The bioactivity of Metarhizium anisopliae and Verticillium lecanii on immature and mature stages of the flour Beetle, Tribolium castaneum

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Biology Department, College of Science for Women, University of Babylon, Hillah, Iraq

2 Department of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Babylon, Hillah, Iraq.

Abstract

Objective
The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.), is one of the most destructive pests of stored grains and their by-products, creating substantial economic losses worldwide. Its remarkable capability to develop resistance to conventional insecticides, along with increasing concerns about environmental and health hazards related to chemical control, necessitates alternative management strategies. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs), natural pathogens of insects, represent a hopeful biocontrol option. This investigation aimed to evaluate the pathogenic activity of two commercially available EPF formulations, Metarhizium anisopliae (Met52) and Verticillium lecanii (Mycotal), against different developmental stages of T. castaneum.
Materials and methods
Laboratory bioassays were managed to evaluate the effectiveness of M. anisopliae and V. lecanii against second-, fourth-, and sixth-instar larvae, as well as adults of T. castaneum. Multiple concentrations of fungal spores were applied, and mortality rates were documented over varying exposure periods. Mortality percentages were statistically analyzed to identify dose- and stage-dependent susceptibility.
Results
Both EPFs exhibited meaningful pathogenicity against T. castaneum, though their effectiveness varied across life stages and concentrations. M. anisopliae consistently demonstrated higher virulence than V. lecanii. Susceptibility was strongly stage-dependent: second- and fourth-instar larvae were more vulnerable, while sixth-instar larvae and adults showed comparatively higher resistance to fungal infection. Increasing spore concentration and developing exposure duration meaningfully increased mortality rates across all tested stages. A positive correlation was observed between mortality percentage and both fungal concentration and exposure time. Notably, the sixth-instar larvae and adults exhibited the lowest mortality, emphasizing the importance of targeting younger developmental stages for effective control.
Conclusions
The results affirm that M. anisopliae and V. lecanii possess considerable potential as biological control agents against T. castaneum. Among the two, M. anisopliae exhibited superior pathogenicity across life stages. The investigation underscores the importance of optimizing fungal concentration and targeting susceptible larval stages to maximize effectiveness. These results support the integration of entomopathogenic fungi into sustainable pest management programs for stored-product pests, reducing reliance on chemical insecticides.

Keywords

References

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Agricultural Biotechnology Journal
Volume 18, Issue 2
February 2026
Pages 313-330

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