Scientists have found a natural remedy to protect eucalyptus forest plantations from a pest, eucalyptus snout beetle, which is known to cause serious damage to eucalypts.The researchers have managed to collect a naturally occurring pathogenic fungi and characterized it to turn it into a biopesticide for controlling beetle populations.Eucalyptus (evergreen tree) wood is a crucial material for paper pulp production.
Eucalyptus Snout Beetle
- Eucalyptus snout beetle (Gonipterus platensis) is a leaf-feeding beetle that is a major defoliator of eucalypts, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- The pest is indigenous to Australia but occurs in many countries throughout the world where eucalypts are grown.
- It can cause damage over vast areas as it has a great flight capability and gets transferred with transport of forest products.
- The beetle feeds on leaves, buds and shoots, resulting in stunted growth and deflation and causing heavy losses.
Fungi Control the Eucalyptus Snout Beetle
- In the recent research, the scientists collected the fungi from naturally infected beetles in eucalyptus forest plantations and characterized them to develop a bio-pesticide for controlling the beetle.
- The fungi belong to the genera Beauveria and Metarhizium, which are known to infect and kill insects.
- Beauveria pseudobassiana and Metarhizium brunneum were the most virulent fungi.
- B bassiana was highly effective both by contact and ingestion, with a mortality rate of 100%.
- The fungi could be used to develop a bio-pesticide for sustainable forestry using integrated pest management.
- The fungi is developed by treating insecticidal activity, UV-B radiation tolerance among other parameters to ensure that recovered fungi are suitable to produce bio-insecticide and mass production and commercialisation.