Evaluating insect-mediated dispersal of Scytalidiumuredinicola for biological control of western gall rust

The potential for augmentative biological control of western gall rust, caused by Endocronartiumharknessii (J.P. Moore) Y. Hiratsuka, on lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.) was investigated near Hinton, Alberta. We sought to determine whether a mycoparasite, Scytalidiumuredinicola Kuhlman et al., of western gall rust could be enhanced through releases of a beetle, Epuraeaobliquus Hatch, which can serve as a vector for …