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3 June 2024 Comparative susceptibility of adult house fly (Diptera: Muscidae) and an important predator, Carcinops pumilio (Coleoptera: Histeridae), to Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae)
Christopher J. Geden, Roxie L. White, Alexandra A. Pagac, Erika T. Machtinger
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Abstract

House flies (Musca domestica L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) are challenging pests to control. Biological control using Carcinops pumilio beetles may help to reduce house fly populations. However, it is unknown if C. pumilio beetles are compatible with Beauveria bassiana, another house fly biological control option. Five strains of commercially available (GHA, HF23, and L90) and newly discovered (NFH10 and PSU1) strains of B. bassiana were used to test the comparative susceptibility of adult house flies and adult C. pumilio using different laboratory exposure methods. Adult house flies were susceptible to B. bassiana in contact filter paper assays (89%–98% mortality) and immersion assays (100% mortality) at the same 108 conidia suspension using 0.1% CapSil as an aqueous surfactant. Carcinops pumilio were less susceptible than flies to B. bassiana infection using the contact and immersion assays at the same 108 conidial concentration, with 4.4%–12.2% and 8.3%–24.6% mortality, respectively. Immersion in an aqueous conidial suspension resulted in higher mortality compared to contact with treated filter papers at the same 108 concentration with house flies and beetles. We conclude that C. pumilio can safely be used as a biological control agent for house flies with B. bassiana in animal production systems.

Christopher J. Geden, Roxie L. White, Alexandra A. Pagac, and Erika T. Machtinger "Comparative susceptibility of adult house fly (Diptera: Muscidae) and an important predator, Carcinops pumilio (Coleoptera: Histeridae), to Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae)," Journal of Medical Entomology 61(4), 1009-1015, (3 June 2024). https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjae075
Received: 16 February 2024; Accepted: 17 May 2024; Published: 3 June 2024
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KEYWORDS
Beauveria bassiana,
Carcinops pumilio
hister beetle
house fly
Musca domestica
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