Metarhizium anisophilae to control termites & thrips

Bio Pesticides and Bio Fungicides

METARHIZIUM ANISOPHILAE to control Agri. Pests such as termites, thrips, etc.

Introduction:
It is a bio control Entomopathogenic fungi known to infect over 200 insect pest species, including termites . It is currently being used as a biological insecticide to control a number of pests such as termites, thrips, etc.

Mode of action:
Metarhizium anisopliae, formerly known as Entomophthora anisopliae is a fungus that grows naturally in soils throughout the world and causes disease in various insects by acting as a parasite. The disease caused by the fungus is sometimes called green muscardine disease because of the green colour of its spores.

When these spores (called conidia) of the fungus come into contact with the body or ingested, grow and colonize the host body. Then they germinate and the hyphae that emerge penetrate the cuticle of the insect host. After extensive invasion of the host body, the Destruxins produced by the fungus eventually weaken and kill the insects within 72 hours.


Usage:
Available in the market in powder form.

Soil application: Mix 1- 2 Kg of Metarhizium anisopliae in 25 to 50 kgs of Farm yard manure per acre and apply under moist field conditions. About 500 gms of the above mixture can be applied around the root zone of the termite affected Horticulture plant or timber tree.

Foliar application: Metarhizium anisopliae should be applied @ 5 - 7 gms of per litre of water along with jaggery preferably during evening hours.

Soil drenching: Mix 2 kgs of Metarhizium anisopliae in 400 litres of water along with jaggery and drench the soil thoroughly.

Repeat application at 15 days interval as and when required.
High humidity helps in achieving good efficacy in insects.

Benefits:

i. Effectively controls larval and pupal stages of termites, thrips, white grubs, jassids, fruit borers, leaf miners and coconut beetles. A good remedy to control termites in lawns.

ii. Helps in reducing the harmful microbes and pathogenic insect population so there is increase in the beneficial microbial and insect population.

iii. Foliar application in combination with Baverium & Verticillum will give good results in horticulture crops.