02761nas a2200241 4500008004100000022001400041245013900055210006900194260001600263300001100279520196600290653002702256653001902283653002302302653001502325653001802340653002302358100001802381700001502399700002102414700001602435856006802451 2014 eng d a0958-315700aPathogenicity of individual isolates of entomopathogenic fungi affects feeding preference of red imported fire ants Solenopsis invicta0 aPathogenicity of individual isolates of entomopathogenic fungi a cOct-06-2014 a1 - 173 a

Seven isolates of entomopathogenic fungi, Isaria fumosorosea (IFCF-H and IFCF-L), Beauveria bassiana s.l. (Bb02 and Bb04) and Metarhizium anisopliae s.l. (Ma01, SM076 and M09), were selected for their pathogenicity against Solenopsis invicta as well as feeding preference of S. invicta. When ants were treated with a conidial suspension at a concentration of 1×108 conidia/ml, the median lethal times (LT50) of IFCF-H, IFCF-L, Bb02, Bb04, Ma01, SM076 and M09 were 3.4, 162.6, 7.3, 2.8, 3.8, 7.3 and 2.7 d, respectively after 10 days. The median lethal concentrations (LC50) on the tenth day after inoculation were 1.20×107, 1.56×1010, 4.23×107, 3.04×106, 6.13×106, 2.90×107 and 9.90×105 conidia/ml, respectively. Furthermore, S. invicta consumed significantly less solution flavored with Bb04 conidia than the control, which was demonstrated by the lowest preference index (PREF = 0.09). S. invicta did not have a significant feeding preference for other fungal isolates. The pathogenicity (LC50) of fungal isolates was not significantly correlated (R2=0.013) with the PREF of S. invicta. However, in the paired choice experiments between different virulent isolates belonging to the same genera, S. invicta tended to select the solution flavored with conidia of relatively lower pathogenic isolates such as IFCF-L, Bb02 and SM076. We conclude that the pathogenicity of congeneric fungi may affect the feeding preference of S. invicta. Red imported fire ants might adjust their feeding response to entomopathogenic fungi based on the profile of microbial volatile organic compounds.

10aentomopathogenic fungi10afeeding choice10afeeding preference10amanagement10apathogenicity10aSolenopsis invicta1 aQiu, Hua-long1 aLu, Li-hua1 aZhang, Chun-yang1 aHe, Yu-rong uhttp://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09583157.2014.933313