Effects of entomopathogenic fungi on different developmental stages of Cotesia flavipes (Cam.) a parasitoid of Diatraea flavipennella (Box) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

<p class="Pa7">Biological control using the parasitoid <em>Cotesia flavipes </em>(Cam.) is one of the main components in the integrated management of the sugarcane moth borer <em>Diatraea </em>spp. Besides this parasitoid, the entomopathogenic fungi <em>Beauveria bassiana </em>(Bals.) Vuill and <em>Metarhizium anisopliae </em>(Metsch.) Sorok. are used to control sugarcane pests, and they can be found naturally parasitizing caterpillars. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of <em>M. anisopliae </em>and <em>B. bassiana </em>on different developmental stages of the <em>C. flavipes </em>parasitoid on <em>Diatraea flavipennella </em>(Box). The experiments were carried at laboratory with isolates PL 43 of <em>M</em>. <em>anisopliae </em>and ESALQ 447 of <em>B. bassiana </em>were applied to the parasitoid at the immature and adult phases. No negative effects were observed on the larval development of <em>C. flavipes</em>, and it could complete its development on caterpillars of <em>D. flavipennella </em>treated with fungi. The fungi did not cause pupal mortality. However, <em>B. bassiana </em>caused high mortality in the adult parasitoid (76%). The fungi had negative effects on parasitoids when applied during certain developmental stages of <em>C. flavipes</em>.