Efficacy of Beauveria brongniartii as Melocont in the control of theEuropean cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha)

Abstract: The European cockchafer is a dangerous soil pest of strawberry, sour cherry and appletrees as well as other fruit orchards in some regions of Poland. The first experiments concerningthe control of white grubs of Melolontha melolontha using the fungus Beauveria brongniartii(product Melocont) were conducted in 2009-2010 at the Research Institute of Pomology andFloriculture in Skierniewice. The fungus B. brongniartii applied at the end of May 2009 to baresoil (without growing plants), in young plum orchards and in a nursery on a field with Spiraeajaponica considerably reduced the number of pest insects. The best results were obtained withMelocont on a field with white mustard (2009) when B. brongniartii was applied at the rate of50kg/ha at the end of May and in the following year (spring 2010) at the lower rate of 30kg/ha.