Efficacy of the Entomopathogenic Fungus, Culicinomyces clavisporus against Larvae of the Biting Midge, Culicoides nubeculosus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Culicinomyces clavisporus, a fungal pathogen of a wide range of mosquito species, was investigated in relation to potential pathogenicity against Culicoides nubeculosus biting midge larvae. Seven different C. clavisporus strains were assayed. Each showed some degree of activity against C. nubeculosus larvae with LC50 values of between 3.2×10−5 and 1.1×10−6 spores/mL; these effects occurred in dose-dependent manners and tended to be delayed until 72–96 h post treatment. The results are discussed in relation to incorporation of C. clavisporus into biocontrol programmes for Culicoides spp.