Control of Triatoma infestans with entomopathogenic fungi: from lab to field research

JUÁREZ M PATRICIA

Mar del Plata

Congreso; XXVII Congreso de Protozoología y Enfermedades Parasitarias; 2014

Sociedad Argentina de Protozoología

Current vector control strategies, based on chemical insecticide spraying, are growingly threatened by the emergence of pyrethroid-resistant bug populations. We have already shown that entomopathogenic fungi have the ability to breach the insect cuticle and are effective both against pyrethroid-susceptible and pyrethroid-resistant Triatoma infestans bugs, both in laboratory and field assays. We also know that T. infestans cuticle lipids play a major role as contact aggregation pheromones. The aim of this study was to analyze the potential of pheromone?based infection traps to effectively kill bugs indoors, and its effect on the vector population dynamics. Laboratory and field assays were perfomed in order to analyze virulence parameters, and the contribution of fungal horizontal transmission to the infection process, among other factors. After modeling the infection effects on insect population dynamics, we will discuss the biopesticide trap efficacy and its potential in vector integrated management. This low cost, low-tech, ecologically friendly methodology is the first proven alternative to help control T. infestans, regardless their susceptibility to pyrethroid insecticides.