| Abstract: | The insecticidal activity of an entomopathogenic fungus, Isaria farinosa on pine bark-weevil (Pissodes punctatus) at different life stages underwent laboratory testing. Larvae, pupae and adults of Pissodes punctatus were exposed to a range of concentrations of fungal conidia in suspension for 5 s; mean mortality and LC50 values were calculated. The results showed I. farinosa can effectively infect larvae, pupae and adult pine bark-weevils, and the highest mean mortalities at each life stage can exceed 88%. The mean mortalities increased with higher concentrations of I. farinosa. Larvae were most susceptible with LC50 1.2 × 106 conidia ml−1 (15 days), pupae (30 days) exhibited the second largest effects, and adults (15 days) with LC50 1.72 × 106 and 1.99 × 106 conidia ml−1, respectively, at end of the experiments. This suggests that I. farinosa could be a potential bio-control agent against the pine bark-weevil. |
