Bioactivity under laboratory conditions of Brevibacillus laterosporus towards larvae and adults of Chrysomya putoria (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Brevibacillus laterosporus was tested for entomopathogenic activity towards larvae and adults of Chrysomya putoria (Diptera: Calliphoridae) under laboratory conditions. Sublethal effects related to feeding activity or development were observed, including reduction in larval weight gain, probably by inhibition of feeding, and variation in the duration of the developmental stages of the insect. Larval mortality was dose dependent following ingestion. The experiments were performed with newly emerged adults exposed to a sugar based diet containing spore suspensions. Concentrations of 1.13 × 109 CFU/ml caused 70.5% of mortality. The present study highlights the potential of B. laterosporus to control populations of C. putoria, a dipteran of medical-veterinary and sanitary importance, both in larval and adult stages.