Effect of the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Bals.)‎ Vuill. on the reproductive potential of poplar leaf beetle Melasoma populi L.

Abstract EN

The effect of the Entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana on reproductive potential of female survivors, egg viability and total egg production of poplar leaf beetle Melasoma populi L.

was investigated.

Prepupae, pupae and newly emerged adults were treated with spore suspension of B.

bassiana (1 × 108 conidia / ml).

Another group of adults were reared on sprayed poplar leaves with similar inoculum of the pathogen .

Egg production and hatching percentage were monitored daily over a 7- week period.

Overall reproductive capacity (mean No.

eggs/female survived from fungus inoculums) were significantly lower as compared with control.

The total number of eggs per surviving female were 222.50, 163.50, 119.49 and 138.24 eggs for pre-pupa, pupa, adult and leaves treated, respectively as compared with 299.75 in control after fourth week .

Pre-oviposition, ovipostion, post-oviposition and the longevity of females and males were shorter in treated individuals compared with control.

The lowest percentage hatching was 76.04% in eggs deposited by treated adults as compared with 98.42% in control.