Isaria fumosorosea (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes): Potential use for managing insect pests of citrus

The potential use of Isaria fumosorosea (Ifr) blastospore formulations for managing various insect pests of citrus is being investigated under laboratory, greenhouse and field conditions in Florida. Thus far, laboratory and greenhouse results have demonstrated that the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, and citrus root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus, are susceptible to Ifr infection by topical application to insects and residual spray on leaves. After feeding adult D. abbreviatus detached citrus leaves previously sprayed with blastospores under optimum laboratory conditions, 100% mortality occurred 14 -21 days post-treatment. Under laboratory conditions adult D. citri were able to transfer Ifr blastospores to all untreated leaves inside a Petri dish, thus autodisseminating the inoculum. Yellow tags sprayed with the fungus were equally effective as the other leaf treatments in the rate of infection of D. citri. The potential of using inoculated yellow plastic tags as an autodissemination technique for managing D. citri populations is being evaluated under field conditions. Field trials are underway to evaluate the potential use of Ifr for managing D. citri.