V. Castillejos et al., The potential of Chrysoperla rufilabris and Doru taeniatum as agents for dispersal of Spodoptera frugiperda nucleopolyhedrovirus in maize, ENT EXP APP, 98(3), 2001, pp. 353-359
The behaviour of two abundant predators in Mesoamerican maize crops, Chryso
perla rufilabris larvae and Doru taeniatum adults, towards healthy and nucl
eopolyhedrovirus-infected Spodoptera frugiperda larvae was compared. C. ruf
ilabris did not discriminate between healthy and virus-infected prey, altho
ugh the mean search time was approximately two times longer towards virus-i
nfected larvae. In contrast, D. taeniatum directed a greater proportion of
their attacks towards virus-infected prey but there was no significant diff
erence in the search time. Prey consumption time did not differ significant
ly for each type of prey by either predator, although prey consumption was
much faster in D. taeniatum. Viable virus was detected in D. taeniatum faec
es up to 3 d after feeding on infected S. frugiperda larvae, whereas virus
was inactivated in the gut of C. rufilabris. Both predators were shown to h
ave acidic guts. A field experiment demonstrated that D. taeniatum that had
fed on infected prey could contaminate foliage resulting in the transmissi
on of the disease at a low prevalence (4.7%) to S. frugiperda larvae in a f
ield maize crop.