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Repellent activity of desiccant dusts and conidia of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana when tested against poultry red mites (Dermanyssus gallinae) in laboratory experiments

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Abstract

Desiccant dusts and entomopathogenic fungi have previously been found to hold potential against the poultry red mite, which is an important pest in egg production and notoriously difficult to control. Both control agents may cause repellence in other arthropods and potentially also influence control levels adversely when used against the poultry red mite. Five desiccant dust products with good efficacy against the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae caused avoidance behavior in mites when tested in bioassays. The repellent activity was correlated with efficacy, which was found to depend on both dose and relative humidity (RH). However, one desiccant dust was significantly less repellent compared to other dusts with similar levels of efficacy. Further, dry conidia of the fungus Beauveria bassiana were also shown to be repellent to poultry red mites, both when applied on its own and when admixed with a low dose of the desiccant dust Diamol. The pick-up of desiccant dust particles and fungus conidia from treated surfaces by mites did not differ depending on RH, whereas the overall efficacy of the two control agents were significantly higher at 75 than at 85 % RH. In addition, the combined effect of the two substances was synergistic when tested in a bioassay where mites could choose whether to cross a treated surface. This is the first time a member of Acari has been shown to be repelled by desiccant dusts and by conidia of an entomopathogenic fungus.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Minna Wernegreen, Nicolai Hansen and Ib Bjarne Hansen for technical assistance and Dave Moore and Steve Edkinton from CABI UK for providing the fungus isolate. This work is part of the SAFEHOUSE project financed by the European Commission contract no. FOOD-CT-2006-035547.

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  1. Ole Kilpinen

    Present address: Danish Beekeepers Association, Fulbyvej 15, 4180, Sorø, Denmark

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Agroecology, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, 4200, Slagelse, Denmark

    Ole Kilpinen & Tove Steenberg

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  1. Ole Kilpinen
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  2. Tove Steenberg
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Correspondence to Tove Steenberg.

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Kilpinen, O., Steenberg, T. Repellent activity of desiccant dusts and conidia of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana when tested against poultry red mites (Dermanyssus gallinae) in laboratory experiments. Exp Appl Acarol 70, 329–341 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-016-0085-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-016-0085-7

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