The present research was carried out to verify the Beauveria bassiana fungus efficacy in all development phases of Alphitobius diaperinus and to know in which phase it is more susceptible for biologic control. The B. bassiana, 986-isolated fungus, was tested in two different concentrations (3.4 x 10(6) and 3.4 x 10(8) conidium ml-1) and a control group. Two readings were realized, one after 7 days of fungus application and the other after 14 days. At concentration of 3.4 x 10(6) conidium ml-1, 54% of treated eggs were infertile, with larva death of 54% at I, II and III phase, 22.5% at IV, V, and IV phase and 9.5% at VII and VIII phase. For pupa stage 24.5% of death was found. At concentration of 3.4 x 10(8) conidium ml-1, 66.8% of treated eggs were impracticable occurring treated larva death of 56% at I, II and III phase; 34% at IV, V and VI phase, 24.5% at VII and VIII phase and 49.5% at pupa phase. For control group, 13.3% of eggs were not viable with larva death of 10% at I, II and III phase, 4% at IV, V and VI phase and 0% at pupa, VII and VIII phase. About the adult lesser mealworms, the fungus did not present noxious effect at all analyzed group. In conclusion, these results showed that the fungus at tested concentrations presented noxious effect at all biologic cycle phases of lesser mealworms, except for the adult insect.
biologic control; Alphitobius; Beauveria; aviculture
