Two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Prostigmata), is one of the most economically important mite species, mainly controlled by chemical acaricides. Natural enemies have been assessed as reliable alternatives for management of this phytophagous mite. In the current project, demographic characteristics of Neoseiulus californicus McGregor (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to sublethal concentrations (LC10 = 6.76 × 102, LC20 = 8.74 × 103 and LC30 = 55.38 × 103 conidia ml−1) of entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. TV strain were investigated under laboratory conditions at 25 ± 2°C, 70 ± 5% RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. Our results indicated that when adult predators were exposed to LC20 and LC30 of B. bassiana, the oviposition period was significantly reduced compared with other treatments. Neoseiulus californicus fecundity was significantly greater in the control (37 eggs) than in LC30 (24 eggs). Life table analysis revealed that the net reproductive rate (R0) declined as the sublethal concentrations of B. bassiana increased. The most striking result to emerge from the data is that not only intrinsic (r); but also, finite rate of increase (λ) was not significantly affected by different concentrations of B. bassiana. Our findings revealed some potential interactions of B. bassiana and N. californicus during their combinations for managing T. urticae that may be helpful for optimising control of this important pest.

Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the most important pests of agricultural crops with worldwide distribution causing considerable damage to different products. Application of chemical acaricides is one of the most important strategies used for the control of this pest. Entomopathogenic fungi, however, have been proposed as alternative control agents. In this study, sub-lethal effects (LC10 = 6.76 × 102, LC20 = 8.74 × 103, and LC30 = 55.38 × 103 conidia ml−1) of Beauveria bassiana strain TV on the life table parameters of T. urticae were evaluated under laboratory conditions. The results demonstrated that by increasing the concentration, a significant decline was observed in adult longevity of both male and female individuals. Total fecundity of T. urticae was calculated as 45.16, 36.28, 23.98, and 18.21 eggs in control, LC10, LC20, and LC30 treatments, respectively. Sub-lethal concentrations drastically affected the population parameters of this mite pest. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) ranged from 0.1983 to 0.1688 day−1 for the mites treated with distilled water and LC20 treatments, respectively. The net reproductive rate (R0) was affected by the sub-lethal concentrations (lower value at LC30 concentration: 11.19 offspring/individual). Considering the detrimental effects of B. bassiana on some biological parameters of T. urticae, it can be concluded that this product can be used to develop targeted interventions aimed at integrated pest management of this pest.

The cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gen. (Hem., Aleyrodidae), is a key pest of many vegetables. Entomopathogenic fungi are promising microbial control agents against B. tabaci, but limited information is available concerning indigenous Iranian isolates. In this study, three isolates of Akanthomyces lecanii (PAL6, PAL7, and PAL8) and one isolate of A. muscarius (AGM5) were obtained from citrus hemipteran pests, Pulvinaria aurantii Cock. and Aphis gossypii Glover, in Mazandaran province, northern Iran. The isolates were then morphologically and molecularly identified. The efficacies of five different agar media for vegetative growth and conidiation of each isolate were determined. Potato dextrose agar was the medium on which the fungal mycelia developed at a relatively high rate. However, the highest rate of conidiation was found on Sabouraud dextrose agar. To determine the effects of the isolates on B. tabaci, a dose–response bioassay was carried out to estimate lethal concentration (LC50) and lethal time (LT50) values of each fungal isolate to second instar nymphs. The mean LC50 values of A. lecanii isolates ranged from 4.22 × 106 to 7.35 × 1013 conidia ml−1 at 5 to 7 days after the treatment. For A. muscarius, the values varied from 9.2 × 104 to 8.7 × 1010 conidia ml−1 at 5 to 7 days after the treatment. The lowest and the highest mean LC50 values were observed for A. mucarius (AGM5) and A. lecanii (isolate PAL6), respectively. The mean LT50 values of A. lecanii and A. muscarius isolates were 7.1–9.0 and 4.9–7.2 days, respectively. The LT50 values of A. muscarius were significantly lower than the other isolates. Overall, all isolates, especially A. muscarius (AGM5), exhibited appropriate potential as a biological control agent against B. tabaci.

Tibraca limbativentris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a major pest in Neotropical rice agroecosystems. In autumn–winter, this pest takes refuge in rice stubble and in native vegetation, which allows it to re-colonize the crop during the rice growing season. However, it is still unknown whether this vegetation is a pest sink or is actually a natural trap that contributes to pest population biocontrol. Here we present information on the insect's alternative host plants, a preliminary outline of the relationship between plant phylogeny and insect abundance, and the impact that winter natural enemies have in pest population. Also, we include a proposed methodology for pest density analysis in winter hosts. Our results show significant differences in the abundance/density that T. limbativentris reaches in the 12 host plant species present in our study areas, with a plant-use pattern significantly related to the phylogenetic clade of Poales. Stink bug winter populations mainly comprised diapause adults, and 40% of insect digestive tracts had content. Survival of T. limbativentris was 56.92% in winter hosts. About mortality, 10% was due to undetermined causes and 33.08% due to entomopathogenic fungi, showing a natural regulation of the pest population. Our results suggest that native vegetation impacts winter survival of T. limbativentris. Although these plants offer shelter, they offer a greater contribution to Integrated Pest Management: the natural regulation of winter pest populations through entomopathogenic attack. Further studies on T. limbativentris population dynamics and the preservation of native areas near rice fields will be required for the development of best control practices.

Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is an important pest of mango and citrus in Mexico. Here, we report the effect of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin strain MAAP1 on mortality and food consumption in A. ludens adults. Experiments were carried out under laboratory conditions at 26 ± 2 °C, 60 ± 5% RH and 12:12 photoperiod. To assess pathogenicity and sublethal effects, we sprayed flies with 1 × 109 conidia/ml and 1 × 106 conidia/ml solutions, respectively. Food consumption was measured by providing known amounts of food through capillary tubes to caged flies. We found that M. anisopliae was highly virulent to A. ludens, causing 92.3 ± 0.62% mortality at day 13 post-exposure. Interestingly, food consumption reduced by 17% in flies exposed to the fungus. These results support the implementation of M. anisopliae within current strategies used for the integrated pest management of A. ludens.

Garlic mustard is an invasive, exotic herb that is now widespread in North America. Recent research has shown that garlic mustard exudes biochemical compounds that inhibit the growth of entomopathogenic fungi. We investigated how the removal of garlic mustard would affect the abundance of entomopathogenic fungi in forest soils in eastern New York. Using a standard bioassay, we compared the abundance of entomopathogenic fungi in soil with and without garlic mustard both before and 45 d after garlic mustard had been experimentally removed. In soil from which garlic mustard had been experimentally removed 45 d earlier, the abundance of entomopathogenic fungi was restored to levels found in soil with no history of garlic mustard. These results suggest it is possible to increase the abundance of entomopathogenic fungi in the soil in a short time by eradicating garlic mustard plants from an invaded area. Recolonization by entomopathogenic fungi could be beneficial to humans if it increases the mortality of arthropods that are vectors of infectious disease, such as blacklegged ticks, but harmful if it increases the mortality of arthropods that provide valuable ecosystem services, such as bees and ants.

Sustainable pest management requires the use of ecosystem-friendly control options (e.g. entomopathogens) coupled with target-specific application methods. Here we investigate the susceptibility of the sorghum chafer (Pachnoda interrupta, Olivier) to Metarhizium sp., isolated from dead P. interrupta under field conditions over several years. Target-specific trapping was achieved using Japanese beetle traps or locally made autoinoculation devices, with methyl salicylate or banana as an attractant. Of the attracted and infected beetles, 49% mortality was achieved during October 2005 and 71% during July 2006, while the corresponding mortality in control treatments was 13 and 5%, respectively. We further confirmed that the mortality of the beetles was due to the fungal treatment as 50 and 80% of the dead beetles showed mycosis, respectively. The performance of the pathogen was also investigated in an autodissemination device in 2008 and 2009, where the beetles that were attracted passed through an inoculation chamber. Of the attracted and infected beetles in the autodissemination device, 58.5% (October) and 90.9% (July) were dead within 15 days after treatment. Control mortality was only 3 and 2%, respectively. The potential for horizontal transmission was investigated, where 47% (October) and 59% (July) of the beetles exposed to the pathogen through horizontal transmission were killed. The pathogen was found to be viable for more than 3 days in the field. Our results show that Metarhizium sp. has potential as a biological control agent, and for achieving autodissemination using the target pest as the vector.

The aim of this study was to identify and develop entomopathogenic fungi as biopesticides for management of Maruca vitrata (Fabricius). Fourteen isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin and six of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. were screened against first instar larvae of M. vitrata. The two most virulent isolates were selected and further tested for production in four liquid media. Different formulations of one isolate were evaluated against different developmental stages. Metarhizium anisopliae ICIPE 18 and ICIPE 69 caused highest larval mortality of 91 and 81%, with lethal time to 50% mortality (LT50) values of 1.8 and 1.7 days and LC50 of 1.07 × 107 and 3.01 × 106conidia/ml, respectively. ICIPE 69 yielded more biomass and propagules in two liquid media than ICIPE 18. All developmental stages and adult moths were susceptible to fungal infection and horizontal transmission caused a significant reduction in fecundity. Isolate ICIPE 69 was identified as the most potent isolate for managing M. vitrata based on demonstrated efficacy against different developmental stages and amenability to production in liquid media and could be utilized as an alternative to pesticides in cowpea IPM.

The current study reports mortality and effects on cellular immune response of several entomopathogenic fungi including isoleates BB1, BB2 and BB3 of Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Isaria fumosoroseus and Lecanicilium lecanii against larvae of Chilo suppressalis. Prohemocytes, granulocytes, plasmatocytes and oenocytoids were identified as the main circulating hemocytes in the hemolymph of larvae using Giemsa staining solution. Entomopathogenic fungi caused differential mortality on larvae: BB1, BB3, M. anisopliae lead to the highest mortality on larvae and L. lecanii caused the lowest mortality. The highest numbers of total hemocytes were observed 3 h post-injection of B. bassiana isolates and 6 h for the other treatments. The highest numbers of plasmatocytes were observed 3 h post-injection of BB1 and Tween 80, whereas BB2, BB3, M. anisopliae, I.fumosoroseus and L. lecani caused plasmatocyte increase 6 h post-injection. Similar results were obtained in case of granulocytes but only Tween 80 showed the highest number of hemocytes 3 h post-injection. The highest numbers of nodules were found at various time intervals after injection of fungal isolates and latex bead. The highest activities of phenoloxidase were observed 12 h post-injection by BbB1, BbB3, M. anisopliae and latex bead; 3–6 h post-injection by BbB2, 6 h post-injection by I. fumosoroseus and 3–6 h post-injection by L. lecanii. Our data demonstrate the possibility of utilizing different fungal extracts in the field to help reduce the risk of resistance evolution in C. suppressalis and encourage experimentations aimed to increase the number of biological control agent for insect pests such as the striped rice stem borer C. suppressalis.

Ticks have numerous natural enemies, but only a few species have been evaluated as tick biocontrol agents (BCAs). Some laboratory results suggest that several bacteria are pathogenic to ticks, but their mode of action and their potential value as biocontrol agents remain to be determined. The most promising entomopathogenic fungi appear to be Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana, strains of which are already commercially available for the control of some pests. Development of effective formulations is critical for tick management. Entomopathogenic nematodes that are pathogenic to ticks can potentially control ticks, but improved formulations and selection of novel nematode strains are needed. Parasitoid wasps of the genus Ixodiphagus do not typically control ticks under natural conditions, but inundative releases show potential value. Most predators of ticks are generalists, with a limited potential for tick management (one possible exception is oxpeckers in Africa). Biological control is likely to play a substantial role in future IPM programmes for ticks because of the diversity of taxa that show high potential as tick BCAs. Considerable research is required to select appropriate strains, develop them as BCAs, establish their effectiveness, and devise production strategies to bring them to practical use.

Isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, Paecilomyces farinosus (Holm ex SF Gray) Brown and Smith and Verticillium lecanii (Zimmermann) Viegas were evaluated for their pathogenicity to adults, eggs, first and third instars of silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolli (Bellows and Perring) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Conidial dilutions were prepared in 0.05% Tween® and leaves treated by immersion in these suspensions. Assessments of nymphal infection were made 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days post-treatment. Infection rates in adults and eggs were made 14 days post-treatment. All isolates were pathogenic to nymphs and adults. None of the isolates were pathogenic to eggs. Isolates L3444 (P. farinosus) and L3009 (B. bassiana) were the most pathogenic to first instars and adults with LC50 and LC90 values of 7.3 × 104 and 3.1 × 106 conidia/ml, and 1.3 × 106 and 1.0 × 107 conidia/ml, respectively. Isolate FR20 (V. lecanii) was the most pathogenic to third instars with LC50 and LC90 values of 4.8 × 103 and 7.4 × 105 conidia/ml, respectively. Results imply that L3444 and L3009 are the most efficient isolates, based on their pathogenicity to first instars and adults. Results are discussed in relation to using fungi for management of silverleaf whitefly in greenhouses.