Efficacy of Metarhizium brunneum and Beauveria bassiana isolates against the European tent caterpillar, Malacosoma neustria Linnaeus, 1758 (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

Abstract Background The European tent caterpillar Malacosoma neustria Linnaeus, 1758 (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), a worldwide pest, feeds on wide variety of woody and shrub-like plants in its larval stage causes extensive economic losses. In the fight against this species, environmentally friendly biological control methods should be preferred instead chemical control. aim study was to evaluate efficacy entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Metarhizium brunneum (ORP-13) Beauveria bassiana (GOPT-301-2) isolates fourth instar larvae M. under laboratory conditions. Results eggs were collected from K?z?l?rmak Delta Samsun Province, Turkey, used experiment. Larvae group fed sterilized leaves Eleagnus rhamnoides . Both fungal applied onto at 2 ml for each concentration (1 × 10 6 , 1 7 8 conidia ?1 ). Ten placed group, E. offered larvae. carried out 9 replicates observed 14 days. As result study, it found that survival rates decreased as increased. It determined both caused 100% mortality concentration. lowest LC 50 value exposed ORP-13 isolate. Conclusion has been suggested B. virulent can species.