Optimization of Beauveria bassiana in a spray formulation against Choristoneura fumiferana.

Most mycoinsecticides require a carrier of natural or synthetic oils for them to be effective when sprayed on forest defoliating caterpillars such as the eastern spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana). Two isolates of Beauveria bassiana conidia were formulated in natural (vegetable) and synthetic (mineral) oils and tested against late instar larvae of the budworm. Topical application showed that the ARSEF 1850 isolate to be more effective than a commercially available strain. Additional laboratory spray trials using a hand-held spinning disc sprayer showed that ARSEF 1850 natural oil formulation significantly increased mortality when compared to controls. The use of oil formulated B. bassiana conidia should be considered for future budworm management under the integrated pest management of this pest in North America.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author