Determination of Cry toxin activity and identification of an aminopeptidase N receptor-like gene in Asymmathetes vulcanorum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

An emergent pest is the weevil Asymmathetes vulcanorum, an insect that attacks Colombian potato areas. Here, some Cry proteins from the entomopathogenic bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis were evaluated as biological control strategy. It was found that Cry1B protoxin caused a mortality of 40% with a dose of 8000 ng/cm2. Also in this research, it was identified a full length cDNA of an aminopeptidase N, a possible Cry protein receptor located in the insect midgut. This is the first report about B. thuringiensis as an alternative method for control of A. vulcanorum in Colombia.

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► We report a Cry toxin evaluation against Asymmathetes vulcanorum.
► Cry1B has activity against A. vulcanorum first instar larvae.
► An aminopeptidase N gene from A. vulcanourum midgut was cloned and sequenced.