Efficacy of Clonostachys rosea, as a promising entomopathogenic fungus, against coleopteran stored product insect pests under laboratory conditions

Background Efficacy of new isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus (EPF), Clonostachys rosea , against adult stage of the most serious coleopteran stored product insect pests in Iraq, Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Two isolates of C . rosea , associated with the green peach aphid ( Myzus persicae Sulz.), were isolated and investigated. Efficacy of C . rosea isolates was evaluated by two concentrations (1 × 10 8 and 1 × 10 6 conidia ml −1 ). Results Corrected mortality rates caused by both C . rosea isolates, 6 days post-treatment, with 1 × 10 8 conidia ml −1 , ranged from 70.7 to 75.7%. Fungal infection caused 37–53% reduction in total fecundity of the adult females of the three tested insect species, 6 days post-treatment. Conclusion Obtained results demonstrated that C . rosea isolates had potentials as a biological control agent against coleopteran stored product insect pests. However, further studies under commercial storage conditions are required.