NoVil: Hunt for weevil control: Update!

Abstract: The virulence of Metarhizium robertsii isolate CPD6 has been reported against pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii and cranberry weevil, Anthonomus musculus, and the isolate is being developed as mycoinsecticide under the trade name of NoVil. In addition to these two insects, NoVil has been found to be pathogenic against other arthropods that are pests of greenhouse pepper (Capsicum spp.). In bioassays, NoVil caused mortality of 97.0 ± 3.0% of adult tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineoralis, 4 days post-inoculation at the concentration of 108 conidia/ml. Spray applications of NoVil in the greenhouse resulted in reduction over the control of 87.6% of green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, on pepper plants and 80.8% of two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, on cucumber plants. Preliminary results seem also to indicate that NoVil is compatible with other biocontrol agents and could play an important role as a component of integrated pest management (IPM) of pepper crop.