Journal of Applied Entomology - Zeitschrift für angewandte Entomologie (1998) 122, 629-634

S. Ekesi, N.K. Maniania, I. Onu and B. Löhr (1998)
Pathogenicity of entomopathogenic fungi (Hyphomycetes) to the legume flower thrips, Megalurothrips sjostedti (Trybom) (Thysan., Thripidae)
Journal of Applied Entomology - Zeitschrift für angewandte Entomologie 122 (9-10), 629-634
Abstract: Twenty-two strains of entomopathogenic fungi were tested in the laboratory to determine their pathogenicity to adult Megalurothrips sjostedti. All the fungal strains were pathogenic to the insect. Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisophae strains cause mortality ranging between 29 and 100% and 54 to 100%, respectively. In contrast, Verticillium lecanii and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus were less virulent, causing mortality ranging between 29 to 68 and 13%, respectively. The LT₅₀ of the most virulent B. bassiana and M. anisopliae strains was 2.7 and 2.4 days, respectively. The LC₅₀ for the most active B. bassiana strain was 7.9 x 10⁶ conidia/ml. The LC₅₀ for the most active strain of M. anisopliae was 1.3 x 10⁶ conidia/ml. Two strains of B. bassiana and four strains of M. anisopliae were found to be highly pathogenic to M. sjostedti, which suggests a potential for their use in the biological control of the pest.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Sunday Ekesi, Bernhard L. Löhr, Nguya K. Maniania

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Megalurothrips sjostedti	Cowpea and relatives (Vigna)
Beauveria bassiana (entomopathogen)	Megalurothrips sjostedti	Cowpea and relatives (Vigna)
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)	Megalurothrips sjostedti	Cowpea and relatives (Vigna)