Efficacy of some entomopathogens against Ephestia cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in stored date fruits

Abstract Background Ephestia cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae) is one of the most economically important date fruits insect pests, which causes major losses in quantity and quality yield. The present study aimed to evaluate 3 entomopathogens: Beauveria bassiana (Basonym 1836), Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff 1879), Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner 1915) var. kurstaki individually mixed with each other against E. stored fruits. Results Four concentrations from spores' suspension entomopathogen were sprayed on 50 eggs (24:48 h. old) (for fungal pathogens) 30 2nd instar larvae E glass jars. Pathogenicity was evaluated at different time intervals post treatments 3, 5,7and 14 days. Obtained results showed that mortality percentages stages increased by increasing tested exposure time. indicated reduction hatchability after separately treated (3.0 × 10 5 , 3.0 6 7 8 spores/ml) (27.50, 39.17, 48.33 62.50%) for B. (35.83, 44.17, 50.83 69.17%) M. respectively. After14 days treatment, recorded larval mortalities (49, 62, 77, 81%) (60, 66, 78, 89%) spores/ml), In case treating percentage (44, 52, 63, 72%) (2.0 2.0 9 11 respectively, after14 exposure. more susceptible than eggs. effective . combination entomopathogens LC50 ( + ) caused 67.00, 73.33, 63.33 86.29%, their efficacy controlling cautella. Conclusions could be recommended