Small-scale field trials with entomopathogenic fungi against Locusta migratoria capito in Madagascar and Oedaleus senegalensis in Cape Verde

Summary In a field trial in Madagascar in 1994, two isolates of Metarhizium flavoviride Gams and Rozsypol, SP3 and SP9, and an isolate of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, SP16, were tested as formulated mycopesticides against the Malagasy migratory locust, Locusta migratoria capito Sauss. In a separate field trial in Cape Verde in 1994, SP9 was tested as a mycopesticide against Oedaleus senegalensis Krauss. In both field trials, SP9 caused 100% mortality in the treated L. migratoria capito and O. senegalensis populations. L. migratoria capito from plots treated with SP9 died sooner than locusts from plots treated with SP3 or SP16. Total locust mortality did not differ significantly between SP3 and SP9. However, both isolates caused higher locust mortality than SP16. All three isolates caused significantly greater mortality than that in the untreated control plots.