Efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin in biological control of Musca domestica L. (Diptera : Muscidae)

Abstract

Efficacy of concentrations of Metarhizium anisopliae were evaluated against eggs, larval instar, pupae and adults of house fly Musca domestica under laboratory conditions , the results showed that all insect stages were sensitive to the fungal concentrations 2.3×106,2.3×107,2.3×108 conidiaml . Treating eggs with 2.3 × 108 conidia/ml caused reduction its hatching percentage up to 66.64 and treating first, second and third instar larvae by direct spraying and food spraying led to increase percentage mortalities up to 26.66, 18.14 and 51.66 respectively, various malformations were depicted. Treating house fly pupae with 2.3 × 107 conidia/ml of Metarhizium anisopliae had an average of 83.33% mortality. Adult stage showed high sensitivity against fungal conidia, mortality percentages were directly propotional with the concentration used, after 8 days of exposure mortality percentages were 72.50, 82.50 and 92.50% when adult house fly treated with 2.3 × 106 , 2.3 × 107 and 2.3 × 108 respectively .