WHITE MUSCARDINE FUNGUS (BEAUVERIA-BASSIANA) PATHOGENIC TO DIFFERENT STAGES OF RICE HISPA (DICLADISPA-ARMIGERA)

An experiment was conducted during summer, autumn and spring seasons o f 1990, 1991 and 1992 to study the infection of the white muscardine f ungus [Beauveria basslana (Bals.) Vuill.] on eggs and adults of rice h ispa [Dicladispa armigera (Olivier)] (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae) in r ice (Oryza sativa L.) fields of Sibsagar district. The field and labor atory tests confirmed its pathogenicity on eggs, larvae pupae and adul ts, in the field, infection on egg was 16.95-45.15%. depending on the season: being more than that during other stages. Low (1.67%) to very high (49.63%) level of infection of adults was also observed in summer , autumn and spring seasons.