Evaluation of the Fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill as a Bio-Control Agent against the Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliv.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

• Published in: Egyptian journal of biological pest control Vol. 21; no. 2; p. 125
• Main Authors: Abdel-Samad, Salwa S M, Mahmoud, Basma A, Abbas, M S T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Giza Egyptian Society for Biological Control of Pests 01.10.2011
• ISSN: 1110-1768

Laboratory and semi-field trials were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill against the red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliv.). At concentrations of 1x10..., 1x10..., 1x10..., 1x10... and 1x10... spores / ml, mortalities of RPW adults were 86.7, 73.3, 66.7, 46.7 and 40.0 %, respectively. The LC... was found to be 7.3x10... spores / ml and the LT... was 8.87 days at the concentration of 1x10... spores/ml. Rearing of RPW adults on leaf-axils of date palms at 0,1,2,3 and 4 days post treatment with B. bassiana suspension at a concentration of 1x10... conidia / ml caused 26.7, 6.7, 6.7, 0.0 and 0.0 % mortalities, respectively. From the obtained data as well as the results of other researchers, it could be concluded that the fungus, B. bassiana was not a good candidate as a bio-control agent for RPW, R. ferrugineus. Besides, its little effect on the pest, it was too expensive for field application. (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)