Mycoinsecticides against an insect of the grasshopper family

Abstract

An entomopathogenic fungus virulent against insects of the grasshopper family is described. The entomopathogenic fungus is a strain Beauveria bassiana. Also, formulations that include the entomopathogenic fungus are described. These formulations can be delivered to grasshopper-infested areas by land or by air. In addition, methods of killing an insect of the grasshopper family using the aforementioned formulation and baits and traps for killing an insect of the grasshopper family containing the formulation are described.

1 . An entomopathogenic fungus comprising a strain of a fungus of the class Deuteromycete which is virulent against an insect of the grasshopper family without significantly harming non-target insects.  
     
     
         2 . The entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 1  wherein the fungus of the class Deuteromycete comprises a strain of  Beauveria bassina.    
     
     
         3 . An entomopathogenic fungus comprising a strain of  Beauveria bassiana  wherein the strain of  Beauveria bassina  has an LD 50  of less than about 20,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         4 . An entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 3  wherein the LD 50  is less than about 10,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         5 . An entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 4  wherein the LD 50  is less than about 1,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         6 . An entomopathogenic fungus comprising the BbGHA1991 isolate of  Beauveria bassina.    
     
     
         7 . An entomopathogenic fungus comprising a strain of a fungus of the class Deuteromycete which produces at least about 1×10 12  conidia per kilogram of substrate.  
     
     
         8 . The entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 7  wherein the fungus produces at least about 6×10 12  conidia per kilogram of substrate.  
     
     
         9 . The entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 7  wherein the fungus of the class Deuteromycete comprises a strain of  Beauveria bassina.    
     
     
         10 . The entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 7  wherein the substrate is barley.  
     
     
         11 . An entomopathogenic fungus comprising a strain of a fungus of the class Deuteromycete which remains at least about 80% viable at 40° C. for at least about ten days.  
     
     
         12 . The entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 11  wherein the fungus of the class Deuteromycete comprises a strain of  Beauveria bassina.    
     
     
         13 . An entomopathogenic formulation comprising conidia of a strain of a  Beauveria bassina  which is virulent against an insect of the grasshopper family and a carrier.  
     
     
         14 . An entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 13  wherein the fungus has an LD 50  of less than about 20,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         15 . An entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 14  wherein the LD 50  is less than about 10,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         16 . An entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 15  wherein the LD 50  is less than about 1,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         17 . An entomopathogenic formulation comprising a strain of a fungus of the class Deuteromycete which is virulent against an insect of the grasshopper family and a solid substrate.  
     
     
         18 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 17  wherein the strain of a fungus of the class Deuteromycete is virulent against an insect of the grasshopper family without significantly harming non-target insects.  
     
     
         19 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 17  wherein the strain of a fungus of the class Deuteromycete is a strain of  Beauveria bassiana.    
     
     
         20 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 17  wherein the fungus has an LD 50  of less than about 20,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         21 . An entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 20  wherein the LD 50  is less than about 10,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         22 . An entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 21  wherein the LD 50  is less than about 1,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         23 . An entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 17  wherein the substrate is barley.  
     
     
         24 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 17  wherein the barley is processed barley.  
     
     
         25 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 24  wherein the processed barley is selected from the group consisting of barley flakes and pearled barley.  
     
     
         26 . An entomopathogenic formulation comprising conidia of a strain of a fungus of the class Deuteromycete which is virulent against an insect of the grasshopper family and a petroleum-based oil.  
     
     
         27 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 26  wherein the strain of a fungus of the class Deuteromycete is virulent against an insect of the grasshopper family without significantly harming non-target insects.  
     
     
         28 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 26  wherein the strain of a fungus of the class Deuteromycete comprises a strain of  Beauveria bassiana.    
     
     
         29 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 26  wherein the fungus has an LD 50  of about less than 20,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         30 . An entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 29  wherein the LD 50  is less than about 10,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         31 . An entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 30  wherein the LD 50  is less than about 1,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         32 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 26  wherein the petroleum-based oil is a light paraffinic oil.  
     
     
         33 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 32  wherein the light, paraffinic oil is selected from the group consisting of Sunspray® 6N, Sunspray® 6E, or Sunspray® 7E.  
     
     
         34 . An entomopathogenic formulation comprising conidia of a strain of a fungus of the class Deuteromycete which is virulent against an insect of the grasshopper family and an emulsion.  
     
     
         35 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 34  wherein the strain of a fungus of the class Deuteromycete is virulent against an insect of the grasshopper family without significantly harming non-target insects.  
     
     
         36 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 34  wherein the strain of a fungus of the class Deuteromycete is a strain of  Beauveria bassiana.    
     
     
         37 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 34  wherein the fungus has an LD 50  of less than about 20,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         38 . An entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 37  wherein the LD 50  is less than about 10,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         39 . An entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 38  wherein the LD 50  is less than about 1,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         40 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 34  wherein the emulsion comprises an oil and water.  
     
     
         41 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 40  wherein the oil is petroleum-based oil.  
     
     
         42 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 40  wherein the petroleum-based oil is a light paraffinic oil.  
     
     
         43 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 42  wherein the oil is selected from the group consisting of Sunspray® 6E, or Sunspray® 7E.  
     
     
         44 . An entomopathogenic formulation comprising conidia of a strain of a fungus of the class Deuteromycete which is virulent against an insect of the grasshopper family and a suspension.  
     
     
         45 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 44  wherein the strain of a fungus of the class Deuteromycete is virulent against an insect of the grasshopper family without significantly harming non-target insects.  
     
     
         46 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 44  wherein the strain of a fungus of the class Deuteromycete comprises a strain of  Beauveria bassiana.    
     
     
         47 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 44  wherein the fungus has an LD 50  of less than about 20,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         48 . An entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 47  wherein the LD 50  is less than about 10,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         49 . An entomopathogenic fungus of  claim 48  wherein the LD 50  is less than about 1,000 conidia per insect for insects of the grasshopper family.  
     
     
         50 . The entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 44  wherein the suspension comprises water and clay.  
     
     
         51 . An entomopathogenic formulation of  claim 50  wherein the clay is selected from the group consisting of attapulgite clay, kaolin, and bentonite.  
     
     
         52 . A method of killing an insect of the grasshopper family comprising applying the formulation of  claim 26  to an affected geographical area such that the population of targeted insect is significantly decreased.  
     
     
         53 . A method of killing an insect of the grasshopper family of  claim 52  wherein the application takes place by air.  
     
     
         54 . A method of killing an insect of the grasshopper family of  claim 52  wherein the application takes place by land.  
     
     
         55 . A method of killing an insect of the grasshopper family comprising applying the formulation of  claim 34  to an affected geographical area such that the population of targeted insect is significantly decreased.  
     
     
         56 . A method of killing an insect of the grasshopper family of  claim 55  wherein the application takes place by air.  
     
     
         57 . A method of killing an insect of the grasshopper family of  claim 55  wherein the application takes place by land.  
     
     
         58 . A method of killing an insect of the grasshopper family comprising applying the formulation of  claim 44  to an affected geographical area such that the population of targeted insect is significantly decreased.  
     
     
         59 . A method of killing an insect of the grasshopper family of  claim 58  wherein the application takes place by air.  
     
     
         60 . A method of killing an insect of the grasshopper family of  claim 58  wherein the application takes place by land.  
     
     
         61 . A trap for killing an insect of the grasshopper family comprising the formulation of  claim 13  in a suitable container which allows access of the insect of the grasshopper family to the entomopathogenic fungus.  
     
     
         62 . The trap of  claim 61  further comprising a lure.  
     
     
         63 . The trap for killing an insect of the grasshopper family of  claim 62  wherein the lure is a pheromone.  
     
     
         64 . A bait for killing an insect of the grasshopper family comprising conidia of an entomopathogenic fungus and a substrate.  
     
     
         65 . A bait for killing an insect of the grasshopper family comprising conidia of an entomopathogenic fungus applied to a substrate.  
     
     
         66 . The bait of  claim 65  wherein the substrate is wheat bran.  
     
     
         67 . An entomopathogenic fungus comprising a strain of a fungus of the class Deuteromycete, 1.0×10 7  conidia of which are non-toxic to a rat based on a bioassay conducted pursuant to U.S. EPA Subpart M guidelines, Section Series 152A-13.