Abstract
Apple clearwing moth larvae, Synanthedon myopaeformis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) were found to be susceptible to infection by two entomopathogenic fungi: an indigenous fungus isolated from S. myopaeformis cadavers and identified as Metarhizium brunneum (Petch); and Beauveria bassiana isolate GHA. In laboratory bioassays, larvae exhibited dose related mortality after exposure to both the M. brunneum and Beauveria bassiana with 7 day LC50's of 2.9×105 and 3.4×105 spores/mL, respectively. Larval mortalities caused by the two isolates at 1×106 spores/mL were not significantly different and 73% of the M. brunneum-treated, and 76% of the B. bassiana-treated larvae were dead 7 days post treatment, with LT50's of 5.5 and 5.1 days, respectively.
Acknowledgements
The authors are very grateful for the technical support of P. Randall and M. Gardiner (PARC, Summerland, BC) and P. Shoukouhi (ECORC, Ottawa, ON), and the support of the growers.