Beauveria bassiana is registered in the U.S. for control of grasshoppers, but efficacious use rates and product costs have been serious deterrents of adoption. Canola and certain other vegetable oils contain the fatty acids that stimulate necrophily and necrophagy in grasshoppers. Using these oils as “kairomonal” carriers or liquid baits can enhance chemical insecticide efficacy in a Reduced Agent Area Treatment System (RAATS) thus decreasing the amount of active ingredient per hectare by 50-80%. Our laboratory and greenhouse trials have shown that canola and corn oil have the potential to also enhance Beauveria efficacy for Melanoplus sanguinipes and M. bivittatus in a strip treatment approach through the attractant and/or phagostimulatory properties of the oils. Thus, use rates and cost per hectare for the mycoinsecticide may be reduced to more economically competitive levels. We also report the results of a field trial conducted in summer of 2002 combining these oil carriers and RAATS against Aulocara elliotti and Cordillacris occipitalis populations in Wyoming.
Species 1: Orthoptera Acrididae Melanoplus sanguinipes (migratory grasshopper)
Species 2: Orthoptera Acrididae Melanoplus bivittatus (twostriped grasshopper)
Species 3: Deuteromycotina Hyphomycetes Beauveria bassiana
Keywords: microbial control, kairomone
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