Differential Susceptibility Of Two Melolontha Populations To Infections By The Fungus Beauveria Brongniartii

The susceptibility of second-instar larvae of the European cockchafer, Melolontha melolontha L., originating from two different geographical locations was investigated with eight isolates of the insect pathogenic fungus Beauveria brongniartii (Sacc.) Petch. 77-94% of larvae from northern Italy (Auer, South Tyrolia) succumbed to mycosis with an average survival time (AST) of 22.9-40.1 days. Infections in larvae from south-western Switzerland (Bramois, Valais) were 28-72% and the ASTs varied between 34.7-56.4 days. Differences in susceptibility between the two host populations rr;ray be explained by the historical ages of the two populations and the presence of B. brongniartii resulting in a coevolution of tolerance between the host and pathogen. The Italian population is occasionally infected by B. brongniartii; in comparison, the Swiss population has existed for at least 50 years and regular infections by the pathogen are observed Coevolution between B. brongniartii and M. melolontha from Switzerland may explain the apparent resistance of the host towards this pathogen in laboratory assays.