Biocontrol of Reticulitermes santonensis by entomopathogenic fungi

IRG/WP 99-10324

I Le Bayon, D Ansard, C Brunet, I Paulmier, A-M Pruvost

Biocontrol of subterranean termites by entomopathogenic fungi has already been studied but little work has been done on Reticulitermes santonensis. This paper deals with the screening of 8 fungi strains for their pathogenicity towards R. santonensis. Spores from Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Absidia coerulea were used to contaminate 25 termite workers in petri dishes. Bioassays were carried out comparing two contamination methods. The termite mortality was recorded for 15 days and the LT50 was determined. Within 5 to 12 days, 100% mortality was reached among the 25 termite workers, when exposed to spores from 2 strains of M. anisopliae and B. bassiana. The results support the potential value of these two fungus strains in termite control.


Keywords: BIOCONTROL; RETICULITERMES SANTONENSIS; METARHIZIUM ANISOPLIAE; BEAUVERIA BASSIANA

Conference: 99-06-06/11 Rosenheim, Germany


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