Evaluation of the Entomopathogenic Potential of Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Isaria fumosorosea for Management of Cosmopolites sordidus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The banana weevil (BW), Cosmopolites sordidus, is the main coleopteran pest of banana, causing up to 100% yield loss. In this study, we screened 20 isolates entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) for management BW. lab, eight Beauveria bassiana caused >50% mortality adult BW, whereas Metarhizium anisopliae and Isaria fumosorosea were less pathogenic. B. ICIPE 648, 660 273 most pathogenic, killing ≥80% isolate 622 yielded highest spores per BW cadaver (1.84 × 108 spores), followed by 660, 648—1.17 108, 3.8 107 3.6 spores, respectively. had shortest LT50 (5.3 days) 648 (9.8 (11.1 days). Similarly, LC50 values three 5.18 107, 5.49 5.2 mL−1, field, (31.3%) lowest (20.8%) pathogenicity, This study indicates that 273, are potential candidates environmentally sustainable