Entomopathogenic fungi isolated in the vicinity of Szczecin

Abstract

The spectrum and occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi in litter beech forest. meadow soil and arable soil were evaluated using an "insect bait method". Soil and litter samples taken in autumn and spring from each stand were baited with <i>G. mellonella</i> larvae at 22°C. Six species of entomopathogenic fungi infected these larvae. In the litter <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> was the dominant species. Besides <i>B. bassiana</i>, 23% of <i>G. mellonella</i> larvae were infected by <i>Paecilomyces farinosus</i> in autumn. In the forest soil the dominant entomopathogenic fungus was not found. In this stand the number of infected larvae was the lowest. <i>Metarhizium anisopliae</i> was the dominant species in the meadow soil in both sampling periods. In the soil taken from a rye field<i> P. fumosoroseus</i> and <i>B. bassiana</i> infected <i>G. mellonella</i> larvae almost to the same degree. It was established that <i>B. bassiana</i> and <i>M. anisopliae</i> infected more <i>G. mellonella</i> larvae in spring than in autumn. In the case of <i>P. farinosus</i> and <i>P. fumosoroseus</i> an opposite tendency was observed.