Efficacy of Diptera-Targeted Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis Against the Pine Processionary Moth, Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae)

Abstract

The pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni (Tams, 1926) (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) is one of the most harmful species that destroys to the pine ecosystem and causes severe skin reactions in humans and animals due to its urticating setae. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the hypertoxic strain of Diptera-targeted Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis against the second instar larvae of T. wilkinsoni under laboratory conditions. A total of 5 mL of bacterial strain spray was applied to 30 larvae at concentrations of 10(1), 10(3), 10(5), 10(7), and 10(9) cfu/mL. As a result of the study, it was determined that the survival rate of the larvae exposed to Bti pHTppk decreased with increasing bacterial concentration, and the survival rate of the 10(9) cfu/mL concentration group was 33.3%. It is suggested that Bti pHTppk is virulent for T. wilkinsoni larvae and that this strain can be used in the biological control of this species.