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Metarhizium anisopliae
See also The BioPesticide Manual, 2nd Ed., entry 1:48; 1:49; 1:50; 1:51; 1:52; 1:53
Biological insecticide
entomopathogenic fungus
Mitosporic fungus: formerly Deuteromycetes: Moniliales
NOMENCLATURE
Scientific name Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum; Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae Strain Isolate IMI 330189 (var acridum); FI-1045 Other names Metarhizium flavoviride Development codes BIO 1020 (Bayer) (var. anisopliae)
PROPERTIES
Composition Aerial conidia (5? ´ 1010 /g dry powder) of M. anisopliae var acridum isolate IMI 330189. Form Uniform dark green powder. Stability The spores can tolerate 5 d at 50 °C, 14 d at 40 °C and 12 mo at 30 °C. Technical concentrate may be stored for 3 y at £20 °C.
COMMERCIALISATION
History M. anisopliae var acridum is under development, for control of locusts, by an international research programme called Lubilosa. M. anisopliae var anisopliae was earlier evaluated as a soil insecticide by Bayer AG, Ecoscience and other companies, none of which currently market it. Now sold by Biological Control Products SA. Except where indicated, all data refer to var acridum. Patents GB 2255018B Manufacturers Biological Control Products SA; NPP
APPLICATIONS
Mode of action Spores of Metarhizium anisopliae adhere to the insect surface, germinate and penetrate the host. After proliferation in the haemolymph, the insect dies. Uses M. anisopliae var. acridum is under development for control of locusts; applied at 100 g conidia/ha. M. anisopliae var. anisopliae is sold for use as a soil insecticide and for control of greyback canegrub (Dermolepida albohirtum) in sugar cane. Also used as a termiticide. Formulation types OF; TC; WP. Selected products: 'Green Muscle' (var acridum) (NPP, Biological Control Products SA)
OTHER PRODUCTS
'Back Off 1' (whitefly and aphids) (Ecoscience); 'Bio-Blast' ([ESC1], for termites) (Ecoscience); 'BioCane' (FI-1045) (Bio-Care); 'BioGreen' (var anisopliae) (Bio-Care); 'Bio-Path' (cockroach control) (Ecoscience); 'Greenguard' (Bio-Care); 'New BIO 1020' (var anisopliae) (Andermatt, Earth BioSciences); 'Taenure' (Earth BioSciences); 'Taerain' (Earth BioSciences) Discontinued products: 'BIO 1020' * (var anisopliae) (Bayer)
ANALYSIS
Analysis of the product is by checks on conidial viability (verified with bioassays for virulence to locusts: usually Schistocerca gregaria). Quality checks on tech. also include moisture content and particle size.
MAMMALIAN TOXICOLOGY
Oral Acute oral LD50 for rats >2000 mg/kg. Skin and eye Acute percutaneous LD50 for rats >2000 mg/kg. Non-irritating to skin and eyes (rabbits). Inhalation Acute pulmonary toxicity/infectivity LC50 for rats >4850 mg/m3. Other Non-pathogenic to mammals (rats) by acute intra-peritoneal injection.
ECOTOXICOLOGY
IMI 330189 presents a low risk to beneficial Hymenoptera and Coleoptera at field rates of application. Birds No adverse effects in orientating tests on quail. Neither consumption of infected insects nor of spore-coated feed resulted in pathological changes, or significant changes in weight, growth rate, behaviour or mortality rate. Histological examination of key organs indicated either no change or normal tissue response to antigenic challenge. Fish LC50 (96 h) for rainbow trout and freshwater zebra fish >100 mg/l. Daphnia LC50 (48 h) >100 mg/l. Bees Acute LD50 (24 or 48 h, oral) >100 µg/bee; (24 or 48 h, contact) >350 µg/bee. Worms LC50 (14 d) for earthworms >1000 mg/kg soil.
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Soil/Environment After spraying, residual levels of isolate IMI 330189 have been shown to decrease exponentially, with DT50 6-8 d under Sahelian conditions. Conidia of isolate BIO 1020 are poorly transported in a sandy loam soil; contamination of groundwater by Metarhizium spp. is therefore unlikely.
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