Some lab studies have shown 20-40% infection but natural incidences are very scanty . Some effective formulation could be an alternative solution of using B. bassiana against bark beetle.

http://ffp.ibles.pl/content/archiwe-issues/2011/vol-53-2/jakus-11-2-8.pdf

Thank you so much! I found two adults of Ips duplicatus showing symptoms of white muscardine under a Norway spruce bark. Isolation and fungi identification procedures were performed and fungus was identified as Beauveria bassiana. I want to write a paper about it and I tried to find any reports of this association in natural outbreaks... without succes. I found just a citation in a paper about a report from 1935 of Karpinski J.J. But I couldnt find the article.

The epidemic level of the I. duplicatus population was recorded in the northeastern Romania so I hope this strain is a chance to control this forrest pest.

Thank you for your help!

What do you mean by ASSOCIATION? Are you looking for natural infection events or are you asking about using B. bassiana as a biocontrol tool against beetle?

For the second axe, I would first ask what do we know about B. bassiana effect on bark beetle. If it kills you could indeed test the formulation assays.

Christian, yes, I am looking for natural infection events, natural outbreaks. I have to write a paper and I dont have much literature about this.

I have seen this article in google, probably not duplicatus but bark beetle

Biologia

October 2012, Volume 67, Issue 5, pp 966-972

Pathogens of bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) and other beetles in Bulgaria

Danail Ilchev Takov, Danail Dimitrov Doychev, Andreas Linde, Slavimira Atanasova Draganova, Daniela Kirilova Pilarska

Download PDF (250 KB)

Abstract

The presence and diversity of beetle pathogens associated with different tree species in Bulgaria was investigated. In total, 818 specimens belonging to 22 beetle species were examined. Pathogens occurred in 9 host species. The infections were found in the gut (virus, nematodes, protozoans, microsporidia) and haemolymph (nematodes) of the infected insects. The following pathogen species: ItEPV, Beauveria bassiana, B. brongniartii, Isaria farinosa, Gregarina typographi, Gregarina spp., Chytridiopsis typographi, Chytridiopsis sp., and nematodes were revealed. Insects with mycoses were mummified and filled up with fungal structures, formed pseudosclerotium. Most pathogens were established in bark beetles (Scolytinae). For the first time, the fungus B. bassiana was reported in Tomicus piniperda, Orthotomicus longicollis, O. erosus, X. spinole, Taphrorychus villifrons and Phylobius sp. in Bulgaria. We also present the first records of gregarines in O. longicollis, Acanthocinus aedilis, Rhagium inquisitor, Pyrochroa coccinea, and of the microsporidium Chytridiopsis sp. in O. longicollis.

I found this uinformacion at this link:http://orton.catie.ac.cr/repdoc/A1760E/A1760E.PDF

ABSTRACT. Enzymatic activity of fungi and their pathogenicity to Hypothenemus hampei. Six pathogenic isolates of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae were evaluated in order to quantify the catalytic activity of five enzymes and their relation to pathogenicity against the coffee berry borer (H.hampei). Isolates

with different degrees of pathogenicity were used,producing a variety of extracellular enzymes such as lipase, protease, phenoloxidase, B-N-acetylglucosaminidase (nagase) and chitinase that are related to the main components of the insect cuticle. In the 9205 and 9620 isolates of B. bassiana and the 9236 and 9303 isolates of M.anisopliae a direct relation was found between pathogenicity and catalytic activity greater than 50% of the total activity for chitinase, protease and lipase. The maximum catalytic activity was determined for lipase, protease and phenoloxidase in the early development stages of the fungus and for nagase and chitinase in the late stages. Some isolates showed a catalytic activity of less than 50% of the total activity evaluated. In otherisolates a relation was not found between catalytic activity and pathogenicity. This study indicates that theenzymatic mechanism is part of the integral action of the infection process.

................

also I am sending this link:http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?pid=S0120-04882006000200001&script=sci_arttext

Una revisión sobre la "broca" o perforador del café, Hypothenemus hampei

(Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), en Colombia

A review of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei

(Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), in Colombia

Note: BROCA o perforador is a driller insect or borer insect

A review of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei(Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), in ColombiaThe fungus Beauveria bassiana is naturally infecting the bit (the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei) in almost all the regions where this bug appears. Cenicafé has 102 isolates from different countries and collected locally, of which approximately half have shown activity against the coffee berry borer (Posada & Bustillo 1994). In order to massively use of this fungus, the initial research focused on artisan production processes (Antia et al. 1992, Marin and Bustillo 2002) and industrial (Morales et to the. 1991). This allowed advance assessments of its effectiveness in coffee plantations and have inoculum of the fungus available so that the farmer could produce it on his farm. Also funded by the National Federation of coffee growers of Colombia, it could carry out a program national introduction of the fungus in the coffee area infested by berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei).The development of bioassays (González et al. 1993, Posada et al. 2002) to select the most virulent isolates, instructions for making its reactivation in insects (Bustillo and MARIN 2002) and protocols for the quality control of fungi produced artisanal and industrially (Vélez et al. 1997), have made it possible to control and improve the product commercially offered to the coffee growers.A corpse of berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei well soil can produce about 10 million spores which facilitates its dispersal and establishment in coffee plantations (Narváez et al. 1997).

This is interesting. I have done some work on Beauveria bassiana on oil palm pest bagworms with high rate of mortality up to 90% in only 2 to 3 days of bioassays under environmentally controlled room insectary in Malaysia. I have this entomopathogenic fungi prevalent naturally in various tropical agrosystems. It is easy to isolates the strains from dead insect with the characteristic whitish appearance on larvae, pupae and dead adults of the bagworms Pteroma pendula, Metisa plana. B.bassiana is know to be lethal on many insect crop pests in tropical and temperate climates. I have tested four strains with one showing high virulence in a short period of time.

But the question that arise always when you manipulate at high dosage these organisms is about the safety issue.

The fungi exist naturally, but we are going to use it for integrated pest management by aerial spraying which does represent a heavy volume of biopesticides.

Bacillus thuringiensis is used by heavy aerial treatment successfully too, but it has to be ingested by the pests for triggering the lethal process of bacterial toxins releases.

The advantage of B.bassiana is that it does pass through the insects cuticles, then spread sporulation inside the system releasing proteases, lipases and many enzymes as you know.

This is very encouraging to develop more of this for a better insecticide resistance management, which would be problematic if it does occur.

Some strains are more virulent than others. Screening is thus important for selection of the most effective strain.

You should carry out a bioassay in laboratory to test how effective it is on the pest "bark beetle I. duplicatus". In case you obtain positive results from your bioassays (after screening various strains that you isolated from different hosts- larvae, pupae, soils, leaves, dead adults), you can make a pilot test in the field with a proper experimental design. Beauveria bassiana is expected to provide good alternative for biological control. Your paper would be relevant like that i suggest.

To come back on the safety issue, i found this:

http://www.rebeca-net.de/downloads/Beauveria%20bassiana.pdf

I foresee that fungal pesticides like Beauveria bassiana can be more effective in humid climate period of the year with rainy seasons in tropical area, whereby in Romania or Bulgaria, temperate four seasonal weathers can contribute significantly to the effectiveness of the agent against pest.

The fungal agent need that "wet water" conditions to facilitate the sporulation and enhance the fungal preparation survival particularly in a field test application.

In laboratory it was easy for me to spray some water every 2 or three days if necessary. In the open field, innovative formulations of your fungal preparations for usage can help a lot.

Corn granular formulations has been reported to be effective in Georgia USA against the lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) and hide beetle (Dermestes maculatus) in poultry houses .

See : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14650537.

http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/11323/PDF

In my case i have seen formulations with rice, maize to work very well on oil palm plantations pests. The cost aspect is important for commercial purpose and patent. The cheaper cost coupled with effectiveness of your product will guarantee you that.

Hi Dinu, check out this summary article available on line. It has many references to Beauveria bassiana and Ips beetles. Popa, V., Deziel, E., Lavallee, R., Bauce, E., and Guertin, C .2012. The complex symbiotic relationships of bark beetles with microorganisms; a potential practical approach for biological control in Forestry. Pest. Manag. Sci., 68: 963-975.

Thank you all for your help!

Another aspect that i can further for you here. In a recent meeting with the high management of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board MPOB, they are all scientists, i initiated a talk on entomopathogenic fungi and Beauveria bassiana in particular. Some preliminary field testing of the biopesticides on bagworm pests shows low mortality on tall palm trees. Now i m suggesting either to use selective pesticides or non-synthetic pesticides based from natural products extract in combination with fungal preparation to see the efficiency on tall trees. In your case since you work on forestry zone, it is expected that trees are tall there right?

From my personal work, we can see that laboratory experiments are giving nearly 100% mortality, but when you shift this to the field, the results are not always as successful.

There is an interesting article on Nature concerning the benefit of organic farming towards maintaining and rejuvenating the richness and evenness of species among natural enemies. The importance of organic farming on maintaining species evenness, not just richness giving significant rejuvenation to the ecosystems was reported in Nature (Crowder et al, 2010) with added value effect by natural control of pests.

The ability of natural enemies in effective regulation of pest dynamic population below economic threshold has been amply proven (Zhand and Wilson, 2006), with some recommendations on dependence reduction of pesticides towards achieving harmless application in order to avoid injury level to natural enemies, thus sustaining their safety with the dual direct interest and benefit of preservation for the stability of the oil palm agro ecosystem (Wood, 1968; Wood, 1973; Wood, 2002).

The introduction and promotion of more natural enemies defined by the parasitoids, predators such as Oecophylla smaragdina and indigenous entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana is given more attention for the interest mentioned above since many field tested biological control agents have shown to be harmless towards the balance of the ecosystem, natural fauna and human populations, thus giving a new impetus for a sustainable final application and usage in oil palm plantations.

In all more work from laboratory need to be transferred to the field for confirmation and optimization...

Dear Dinu 

I will some paper about Beauveria in Pseudips mexicanus species of Scolytinae from Morelos, Mexico.  I hope will be of your interest

Cheers Armando Burgos-Solorio