Impact of Metarhizium brunneum (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) on pre-imaginal Rhagoletis indifferens (Diptera: Tephritidae) within and on the surface of orchard soil

Abstract When last instar laboratory-reared Rhagoletis indifferens were allowed to pupate within non-sterile orchard soil containing incorporated Metarhizium brunneum isolate F52 conidia, a dose-related proportion died from developmental abnormalities and mycosis. When larvae entered soil superficially treated with M. brunneum, over 80% of the pupae died of developmental abnormalities.