Evaluation of fatality potential of fungus Metarhizium anisopliae against the termite Microcerotermes diversus (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Microcerotermes diversus (Iso.: Termitidae) is one of the most destructive termites in Khuzestan province (Iran). In this study, ability of pathogenicity of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae strain of Saravan (DEMI 001) against termite M. diversus was investigated in choice and no- choice bioassay trials by smeary and immersion methods. Results showed that concentration and time of fatality in the smeary method was higher than the immersion method. The lowest level of LC50 and LT50, it related to bioassay test no- choice with immersion method. Those level were 3.1 × 104 spore Ml-1 and 1.02 day, respectively. The feeding of treated and untreated filter paper in choice test showed that fungal conidial suspension in concentrations used in this study had no repellency effect against the target termite. Overall, this study showed that the fatality rate of fungal pathogen. M. anisopliae against termite M. diversus was associated with the fungus population.