Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae in the control of Euschistus heros

Abstract

The objective of this work was to investigate whether isolates of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, native from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, exhibit entomopathogenic activity against nymphs and adults of the brown stink bug (Euschistus heros). The evaluated treatments were: distilled water (control), thiamethoxam + lambda-cyhalothrin, Beauveria bassiana PL 63, Metarhizium anisopliae strain E9, and native isolates of B. bassiana (B-2 and Bb-15) and M. anisopliae (1M, 7M, 9M, 11M, 12M, and 13M). Metarhizium anisopliae isolates (7M and 11M) were shown to be effective, standing out as entomopathogenic agents against nymphs and adults of the brown stink bug. The obtained results provide support for field trials and the incorporation of these isolates into integrated pest management strategies.