Composition of entomopathogenic fungus and method of production and application for insect control

Abstract

Microsclerotia of entomopathogenic fungi, including Metarhizium species, Beauveria species, and Lecanicillium species, may be produced. These microsclerotia are effective for the control of a wide variety of insect pests, particularly soil-dwelling insect pests.

1 . Isolated microsclerotia of an entomopathogenic fungus selected from the group consisting of  Metarhizium species, Beauveria species,  and  Lecanicillium species.    
   
   
       2 . The isolated microsclerotia of  claim 1  wherein said entomopathogenic fungus comprises a  Metarhizium species.    
   
   
       3 . The isolated microsclerotia of  claim 2  wherein said entomopathogenic fungus comprises  Metarhizium anisopliae.    
   
   
       4 . The isolated microsclerotia of  claim 1  wherein said entomopathogenic fungus is substantially biologically pure. 
   
   
       5 . A composition comprising microsclerotia of an entomopathogenic fungus selected from the group consisting of  Metarhizium species, Beauveria species,  and  Lecanicillium species  with an agronomically acceptable carrier which said microsclerotia, upon rehydration, germinate hyphally or sporogenically to produce infective, aerial conidia. 
   
   
       6 . The composition of  claim 5  wherein said entomopathogenic fungus comprises a  Metarhizium species.    
   
   
       7 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein said entomopathogenic fungus comprises  Metarhizium anisopliae.    
   
   
       8 . The composition of  claim 5  wherein said entomopathogenic fungus is substantially pure. 
   
   
       9 . The composition of  claim 5  wherein said microsclerotia are present in an insecticidally effective amount. 
   
   
       10 . The composition of  claim 5  wherein said microsclerotia are produced by liquid culture and are present in the recovered biomass in a concentration at least about 1×10 6  microsclerotia per gram of said biomass. 
   
   
       11 . A method for insect control comprising applying to the locus of said insects an insecticidally effective amount of microsclerotia of an entomopathogenic fungus selected from the group consisting of  Metarhizium species, Beauveria species,  and  Lecanicillium species.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said entomopathogenic fungus comprises a  Metarhizium species.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said entomopathogenic fungus comprises  Metarhizium anisopliae.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said insects are selected from the group consisting of root weevils, soil grubs, rootworms, wireworms, fruit flies, and root maggots. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said insects are selected from the group consisting of subterranean termites ( Reticulitermes  and  Coptotermes spp. ), corn rootworms ( Diabrotica spp ), black vine weevils ( Otiorhynchus sulcatus ), wireworms (larvae of family  Elateridae ), citrus root weevils ( Diaprepes abbreviates ), sugarbeet root maggots ( Tetanops myopaeformis ), cabbage/turnip/onion/seed corn maggots ( Delia spp. ), carrot rust fly ( Psila rosae ), sweet potato weevils ( Cylas formicarius ), Japanese beetles ( Popillia japonica ), and European chafers ( Rhizotrogus majalis ). 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said applying comprises applying said microsclerotia to soil or greenhouse soilless potting mix. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said insects are plant foliage or tree bark inhabiting insects selected from the group consisting of emerald ash borer ( Agrilus planipennis ), and gypsy moth ( Lymantria dispar ), and pecan weevil ( Curculio caryae ). 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said microsclerotia are applied to the bark and canopy of plants and trees. 
   
   
       19 . A method of producing from an en entomopathogenic fungus a high concentration of desiccation tolerant fungal microsclerotia, comprising the steps of:
 a) inoculating a liquid culture medium comprising a carbon source and a nitrogen source with fungal propagules of an entomopathogenic fungus selected from the group consisting of  Metarhizium species, Beauveria species,  and  Lecanicillium species,  said nitrogen source having a concentration between 8.1 grams/liter and 50 grams/liter and said carbon source having a concentration greater than 20 grams/liter;   b) incubating the propagules for a sufficient time to allow for production of microsclerotia; and   c) collecting the resulting microsclerotia.