The saxaul locust,
Dericorys albidula
Serville (Orthoptera: Dericorythidae) is a major pest of saxaul plants in Qom province
of Iran. During 2005-2006, different nymphal instars of bands of
D. albidula were treated by aerial spraying of
Metarhizium anisopliae
var.
acridum (Green Muscle®). The gasoline formulation of
M. anisopliae var.
acridum isolate IMI 330189
was applied in different conidial concentrations (10
6, 10
7, 10
8, 10
9, 10
10 and 10
13 spores mL
-1) that were prepared in sterile
distilled gasoline. Results showed that various concentrations significantly affected the 2
nd, 3
rd, 4
th and 5
th nymphal instars
of
D. albidula compared to control. In addition, there were no differences in the effects of the different concentrations in
2005, but the differences were significant in 2006. Concentration 10
10 killed 100% of tested insects 15 d after treatment.
Comparing the results of the two years showed that the susceptibility of nymphs in the second year (2006) was higher
than in the first year (2005). In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that the fungal insecticide
M. anisopliae var.
acridum, diluted in gasoline, was efficacious with the nymphal instars of locust
D. albidula in 2005 and 2006.
