Safety of fungal biocontrol agent, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin to spider mite natural enemy, Stethorus punctillum Weise under field conditions

Field trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana (strain Hb-Hyderabad) against the natural enemy Stethorus punctillum of two spotted spider mite Tetranychusurticae on okra. there was no effect of B. bassiana spray on S.punctillum population as its number in B.bassiana treatments (1.43 beetles/leaf) and control (1.17 beetles/leaf) was statistically comparable. Thus B.bassiana is safe for the predator, S. punctillum.