Microbial control of Monochamus alternatus Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) by application of nonwoven fabric strips with Beauveria bassiana (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) on infested tree trunks

Beauveria bassiana cultured on nonwoven fabric strips was applied in the field to control Monochamus alternatus larvae under the bark. In the summer, the strips with the fungus were placed using various methods on the bark of pine logs infested with M. alternatus larvae. Approximately 80% on average and a maximum of 100% of the larvae were infected and killed with the fungus using this method. Differences in mortalities between application methods of strips were not clear. This method was also effective for branches infested with M. alternatus larve. As an application method for B. bassiana to control M. alternatus larvae, the utilization of nonwoven fabric strips impregnated with the fungus was found to be more effective than ordinal spraying and more practical than the implantation of wheat-bran pellets containing the fungus which was developed previously by the authors.