Biological characteristics of a new entomopathogenic fungus detected in Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Abstract

January Accepted: April 2023 May Abstract. Cydalima perspectalis (Walker 1859), the boxwood moth, is one of the important invasive pests spreading rapidly throughout Europe within a few years. The objective of the current research was to determine an alternative biological control agent for the control of C. perspectalis. Beauveria bassiana, an entomopathogenic fungus with high insecticidal activity, was isolated from the larvae of the pest that causes substantial economic losses on boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) in the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey, and its virulence was tested on it. Based on the morphological data and molecular characteristics, including the partial sequence of ITS (ITS1- 5.8S-ITS2 gene region) and EF1, the fungus was identified as an isolate of B. bassiana (CP1). In larval stage susceptibility tests, it was determined that larval mortality was higher in older stages. In concentration-response experiments using 1 x 10(4-8) conidia/ml, the LC50 value of the new isolate was calculated to be 1.7 x 10(4) conidia/ml within 10 days against C. perspectalis 6(th) instar larvae under laboratory conditions. This is a significant study to describe a novel B. bassiana CP1 isolate, and preliminary data suggests that the fungal isolate has considerable potential as an effective biopesticide for controlling C. perspectalis.