Efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi isolated from the nest of the samsum ant, Pachycondyla sennaarensis against larvae of the mosquitoes Aedes caspius and Culex Pipiens.

Journal Article

• Publication Online URL: Efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi isolated from the nest of the samsum ant, Pachycondyla sennaarensis
• Magazine \ Newspaper: Entomologia Generalis
• Issue Number: 2
• Volume Number: 35
• Pages: 77-86

Publication Abstract

The use of entomopathogenic fungi is a promising alternative to chemical control against mosquitoes. In February 2013, two fungi were isolated from the Samsum ant, Pachycondyla sennaarensis (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) collected in Riyadh, KSA. One of these fungi, identified as Fusarium solani was highly pathogenic against larvae of the mosquito, Aedes caspius (Diptera: Culicidae). F. solani killed 100% of Ae. caspius within 5 days of exposure to the concentration of 5x107 cfu/ml. Also, results indicated that F. solani was more virulent to the mosquito larvae than F. chlamydosporum at the concentration of 8 x 107 cfu/ml. The histopathological examination indicated that spores of F. solani are invasive to the wall of Ae. caspius larvae. Both F. solani and F. chlamydosporum were not affected against Ae. caspius and Culex Pipiens. These result suggested that F. solani could be an effective tool to manage Ae. caspius proliferation and hence diseases transmission.