Laboratory evaluation of entomopathogenic fungi against the white grubs, Holotrichia oblita and Anomala corpulenta (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from the field of peanut, Arachis hypogaea

Abstract

We evaluated the pathogenicity of nine isolates of entomopathogenic fungi, including six isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae, one of Beauveria bassiana, and two of Beauveria brongniartii, against eggs and various larval instars of two scarab-beetle species, Holotrichia oblita and Anomala corpulenta, under laboratory conditions. The fungal isolates differed in pathogenicity. Generally, the isolates were more pathogenic to A. corpulenta than to H. oblita. Some of the isolates prevented egg hatching and caused larval death. Isolates M2-2 and Br5-8 caused 39 and 27% egg mortality, respectively, and produced 23 and 24% viewable fungal-infection rates in H. oblita. Three isolates had no significant effect on egg hatchability. Three isolates (Br5-8, Br232818, and M200614) caused about 40% mortality in H. oblita first instars. In A. corpulenta, all isolates except M200614 caused more than 60% egg mortality, and M2-2, Br232818 and Br5-8 caused egg-infection rates greater than 50%. M2-2 caused 47% infection and 100% mortality in first-instar larvae of A. corpulenta, while Br5-8 and Br232818 yielded over 80% mortality of the larvae. The three most virulent isolates, M2-2, Br232818 and Br5-8, were selected for further bioassays against second- and third-instar larvae. In addition, seven graduated concentrations of a Br5-8 conidial suspension were assayed against H. oblita second instars. Larval mortality was positively correlated with fungal dosage, and the LC50 was 4.49×106 conidia/mL. These three virulent isolates may be used to prevent H. oblita and A. corpulenta larval infestations in field crops.