| Abstract: | The biological control potential of Hirsutella thompsonii Fisher (Deuteromycetes: Monilianes) was compared with that of Neoseiulus teke Pritchard and Baker (Acari: Phytoseiidae) for cassava mite, Mononychellus tanajoa (Acari:Tetranychidae), suppression. Mite infestation levels (egg and mite motile counts and damage rating) were lower on H. thompsonii- and N. teke- treated plants than on plants sprayed with water. N. teke reduced the pest attack to a comparable level to that of H. thompsonii . In the field, applications of aqueous suspensions of H. thompsonii at concentrations of 1.2 1011 conidia/ha (CPH) and 6.0 1010 CPH significantly lowered mite infestation on a number of recording dates. As rainfall levels increased, mite infestation and the number of cadavers on the leaves declined. The study showed that H. thompsonii has promise for controlling M. tanajoa when the fungus is applied in harmony with other natural mortality factors. |
