Management of Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) in Greenhouses with Entomopathogenic Fungi (Hypocreales)

Abstract

Research on entomopathogenic fungi has been conducted to control the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli, to find new strategies and because of its mode of action, that, unlike other entomopathogenic microorganisms, does not require being ingested. Two Beauveria bassiana strains, a wild type (BB42) and a commercial (BB09), and two Metarhizium anisopliae strains (MA25 and MA28) were used at 1×107 spores ml-1, on B. cockerelli nymphs on chili peppers under greenhouse conditions. Three applications (at 1, 3, and 5 days) killed 36% (MA25) to 47% (BB09), achieving more control than imidacloprid.