ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to verify the effectiveness of control of A. diaperinus, using a combination of Beauveria bassianaand chemical insecticides, and to evaluate possible synergistic, antagonistic, or additive interactions. In treatments against larvae, 0.1mL of the insecticide, 0.1mL of the fungus, and 0.1 mL of the mixture (insecticide + fungus) were spayed separately. One minute after application, the larvae were transferred and individualized in acrylic boxes, and adults transferred to a Petri dish. In the treatment containing the fungus alone, the adults were submersed in 5 mL of a conidial suspension. In the treatment consisting of insecticide + fungus, the insects were sprayed with insecticide and after 24 hours were submersed in a conidial suspension. The second stage of the experiment was carried out with fungus + insecticide, the insects being submersed in a conidial suspension and after 24 hours sprayed with insecticide. There was a predominance of antagonistic effects in the interaction between insecticides and fungi, which occurred in 52.27% of the cases. In general, higher concentrations of the fungus led to additive effects. The experiments showed that regardless of the lethal concentrations of both insecticides used, applied either on adults or on larvae, the additive effects were observed when the LC70 of the fungus was used.
KEY WORDS
Alternative control; insect pest; animal production