Persistence of the fungal pathogen Entomophaga maimaiga and its impact on native Lymantriidae

The entomopathogenic fungus Entomophaga maimaiga has been reported infecting gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, larvae in the United States since 1989. Laboratory bioassays demonstrated that larvae of numerous species of native tussock moths (Lymantriidae) are susceptible to E. maimaiga. From 1997 to 2001, larvae of gypsy moth and native lymantriids were collected in long-term plots in national forests in Virginia and West Virginia to evaluate infection levels. Throughout this time, gypsy moth populations were low although increasing the last 2 years, whereas native lymantriids remained uncommon throughout. Among gypsy moth larvae, infection by E. maimaiga first occurred during 2000 and increased in both areas during 2001 as gypsy moth populations increased. Seven species of native lymantriids were collected but only three were infected: Dasychira obliquata, Dasychira vagans, and Orgyia leucostigma. Infection of these native lymantriid species did not occur in 1997–1999 and was always <50% per species during 2000 and 2001. Ecological studies were conducted to evaluate when and where native lymantriids could be exposed to E. maimaiga inoculum. Field bioassays demonstrated that E. maimaiga resting spores were active in soil at bases of trees beginning in April, especially when soil was moist, but few gypsy moth larvae were infected by airborne conidia from resting spores early in the season. In 2000 and 2001, cadavers that produced conidia were collected throughout the season and conidia were the predominant spore form produced for at least the first month of the field season. Resting spore densities in soil were high during 1997 but titers declined through the study, with the exception of an increase following E. maimaiga infections in increasing gypsy moth populations in West Virginia during 2000.