Journal of Economic Entomology (2000) 93, 1080-1084

Roberto Lezama-Gutiérrez, Augusta Trujillo-de la Luz, Jaime Molina-Ochoa, Oscar Rebolledo-Dominguez, Alfonso R. Pescador, Marilú López-Edwards and Martin Aluja (2000)
Virulence of Metarhizium anisopliae (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) on Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae): Laboratory and field trials
Journal of Economic Entomology 93 (4), 1080-1084
Abstract: Twenty isolates of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorkin (Ma) were evaluated to determine their virulence against last instar and adult emergence of Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew). Larvae were exposed by immersion in a conidial suspension at a concentration of 10⁸ UFC/ml under laboratory conditions. Larvae and pupae cumulative mortality rates ranged from 37.9 to 98.75%. Thirteen isolates caused mortality rates >83.7%, and their LT₅₀ values ranged from 1.8 to 6.2 d. The Ma2, Ma8, and Ma16 isolates were evaluated at seven different concentrations ranging from 10¹ to 10⁷ UFC/ml, showing LC₅₀ values from 3.7 to 4.8 x 10⁵ UFC/ml. In a field-cage experiment, 200 ml of a conidial suspension of Ma2, at a concentration of 2.5 x 10⁶ UFC/ml, was applied on 2,500 cm² soil surface (2 x 10⁵ UFC/cm²). The fungus reduced adult emergence, 22% fewer adults emerging in a sandy loam soil, and 43% fewer in loam soil, compared with the controls. M. anisopliae may offer a preferable alternative to chemicals as a biological control agent against A. ludens.
(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): Roberto Lezama-Gutierrez, Martín Aluja, Jaime Molina-Ochoa

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.
	Anastrepha ludens
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)	Anastrepha ludens