Fungous Diseases of Lamellicorn Larvae in Southern Rhodesia

Abstract

One exceptional instance of a mycosis, with epidemic character, in white grubs has been studied in Southern Rhodesia.The hosts were the larvae ofAnomala exitialisPér. andSchizonycha profugaPér., which are tobacco pests, the entomophagous fungi beingTorrubiellasp. (most prevalent),Beauveria bassiana(Bals.) Vuill. andMetarrhizium anisopliae(Metsch.) Sorokin.Soil with an abnormally high content of nitrogenous organic matter favours the breeding of the two insects but at the same time provides a suitable medium for the survival and development of a high degree of virulence in the cryptogamic pathogens.