Potential of entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes against the two cryptic species Parahypopta caestrum and Cossus cossus in laboratory assays

Abstract: Preliminary assays were performed in laboratory conditions in order to evaluate the infectivity of several entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs) and entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) autochthonous strains against P. caestrum and C. cossus larvae. Results revealed the efficacy of these microbial control agents in killing the larvae, although a wide inter- and intra-specific variability in virulence was detected among different microbial strains. Considering the lack of effective chemical control means, the microbial control of the Asparagus moth and the goat moth by EPNs and EPFs reveals promising perspectives and needs further investigations.