PATHOGENICITY OF BEAUVERIA BASSIANA (DEUTEROMYCOTA: HYPHOMYCETES) AGAINST THE CACTUS WEEVIL, METAMASIUS SPINOLAE (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE) UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

Three strains of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana Vuill. were tested for pathogenicity against adults of Metamasius (=Cactophagus) spinolae Gyllenhal. M. spinolae is an important pest of cactus plants (Opuntia ficus indica), which are used as a food crop and to avoid erosion in Mexico....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Florida entomologist 2004-12, Vol.87 (4), p.533-536
Main Authors: Tafoya, Felipe, Zuñiga-Delgadillo, Mario, Alatorre, Raquel, Cibrian-Tovar, Juan, Stanley, David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult insects
Beauveria
Beauveria bassiana
Beetles
biological control agents
cacti and succulents
Cactophagus spinolae
Cactus
cactus weevil
Conidia
Curculionidae
entomopathogenic fungi
gender differences
Male animals
Metamasius
Metamasius spinolae
microbial control
Mitosporic fungi
Mortality
Opuntia borer
Opuntia ficus-indica
Opuntia spp
pathogenicity
Pests
Research Papers
strain differences
Weevils
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Summary:Three strains of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana Vuill. were tested for pathogenicity against adults of Metamasius (=Cactophagus) spinolae Gyllenhal. M. spinolae is an important pest of cactus plants (Opuntia ficus indica), which are used as a food crop and to avoid erosion in Mexico. After inoculation in a spray tower, M. spinolae adults were susceptible to B. bassiana at concentrations of 1 × 108 conidia per milliliter. Female mortality was steadily higher than male mortality for all isolates. One of the three isolates caused significantly higher mortality (82%) in females, whereas male mortality was the same for all isolates. These results indicate for the first time the possible use of B. bassiana as biocontrol agent against this insect pest.
ISSN:0015-4040
1938-5102
DOI:10.1653/0015-4040(2004)087[0533:POBBDH]2.0.CO;2