Selection of Beauveria bassiana isolates to control Alphitobius diaperinus

This paper presents results on isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana for Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) control. Of the 30 isolates tested, four (CG 71, CG 152, UNIOESTE 4, and UNIOESTE 40) resulted in mortality rates ⩾40% within 10 days. These mortality rates could be considered high because of the resistance of these species to B. bassiana. Tests were conducted using these isolates to estimate LC50, mortality rate over time, vegetative growth, and conidial production on artificial medium and on insects. Isolates CG 71, CG 152, and UNIOESTE 4 showed the best performance and great potential to be used in an integrated management program in poultry farms to control A. diaperinus. Also, the molecular profiles of 12 isolates were analyzed using the RAPD technique. The high-virulence isolates presented a more homogeneous RAPD pattern than the others. Genetic sequencing of the ITS region was performed for one of the virulent isolates (UNIOESTE 4) and compared with sequences deposited at the NCBI database, confirming its taxonomical position as belonging to B. bassiana Clade A.