Chromobacterium species with insecticidal activity

Abstract

Strains of Chromobacterium sphagni sp. nov. are described which have insecticidal activity against insect larvae, in general, and lepidopteran insect larvae, in particular. A biocontrol agent containing one or more C. sphagni, media in which the C. sphagni, or both, and optionally a carrier are also described. Methods of killing insect larvae and methods of reducing insect populations in an area by applying to the area or an object an effective amount of the biocontrol agent are also described.

We, the inventors, claim as follows: 
     
         1 . A biocontrol agent useful for killing insect larvae comprising an insecticidal composition and a carrier, wherein said insecticidal composition comprises  Chromobacterium sphagni,  or media in which said  C. sphagni  grew, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The biocontrol agent of  claim 1 , wherein said  C. sphagni  is selected from the group consisting of  C. sphagni  strain 14B-4 (NRRL B-67382),  C. sphagni  strain 37-2 (NRRL B-67131),  C. sphagni  strain 14B-5,  C. sphagni  strain 14B-6,  C. sphagni  strain 36-1,  C. sphagni  strain 36-2,  C. sphagni  strain 36-3,  C. sphagni  strain 36-4,  C. sphagni  strain 36-5,  C. sphagni  strain 36-6,  C. sphagni  strain 37-1,  C. sphagni  strain 37-3,  C. sphagni  strain 37-4,  C. sphagni  strain 37-5,  C. sphagni  strain 37-6, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The biocontrol agent of  claim 1  wherein said carrier is a food of said insect larvae. 
     
     
         4 . A method for killing insect larvae comprising applying said biocontrol agent of  claim 1  in an amount effective to kill said insect larvae, wherein said biocontrol agent is applied to an area in which said insect larvae are present or onto an object in said area. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said  C. sphagni  is selected from the group consisting of  C. sphagni  strain 14B-4 (NRRL B-67382),  C. sphagni  strain 37-2 (NRRL B-67131),  C. sphagni  strain 14B-5,  C. sphagni  strain 14B-6,  C. sphagni  strain 36-1,  C. sphagni  strain 36-2,  C. sphagni  strain 36-3,  C. sphagni  strain 36-4,  C. sphagni  strain 36-5,  C. sphagni  strain 36-6,  C. sphagni  strain 37-1,  C. sphagni  strain 37-3,  C. sphagni  strain 37-4,  C. sphagni  strain 37-5,  C. sphagni  strain 37-6, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said object is a plant on which said insect larvae live or eat. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said insect larvae are lepidopteran insect larvae. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said carrier is selected from the group consisting of food of said insect larvae, water, one or more surfactants, one or more emulsifiers, one or more alcohols, one or more oils, one or more glycerols, one or more biological buffers, one or more ethers, one or more glycols, one or more ketones, one or more esters, one or more clays, one or more silicas, one or more cellulosics, one or more rubber, one or more synthetic polymers, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said biocontrol agent further comprises at least one of insect larvae attractants, adjuvants, pheromones, adhesives, and dispersants. 
     
     
         10 . A method of reducing the population of insect larvae comprising applying a biocontrol agent in an amount effective to kill said insect larvae that ingest said biocontrol agent thereby reducing the population of said insect larvae, wherein said biocontrol agent comprises a carrier and an insecticidal composition comprising Chromobacterium sphagni, or media in which said  C. sphagni  grew, or a combination thereof; wherein said biocontrol agent is applied to an area in which said insect larvae are present or onto an object in said area. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said  C. sphagni  is selected from  C. sphagni  strain 14B-4 (NRRL B-67382),  C. sphagni  strain 37-2 (NRRL B-67131),  C. sphagni  strain 14B-5,  C. sphagni  strain 14B-6,  C. sphagni  strain 36-1,  C. sphagni  strain 36-2,  C. sphagni  strain 36-3,  C. sphagni  strain 36-4,  C. sphagni  strain 36-5,  C. sphagni  strain 36-6,  C. sphagni  strain 37-1,  C. sphagni  strain 37-3,  C. sphagni  strain 37-4,  C. sphagni  strain 37-5,  C. sphagni  strain 37-6, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said object is a plant on which said insect larvae live or eat. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said insect larvae are lepidopteran insect larvae. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said carrier is selected from the group consisting of food of said insect larvae, water, one or more surfactants, one or more emulsifiers, one or more alcohols, one or more oils, one or more glycerols, one or more biological buffers, one or more ethers, one or more glycols, one or more ketones, one or more esters, one or more clays, one or more silicas, one or more cellulosics, one or more rubber, one or more synthetic polymers, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said biocontrol agent further comprises at least one of insect larvae attractants, adjuvants, pheromones, adhesives, and dispersants. 
     
     
         16 . A composition comprising at least one strain of  Chromobacterium sphagni  and media in which said  C. sphagni  grew. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein said  C. sphagni  are present in amount between approximately 10 3  CFU to approximately 10 10  CFU. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein said  C. sphagni  is selected from the group consisting of  C. sphagni  strain 14B-4 (NRRL B-67382),  C. sphagni  strain 37-2 (NRRL B-67131),  C. sphagni  strain 14B-5,  C. sphagni  strain 14B-6,  C. sphagni  strain 36-1,  C. sphagni  strain 36-2,  C. sphagni  strain 36-3,  C. sphagni  strain 36-4,  C. sphagni  strain 36-5,  C. sphagni  strain 36-6,  C. sphagni  strain 37-1,  C. sphagni  strain 37-3,  C. sphagni  strain 37-4,  C. sphagni  strain 37-5,  C. sphagni  strain 37-6, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein said  C. sphagni  has a 16S rRNA gene sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, or SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the combined 16:1 w7c/16:1 w6c fatty acids in said  C. sphagni  ranges from approximately 43% to approximately 47%.