Microsporidia as natural enemies of oak processionary moth
Abstract
Since the late 1990s, the oak processionary moth, Thaumetopoea processionea, has been occurring at outbreak levels in eastern and south-eastern Austria. More important than their feeding damage on the oaks is the health hazard for people when they come in contact with the poisonous hairs of the caterpillars. Our project studies entomopathogenic microsporidia as potential bio-control agents for this pest insect. Larval populations of T. processionea in the federal state of Styria will be screened for infections with microsporidia. The intracellular parasites will be isolated from infected larvae. The pathology of the infection will be studied; the microsporidium will be characterized. Goal is to identify microsporidia from T. processionea that are promising candidates for biological control of this insect.
Thaumetopoea processionea Microsporidia Biological Pest Control
Publikationen
Mikrosporidien als natürliche Gegenspieler des Eichenprozessionsspinners
Autoren: Hoch, G., Schopf, A. Jahr: 2005
Forschungsbericht (extern. Auftraggeber)
Microsporidian pathogens of the oak processionary moth,Thaumetopoea processionea (L.) (Lep., Thaumetopoeidae), in eastern Austria’s oak forests
Autoren: Hoch, G; Verucchi, S; Schopf, A Jahr: 2008
Journal articles
Microsporidian pathogens of forest Lepidoptera: Ecological and physiological interactions between host and pathogen
Autoren: Hoch, G. Jahr: 2009
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Project staff
Axel Schopf
Univ.-Prof. i.R. Dr.phil. Axel Schopf
axel.schopf@boku.ac.at
Project Leader
15.06.2004 - 14.06.2005
Gernot Hoch
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Gernot Hoch
gernot.hoch@boku.ac.at
Sub Projectleader
15.06.2004 - 14.06.2005