Desiccation increases the efficacy of Beauveria bassiana for stored-grain pest insect control

The effect of desiccation stress on the efficacy of Beauveria bassiana for controlling stored-product insects was investigated in laboratory bioassays. The mortality of B. bassiana-treated Plodia interpunctella larvae was greater at a vapor pressure deficit (VPD) of 2.42 or 1.87 kPa than at 1.06 kPa. Moisture also had significant effects on the mortalities of adult rice weevils, Sitophilus oryzae and maize weevils, Sitophilus zeamais. Mortality of S. zeamais was higher at 2.42 and 1.87 kPa than at 1.06 kPa, while mortality of S. oryzae was higher at 1.87 kPa than at either 2.42 or 1.06 kPa. Higher control mortality at the higher two VPDs indicated that S. zeamais was less desiccation tolerant than S. oryzae. The mortalities of B. bassiana-treated adult Cryptolestes ferrugineus, larval Lasioderma serricorne and larval Oryzaephilus surinamensis were not significantly affected by VPD. These results demonstrate that dry stored-grain conditions are favorable for B. bassiana efficacy.