Efficacy of Native Beauveria Bassiana and B. Pseudobassiana Isolates Against Invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha Halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Abstract

Invasive brown marmorated stinkbug (BMSB), [Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)] are caused significant yield and quality losses in hazelnut orchards. Currently, insecticides are the only management option against BMSB in Turkey. This study evaluated the efficacy of 7 native Beauveria bassiana and B. pseudobassiana isolates against BMSB adults at 1×108 conidia mL-1 concentration under laboratory conditions. The LT50 and LT90 values for all isolates used in the study ranged between 5.37-7.74 and 9.85-18.35 days, respectively. Moreover, the mortality rates caused by all isolates were between 72 and 96%. Bioassays revealed that TR-SM-11, TR-D-1 and TR-SK-1 had the highest efficacy against BMSB. The lowest LT50 value (5.37 days) was recorded for TR-SM-11, whereas the lowest LT90 (9.85 days) value was noted for TR-D-1 isolate. Similarly, the LT90 and LT50 values were 10.82 and 7.74 days for TR-SM-11 and TR-D-1, respectively. The LT90 and LT50 values for TR-SK-1 isolate were 6.16 and 10.25 days, respectively. These isolates (TR-D-1, TR-SK-1, TR-SM-11) caused the highest mortality rates (96, 96 and 92%, respectively) at the end of the 11th day. TR-SM-11, TR-D-1 and TR-SK-1 isolates of B. bassiana seemed to be one of the most promising and potential biological control agents against BMSB. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of these isolates against BMSB under field conditions.