Assessing the potential of <i>Yersinia entomophaga</i> to control plantain moth in a laboratory assay

Abstract

The recent increased use of the highquality droughttolerant forage plant plantain (Plantago lanceolata) (Plantaginaceae) has been associated with outbreaks of native geometrid caterpillars such as Scopula rubraria The outbreaks most often occur under warm climatic conditions and within plantain monocrops Pest populations can reach 11500 larvae/m² Stands can be severely damaged with 90 of plants destroyed and stand life expectancy reduced by 23 years This study assessed the efficacy of the insecticidal bacterium Yersinia entomophaga against S rubraria under laboratory conditions using a leaf history of S rubraria and the pathobiology of Y entomophaga suggest the bacterium could be developed as a biopesticide for use against S rubraria