Biological control of the small leafhopper, Empoasca flavescens F. (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) using the entomopathogenic fungus, Verticillium lecanii

Abstract

Abstract Background Nowadays, instead of chemicals, using microbial pesticides is very important and significant to protect the environment. Verticillium lecanii (Z), the entomopathogenic fungus, is widely used for management of many pests. The aim of this work is to determine whether the small leafhopper, Empoasca flavescens F. (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), can be exterminated only by biopesticide—V. lecanii or not. Results After spraying with diluted suspension of V. lecanii spores on the small leafhopper, E. flavescens, the effects of infection and reinfection in accordance with the time, spore density and growth stage of the small leafhoppers were studied. When E. flavescens was sprayed with over 1.25 × 108 spores/ml of diluted suspension of fungal spores indoors, the reduction % was over 80% after 5 days and the decrease of imagoes was higher than that of larvae. Outdoors, E. flavescens was reduced by 50% for 3 years after treatment, while the reduction % was about 90% by reinfection year by year. Conclusion Ninety percentages of E. flavescens on peach trees can be effectively exterminated in 2 years by spraying the diluted suspension of V. lecanii spore, and no chemical pesticides are needed for the control of E. flavescens in practice.