Susceptibility of the vinegar fly (Drosophila repleta) to two strains of Beauveria bassiana isolated from house flies (Musca domestica)

House flies and vinegar flies are important economic and nuisance pests of livestock. The pathogenicity and potential for biological control of Beauveria bassiana is well established against adult Musca domestica, but the potential of this fungus to cause mycosis in vinegar flies is unexplored. In this study we infected adult D. repleta with two strains (P89, and L90) of B. bassiana isolated from naturally infected adult house flies. Adult house flies were simultaneously infected by the two strains to establish comparative infection rates. Flies were exposed to dust formulations of B. bassiana applied at a rate of 1 x 10⁸ conidia per cm² on plywood surfaces. Here we report the infection and mortality rates of D. repleta when compared to M. domestica.