Variability of Susceptibility of Anomala cuprea against Metarhizium anisopliae, Using Synthetic Insecticides or Entomopathogenic Fungi as Stressor

Abstract

Cupreous chafer, Anomala cuprea HOPE is a major scarab beetle pest of turfgrasses, nurseries of forest trees and many field crops. The larvae of A. cuprea feed on the roots of grasses and plants in the soil, and they are very difficult to control. We assumed to control A. cuprea by using joint action between an entomogenous fungus Metarhizinm anisopliae and insecticides.
Susceptibility of larvae of A. cuprea against M. anisopliae treated with stressors such as insecticides or entomogenous fungi were investigated. Fenthion and fenitrothion were effective to enhance susceptibility of 1 st instar of A. cuprea against M. canisopliae. period after treatment of P, fumosoroseus demonstrated no tendency for susceptibility of A. cuprea against M. anisopliae. M. anisopliae had the strongest pathogenisity againstA. cuprea, after 12 hr treatment of fenthion. Stressors established with very low concentration didn't affect on the mortality of A. cuprea treated with M. anisopliae.
These results showed that M.anisopliae treated with low concentration of organophosphates would become an effective control method against larvae of A. cuprea.