Journal of Pest Science (2011) 84, 69-75

Dipendra Singha, Baby Singha and Biman K. Dutta (2011)
Potential of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana in the control of tea termite Microtermes obesi Holmgren in vitro and under field conditions
Journal of Pest Science 84 (1), 69-75
Abstract: Two strains of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin and two strains of Beauveria bassiana (Ballsamo) Vuillemin were evaluated for their potential use as biological control agents against the tea termite Microtermes obesi Holmgren. The strains were screened for relative pathogenicity, and the median lethal time eliciting 50% mortality (LT₅₀) was calculated. In general, the M. anisopliae strains were more virulent with lower LT₅₀ values than B. bassiana strains. The LT₅₀ values ranged from 1.6 to 3.7 days. The median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) of all the isolates were also determined. The M. anisopliae strains had low LC₅₀ values compared to B. bassiana strains. The LC₅₀ values ranged from 35 to 140 conidia per termite. The strains were also tested for survival under laboratory nest conditions. All the isolates exhibited the ability to grow, sporulate and produce an epizootic in treated nest material. Field applications of the isolates also produced promising results.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website

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.
	Microtermes obesi
Beauveria bassiana (entomopathogen)	Microtermes obesi
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)	Microtermes obesi