TWO SPECIES OF ENTOMOPHTHORA PATHOGENIC TO THE EASTERN HEMLOCK LOOPER (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE) IN NEWFOUNDLAND

Abstract

AbstractTwo fungi, Entomophthora sphaerosperma and E. egressa, were collected and identified from larvae of the eastern hemlock looper, Lambdina f. fiscellaria (Guen.), in Newfoundland. These two fungi appear to play the most important role in the decline of looper infestations. Field trials indicate that the disease can be transmitted from laboratory-reared larvae artificially infected with the protoplast stage of E. egressa, to uninfected larvae. This suggests that infection may be established artificially within a population of the looper prior to the ’natural’ occurrence of the epizootic.