title: Efficacy of entomopathogenic hypocrealean fungi against Periplaneta americana.
abstract: The American cockroach Periplaneta americana, one of the worlds' most important urban insect pests was tested with entomopathogenic fungi. Most promising Metarhizium anisopliae, Metarhizium robertsii and Beauveria bassiana killed nymphs (≥ 81.7% mortality, 25 days after treatment), and these fungi developed on all dead insects. Other fungi tested were less virulent (Metarhizium frigidum and Purpureocillium lilacinum) or avirulent (Isaria cateniobliqua, Isaria farinosa, Simplicillium lanosoniveum, Sporothrix insectorum and Tolypocladium cylindrosporum). Intrageneric and intraspecific variability of fungal activity was detected. Adults were highly susceptible, and oothecae proved to be more resistant than nymphs and adults to infection with M. anisopliae IP 46. Findings of the study underscore the potential of fungi as biocontrol agents against this pest.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rayssa Fátima
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Hubner-Campos
authors.forename: Renan Nunes
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Leles
authors.forename: Juscelino
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052982:Beauveria / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D052981:Metarhizium / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009758:Nymph; D010526:Periplaneta / Q000382:microbiology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological
keywords: Beauveria; Biological control; Cockroach; Metarhizium