Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (2008) 127, 80-87

M.A. Ansari, M. Brownbridge, F.A. Shah and T.M. Butt (2008)
Efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi against soil-dwelling life stages of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, in plant-growing media
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 127 (2), 80-87
Abstract: The potential of several entomopathogenic fungi to control soil-dwelling stages of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), was evaluated in various growing media. Two Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch) Sorokin strains, V275 and ERL700, were the most effective, causing 85-6% mortality of thrips larvae and pupae (as measured by relative adult emergence rates), 11 days after inoculation. Mortality in other M. anisopliae-treated media ranged from 51-84%; Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin strains caused 54-4% mortality, and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Wize) 63-5% mortality. In contrast, mortality from the insecticide treatment (fipronil 1 g l⁻¹ medium) was only 15-4%. Metarhizium anisopliae V275 was selected for more in-depth evaluation under greenhouse conditions. There was no significant difference in M. anisopliae efficacy in growing media whether it was applied as drench (84-3%) or premixed into the medium as dry conidia (85-2%). The use of M. anisopliae with reduced rates of either fipronil or imidacloprid did not significantly improve control. Overall, our study shows that M. anisopliae V275 is robust and offers much promise for the control of soil-dwelling stages of thrips as part of an integrated pest-management programme.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Michael Brownbridge, Tariq M. Butt

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection
application technology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Frankliniella occidentalis
Cordyceps fumosorosea (entomopathogen)	Frankliniella occidentalis
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)	Frankliniella occidentalis