Journal of Orthoptera Research (2003) 12, 89-92

Victor M. Hernández-Velázquez, David M. Hunter, Ludivina Barrientos-Lozano, Roberto Lezama-Gutiérrez and Filiberto Reyes-Villanueva (2003)
Susceptibility of Schistocerca piceifrons (Orthoptera: Acrididae) to Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes): laboratory and field trials
Journal of Orthoptera Research 12 (1), 89-92
Abstract: The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum Metsch. Sor. (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes), was tested under laboratory and field conditions against the Central American locust Schistocerca piceifrons Walker (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Adults of S. piceifrons treated under laboratory conditions with the isolate MaPL40, 1.5 x 10³, conidia/insect, showed 97% mortality 12 d after inoculation with a conidia mineral oil formulation and 59% mortality within the same period, when treated with a conidia-water suspension. Field trials against bands of S. piceifrons were undertaken with the isolates MaPL32 and MaPl40. Formulations of both isolates were applied as ULV at a dose of 50g conidia (2.5 x 10¹²)/litre citrolina oil/ha. Bands were followed for 13 d after treatment in treated and untreated blocks, to assess decline every other day. Bands that remained in the treated area for the full period showed 99% decline when treated with the MaPL32 isolate, while those treated with the MaPL40 isolate declined 85% within the same period. Bands that left the treated area a few days after treatment declined 94% by day 13 when treated with the MaPL32 isolate, and 84% when treated with the isolate MaPL40. Results suggest that M. anisopliae var. acridum may substantially reduce nymphal populations of S.piceifrons under field conditions, though further studies are necessary for the operational use of M. anisoplie var. acridum as part of a locust integrated management program in Mexico.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Victor Manuel Hernandez Velazquez, David M. Hunter, Ludivina Barrientos-Lozano, Roberto Lezama-Gutierrez

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.
	Schistocerca piceifrons		Mexico
Metarhizium acridum (entomopathogen)	Schistocerca piceifrons		Mexico