Rearing and breeding of the Moroccan locust Dociostaurus maroccanus (Thunberg) (Orthop., Acrididae) under laboratory conditions

The objective of the present work was to design a rearing method for the Moroccan or Mediterranean locust Dociostaurus maroccanus and to breed it. The duration of the post-embryonic development from N1 to adult ranged between 35 and 38 days, independently of whether nymphs were reared at constant temperature or in cages with incandescent light bulbs that afford heat for thermo-regulation. In contrast, the number of nymphs reaching the adult stage was directly related to the power of the bulb from 0 to 60 W. The rearing density did not affect the survival and developmental time of nymphs over the range 100–400 nymphs per cage. The survival of D. maroccanus nymphs under optimal conditions, which were a 60 W bulb and 400 nymphs per cage, was around 60%. The mean number of egg-pods per female ranged between 2.6 and 3.5, and no difference was observed among rearing densities, with 16 pairs per cage being the optimal breeding condition. The number of eggs per egg pod ranged from 15 to 25, the egg viability from 20 to 50% and the adult longevity from 30 to 40 days. Eggs deposited by D. maroccanus females reared under these laboratory conditions were viable and thus the present study has 'closed' the life cycle of this species for the first time. The rearing method developed in this study will provide elements for studies of biology and physiology and it can be used in the design of new, environmentally sound pest management measures.     

Diapause termination and post-diapause development in the Mediterranean locust Dociostaurus maroccanus (Orth., Acrididae) under field conditions

Abstract: Diapause termination and post-diapause development of the Mediterranean or Moroccan locust, Dociostaurus maroccanus , were studied in the permanent breeding area of la Serena (Badajoz) in southern Spain during 1991–92 and 1997–98. By the second half of autumn, diapause development has been completed and the eggs have acquired the ability to resume morphogenesis, catatrepsis and hatching. The last week of November was determined to be the critical time to begin recording degree-days as a basis for the development of hatch prediction models. Using a previously developed temperature model for embryonic development of D. maroccanus , accurate predictions of hatching were performed for the two study seasons. The results of this investigation will facilitate in developing an efficient system for the management of the Moroccan locust.     

Moroccan locust Dociostaurus maroccanus (Thunberg, 1815): a faunistic rarity or an important economic pest?

The Moroccan locust, Dociostaurus maroccanus (Thunberg), was traditionally considered as one of the most dangerous agricultural pests in the Mediterranean (s.l.) zone. Its broad polyphagy, extreme voracity, enormous fecundity and capability to migrate in swarms made it a major enemy of agriculturists from the Canary Islands to Afghanistan. However, outbreaks of the Moroccan locust seem to have been more frequent in the past and, in many regions, the species has become rare. Climatic factors, in particular the amount of spring rainfall, are critical for the developmental cycle of D. maroccanus. However, anthropogenic factors appear to have the most powerful effect on the locust's population dynamics. On the one hand, deforestation and overgrazing create the necessary prerequisites for colonization by the Moroccan locust. On the other hand, converting grasslands into croplands makes the habitat totally unsuitable for the insect because females can lay eggs into undisturbed soil. These two conflicting tendencies appear to govern the current evolution of Moroccan locust populations, their manifestations being different according to the geographical zone. Although in some regions (e.g. in many European countries) D. maroccanus has lost its formerly high economic importance, in others (North African and central Asian countries) the species continues to flourish and may even increase its pest status.     

Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin - a Promising Microbial Control Agent of the Satin Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

A new isolate of the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana , was tested by laboratory bioassays for potential use as a microbial control agent of the early (third) and last (seventh) instars of the satin moth, Leucoma salicis L. Results demonstrate that this fungus is very effective against last instars of this lepidopteran pest. Although B. bassiana was cultured successfully from internal contents of all cadavers examined, vegetative hyphae emerged from intact cadavers of L. salicis infected as early (third) instar caterpillars only.     

Beauveria bassiana yeast phase on agar medium and its pathogenicity against Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Beauveria bassiana colonizes insect hosts initially through a yeast phase, which is common in some artificial liquid cultures, but not reported on artificial solid media. We describe a yeast-like phase for B. bassiana isolate 447 (ATCC 20872) on MacConkey agar and its virulence toward Diatraea saccharalis and Tetranychus urticae. The yeast-like cells of B. bassiana developed by budding from germinating conidia after 24-h incubation. Cells were typically 5-10 microm and fungal colonies were initially circular and mucoid, but later were covered with mycelia and conidia. Ability to produce yeast-like cells on MacConkey medium was relatively common among different B. bassiana isolates, but growth rate and timing of yeast-like cell production also varied. Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces spp. isolates did not grow as yeast-like cells on MacConkey medium. Yeast-like cells of B. bassiana 447 were more virulent against D. saccharalis than conidia when 10(7)cells/ml were used. At 10(8)cells/ml, the estimated mean survival time was 5.4 days for the yeast suspension and 7.7 days for the conidial suspension, perhaps due to faster germination. The LC(50) was also lower for yeast than conidial suspensions. Yeast-like cells and conidia had similar virulence against T. urticae; the average mortalities with yeast-like cells and conidia were, respectively, 42.8 and 45.0%, with 10(7)cells/ml, and 77.8 and 74.4%, with 10(8)cells/ml. The estimated mean survival times were 3.6 and 3.9 for yeast and conidial suspensions, respectively. The bioassay results demonstrate the yeast-like structures produced on MacConkey agar are effective as inoculum for B. bassiana applications against arthropod pests, and possibly superior to conidia against some species. Obtaining well-defined yeast phase cultures of entomopathogenic hyphomycetes may be an important step in studies of the biology and nutrition, pathogenesis, and the genetic manipulation of these fungi.     

Characterization of a newly discovered Beauveria bassiana isolate to Franklimiella occidentalis Perganda, a non-native invasive species in China

In this study, a new virulent Beauveria bassiana isolate (B. bassiana-CYT5) had been identified as a new member of the species B. bassiana. The B. bassiana-CYT5 isolate was compared with four other virulent B. bassiana isolates and found to be highly infectious and virulent against the Franklimiella occidentalis Perganda. The B. bassiana-CYT5 could approximately 93.08% mortality of F. occidentalis 6 days post inoculation in the concentration of 1×10(8) conidia/mL. The phylogenetic tree based on ITS and partial sequence of elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-alpha) indicated that B. bassiana-CYT5 isolate was in a cluster of B. bassiana. Furthermore, B. bassiana-CYT5 isolate demonstrated high heat tolerance (60-100% relative germination) between 1-h and 2-h exposure at 37 °C, 38 °C, 39 °C and 40 °C, respectively. So our results suggested that B. bassiana-CYT5 isolate could be a new efficient biocontrol agent against F. occidentalis.     

昆虫病原真菌与硅藻土混用对四纹豆象的毒力效果(英文)

在室内条件下检测了白僵菌Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin 菌株IRAN-187C 和金龟子绿僵菌Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikow) Sorokin菌株A-396分别与硅藻土（DE）制剂InsectoSec混用对四纹豆象Callosobruchus maculatus成虫的毒力效果。结果表明：硅藻土与致死剂量和亚致死剂量的真菌分离物混用导致了四纹豆象成虫的高死亡率,且这些处理均缩短了真菌的致死中时(LT₅₀)。LC₅₀ 的白僵菌B. bassiana菌株IRAN-187C和 LC₅₀ 的DE混用对四纹豆象的LT₅₀ (122.2 h)最低,在95%置信限上与LC50 的金龟子绿僵菌M. anisopliae菌株A-396 与LC₅₀的DE混用得到的LT₅₀ (128.2 h) 相当,说明两种真菌分离物与DE混用对四纹豆象成虫都具有较好的毒力效果。用四纹豆象成虫检测3个温度（22, 27和30℃）和2个相对湿度（40%和55%）组合对DE活性的影响,结果显示30℃和40%相对湿度条件下得到的LT₅₀ (110.11 h)最低,说明高温低湿条件下DE活性较高。     

球孢白僵菌对小猿叶甲的致病力测定

在室内研究了分离自小猿叶甲的一株球孢白僵菌(SCAU-BB 01D)对小猿叶甲的致病力。结果表明,该菌株能感染小猿叶甲的成虫和各龄幼虫,但对不同虫期的致病力存在差异。在105~108孢子/m l的浓度范围内,随着处理浓度的升高,各虫期小猿叶甲的感病死亡率增加,在最高浓度1×108孢子/m l,处理后成虫第14天及1~3龄幼虫第10天的累计死亡率分别为84.7%、94.0%、96.0%和81.0%。用TDM模型对成虫和各龄幼虫的致病力数据进行模拟,所建模型均顺利通过Hosm er-L em eshow拟合异质性检验,表明模型拟合良好,并由模型估计出了该菌株对小猿叶甲各虫期的致死剂量与致死时间。在处理后第10天,成虫和1~3龄幼虫的致死中浓度(LC50)分别为2.68×107、1.07×106、1.63×105孢子/m l和8.31×106孢子/m l,而第14天成虫的LC50为2.38×106孢子/m l。随着浓度的增加,各虫期所需的感病死亡时间缩短,在最高浓度1×108孢子/m l,球孢白僵菌对小猿叶甲成虫及1~3龄幼虫的致死中时(LT50)分别为9.28、4.29、4.40d和5.06 d。综合分析白僵菌对各虫期的致死剂量及致死时间可以看出,不同虫期的小猿叶甲对球孢白僵菌敏感性不同。结果表明该菌株在小猿叶甲生物防治中具有一定的潜力。     

Susceptibility of Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) to Entomopathogenic Fungi from Ethiopia

The efficacy of 13 isolates of entomopathogenic fungi belonging to Beauveria , Metarhizium or Paecilomyces spp. was assessed against Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Prostephanus truncatus (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) using a total immersion bioassay technique in the laboratory. Fungi were applied at concentrations of 1 ×10 7 and 1 ×10 8 conidia mL -1 for P. truncatus and S. zeamais , respectively. All isolates tested were virulent to P. truncatus (98-100% mortality, and median survival time (MST) ranged from 2.85-4.05 days). Metarhizium anisopliae and B. bassiana were also virulent to S. zeamais (92-100% mortality, MST ranged from 3.58-6.28 days). The isolate of Paecilomyces sp. was found to be the least virulent against S. zeamais , causing only 26.32 ±4.29% mortality with MST of 10.38 ±0.29 days. P. truncatus proved more susceptible to the entomopathogenic fungi tested than S. zeamais . One M. anisopliae (PPRC-EE) and three B. bassiana isolates (PPRC-HH, PPRC-9609 and PPRC-9614) were selected for further study and dose-mortality relationships were assessed on S. zeamais . The tested concentrations ranged from 1 ×10 4 -1 ×10 7 conidia mL -1 . M. anisopliae (PPRC-EE) showed the lowest LC 50 (3.39 ×10 5 conidia mL -1 ) followed by B. bassiana PPRC-HH (2.04 ×10 6 conidia mL -1 ). PPRC-9609 and PPRC-9614 showed slight differences in LC 50 but not at LC 90 . The results revealed the higher potency of M. anisopliae as compared with the B. bassiana isolates tested. The study suggests that the use of entomopathogenic fungi may hold promise as an alternative method to control pests of stored-products in Ethiopia.     

Laboratory and field evaluation of Beauveria bassiana against sugarcane stalkborers (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas

Of approximately 18,200 ha planted to sugarcane in south Texas, only approximately 80 ha (<0.5%) are treated with insecticides because this type of control is widely regarded as ineffective against stalkboring pyralids, the key pests of sugarcane. Therefore, nonchemical control measures, such as resistant varieties and biological controls, must be evaluated to mitigate the losses caused by stalkborers. We performed laboratory and field evaluations on the use of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) (strain GHA) against the Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), which causes damage in south Texas estimated at between 10 and 20 million dollars annually. We also performed bioassays against the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Pyralidae), the key pest in other sugarcane growing areas. In the bioassays, E. loftini was substantially more susceptible to B. bassiana than D. saccharalis, based on both 5-d LD50 values and survival times. A commercial oil-based formulation of B. bassiana was evaluated in the field using the following treatments: oil alone (control), B. bassiana + oil, and B. bassiana + Silwet L-77 carrier at an application rate of 5 x 10(13) spores per hectare. Neither numbers of E. loftini per stalk, nor stalk damage (approximately 20% bored internodes) were significantly affected by treatment. The application of B. bassiana + Silwet significantly affected the numbers of internodes showing high damage, but not those with low or medium damage. Analysis of yield data and juice quality showed no significant treatment effects. We conclude that the application of Beauveria + Silwet offers the best chances for reducing damage caused by E. loftini of those treatments tested. However, reductions in insect incidence or damage did not result in measurable increases in yield or sugar quality, probably because of insufficient coverage. Effective control of stalkboring pyralids in sugarcane using B. bassiana will likely require improvements in delivery technology.     

Potential of Beauveria bassiana (Hyphomycetes: Moniliales) for controlling the white pine weevil, Pissodes strobi (Col., Curculionidae)

Abstract:  Studies were conducted under laboratory conditions to document the potential of Beauveria bassiana conidia applications for controlling the white pine weevil, Pissodes strobi (Peck). A screening test including six B. bassiana isolates allowed us to demonstrate that CFL (Centre de Foresterie des Laurentides) and IP-CPB (Île Perrault-charançon du pin blanc) were the most virulent isolates among the ones tested, with percentages of mortality after 3 weeks of 73% and 85.5%, respectively. These two B. basiana isolates were applied either onto soil or branch sections to compare the effectiveness of these potential control strategies. Greater than 75% mortality was observed within 3 weeks for both modes of application using suspensions of B. bassiana at a concentration of 1.0 × 10⁸ (soil application) and 1.0 × 10⁹ conidia/ml (branch application). The results demonstrate for the first time that B. bassiana is an effective entomopathogen against P. strobi .     

Pathogenicity of hyphomycet fungi to aphids Aphis gossypii Glover and Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The aphids Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae are cosmopolitan, poliphagous and damage cultivated plants. The effects of the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (isolate IBCB 66), Metarhizium anisopliae (isolate IBCB 121), Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (isolate IBCB 141) and Lecanicillium (= Verticillium) lecanii (isolate JAB 02) on third instar nymphs of A. gossypii and M. persicae were evaluated in the laboratory at 25 degrees C, 70 +/- 10% RH and 12h photophase. The aphids were transferred to petri dishes with a foliar disk (cotton or pepper) with a layer of 1 cm tick of agar-water. The fungi were applied in a suspension containing 1.0 x 106 to 1.0 x 108 conidia/ml. In the control treatment 1 ml of sterilized water was added to the foliar disks. The mortality of aphids was evaluated daily. B. bassiana and M. anisopliae caused 100% mortality at the seventh day after inoculation, for both species. L. lecanii was the fungus that provided mortality later in the aphids and M. persicae was more susceptible to both fungi than A. gossypii.     

Field Evaluation of Selected Formulations of Beauveria bassiana for the Management of the Banana Weevil ( Cosmopolites sordidus ) on Plantain ( Musa spp., AAB Group)

Field experiments were undertaken to determine the efficacy of two formulations of Beauveria bassiana isolate IMI331094 against the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus . Oil palm kernel cake-based formulation of conidia (OPKC-C) and conidial powder (CP) were applied to the planting holes and suckers. After artificial weevil release, OPKC-C and CP gave the same high level of weevil mortality (75%) compared with only 1% in the untreated control. Under natural levels of weevil infestation, 42% of weevils collected from suckers treated with OPKC-C died compared with 6% and 3% weevil mortality for CP and the untreated control, respectively. None of the suckers treated with OPKC-C died during the study period (60 days) while 17% and 19% of suckers from the CP treatment and the untreated control respectively, were killed. A study on the spread of fungal conidia using artificially infected and non-infected adult weevils showed a possible dissemination of B. bassiana conidia from infected weevils up to 18 m from the release point. On the basis of these results, the isolate IMI330194 of B. bassiana could clearly play a key role in the management of C. sordidus adults on plantain.     

Effects of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok. and Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. on the predatory stinkbug Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Entomopathogenic fungi and the predatory stinkbug Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) can target simultaneously the same or different pests in agroecosystems. Topical contact during fungal dispersion or spraying, walking on plant surfaces and ingestion of contaminated prey are some of possible ways of interactions between fungi and the predatory stinkbug. The impact of three isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok. (866, 1022 and 1189) and Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. (604, 634 and 561) against nymphs and adults of P. nigrispinus was investigated under laboratory conditions. M. anisopliae caused higher mortality compared to B. bassiana either by topical application or by dry residue on cotton leaves. Topic contact with both fungi caused higher mortality to the predator. No mortality confirmation was reported for the adults. Nymphs fed with cotton leafworm larvae Alabama argillacea (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) contaminated by the fungi had their reproduction affected, but this was not observed when adult predators fed on contaminated larvae. These findings suggest that isolates of M. anisopliae can cause mortality of P. nigrispinus nymphs by topical contact, while isolates of B. bassiana were less harmful by all ways of infection as compared to M. anisopliae.     

Interaction effects between Beauveria bassiana and imidacloprid against Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

The onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman is a major pest of many horticultural crops in many parts of the world. The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and imidacloprid are used for the control of the onion thrips. The potential interactions between the fungus and the chemical against the onion thrips adults were evaluated in a laboratory and two greenhouse bioassays. The laboratory bioassay was a leaf dip bioassay for a mixture of B. bassiana and imidacloprid. The first greenhouse bioassay was a topical application of a mixture of the fungus and the chemical while the second bioassay was a drenching application of imidacloprid and a topical application of B. bassiana. In all bioassays, the combined application resulted in higher percentage mortalities than either B. bassiana or imidacloprid alone. In the laboratory bioassay, the highest mortality of 97% was achieved by using B. bassiana at the field rate with imidacloprid at 1/10th the field rate relative to 88%, 94%, 21% for B. bassiana alone, imidacloprid alone and the control, respectively. In the first greenhouse bioassay, the highest mortality of 80% resulted from the combined application of B. bassiana and imidacloprid at field rates compared with 55%, 75%, and 22% for B. bassiana alone, imidacloprid alone and the control, respectively. In the second greenhouse bioassay, the combined application of both control agents at field rates resulted in 85% mortality compared with 52%, 83%, and 18% for B. bassiana alone, imidacloprid alone and the control, respectively. The interaction effect between the two control agents was additive except when B. bassiana at 1/2 field rate was mixed with imidacloprid at 1/10th field rate in the laboratory bioassay, where the interaction was antagonistic. The above results indicate that combining imidacloprid with B. bassiana might reduce the rate of the insecticide application while enhancing the efficacy of the biological control agent.     

Biocontrol of almond bark beetle (Scolytus amygdali Geurin-Meneville, Coleoptera: Scolytidae) using Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes)

AIMS: To formulate the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana in invert emulsion, then apply it against adults of almond bark beetle (Scolytus amygdali) under laboratory and field conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: The effect of formulated B. bassiana in invert emulsion against S. amygdali adults was shown by comparing the mortality percentage of adults exposed to the formulated fungus using a Petri dish treatment method and by field applications to infested peach trees with mortality of adults exposed to the unformulated fungus or the untreated control. Results obtained from both exposure methods have indicated that treatment of S. amygdali adults with the formulated fungus resulted in a significantly higher mean mortality percentage (P < 0.05) when compared with the treatment with the unformulated fungus or the untreated control. This mortality ranged from 81.2 to 100%, 10 days after treatment with the formulated fungus when compared with 6.7 to 49.6% mortality, 10 days after treatment with the control or the unformulated fungus, respectively. Viability of the fungus conidia in invert emulsion was assessed by calculating the germination percentage of the conidia over time. Results indicated a high storage stability shown by a small loss of germination percentage for the formulated conidia of both strains (5.8 to 8.4% over a 12-week period) vs a low storage stability shown by a high loss of germination percentage for the unformulated conidia of the same strains (58.9 to 61.0% over the same period). The presence of B. bassiana in the galleries of beetles following the treatment of infested trees was shown in the present research. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained have demonstrated a significantly higher level of efficacy of formulated B. bassiana in invert emulsion against S. amygdali adults under laboratory and field conditions. The ingredients of invert emulsion used in the formulation of the fungus had a negligible effect on the viability of formulated conidia when compared with the unformulated. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Results obtained in the present research are promising and may be exploited commercially to control S. amygdali adults on various species of stone fruit trees, especially peach trees. This type of biocontrol of this insect may be used as an alternative means to chemical control for management of the insect. No adverse environmental impacts of the fungus or its formulation have been observed during application.     

不同温湿度下球孢白僵菌对小猿叶甲的致病力

本文在室内研究了分离自小猿叶甲的一株球孢白僵菌(SCAU-BB01D)在不同温度和湿度条件下对小猿叶甲成虫和2龄幼虫的致病力。结果显示温度和相对湿度对白僵菌的致病力有显著影响。在17℃和29℃,小猿叶甲成虫和2龄幼虫的死亡率显著低于其他温度; 在23℃下,成虫接菌后第14天的累计死亡率达到最高为95.60%; 在23℃和26℃下,2龄幼虫接菌后第10天达到最高累计死亡率96%。随着相对湿度的提高,球孢白僵菌对小猿叶甲的致病力显著增加,当相对湿度从50%增加至100%时, 成虫第14天的累计死亡率从55.70%增加到88.80%,2龄幼虫第10天的累计死亡率从62.00%增加到96.00%。机率值分析结果表明,在17、20、23、26和29℃温度下,白僵菌对小猿叶甲成虫和2龄幼虫的LT₅₀分别为 13.63、10.27、8.05、8.87、12.41天和 6.06、5.72、4.90、4.86、6.73天。随着相对湿度的升高,球孢白僵菌对小猿叶甲的致死中时(LT₅₀)呈缩短的趋势,当相对湿度为50%、60%、70%、80%、90%、100％时,成虫和2龄幼虫的LT₅₀分别为12.97、10.97、10.13、9.79、9.14、8.29天和7.68、6.92、5.76、5.57、5.48、4.82天。由实验结果可以得知,23～26℃是球孢白僵菌感染小猿叶甲最适宜的温度范围,环境湿度越高越有利于病原菌侵染,当相对湿度大于90%时,最有利于球孢白僵菌对小猿叶甲的感染。     

Potential of fungi as biocontrol agents of polyphagotarsonemus latus (Acari: Tarsonemidae)

Infection of broad mites, Polyphagotarsonemus latus, by conidia of Beauveria bassiana, Hirsutella thompsonii, and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus conidia was investigated in the laboratory under controlled temperature and moisture conditions. Infection of P. latus by the fungus (LC₅₀) was related positively to the 1.16 × 10⁶ B. bassiana conidia per ml, 2.39 × 10³ H. thompsonii conidia per ml, and 1.29 × 10⁵ P. fumosoroseus conidia per ml. Mortality caused by B. bassiana occurred the fastest among densities fluctuating between 65 and 125 mites per leaf. The pathogens B. bassiana and P. fumosoroseus, adjuvants (oil and molasses), and the acaricide ABG6364, a microbial insecticide containing the Beta-exotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis were evaluated for efficacy against P. latus in a greenhouse test. The B. bassiana treated plants had the greatest and most persistent effect on percentage mortality of total broad mites present per leaf (88 %) followed by the acaricide ABG6364. Use of adjuvants (oil and molasses) did not increase infection of P. latus.     

Infection of the Coffee Berry Borer Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) by Brazilian Isolates of the Entomopathogenic Fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes)

The virulence of four fungal isolates (three Beauveria bassiana and one Metarhizium anisopliae ) against adult female coffee berry borers (CBB) was investigated. The most virulent isolate from initial bioassays, B. bassiana LPP1, with a LT 50 of 3.4 days, was further investigated by application to berries prior to infestation and to berries already infested with CBB. At the highest concentration applied to berries (1 ×10 7 conidia mL -1 ), CBB mortality was 83% (berries inoculated prior to infestation) and 62% (berries inoculated after infestation).     

Antigenic relationships among pathogenic Beauveria bassiana with Engyodontium album (=B. alba) and non-pathogenic species of the genus Beauveria

Exoantigenic extracts of 15 isolates belonging to hyalohyphomycosis-causing Beauveria bassiana (1), and Engyodontium album (1), as well as other species of the genus Beauveria (one isolate each of B. brogniartii, B. densa, B. stephanoderis, B. velata, B. vermiconia and six isolates of unknown Beauveria species) were studied. Aqueous-merthiolated extracts derived from 10-day-old Sabouraud's dextrose agar slant cultures (25 °C) were concentrated (25X), and reacted against rabbit anti-B. bassiana serum in the presence of partially purified homologous antigen (20X) prepared from 5-week-old shaken cultures (30 °C), using a microimmunodiffusion procedure. Beauveria bassiana reference antigen and antiserum reacted to produce four bands of identity. With the exception of E. album, which was negative, extracts of the isolates of B. brogniartii, B. densa, B. stephanoderis, B. velata, B. vermiconia and the unknown Beauveria species all produced 2-4 lines of identity against the homologous anti-B. bassiana serum. These results suggested that all the species of the genus Beauveria tested were antigenically related to B. bassiana. Engyodontium album demonstrated antigenic distinctness, however, from B. bassiana and thus supported the validity of this taxon. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.