Entomopathogenic fungi for the control of larvae and adults of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) vector of dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses in Mexico

Abstract

Objective. To assess larvicide and adulticide activity of different native strains of fungi on Aedes aegypti. Materials and methods. Third instar larvae were exposed for 72 h at a concentration of 1x108 conidia/ml of 15 fungi; only fungi that significantly affected the larvae were evaluated against the adult phase at a concentration of 2x1010 conidia/ml. Mortality readings were performed at 24, 48, and 72 h for larvae, and every day to 30 days for adults. Results. Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Aspergillus aculeatus, and Metarhizium anisopliae had the best larvicidal activity at 24 h of exposure (p<0.05), causing mortalities of 100, 72, and 62%, respectively. Adult mosquitoes were more affected by Gliocladium virens (45% mortality), M. anisopliae (30% mortality), and T. longibrachiatum (23.33% mortality). Conclusion. The larval stage of Ae. aegypti was more susceptible than the adult phase to the pathogenic action of native fungi, with T. longibrachiatum being with the highest virulence.