Gypsy moth mycoses by two species of entomogenous fungi and an assessment of their avian toxicity

Abstract

SummaryMycoses of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) by two species of entomogenous fungi, Metarrhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin and Paecilomyces fumoso-roseus (Wize) Brown and Smith were experimentally established. Infected larvae revealed complete disintegration of viscera within 95 h post-inoculation with M. anisopliae and within 120 h with P. fumoso-roseus. Avian safety studies confirmed the tolerance of large dosages of spore suspensions of both species. Some body weight loss was recorded but all other indicators were not significantly different from the control birds.