Comparison of Beauveria bassiana with IGRs against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Trogoderma granarium (Everts) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

Abstract

In this study the virulence of Beauveria bassiana and IGRs (lufenuron, pyriproxyfen and methoxyfenozide) was evaluated against Tribolium castaneum and Trogoderma granarium at the Grain Research, Training and Storage Management Cell, Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad from June 2015 to April 2016. Three concentrations of each IGR (1, 5 and 10 ppm) and entomopathogenic fungi (300, 600 and 900 mg per kg of grains) were applied in several bioassays and three replicates were used for each treatment. Data regarding mortality was collected after different intervals 7, 14 and 21 days of the treatment. Beauveria bassiana at higher concentration 9×107 after 21 days provided 66.80 percent mortality. Among the three IGRs, the pyriproxyfen gave the best result with the 76.66% mortality followed by the methoxyfenozide (73.52%), lufenuron (70.56%). The findings revealed that Beauveria bassiana and IGRs are effective for control of grains pests and can be used in the integrated pest management.