Pathogenicity of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin to Rice Leaf Folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee)

Abstract

Pathogenicity, entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin has been recorded for the first time on rice leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Effective control of the pest was recorded under field conditions after application of spore suspension of Metarhizium anisopliae in gelatin (1 %) at 1 × 10⁸ spores/ml on the infested rice crop. Between 5 to 7 days after treatment, 60-70 per cent mortality was recorded.