Infection of Curculio elephas Gyll. and Cydia splendana Hb. larvaewith the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuill.

Abstract: The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuill. (Deuteromycotyna,Hyphomycetes) was tested in laboratory experiments against larvae of Curculioelephas and Cydia splendana. The larvae were treated by a direct immersion method involvingtwo suspensions with different concentrations of conidia. The data regarding the mortality ofinfected larvae and the low average time-to-death values showed that the Sardinian populationsof Curculio elephas and Cydia splendana were highly susceptible to Beauveria bassiana.