Using entomopathogenic fungi as bio agents control on the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract

The red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is the most pests of various palm species. Effects of the entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae Var. acridum (Metchinkoff) Soroken and Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill on Rhynchophorus ferrugineus was studied in Laboratory. Two entomopathogenic fungi were tested at three concentrations 2.2 x 10 3, 2.2 x10 4 and 2.2 x 10 5 spore /ml. (C1, C2 & C3).Mortalities were observed daily. The susceptibility of RPW to two entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana, strains of the former were found to be more virulent than those of the latter, achieving 100% larval mortality after 9 days by using the high concentration, 2.2 x 10 5 spores /ml. of Metarhizium anisopliae but after 10 days by using of the high concentration, 2.2 x 10 5 spores /ml. of Beauveria bassiana. The most virulent strains of M. anisopliae were then tested on RPW larvae then adults and Pupae.