ENTOMOPATHOGENICITY OF BEAUVERIA BASSIANA AGAINST TWO BACTROCERA SPECIES (TEPHRITIDAE: DIPTERA) UNDER LABORATORY CONDITION

Abstract

Fruit fly Bactrocera spp. (Tephritidae: Diptera) are the anxious pest of different vegetables, fruit crops and fruit orchards. The present study was carried out to evaluate the virulence of B. Bassiana against larvae of fruit fly species (B. zonata and B. dorsalis). Three concentrations [Bb1 (1×103, Bb-2 (1×105), Bb-3 (1×107) spores/ml] of B. bassiana were tested against B. zonata and B. dorsalis. It was recorded that B. bassiana provided significant morality, Bb1 (54.54%), Bb-2 (63.25%) and Bb-3 (82.76%) against larvae of B. zonata. However, For the larvae of B. dorsalis all tested concentrations were provided significant mortality (49.05%, 59.47% and 93.56%). For untreated insects, lowest (2.27%) mortality was recorded. This study is indicative of the potential of using B. bassiana isolate against both species of fruit fly thus providing a novel alternative to chemical application.