Consortium of entomopathogenic fungi for the management of Blattodea: Isoptera termites (Nasutitermes corniger)

Abstract

Termites are polymorphic, eusocial, exopterygote insects that live in termite mounds. Their importance lies in the damage they can cause to poles, trees, crops, houses, works of art, and furniture, with a global impact. The objective of this study was to evaluate a consortium of entomopathogens from the genera Beauveria, Metarhizium, Lecanicillium, and Paecilomyces at a concentration of 1 x 10⁸ spores ml⁻¹. The research was conducted at the Juanico Campus of the University of Oriente, Monagas. A control (water only) and four doses of the consortium were evaluated at 5 ml L⁻¹, 10 ml L⁻¹, 20 ml L⁻¹, and 30 ml L⁻¹. A completely randomized design with five replicates was used, and the experimental unit was the termite mound. The number of live and dead termites per mound, colonized dead termites, colonization percentage, and weight of 100 termites expressed in grams were quantified. The data were analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric statistics (Kruskal-Wallis test) and compared by rank-sum test. A linear regression fit was observed between termite volume and weight; differences between treatments were found for the number of live and dead termites, with fewer live termites at concentrations of 20 ml L^-1 and 30 ml L^-1 25 days after application and in the field, and zero live termites at all concentrations 50 days after application; zero dead termites at 25 days, and at 50 days, a higher number of dead termites at concentrations of 20 and 30 ml L^-1. The control treatment remained stable after the application of the biological agent. The greatest differences in the number of colonized dead termites and the percentage of colonization were observed with the 20 ml L^-1 and 30 ml L^-1 concentrations. The weight of 100 termites did not vary among the different treatments. The formulation of entomopathogens represents a potential technology for managing this insect pest under natural conditions.