Biological control of the tick Ixodes ricinus with entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes: Preliminary results from laboratory experiments

摘要: Abstract In Central Europe, Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) are transmitted by the tick Ixodes ricinus . last years, prevalence of TBE virus in I. also number human infections have increased considerably south-western Germany. A similar development is presumed for Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. For biocontrol vector , several options presently evaluated. Among potential agents, entomopathogenic fungi, nematodes, parasitic wasps most promising candidates. first laboratory experiments, different strains fungi Metarhizium anisopliae (five strains), Beauveria bassiana (three Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (two strains) were tested placing larvae (fed unfed) nymphs Petri dishes with filter paper soaked conidial or blastospore suspensions (2.4×10 3 to 9.6×10 6  per cm 2 ). Ticks exposed at least 35 days dark temperatures 21–24 °C. The best LT 50 values unfed (14 days) (21 obtained blastospores M. 97 1.4×10 order evaluate efficacies three species, Steinernema carpocapsae S. feltiae Heterorhabditis bacteriophora investigated laboratory. females placed containing a wet 300 600 infective nematode per cm nematodes 15 an average temperature 25 °C. highest mortality was observed female ticks treated carpocapsae. Results show that among control efficacy two isolates whereas successful against