Laboratory and Field Studies with Boverin: a Mycoinsecticidal Preparation of Beauveria bassiana Produced in the Soviet Union2

Abstract

Three species of pest caterpillars of cole crops, i.e., Pieris rapae (L.), Plutella xylostella (L.), and Trichoplusia ni (Hübner), were susceptible to Boverin, a mycoinsecticidal preparation of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. The LC-50’s were 0.25, 0.025, and 0.27% Boverin, respectively. A high rate of Boverin (5.0%), the equivalent of 7.4×1014 conidia/ha, reduced field populations of T. ni larvae ca. 50% and reduced leaf damage ca. 87%. The half-life of B. bassiana infectivity on collard and soybean foliage was less than 24 h.