Biocontrol of Haematobia irritans Horn Flies with Entomopathogenic Fungi (Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae)

Abstract

The bio-control of adult Haematobia irritans flies, its eggs and pupae with two fungal agents viz, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae was studied. High concentration of (1×10⁸ conidia /ml) B. bassiana and M. anisopliae showed mortality of 62.5% and 93.7% respectively against eggs of Haematobia irritans. The pupae of H. irritans treated with high concentration B. bassiana and M. anisopliae resulted in 50% and 52% mortality respectively. Adult H. irritans when treated with high concentration of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae showed mortality of 90% and 80% respectively. These two fungal agents led to the reduced emergence of adults form treated eggs and pupae. The growth of mycelia was observed on the body dead adult flies after 4 days.