Hydrophobic and hydrophilic film technology are a novel way to control pests of agricultural crops. Studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of the hydrophobic (MP-96-018) and hydrophilic (Surround WP and MP-99-099) particles film formulations (Engelhard Corporation) consisting of kaolin and adjuvants on pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum and its entomogenous fungi Pandora neoaphidis. In the laboratory, these particle films significantly suppress pea aphid populations by 27-30%, and have repellant properties. In the presence of inoculum, all formulations promote infection of pea aphid by P. neoaphidis. The hydrophobic films have a much stronger effect on the pathogen than the hydrophilic film, especially at low conidia density. Aphid mortality can reach 60-80% with the particle film and P. neoaphidis in laboratory bioassay. The MP-96-018 particle film enhances conidia germination and secondary conidia formation of P. neoaphidis, apparently explaining the effect of this film on the pathogen. In the field, the powders also significantly suppressed aphid populations. However, natural inoculum levels were too low to detect an effect on the pathogen in the field.
Species 1: Homoptera Aphididae Acyrthosiphon pisum (pea aphid)
Keywords: particle films, biological control
Back to Display Presentations, Section F. Crop Protection Entomology
Back to Posters
Back to The 2002 ESA Annual Meeting and Exhibition