Laboratory susceptibility of Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) and Bactrocera tryoni (Frogatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae) to an isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin

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The susceptibility of adult house flies, Musca domestica, and adult fruit flies, Bactrocera tryoni, to an isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae was tested at 20, 25 and 30°C. The abdomen of each insect was inoculated with a known dose of conidia in an aqueous suspension. The insects were then incubated at high humidity for 9 days. Both species of fly started to die from the disease after 4–5 days incubation at 25°C and 30°C and 100% mortality was reached at these temperatures after 7–9 days. The disease developed more slowly at 20°C and the final mortality for both species was just over 50% at the highest dose. Fewer than 25 conidia were needed to kill either species at 25 and 30°C at 9 days. At 20°C, 5896 conidia were needed to kill adult house flies and over 100 000 for fruit flies at 9 days. It is concluded that M. anisopliae may be suitable for control of both species in situations where chemical pesticides cannot be used.