Modelling Beauveria bassiana horizontal transmission

1 We modelled horizontal transmission of Beauveria bassiana in Colorado potato beetle (CPB) between larval cadavers and soil inhabiting prepupae. 2 The rate of disease transmission, based on the probability of a prepupa contacting sporulating cadavers on the soil surface, is a non‐linear function of cadaver density and also dependent upon temperature. 3 The spatial pattern of cadavers is needed to estimate prepupal contacts with cadavers. Observational field studies determined Johnson distributions to model the spatial pattern of cadavers and prepupae in the field. The model also implicitly incorporates within‐field larval spatial pattern into estimates of field‐level horizontal transmission. 4 Potential for horizontal transmission is higher in simulations using weather data from the warmer year of 1995, than in simulations of the cooler growing season of 1993. 5 Simulations of CPB populations under northern Maine climatic conditions recorded in 1993 and 1995 suggest that horizontal transmission can range from 3 to 24% depending upon the timing of primary infection of larvae in the field. 6 Two simulated sequential applications of B. bassiana targeted at peak first instars resulted in maximum horizontal infection in both years. 7 Sensitivity analysis suggests that horizontal transmission is most sensitive to changes in the proportion of cadavers that sporulate and least sensitive to changes in the time between larval death and the onset of cadaver sporulation. 8 Field validation of the model indicates good prediction of one measure of horizontal infection, the proportion of prepupae which eventually sporulated after being released in controlled field experiments.     

Effect of exposure method to Beauveria bassiana and conidia concentration on mortality, mycosis, and sporulation in cadavers of Chilo partellus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The effects of exposure methods, conidial concentrations, and temperature on mortality, mycosis and sporulation in second instar Chilo partellus cadavers infected by Beauveria bassiana was investigated in laboratory studies. Larvae directly sprayed with conidia, exposed to conidia-treated leaves, and dipped into conidial suspension resulted in high mortality (98-100%). The longest LT50 (3.5 days) and days to mortality (2.6 days) were observed in the treated-leaves exposure method. The shortest LT50 (1 day) and days to mortality (1 day) were recorded for the dipping method. With increasing conidial concentrations, there were decreasing LT50 and days to mortality. Larvae exposed to treated leaves and larvae directly sprayed with conidial suspensions produced high mycoses in cadavers. Exposure of larvae to treated-leaves resulted in high sporulation. At lower concentrations of conidia, both mycosis and sporulation in cadavers were high. The optimum temperature for mycosis was 20 and 15 degrees C for sporulation.     

Effects of temperature and relative humidity on sporulation of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum in mycosed cadavers of Schistocerca gregaria.

The effects of relative humidity (RH) and temperature on the sporulation of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum on mycosed cadavers of desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, were assessed in the laboratory. Quantitative assessments of conidial production over 10 days under constant conditions showed that sporulation was optimized at RH > 96% and at temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees C. Under both these conditions >10(9) conidia/cadaver were produced. At 25 degrees C, conidial yield was maximized under conditions in which cadavers remained in contact with damp substrate. Relatively little sporulation occurred at 15 degrees C (< 3 x 10(7) conidia/cadaver) and 40 degrees C (< 4 x 10(6) conidia/cadaver) and no sporulation occurred at 10 or 45 degrees C. Following incubation, conidial yield was closely related to the water content of locust cadavers. In separate tests, locust cadavers were incubated for 10 days under diurnally fluctuating temperature and RH that comprised favorable (25 degrees C/100% RH) alternating with unfavorable (40 degrees C/80% RH) conditions for sporulation. In this case, fewer conidia were produced compared with cadavers that were incubated under the favorable conditions for an equal period cumulatively but were not periodically exposed to unfavorable conditions. However, this reduced sporulation observed with the fluctuating condition was not observed when cadavers were similarly incubated under favorable/unfavorable conditions of temperature but were not periodically exposed to the low RH condition. This result implies that sporulation is a dynamic process, dependent not only on periodic exposure to favorable RH but also on the interrelation of this with low RH. Associated tests and the monitoring of changes in cadaver weights imply that the mechanism driving the reduced sporulation under fluctuating RH is the net water balance of cadavers, i.e. the cumulative ability of the fungus/cadaver to adsorb water necessary for sporulation at high RH is restricted by water loss associated with intermittent exposure to a low RH. The duration of daily exposure to high humidity appears to be a crucial constraint to the recycling ability of M. anisopliae var. acridum.     

Factors affecting sporulation and germination of Pandora nouryi (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraecae), a pathogen of Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Pandora nouryi discharged large numbers of primary conidia between 8 and 25°C from cadavers on the surface of water-agar. At 8°C conidial discharge lasted for 120 h, but most conidia were produced within 48 h when temperature was >15°C. Saturated humidity alone was not enough to allow for sporulation to occur freely and where RH?<?95%, no conidia were discharged. Light did not affect the pattern of conidial production nor the total number of conidia. Germination percentages of conidia on the surface of water-agar were 40 and 66% at 8 and 30°C, respectively, and were significantly lower than that at 15–25°C where germination was >95%. Conidia on leaves germinated well when RH?>?74%, while no germination occurred when RH?<?100% on cover slips. All eight insecticides tested entirely inhibited conidial germination at recommended doses (R), in particular, both the organophosphorus pesticides Lorsben (chlorpyrifos) and the organochlorine pesticides Thiodan (endosulfan) completely inhibited conidial germination even at 0.2R dose.     

Seasonal patterns of persistence and infectivity of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum in grasshopper cadavers in the Sahel

Field-based experiments were conducted to evaluate the fate and infectivity of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) in grasshopper cadavers in the Sahel. Unlike uninfected cadavers, which were rapidly scavenged, those infected with the fungus persisted in the environment for a number of weeks. The environmental factor most associated with cadaver disappearance was rainfall. The high environmental humidity associated with rainfall was also required for sporulation of the fungus on host cadavers, although the likelihood of sporulation differed between microsites. Characteristics of the infection profile from infective cadavers were investigated by the sequential exposure of uninfected hosts to sporulating cadavers in field cages. This experiment revealed that cadavers remained infective for > 30 days, with the net infectivity changing through time. The most likely explanation for these changes is climatic influences on both the fungus and host. High humidity was not required for infection. A measurement of the transmission coefficient between healthy hosts and sporulating cadavers in the field was obtained at a realistic density of infectious cadavers. This revealed a figure of 0.45 m² day^–1. Overall, these experiments show that following host death, M. anisopliae var. acridum can be persistent in the environment, sporulate on host cadavers and reinfect new hosts at a realistically low field density, although at least in arid or semi-arid areas, rainfall may be critical to the horizontal transmission of this pathogen.     

Behavioural responses of larvae of Colorado potato beetle,Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), to host plant volatile blends attractive to adults

Abstract

• 1 Orientation of second‐ and fourth‐instar Colorado potato beetle (CPB) Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), to volatiles emitted from a solanaceous host, potato, and seven synthetic blends or three individual chemicals emitted by potato plants were investigated in laboratory bioassays.
• 2 Both second‐ and fourth‐instar CPB were attracted to intact and mechanically damaged (MD) potato foliage. When offered a choice between intact and MD foliage, no preference was observed.
• 3 Among seven synthetic blends tested (of which six are attractive to adult CPB), second‐ and fourth‐instar CPB were attracted only to a single three‐component blend comprising (±)‐linalool, methyl salicylate, and (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate. Individual compounds and two‐component blends were inactive. No significant difference was noted between larval responses to the attractive synthetic blend vs. MD potato foliage.
• 4 Second‐and fourth‐instar larvae had similar thresholds for behaviour for the three‐component blend (50 µg source load). Female CPB were attracted to source loads 10× below the larval threshold (5 µg). Male CPB were the most sensitive life form tested with a behavioural threshold at 0.5 µg source load which was 10× and 100× below female and larval thresholds, respectively
• 5 This is the first report of a synthetic chemical attractant for CPB larvae. As both larval and adult CPB are attracted to a single chemical blend, the usefulness of the attractant as a component of an attracticide or ‘push‐pull’ strategies for management of pestiferous populations is enhanced.

     

Effects of Selected Fungicides and the Timing of Fungicide Application on Beauveria bassiana-Induced Mortality of the Colorado Potato Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Four fungicides used for controlling foliar diseases of potato (Solanum tuberosum) were evaluated under field and laboratory conditions for their effects on the infectivity and sporulation of Beauveria bassiana when used as a control for the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (CPB). We investigated the direct effects of fungicides on B. bassiana-induced CPB mortality and the effect of time between fungicide and B. bassiana application. Effects of fungicide on conidial survival in the soil and on foliage were examined in the field. Significantly more larval mortality was observed when larvae were sprayed with B. bassiana than with the water control. Fungicide had no significant effect on larval mortality in the field. In the laboratory, survival of larvae was significantly lower among larvae fed fungicide-treated foliage. B. bassiana-induced mortality in the laboratory was observed only when larvae were fed foliage treated with copper hydroxide or water. Larvae fed mancozeb- or chlorothalonil-treated foliage experienced high mortality regardless of B. bassiana treatment. While there was no significant effect of fungicide on B. bassiana sporulation on cadavers in the field, a pattern emerged that indicated higher proportions of cadavers producing conidia in plots sprayed with water or copper hydroxide than in plots sprayed with chlorothalonil or mancozeb. Survival of B. bassiana conidia in the soil and on foliage was significantly greater in plots treated with copper hydroxide or water than in plots treated with mancozeb or chlorothalonil. Fungicides such as copper hydroxide may be less deleterious to the fungus than mancozeb and chlorothalonil.     

Thermal response and horizontal transmission of cameroonian isolates of the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae – Candidates for microbial controls of the banana root borer Cosmopolites sordidus

Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are two promising microbial agents for biopesticides development against the banana root borer Cosmopolites sordidus. In this study, germination, mycelial growth, and sporulation of six local Cameroonian isolates of those two species were assessed under seven different thermal conditions (13, 15, 20, 25, 29 33, and 37 °C) to select thermo-tolerant isolates. The Transmission potential of the thermo-tolerant isolates was determined at 25 ± 1 °C by dipping adult weevils in conidial suspensions (3.2 × 10⁸) conidia/ml and mixing these with uninoculated weevils in different proportions (0, 10, 30 and 50%), in groups of 30, and assessing the spread of the mycosis within the group over 35 d of co-incubation. Incubation temperature and isolates significantly affected germination, mycelial growth and conidial production. All isolates had large thermal tolerance ranges (13–33 °C) except MIITAC6.4.2 (20–29 °C). Horizontal transmission resulted in mortality of non-inoculated weevils from 4.63 ± 1.77 to 53.3 ± 11.9%. The isolate BIITAC6.2.2 exhibited high auto-dissemination potential and high conidia yield in cadavers. These results demonstrate the potential use of these isolates for biopesticides development against C. sordidus in Central Africa.     

环境因子对努利虫疠霉产孢和孢子萌发的影响

探讨努利虫疠霉Pandoranouryi(Remaudi埁re&Hennebert)H櫣mber在田间蚜虫种群中发生与流行的规律,研究外界环境因子对感菌虫尸产孢和孢子萌发的影响。结果表明,处于水琼脂培养平板上感染努利虫疠霉的桃蚜虫尸在8~25℃的温度范围内均能产生大量的初生分生孢子,在30℃下,仅弹射极少量孢子。8℃下,孢子弹射可以持续120h,当温度高于15℃,大部分的孢子会在48h内完成弹射。相对湿度小于95%,虫尸停止产孢。20℃下,光照条件不会影响虫尸弹射孢子的总量。在8℃和30℃时,24h后处于水琼脂培养平板上的孢子萌发率分别为45.23%和61.74%,显著低于15~25℃温度范围内的孢子萌发率(95%以上)。处于叶片上的真菌孢子,当相对湿度大于74%时出现萌发,但在盖玻片的表面,当湿度低于100%时未发现孢子萌发。     

Effects of attachment substrate,larval diet,and temperature on development and survival of immature Coquillettidia linealis (Skuse) and Coquillettidia xanthogaster (Edwards)

A sustainable colony allowed investigations into attachment substrates, diet and temperature in the development of the immature stages of Cq. linealis and its local congener Cq. xanthogaster. As immatures, these mosquitoes attach to submerged plants for respiration, and various field‐collected and laboratory‐raised plants were compared with non‐living substrates. Hydroponically‐grown wheat plant seedlings provided the most suitable attachment substrate. Development and survival of immatures to eclosion were investigated with three types and three quantities of a standardized diet. Development and survival at rearing temperatures between 10° and 30° C were also investigated. Diet type appeared to have little influence on development. However, at the lowest diet quantity, development to pupation was significantly reduced while the highest diet quantity impacted on the eclosion of pupae. Mean duration of immature development for Cq. linealis increased as temperature decreased. Time from 1^st instar to median eclosion did not differ significantly between 23° C (6.0 weeks) and 25° C (5.3 weeks), although it was 10 weeks at 20° C, and 30° C was lethal. For Cq. xanthogaster, similarly, mean duration of immature development increased as temperature decreased, with development time from 1^st instar to median eclosion significantly longer at 20° C (7.5 weeks) compared to 23° C (5.0 weeks) and 30° C (4.0 weeks).     

Effects of environmental factors on virulence of the entomopathogenic fungus, Nomuraea rileyi, against the corn earworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Lep., Noctuidae)

The effects of environmental factors on infection of the entomopathogenic fungus, Nomuraea rileyi , isolated from the corn earworm, Helicoverpa armigera , in Taiwan, to its host insect were studied in the laboratory. The fungus caused higher larval mortality at 20°C than at 30°C when 5 × 10⁶ conidia/ml were sprayed on the fourth instar. However, mortality of the fifth instar injected with 1 × 10³ conidia/larva was not significantly different when the inoculated larvae were incubated from 15 to 30°C. The fungal development in inoculated larvae was best at 20 and 25°C after shifting from 20°C to either lower or higher temperatures. The germination rate was higher at 20 and 25°C than at 30 or 35°C. Conidial germination was better on the wash-off of insect cuticle than on Sabouraud maltose agar with yeast extract. Sporulation on chill-dried cadavers was maximal at 95 or 100% relative humidity than at lower levels of relative humidity. The time required for sporulation was 2 days less at 100% than at 95% relative humidity. Although photoperiod did not affect fifth instar mortality caused by N. rileyi , the median lethal time (LT₅₀) values were shorter upon incubating under light than in darkness. Incubation of infected cadavers under 12 or 24 h light resulted in 20-fold more conidial production than under full darkness. Therefore, illumination is necessary for development of this isolate on insect cadavers.     

Starvation induced stress and the susceptibility of the Colorado potato beetle,Leptinotarsa decemlineata,to infection by Beauveria bassiana

Starvation of second instar Colorado potato beetle larvae for 24h immediately after treatment with Beauveria bassiana conidia increased susceptibility to the pathogen and subsequent sporulation of cadavers but decreased time to larval death. In feeding studies, B. bassiana-treatment had no effect on subsequent larval development, and mortality occurred 5-6 days after treatment. Twenty-four hours of starvation alone retarded subsequent larval development but did not affect mortality. Mortality of B. bassiana-treated starvation stressed larvae occurred 4-5 days after treatment. Both B. bassiana treatment and 24h starvation significantly reduced total foliage consumption and daily weight gains. On the day of treatment, B. bassiana had no effect on the efficiency with which food was converted to biomass (ECI). ECI was not affected by B. bassiana or starvation alone on the day following treatment but was significantly affected by a combination of both. When larvae were exposed to a range of limited food quantities, ECI decreased with decreasing food availability but only extreme stress (starvation for 24h) increased susceptibility to B. bassiana. Topical application of Dacryodes excelsa resin (an antifeedant) to potato leaves caused a concentration dependent reduction in foliage consumption and weight gain by second instar larvae but did not affect larval mortality. When larvae were exposed to a fixed concentration of B. bassiana and a range of antifeedant concentrations there were significant linear relationships between 24h larval weight gain and mortality and 24h larval weight gain and sporulation. The interaction between starvation stress and the susceptibility to B. bassiana infection is discussed and its possible implications in pest management considered.     

Effects of Fluctuating Moisture and Temperature Regimes on Sporulation of Beauveria bassiana on Cadavers of Rhodnius prolixus

The effects of both moisture and temperature on the sporulation of an isolate of Beauveria bassiana , highly virulent to the Chagas' disease vector, Rhodnius prolixus , were studied in the laboratory under fluctuating regimes. Quantitative assays for conidial production from funguskilled cadavers from 10-day-old tests showed that recycling was highly dependent on the duration of exposure to high relative humidity (RH). On first-instar larval cadavers, sporulation reached more than 10 5 conidia/nymph under most regimes with a favourable phase combining high humidity (97% RH) and temperatures of 20 or 25 C for at least 12 h/day. Sporulation on third- and fifth-instar nymphs required a longer period (16 h/day or more) of favourable conditions (97% RH and 25 C) per day. The intensity of the conidial production from Rhodnius cadavers was enhanced when diurnal temperatures were high (28 and 35 C). From a vector control standpoint, daily high humidity requirements appear to be a crucial constraint. The recycling ability of B. bassiana on fungus-killed R. prolixus is most likely to contribute to the regulation of this triatomine vector if applications are made during the rainy seasons and in the most favourable habitats.     

Assessment of real-time PCR for quantification of Legionella spp. in spa water

Aim: To identify media and environmental conditions suitable for rapid mycelial growth and sporulation of Diplocarpon mali. Methods and Results: Liquid shake cultures were used to evaluate effects of media and environmental conditions on mycelial growth and conidial production of D. mali. Carrot sucrose broth (CSB), potato and carrot dextrose broth (PCDB) and potato and carrot sucrose broth (PCSB) were most favourable for rapid mycelial growth. PCDB, PCSB, PCB (potato and carrot broth) and carrot dextrose broth (CDB) were favourable for conidial production. All carbon sources tested and peptone favoured for mycelial growth. Carbon and nitrogen sources tested did not significantly stimulate conidial production. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth and conidial production was 25°C. No mycelial growth occurred at 5 or 30°C, but D. mali survived at these temperatures. Active mycelial growth occurred at pH 5–7, and pH 5–8 was favourable for sporulation. Conclusions: PCDB and PCSB incubated at 25°C for 14 day are recommended for mycelial growth and conidial production of D. mali. Significance and Impact of the Study: The information generated in this study will facilitate mycological and pathological research on D. mali and Marssonina leaf blotch of apple caused by D. mali.     

Temperature-dependent development and immature survival of an aphidophagous ladybeetle, Propylea dissecta (Mulsant)

Development and survival of the immature stages of an aphidophagous ladybeetle, Propylea dissecta (Mulsant) was investigated at five constant temperatures, viz. 20, 25, 27, 30 and 35°C, using Aphis gossypii Glover as prey. Developmental period of all the life stages were significantly affected with change in constant temperature and developmental rate increased with increase in temperature. Theoretical lower thermal threshold for complete development and thermal constant was 10.39°C and 465.11 Day‐degrees, respectively. Of the various life stages, first instar larvae were most susceptible to mortality at temperatures between 20 and 30°C, whilst pre‐pupae suffered least mortality. Egg‐mortality was maximum at 35°C. Female biased sex ratios were obtained at all five temperatures tested with higher proportion of females at the extremes of temperature, thus suggesting that females are more thermal‐tolerant. Lowest mortality of immature stages with maximum larval survival and adult emergence was recorded at 27°C, while reverse was the case at 35°C. Thus, 27°C may be considered best for the laboratory rearing of P. dissecta.     

Sporulation and toxin production by Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis in cadavers of mosquito larvae (Diptera: Culicidae)

Laboratory experiments with 4th-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti and Anopheles albimanus (Diptera: Culicidae) demonstrated that the entomocidal bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis, can grow vegetatively, sporulate, and produce toxin in cadavers of mosquito larvae. In A. aegypti, spore counts rose from 2 × 10²/cadaver 4 hr after treatment to 1.4 × 10⁵/cadaver approximately 72 hr later, whereas in A. albimanus spore counts per cadaver increased from 2.2 × 10³ between 4 and 24 hr to 3.2 × 10⁵ at 72 hr post-treatment. Bioassays of larval cadavers indicated that toxicity associated with sporulation of B. thuringiensis var. israelensis reached a maximum level approximately 72 hr after treatment. These results demonstrate that under appropriate conditions B. thuringiensis var. israelensis can use the substrates available in larval cadavers for growth and sporulation.     

Development and functional response of Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) feeding on brown citrus aphid, Toxoptera citricida (Homoptera: Aphididae)

1 Development and survivorship of Coelophora inaequalis (F.) were evaluated in the laboratory on the brown citrus aphid, Toxoptera citricida (Kirkaldy) at 20 and 25 °C. Coelophora inaequalis could complete its life cycle feeding on T. citricida at these two temperatures. The developmental period from egg to adult was significantly longer at 20 °C (24.7 d) than at 25 °C (15.9 d). The survivorship of combined immature stages were higher at 25 °C (39.2%) than at 20 °C (34.3%). 2 The effects of prey densities (4–64 aphids per leaf disk) on the functional responses of C. inaequalis fourth‐instar larvae and female adults were investigated using grapefruit leaf disks over a 24‐h period at 25 °C and a photoperiod of LD 14 : 10 h. Logistic regression analyses indicated that fourth‐instar larvae and adults exhibited a type II functional response to aphid density. Fourth‐instar larvae had a higher search rate (0.1305) than C. inaequalis female adults (0.0989). The handling time of fourth‐instar larvae (30.4 min) was significantly longer than that of female adults (5.8 min). Collectively, C. inaequalis appears to be a promising biological control agent of T. citricida in the citrus groves.     

In vitro rearing of Edovum puttleri,an egg parasitoid of the Colorado potato beetle,on artificial diets: Effects of insect cell line‐conditioned medium

Effects of conditioned media prepared from cell lines derived from 11 insect species (six families, three orders) on the in vitro growth and development of the egg parasitoid Edovum puttleri were investigated. The parasitoid exhibited significantly different responses to the various insect cell line‐conditioned media that were incorporated into the artificial diets. When cell lines were derived from embryos, higher percentages of 3rd instars and prepupae were observed than when cell lines were derived from fat body or ovaries. Medium conditioned with cell line IPLB‐CPB2 derived from the embryos of the Colorado potato beetle produced the best result. Preconditioning time was important. In general, 5 days of preconditioning appeared to be optimal. The growth‐ and development‐promoting effect may have resulted from growth factors or growth‐supporting factors produced/ released by the insect cell lines into the culture medium. Upon storage at 0–4°C for 7–14 days, the ability of cell line‐conditioned medium to promote development beyond the second instar was greatly reduced (approximately 10–55%). Our studies demonstrated that to support the in vitro growth and development of E. puttleri, insect hemolymph could be successfully replaced with insect cell line‐conditioned medium. These findings should facilitate the development of a cost‐effective mass‐rearing system for E. puttleri and/or other parasitoids. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 40:173–182, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.     

苜蓿切叶蜂滞育的诱导因素研究

苜蓿切叶蜂Megachile rotundata(F.)预蛹的滞育主要受光周期和温度的影响。雌蜂感受光周期的变化是决定子代预蛹是否进入滞育的一个主要因素;当代的幼期,特别是高龄幼虫(约3龄)到预蛹这一阶段所感受的温度变化,对预蛹滞育有很大的影响,此期如果环境温度低于(21.59±1.03)℃,可有超过50%的个体进入滞育。此外,放蜂地区的纬度及蜂的代次对预蛹的滞育亦有重要的影响。     

In vitro compatibility of Beauveria bassiana strain ATCC 74040 with copper fungicides

Copper fungicides and mycoinsecticides based on entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria spp. are the most common pesticides used in organic crop production systems. The in vitro effects of the copper fungicides copper oxide, copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride, copper sulphate, dicopper chloride trihydroxide and tribasic copper sulphate were investigated for mycelial growth, sporulation and conidial germination of the ATCC 74040 commercial strain of Beauveria bassiana. Mycelial growth was evaluated on potato dextrose agar plates with 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, 12.5%, 6.25% and 0% of the recommended application rates of each fungicide at 15 and 25°C. Sporulation and conidial germination were determined at the recommended field doses of each fungicide at 25°C. All copper fungicides had fungistatic or fungicidal effects on B. bassiana that varied according to the dose. Only in two cases, copper oxide at 15°C and copper hydroxide at 25°C, at the lowest concentration of 6.5%, was mycelial growth not statistically significantly inhibited. Inhibition of mycelial growth depended both on the fungicide and its concentration, and partly on temperature. Both sporulation and conidial germination of B. bassiana were significantly inhibited by all fungicides. All fungicides inhibited the sporulation in a similar way (99.8%–100%). With the exception of copper oxychloride (inhibition, 13.6%), the other fungicides showed high detrimental effects on conidial germination (inhibition, 91.7%–100%). The fungus was strongly affected by some fungicides even at the lowest doses. The biological index used for the B. bassiana with copper fungicides ranged from 0.6 (copper sulphate) to 18.1 (copper oxychloride). Therefore, the tested fungicides were classified into the upper half of the highly toxic (T) category and are considered incompatible with the entomopathogenic fungus B. bassiana strain ATCC 74040 under in vivo experimental conditions. These results need to be further verified in vitro under both greenhouse and open-field conditions.