  
Broad Host Range ◽  
Generalist Species ◽  
Formica Polyctena ◽  
Insect Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Insect Pathogens

AbstractInsect-pathogenic fungi use subtilisin-like serine proteases (SLSPs) to degrade chitin-associated proteins in the insect procuticle. Most insect-pathogenic fungi in the order Hypocreales (Ascomycota) are generalist species with a broad host-range, and most species possess a high number of SLSPs. The other major clade of insect-pathogenic fungi is part of the subphylum Entomophthoromycotina (Zoopagomycota, formerly Zygomycota) which consists of high host-specificity insect-pathogenic fungi that naturally only infect a single or very few host species. The extent to which insect-pathogenic fungi in the order Entomophthorales rely on SLSPs is unknown. Here we take advantage of recently available transcriptomic and genomic datasets from four genera within Entomophthoromycotina: the saprobic or opportunistic pathogens Basidiobolus meristosporus, Conidiobolus coronatus, C. thromboides, C. incongruus, and the host-specific insect pathogens Entomphthora muscae and Pandora formicae, specific pathogens of house flies (Muscae domestica) and wood ants (Formica polyctena), respectively. We use phylogenetics and protein domain analysis to show that the obligate biotrophic fungi E. muscae, P. formicae and the saprobic human pathogen C. incongruus all contain “classical” fungal SLSPs and a unique group of SLSPs that loosely resembles bacillopeptidase F-like SLSPs. This novel group of SLSPs is found in the genomes of obligate insect pathogens and a generalist saprobic opportunistic pathogen why they are unlikely to be responsible for the host specificity of Entomophthorales. However, this class represent a unique group of SLSPs so far only observed among Bacteria, Oomycetes and early diverging fungi such as Cryptomycota, Microsporidia, and Entomophthoromycotina and missing in the sister fungal lineages of Kickxellomycotina or the fungal phyla Mucoromyocta, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota fungi suggesting interesting gene loss patterns.

scholarly journals First Report of Entomopathogenic Fungi Occurrence in Forest Soils in Croatia

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1690
Author(s):  
Marta Kovač ◽  
Cezary Tkaczuk ◽  
Milan Pernek
Keyword(s):  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
Insect Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Colony Forming Units ◽  
Average Number Density ◽  
Dry Soil ◽  
Forest Habitats

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) in Croatian forests are known only from observations of insect cadavers that show obvious signs of disease. To date, their presence in soils has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate their occurrence, diversity, and distribution, and to assess their density in tested soils. Soil samples were collected during 2018, 2019, and 2020 at different localities throughout the country, and analyzed by using a method of isolation of fungi on selective culture media. To assess the density of EPF in tested soils, colonies of individual fungal species were counted and recorded; the results were expressed as the number of colony-forming units (CFU) per gram of dry soil. After morphological and molecular analysis, five entomopathogenic fungal genera were identified: Beauveria spp., Metarhizium spp., Purpureocillium spp., Lecanicillium spp., and Paecilomyces spp. Results also showed that the range of a total EPF colony density in the soil varies from 4 × 103 to 27.4 × 103 CFU g−1. The most common were EPF of the genus Beauveria, which were recorded at four of five locations, and at 16 of 25 sampling points, but the highest average number (density) of colonies belonged to the genus Metarhizium. Since this type of research was never conducted in Croatia previously, this is the first evidence that insect pathogenic fungi are present in soils of different natural forest habitats. Such research can be useful in selecting and utilizing entomopathogens that are suitable for biological pest control in certain target areas.

scholarly journals Improving Contagion and Horizontal Transmission of Entomopathogenic Fungi by the White-Spotted Longicorn Beetle, Anoplophora malasiaca, with Help of Contact Sex Pheromone

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 383
Author(s):  
Nao Fujiwara-Tsujii ◽  
Hiroe Yasui
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Horizontal Transmission ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Contact Sex Pheromone ◽  
Beauveria Brongniartii ◽  
Contact Pheromone ◽  
Horticultural Crops ◽  
Longicorn Beetle

The white-spotted longicorn beetle, Anoplophora malasiaca, is one of the most destructive pests of horticultural crops and street trees. Effective controls are needed because the effect of marketed insecticides is limited. Entomopathogenic fungi offer a solution, and improving the rate of infection would be a breakthrough in this beetle’s control. The combination of pathogenic fungi and the beetle’s contact sex pheromone was suggested. The surface of the female body is covered with contact sex pheromone, which elicit male mating behavior. To develop a method for the practical control of this beetle, we evaluated the arrestant activity of female extract containing contact pheromone coated on a black glass model. Males presented with a coated model held on for 5 h (mean) during an 8-h experiment. In contrast, males presented with a control model held on for <0.3 h. Males that held onto coated models attached to fabric impregnated with conidia of the fungus Beauveria brongniartii picked up much conidia, which they then passed on to females during mating.

scholarly journals Identification of Communal Oviposition Pheromones from the Black Fly Simulium vittatum

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. e0118904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tommy W. McGaha ◽  
Ryan M. Young ◽  
Nathan D. Burkett-Cadena ◽  
Joseph P. Iburg ◽  
Jeremy M. Beau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Fly ◽  
Simulium Vittatum

Analyses of cDNA and recombinant protein for a potent vasoactive protein in saliva of a blood-feeding black fly, Simulium vittatum.

1998 ◽  
Vol 201 (10) ◽  
pp. 1553-1561 ◽  
Author(s):  
M S Cupp ◽  
J M Ribeiro ◽  
D E Champagne ◽  
E W Cupp
Keyword(s):  
Expression System ◽  
Blood Perfusion ◽  
Rabbit Aorta ◽  
Baculovirus Expression System ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Reversed Phase ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Black Fly ◽  
Simulium Vittatum ◽  
Biological Potency

A cDNA was cloned from the salivary glands of a blood-feeding black fly Simulium vittatum. The encoded protein has been given the name Simulium vittatum erythema protein or SVEP, because of its ability to increase blood perfusion in skin capillaries, resulting in the well-characterized erythema of black fly bites. The full-length cDNA contains 548 base pairs which encode 152 amino acid residues of the nascent protein. Post-translational processing produces a mature, secreted protein of 133 residues with a molecular mass of 15.4 kDa. Recombinant SVEP (rSVEP) was produced in a baculovirus expression system and purified by a one-step reversed-phase HPLC procedure. Analyses of physical properties and biological potency demonstrated fidelity of rSVEP to the native protein. Recombinant SVEP relaxed rabbit aorta preparations when preconstricted with 2 micromol l-1 phenylephrine or 25 mmol l-1 K+ but not with 60 mmol l-1 K+. Further, the rSVEP-induced relaxation response of phenylephrine-constricted aorta was inhibited by glibenclamide (10 micromol l-1), suggesting that at least part of its action to relax smooth muscle may result from the opening of ATP-dependent K+ channels. SVEP is a novel salivary-gland-derived vasoactive protein that may be essential for blood feeding by black flies and could potentially enhance transmission of filarial parasites.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Partially Submerged Sticky Traps On Lake Spillways For Adult Black Fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) Surveillance and Arbovirus Detection

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 306-310
Author(s):  
Michael C. Cavallaro ◽  
Eric Risley ◽  
Paige Lockburner
Keyword(s):  
Adult Female ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Black Flies ◽  
Culex Mosquito ◽  
Sticky Traps ◽  
Black Fly ◽  
Equine Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Simulium Decorum ◽  
Average Standard Error

ABSTRACT Sentinel surveillance systems demonstrate an improved ability to supplement monitoring data and anticipate arbovirus outbreaks (i.e., sentinel avian species). Management complications can arise during unpredictable or unseasonal disease detections, especially in rural areas where resident distribution is patchy. Using spillways near residential lake communities as static surveillance locations, we tested a novel partially submerged sticky trapping technique and screened wild populations of adult female black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) for West Nile virus (WNV) and eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV). Trap site selection criteria considered the density of immature black fly colonization on spillway surfaces and the number of positive detections of arboviral targets in nearby Culex mosquito populations. On average (±standard error), sticky traps captured 134 (±33) adult black flies over a 24-h period, with 1 trap capturing as many as 735 individuals. Although we detected positive cases of WNV from 20 Culex mosquito trapping sites within 16 km (approx. flight radius) of the selected lake spillways, mixed pools of adult female Simulium vittatum complex and Simulium decorum were all negative for both arboviruses. This study yielded an application for partially submerged sticky traps to collect adult female black flies. Its potential uses for monitoring the infection rates of more well-documented Simulium parasites are discussed.

scholarly journals Discovery of Novel Entomopathogenic Fungi for Mosquito-Borne Disease Control

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasia Accoti ◽  
Cecilia Springer Engdahl ◽  
George Dimopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Suitable Alternative ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Outdoor Environments ◽  
Environmentally Safe ◽  
Emergence Of Resistance

The increased application of chemical control programs has led to the emergence and spread of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. Novel environmentally safe control strategies are currently needed for the control of disease vectors. The use of entomopathogenic fungi could be a suitable alternative to chemical insecticides. Currently, Beauveria spp. and Metarhizium spp. are the most widely used entomopathogenic fungi for mosquito control, but increasing the arsenal with additional fungi is necessary to mitigate the emergence of resistance. Entomopathogenic fungi are distributed in a wide range of habitats. We have performed a comprehensive screen for candidate mosquitocidal fungi from diverse outdoor environments in Maryland and Puerto Rico. An initial screening of 22 fungi involving exposure of adult Anopheles gambiae to 2-weeks-old fungal cultures identified five potent pathogenic fungi, one of which is unidentified and the remaining four belonging to the three genera Galactomyces sp., Isaria sp. and Mucor sp. These fungi were then screened against Aedes aegypti, revealing Isaria sp. as a potent mosquito killer. The entomopathogenic effects were confirmed through spore-dipping assays. We also probed further into the killing mechanisms of these fungi and investigated whether the mosquitocidal activities were the result of potential toxic fungus-produced metabolites. Preliminary assays involving the exposure of mosquitoes to sterile filtered fungal liquid cultures showed that Galactomyces sp., Isaria sp. and the unidentified isolate 1 were the strongest producers of factors showing lethality against An. gambiae. We have identified five fungi that was pathogenic for An. gambiae and one for Ae. aegypti, among these fungi, four of them (two strains of Galactomyces sp., Mucor sp., and the unidentified isolate 1) have never previously been described as lethal to insects. Further characterization of these entomopathogenic fungi and their metabolites needs to be done to confirm their potential use in biologic control against mosquitoes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document