Susceptibility of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) to entomopathogenic fungi: Laboratory assays and field trials

Abstract: Since the introduction of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera to Europe between the late1980s and the early 2000s, the western corn rootworm subsequently has extended its presenceacross many parts of Europe and can currently be found in 20 European countries. Severaldifferent strategies aiming at the control of D. v. virgifera have at least partially limitations,making the biological control probably the most encouraging management method. Bioassaysrevealed two Metarhizium anisopliae strains and one Beauveria bassiana strain with the highestpathogenicity against 3rd instar larvae of D. v. virgifera. Although results obtained from fungaldensity measurements after fungal application in Hungarian croplands revealed quite displeasedpersistences, the potential of certain fungal strains for the control of the western corn rootwormcan be considered indisputable. However, further lab assays as well as field trials are needed toconfirm this high potential.