Methoxyfenozide and pyriproxifen alter the cellular immune reactions of Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) against Beauveria bassiana

Effects of the two insect growth regulators (IGRs) methoxyfenozide, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) agonist, and pyriproxifen, Juvenile hormone (JH) agonist, were examined on the cellular immune responses of the Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps versus the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. The simultaneous treatment with the IGRs and the fungal spores altered haemocyte count (total and differentiate), nodulation response and phenoloxidase (PO) activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. It was observed that different concentrations of methoxyfenozide increased total and differentiate haemocyte numbers as well as B. bassiana-induced nodulation response. In contrast with the JH agonist, pyriproxifen significantly decreased total and differentiate haemocyte numbers and inhibited nodule formation in E. integriceps adults. The 20E agonist displayed major effects when injected at the doses 2.79 and 5.59 μg/mg adult. In contrast, injecting adults by pyriproxifen significantly impaired their ability to raise an efficacious response against the fungal spores. The ability of the two IGR analogues to interfere with activity of the PO system in haemolymph of E. integriceps adults was also investigated 6 h after injection by fungal spores. Methoxyfenozide had an excitatory effect on PO activity when the 5.59 μg/mg concentration was used against adults. Conversely, pyriproxifen had an inhibitory effect on PO activity when used at 1.49 μg/mg adult concentration. These findings demonstrate that pyriproxifen may interfere with cell-mediated immunity of E. integriceps. So, pyriproxifen could be a good candidate for the integrated control of the Sunn pest.

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► Number of haemocytes significantly changed due to injecting of methoxyfenozide and pyriproxifen.
► Nodule formation increased and decreased by using methoxyfenozide and pyriproxifen, respectively.
► Similar alternate results were found for phenoloxidase activity.