The entomopathogenic potential of Aspergillus spp. in mosquitoes vectors of tropical diseases

Eleven strains of the most frequent Aspergillus species found in a survey o f Brazilian mosquitoes collected in the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de J aneiro, Brazil, were used for bioassays in second-stage larvae of Aedes flu viatilis and Culex quinquefasciatus. Aspergillus ochraceus, A. kanagawaensis and one strain of A. sulphureus wer e most effective, causing mortality in at least 80% of the larvae of the tw o mosquito species tested. Variations in entomopathogenic capacity were obs erved in the experiments with strains of A. sulphureus, A. flavus and A. oc hraceus.