New trend of the use ofmetarhizium anisopliae (metschnikoff) sokorin andverticillium indicum (petch) gams as entomopathogens to the termiteCryptotermes brevis (Walker) (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae)

Laboratory bioassay of the two fungiMetarbizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin andVerticillium indicum (Petch) Gams was carried out under 26±1 C° and 75±2% R. H. This is the first study on the efficiency of both mycopathogens against the termiteCryptotermes brevis (Walker). Using the highest concentration ofM. anisopliae (43.5 × 105 V.S/ml), percentages of mortality after 4 weeks from treatment of the termiteC. brevis fed on filter paper or wood were 100 and 93.33, respectively. On the same time, the highest concentration of the fungiV. indicum (34.3 × 105 V.S/ml) resulted in the mortality percentages of 83.33 and 70, respectively, fed on filter paper and wood. In general, the data indicated more susceptibility of the termiteC. brevis to the entomopathogenic fungusM. anisopliae than to the fungusV. indicum. M. anisopliae could be considered as a promising potential mycopathogen against the termiteC. brevis. This study, presenting new approach of the alternative dry wood termite control, might be applied in the future.