First report of entomopathogenic fungi on the insect vector Hyalesthes obsoletus Signoret (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) in Georgia

Abstract: Hyalesthes obsoletus Signoret,1879 (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) is the vector of phytoplasma diseases in various crops of economic importance. Among them is grapevine bois noir (BN) disease, caused by stolbur phytoplasma (16SrXII-A group). Two phytoplasma strains, are associated with grapevine yellows ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ and ‘Са. P.a convolvuli” in Georgia. H. obsoletus were found on the grapevine (Vitis vinifera), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) in Sighnaghi district of Eastern Georgia, 2014-2016. Its imagines were met in June, July and August. Adults were collected on vineyard 2014 and on sunflower crop in Sighnaghi district, village Bodbe, while I and II decades of 2016. Laboratory researches shown, that some examples had visual symptoms of fungal infection. The pure culture consisted entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Beauveria pseudobassiana .The is first report of Beauveria bassiana and Beauveria pseudobassiana on the phytoplasma diseases vector Hyalesthes obsoletus in Georgia.