Field Experiments With Beauveria Bassiana (Bals.) Vuill., A Fungus Attacking the European Corn Borer

Abstract

Spores were dusted over corn plants in fields infested with Pyrausta nubi-lalis; later, the plants were dissected and counts made of living and dead borers. Reduction due to the fungus was determined by comparison with control plants. The tests, conducted during 3 seasons on both 1st- and 2nd-generation larvae, showed that B. bassiana infects larvae in the field and greatly reduces larval survival. The fungus was also successfully established in weed areas near infested cornfields.