Evaluation of some entomopathogenic fungi against the fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea Durry, Lepidoptera: Arctidae)

Abstract

Fall webworm ( Hyphantria cunea Durry, Lepidoptera: Arctidae) is an important pest infecting about 600 hosts. It is harmful especially in hazelnut orchards in the Black Sea Region and is becoming epidemic occasionally. It may cause damage in mulberry, cherry, apple, poplar, and willow beside hazelnut in the region. Due to having a polyphagous feeding behavior and a high reproduction power; fall webworm can spread rapidly and make difficult to manage. In the region, currently, mostly chemical control is applied against this pest. Due to adverse effects of the chemical control to the environment and to living organisms, it is inevitable to develop other alternative control methods for this pest. In this study, the effects of some entomopathogenic fungi isolates obtained from Palomena prasina which is another pest in hazelnut production areas, on H. cunea in laboratory conditions. Overall, 1x10 8 conidia mL -1 of concentration obtained from 2 isolates of Simplicillium lamellicola (TR-01 and TR-02) and 4 isolates of Lecanicillium muscarium (TR-04, TR-05, TR-07 and TR-08) was used against 3 rd period larva of the H. cunea. The experiment was conducted with four replications, 10 larvae individuals in each. Mortality of H. cunea were reported daily, over 12 days. At the end of 12 th day, among the isolates of entomopathogenic fungi, the TR-05 isolate of the L. muscarium ranked the highest mortality by 93.9% rate. Effect of the other isolates of L. muscarium varied between 72.7% and 90.9%. The TR-01 isolate of the S. lamellicola showed effect of 57.6%, and the TR-02 isolate showed effect of 78.8% mortality. Effects of all the isolates used in the study were differed from the control (P<0.05). Based on LT 50 and LT 90 values, the most effective isolate was identified as TR-04 (5.64/day and 9.38/day, respectively). It can be concluded that, the isolates of L. muscarium was found quite effective and it could be a promising agent for controlling this pest in the field in the future.