The repellency and avoidance behaviors of this serious turfgrass pest to a broad-spectrum entomopathogenic fungus were examined in a variety of studies, including tests both in a greenhouse, as well as in the field. Repellency of the southern mole cricket to two different strains of Beauveria bassiana was studied by observing several behavioral reactions to the treated soil, including decreased surface tunneling, varying the depth of tunnel from the surface, and decreasing the number of times the cricket passed through the treated layer. The length of time that the fungal spores remained viable after treatment was examined over a four week period in both field and greenhouse conditions using fluorescent microscopy. The efficacy of the two strains was examined in a topical bioassay where crickets were treated directly on the cuticle with the fungus and observed for a four week period for mortality. Damage ratings were made on a golf course in Brunswick County, North Carolina after treatment with the fungus to look for a decrease or change in activity. Additionally, acoustic studies were performed to attempt to quantify behavioral changes of the southern mole cricket when exposed to Beauveria bassiana.
Species 1: Orthoptera Gryllotalpidae Scapteriscus borellii (Southern mole cricket)
Keywords: Beauveria
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