LABORATORY BIOASSAYS OF Metarhizium spp AND Beauveria spp AGAINST Tenebrio molitor LARVAE

Entomopathogenic fungi such as genera Metarhizium and Beauveria are known for their potential for controlling pest insects. Pathogenicity of those genera may be different against specific host insect. Hence, virulence assessment of each isolate of entomopathogenic fungi against particular type of insect is essential. Total twelve isolates with each six isolates of genus Beauveria and Metarhizium were tested for their virulence to Tenebrio molitor larvae using contact method. In four days post treatment of high concentration spore suspension, both genera Metarhizium and Beauveria began to cause larval mortality. Fungal treatment with Metarhizium infected all larva in seven and six days after dipped with low and high spore concentration, respectively. Meanwhile with Beauveria, all isolates caused 100% larval mortality post treated using high concentration