Efficacy of Metarhizium anisopUae as a Biological Control of Vine Weevil Larvae in Growing Media

摘要

We tested the efficacy of the insect-pathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae strain V275, for the control of black vine weevil on a range of plant species and three sorts of peat growing media. Two different application methods (drench or pre-mix) and two different doses (1 x 108 conidia or 1 x 1010 conidia per litre of growing medium) were assessed. Efficacy was compared with imidacloprid, a widely used synthetic insecticide. The higher dose rate was as effective as imidacloprid for a wide range of plant species including ornamentals, strawberry, and hardy nursery stock. It was also effective in all three growing media and was effective whether applied as a drench (70%-95% control) or pre-mixed (60%-90% control) into growing media. The lower rate was not effective.