Bioassay for Testing the Lethal Effects of Bacterial Pathogens on the PredatoryBeetle 'Hippodamia convergens' Gue. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

摘要

Subdivision M of the Pesticide Testing Guidelines (6) defines a tier progressionfor assessing the potential hazard of microbial pest control agents (MPCAs) to nontarget insects. The bioassay is a tier 1 assay designed to evaluate the toxicity and pathogenicity of bacterial pesticides to the convergent ladybeetle, Hippodamia convergens Gue.. Development and testing was done with a weak bacterial pathogen of H. convergens and with environmental conditions that increased insect susceptibility to the test pathogen and gave consistent and reliable results.