Entomopathogenic fungi in population of Zonocerus variegatus (l) in Ibadan, Southwest, Nigeria
Keywords:
Fungal ecology, entomopathogenic fungi,, Zonocerus variegatus infection incidence.Abstract
Field survey of population of Zonocerus variegatus revealed a high fungal incidence of 76% when
Sporulation tests were carried out on grasshoppers cadaver. Eight fungi with differing incidence rates
were isolated. These are Fusarium sp. (8%); Beauveria bassiana (18%); Metarhizium sp. (20%);
Aspergillus flavus (10%); Penicillium sp. (13%) Aspergillus niger (14%); Mucor sp. (13%) and
unidentified fungus (4%). Fungal isolates virulence bioassay response showed that B. bassiana had the
highest lethal time (LT50) of 2 days. Metarhizium sp with LT50 of 5 days was selected in lieu of A. niger
which does not prove to be pathogenic to grasshoppers. The results were discussed in relation to the
ecology of fungal pathogens of the variegated grasshopper and their possible role in control of Z.
variegatus in the agroecosystem of south west, Nigeria.
