ESTABLISHING THE FUNGUS BEAUVERIA BASSIANA IN PASTURE FOR CLOVER ROOT WEEVIL (SITONA LEPIDUS) CONTROL

The fungus Beauveria bassiana is a virulent pathogen of the clover root weevil, a major introduced pest of clover in New Zealand. Trials to investigate establishment of fungal inoculum in pasture were conducted in the Waikato region of New Zealand. Granular formulations of conidia based on biopolymer technology successfully allowed the established of fungus in pasture. However, it did not support survival of inoculum into the second year. Conidia on rice and conidial emulsions resulted in more successful establishment. These results have implications for development of a biopesticide for clover root weevil based on B. bassiana.