Journal of Medical Entomology (2020) 57, 636-640

Marianel L. Falvo, Anahi Musso, Eliana Ordoqui, Claudia C. López Lastra, Christian Luz and Juan J. García (2020)
Adulticidal activity of Metarhizium anisopliae s.l. (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) native strains from Argentina against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)
Journal of Medical Entomology 57 (2), 636-640
Abstract: The adulticidal activity of six fungal strains of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschn.) Sorokin s.l. (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) against Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) was assessed. These strains (CEP 085, CEP 087, CEP 120, CEP 350, CEP 404, and CEP 423) were isolated from soil samples or nondipteran hosts collected from areas in Argentina where Ae. aegypti is distributed. Bioassays were performed with four conidial concentrations plus a control of each fungal strain to determine the lethal concentrations (LC₅₀/LC₉₀), the median survival times (ST₅₀), the mean percentage of the surviving individuals, and the mean percentage of mycotized cadavers. The strains were able to infect and kill adult Ae. aegypti. Significant differences were found among the LC₅₀ values, with CEP 423 as the most virulent strain with the lowest LC₅₀ (2.4 × 10⁶ conidia/ml). At 1 × 10⁷ conidia/ml: no significant differences were found in the Kaplan–Meier survival functions among the strains; the ST₅₀ ranged from 5 (CEP 085) to 8 d (CEP 350); and the mean percentage of the surviving adults was between 13.3 (CEP 085, CEP 350 and CEP 423) and 46.7% (CEP 087). Significant differences were also found among strains in the mean percentage of cadavers with fungal sporulation. Strain CEP 423 produced the highest percentage of mycotized adults (70%). The concentration of the inoculum significantly affected the survival of individuals and the percentage of mycotized cadavers within each strain. Metarhizium anisopliae s.l. CEP 423 was selected as the most promising candidate for further research aiming to develop a mycoinsecticide against Ae. aegypti.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Christian Luz, Juan José Garcia

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.
	Aedes aegypti		Argentina
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)	Aedes aegypti		Argentina