EFFECTS OF NONWOVEN FABRIC SHEET CONTAINI NG ENTOMOGENOUS FUNGUS, BEAUVERIA-BRONGNIARTII (SACC) PETCH GSES, ON ADULT YELLOW-SPOTTED LONGICORN BEETLE, PSACOTHEA-HILARIS (PASCOE) (COLEOPTERA, CERAMBYCIDAE) ON FIG TREES

The infection routes and effect of the entomogenous fungus, Beauveria brongniartii GSES on the yellow spotted longicorn beetle, Psacothea hi laris were investigated using a conidial suspension and nonwoven fabri c sheet containing the fungus, in the laboratory and fig tree fields. The conidial suspension was smeared at a density of 7.1 x 10(7) conidi a/ml on the antennae, ventral abdomen, tarsi and mouth of adult beetle s. Irrespective of the treated part, beetles were infected. but, appli cation on the antennae, tarsi and ventral abdomen was more effective ( 70%-90% mortality) than on the mouth (30% mortality). When adult beetl es were allowed to walk for 5 seconds on the Fabric sheer containing 1 0(8) conidia/cm(2), the quantity of conidia on the adult beetle was 10 (7) conidia/beetle. Quantities of 10(7), 10(5) and 10(4) conidia/beetl e were detected when beetles walked for 60 seconds on sheets containin g 10(8), 10(6) and 10(5) conidia/cm(2), respectively. The mortality of adult beetles walking on sheets was 100% and 85% at densities of 10(7 ) conidia/cm(2) and 10(6) conidia/cm(2), respectively. Walking times o f 5 or 60 seconds did not affect mortality. The adult longevities were longer after walking on sheets with 10(6) conidia/cm(2) than on 10(7) conidia/cm(2). Sheets containing the fungus were bound around the tru nks of fig trees to control P. hilaris adults in early summer. The con idial concentration on the sheets was 10(7) conidia/cm(2) for 20 days after attachment and approximately 80% of the adult beetles were infec ted and killed by the fungus. However, the conidial density decreased to 10(6) conidia/cm(2) after 31 days and the adult beetle mortality fe ll to 60%.