Biocontrol Science and Technology (1995) 5, 417-424

J.A. Ampofo (1995)
Use of local raw materials for the production of Bacillus sphaericus insecticide in Ghana
Biocontrol Science and Technology 5 (4), 417-424
Abstract: Locally available raw materials were used as fermentation media for the preparation of an effective bacterial insecticide of Bacillus sphaericus in Ghana. The choice of materials for media production was based on their availability, their cost and how well they supported growth and sporulation of the bacterium. The materials used were anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), spent grain from breweries, bambara beans (Vigna subterranea), sprout maize (Zea mays) and B. sphaericus strain IAB 881. The larvicidal activities of each final whole culture of the insecticides prepared were evaluated against third and fourth instar larvae of the mosquito species Culex quinquefasciatus. The levels of larvicidal activity exhibited by preparations using the raw materials were similar to those where the bacterium was cultured in a synthetic medium, with median lethal concentrations ranging from 0.30 10^-5 to 0.68 10^-6. Cell counts were in the range 11 10⁸ - 36 10⁸ colony-forming units ml^-1, and spore counts were between 29 10⁷ and 61 10⁷ ml^-1.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
rearing/culturing/mass production

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Culex quinquefasciatus		Ghana
Lysinibacillus sphaericus (entomopathogen)	Culex quinquefasciatus		Ghana