Abstract:
White grubs are natural enemies of crops. The losses caused by these are important, which
led to the development of many control methods. The present study aims to propose an
alternative solution based on the use of entomopathogenic to fight against these pests.
It deals on the one hand on the search for entomopathogenic fungi and on the other hand, the
demonstration of their insecticidal activity vis-à-vis white worm larvae.
The results of the pathogenicity tests highlighted the presence of two indigenous
entomopathogenic; it is Beauveria sp. and Fusarium sp1, which have proved effective against
the different stages of the T. absoluta tomato leaf miner and the white worm.
The comparison of the effect of these two entomopathogenic fungi on the mortality of white
worm larvae showed that Beauveria sp. is the most active and fastest at eliminating this pest with
a mortality rate greater than 50% from the 4th day. In addition the effectiveness of Beauveria sp.
increases in the presence of the soil by using white powdery colonies.
After the identification of the pest, it was found that the species studied is probably
Phyllognathus sp.
