POTENTIAL USE OF PATHOGENIC FUNGI IN BAITS TO CONTROL THE FORMOSAN SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE (ISOPT, RHINOTERMITIDAE)

A laboratory choice test was developed to assess the efficacy and acce ptability of sporulating strains of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuill emin and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin to foraging Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. Filter paper d isks were saturated with agar media and inoculated with either B. bass iana strain 787 or 3041, or M. anisopliae strain 346, 472 or 2162. Fil ter papers containing eight-day old cultures were rolled into cylinder s with the sporulating culture on the inside of the cylinder, and plac ed in one of two plastic jars, connected by a glass tube. Termites wer e placed in the other jar (refugia), and allowed to forage throughout both jars. This apparatus simulates the use of a fungal bait for subte rranean termite control in the field. Termites did not avoid contact w ith the fungal baits, and fed upon the agar-treated filter papers. Exp osure to M. anisopliae strains 346 and 2162 resulted in rapid termite mortality while exposure to the B. bassiana strains caused slower, but escalating, mortality. Efficacy of the fungi was not affected by the degree of sterility of the termite tunnelling medium. Living cultures of entomopathogenic fungi hold promise for further development as bait s for subterranean termite control.