Interactions between the larval stage of the citrus fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) with fungus mycelium of Pleorotus spp

Although different filamentous fungi (Beauveria spp., Metharhizium spp. etc.) have been identified as natural enemies of some insects, few reports have described the relationship between the fungus and the larval stage of the citrus fruit fly. The present study investigates the susceptibility of the larval stage of the fruit fly respect to the fungal mycelium P. ostreatus. We have found that the fruit fly larva eats the mycelium and then the larva dyes, these results are preliminary but suggest a possibility to strength the biological control in the combat of the fruit fly that affects the citrus production and consumes large amounts of chemical pesticides.