Survival of Indian Honey Bee Apis Cerana indica Fabricius exposed to Microbial Control Agents: Insights into Its Pathogenicity and Toxicity under Varied Exposure Methods
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study investigates the effects of commercially available entomopathogenic fungal formulations on the Indian honey bee Apis cerana indica Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Apidae). A 10-day bioassay conducted under laboratory conditions used four methods (topical, spray, leaf dip, feeding) to evaluate the pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae), Beauveria brongniartii (Sacc.) Petch (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae), Metarhizium sp. (Metschnikoff) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae), and Lecanicillium sp. (Zimmermann) Zare & Gams (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) on A. cerana indica at 5 × 108 conidia/ml. After exposure to fungal formulations via different methods, we recorded conidial acquisition by bees (4.36 × 104 – 21.08 × 104 conidia/bee). The mortality rates were significantly lower in the topical (6.58%), leaf dip (10.17%), spray (9.92%), and feeding (9.17%) exposure methods, indicating their nontoxicity (< 25% mortality) according to IOBC classification. Among the fungal formulations tested, Lecanicillium (93.25%) recorded significantly higher survival rates. Mycosis percentage (3.66 – 15%) was observed in the 10-day-old moribund bees. The lethal time (LT) estimates, viz., LT10 and LT25, were comparatively lower in the topical exposure method (LT10: 13.4 – 16.08 days, LT25: 17.08 – 19.68 days). However, the effects of entomopathogenic fungal formulations must be further confirmed under field conditions.
Source: Sociobiology
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4416953722