Abstract The lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is the most important pest in poultry production systems worldwide. Adults and larvae serve as alternative low-quality food for chickens and as a vehicle for animal pathogens resulting in significant economic losses for farmers. Control of this pest is usually performed through insecticide application during the interval between chicken flocks. However, due to the cryptic behaviour of this pest, chemical control is usually not effective. With the aim of developing a sustainable approach to control A. diaperinus, we evaluated integration of the A. diaperinus aggregation pheromone with a highly virulent strain (Unioeste 04) of the fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. (Ascomycota: Cordycipitaceae) using an attract-and-infect device. Significant levels of A. diaperinus mortality and lower numbers of offspring (larvae) were observed in laboratory experiments using Unioeste 04. Horizontal transmission of the Unioeste 04 strain through contaminated living A. diaperinus and cadavers was also observed. In field experiments in commercial poultry houses, a significant level of A. diaperinus mortality was observed in Unioeste 04-treated arenas. The results show that the A. diaperinus aggregation pheromone can be used as an attractant in a device impregnated with infective fungal propagules, increasing adult infection and enhancing disease spread. In addition, the use of the microbial control agent inside the device allows the fungus to remain effective for longer periods in the adverse conditions of the poultry house environment.

中文翻译：

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在禽舍中开发用于生物防治小粉虫 Alphitobius diaperinus（鞘翅目：黄粉虫科）的吸引和感染装置

摘要 小型粉虫 Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer（鞘翅目：Tenebrionidae）是全球家禽生产系统中最重要的害虫。成虫和幼虫是鸡的替代性低质量食物和动物病原体的载体，给农民造成重大经济损失。这种害虫的控制通常通过在鸡群之间的间隔期间使用杀虫剂来进行。然而，由于这种害虫的隐秘行为，化学防治通常无效。为了开发控制 A. diaperinus 的可持续方法，我们评估了 A. diaperinus 聚集信息素与真菌 Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill 的高毒株 (Unioeste 04) 的整合。（子囊菌：Cordycipitaceae）使用吸引和感染装置。A. 显着水平 在使用 Unioeste 04 的实验室实验中观察到 diaperinus 死亡率和较低数量的后代（幼虫）。还观察到 Unioeste 04 菌株通过受污染的活体 A. diaperinus 和尸体的水平传播。在商业禽舍的田间试验中，在 Unioeste 04 处理的场地中观察到显着水平的 A. diaperinus 死亡率。结果表明，A. diaperinus 聚集信息素可用作浸渍感染性真菌繁殖体的装置中的引诱剂，增加成人感染并增强疾病传播。此外，在设备内部使用微生物控制剂可使真菌在禽舍环境的不利条件下保持更长时间的有效。