Premium
Toxicity of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) to adult females of the blowfly Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
Author(s) -
Wright C,
Brooks A,
Wall R
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.808
Subject(s) - metarhizium anisopliae , calliphoridae , biology , hyphomycetes , entomopathogenic fungus , lucilia , spore , conidium , biological pest control , veterinary medicine , metarhizium , botany , toxicology , horticulture , larva , beauveria bassiana , medicine
The fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) is a natural component of soil flora world‐wide and is a causal agent of the green muscardine diseases of insects. The use of this pathogen as a potential biocontrol agent against adult females of the blowfly, Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) was considered. The blowfly L sericata is an economically important agent of cutaneous myiasis of sheep, particularly in northern Europe. Exposure of flies to suspensions of fungal spores by immersion, topical application or tarsal contact with treated surfaces all resulted in high levels of fatal infection. Spores suspended in silicone oil resulted in higher levels of infection (50–70%) than those formulated in a 0.3 g litre −1 solution of the detergent Tween 80 (10–20%). Spore concentration had a significant effect on levels of infection of flies, with the highest levels of mortality (64%) resulting from a suspension of 1 × 10 7 conidia ml −1 . The duration of tarsal contact had a significant effect on levels of infection. Mean infection levels of 30% were observed following exposure of free‐flying adults to a single spore‐treated, 5 × 15 cm 2 cloth surface suspended from the roof of a cage (30 cm cube). The implications of the results for the potential use of M anisopliae in the biocontrol of blowflies are discussed. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry