Laboratory trials of biological control agents against subterranean termites

IRG/WP 1475

K Suzuki

To screen for potential termite control by microorganisms, 17 mold fungi included 3 pathogenic fungi and 7 basidiomycetes, were used to challenge the test termite species, Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes speratus. Test fungi were allowed grow and completely in Petri dishes. To screen for potential termite control by microorganisms, 17 mold fungi included 3 pathogenic fungi and 7 basidiomycetes, were used to challenge the test termite species, Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes speratus. Test fungi were allowed grow and completely in Petri dishes (Æ = 9 cm, h = 15 mm) and to avoid contaminant fungi from growing on the medium, the sterilized agar without nutrients were used for controls instead of the agar medium. Termites were introduced to each dish on sterilized filter paper supported by the agar medium. Paecilomycetes fumosoroseus, Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Aspergillus niger, exhibited the best control of the termites. In comparison with the control, blue stain fungi like Cladosporium cladosporioides, showed no effect on the termites. Fungal pathogenicity to termites was examined in exposure tests using fungal attacked wood specimens of Pinus densiflora and Betula platypylla var. japonica (2 x 2 x 1 cm³) in Petri dishs. Paecilomycetes fumosoroseus, Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana infected wood blocks were attacked by termites within 7 days in this test. All fungi were isolated from dead termite bodies at the termination of the test.


Keywords: BIOLOGICAL CONTROL; COPTOTERMES FORMOSANUS; PATHOGENIC FUNGI; RETICULITERMES SPERATUS; SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES; TERMITE TESTS

Conference: 91-05-20/24 Kyoto, Japan


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