The pathogenic effects of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) were evaluated against workers of the termite Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) (Isoptera: Termitidae) in the laboratory. Termite mortality ranged from 41–90% in treatments, compared with 19–21% in controls. Both lethality and lethal time varied significantly with conidial concentration and age of culture. Mycelial growth was recorded on the leg joint, abdomen, antenna, thorax and head regions of treated cadavers after 24 h. Also observed in treatments were body surface shrinkage, colour change, and hardened and brittle appendages. The role of B. bassiana in the control of O. obesus workers is discussed.

Several strains of Hyphomycetes fungi were assayed in the laboratory to determine their pathogenicity against second instar Chilo partellus Swinhoe larvae and fifth–sixth instar Busseola fusca Fuller larvae. Pathogenic activity to both stem borers was demonstrated with Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin. B. bassiana isolates caused mortality of 3–100% of mortality in C. partellus larvae, and 30–84% in B.fusca. Strains of M.anisopliae showed a high level of virulence for both insect pests, causing mortality levels of 65–100%. Development of fungal infection appeared to take longer in B. fusca larvae (LT50 of 6.2–13.2 days) than in C. partellus (LT50 of 1.9–5.4 days). B. bassiana isolate ICIPE 4, and M. anisopliae isolates ICIPE 18 and 30, which were effective against both stem borers, outperformed the other pathogens tested. They appear to have potential for use asmicrobial agents in the control of C. partellus and B. fusca.

Six genera of bacteria: Serratia, Providencia, Enterobacter, Aeromonas, Cedecea and Bacillus were isolated from field-collected G. pallidipes. Four genera: Serratia, Providencia, Enterobacter and Aeromonas were isolated from insectary-reared Glossina morsitans morsitans. All bacteria except, Bacillus spp. and Providencia alcalifaciens were pathogenic for teneral G. m. morsitans. Bacteria isolated from insectary-reared tsetse were more pathogenic than those isolated from the field. Fungi of three genera were also isolated from field-collected adult G. pallidipes, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Fusarium. Five genera, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Mucor and Trichoderma were isolated from field-collected G. pallidipes pupae. The fungi, however, were only mildly pathogenic for adult tsetse and were not pathogenic for pupae.