Effects of endophytic fungi on western tarnished plant bug, Lygus hesperus, and fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, host plant use

Fungal endophytes are microorganisms that can live within plant tissues without causing apparent damage. Among the different kinds of endophytes isolated to date, there are several that have potential beneficial uses as biocontrol agents, including endophytic entomopathogenic fungi. A recently survey isolated a range of putative beneficial fungal endophytes in different tissues of cotton cultivated in Texas. We examined the endophytic effects of one of these isolates (Paecilomyces sp.) along with a commercially available fungal entomopathogen (Beauveria bassiana) on host plant use by western tarnished plant bugs (Lygus hesperus) and fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda).  We measured preference and performance using no-choice and choice tests in laboratory feeding assays. L. hesperus adults were assayed on developing fruiting structures. S. frugiperda larvae were assayed for feeding on foliage.