Larvicidal potential of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Wize,) Brown and Smith on Culex quinquefasciatus (Say).

The present study aims to determine the pathogenecity of the fungal entomopathogens Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus to the human lymphatic filariasis (HLF) vector, Culex quinquefasciatus. Among the fungal isolates tested, B. bassiana caused 100% mortality on 2 day at 10 spores/ml concentration and 97.11% on 5 day at 10 spores/ml of 3 instar larvae of C. quinquefasciatus. At 10 spores /ml concentration P. fumosoroseus inflicted 88.87% and 97.73% mortality on 6 and 8 day respectively. Besides, malformation of wing during the developmental stage was also observed due to the impact of B. bassiana. When compared to P. fumosoroseus, Cx. quinquefasciatus was highly susceptible to B. bassiana and attained complete mortality in two days, whereas, P. fumosoroseus need eight days. Efficiency of mortality by both the species though almost similar 100% and 97.73%, short duration of killing by the B. bassiana reveals its more virulent nature than P. fumosoroseus. DMRT analysis also implies that B. bassiana at 10 is more efficient when compared to P. fumosoroseus.