Efficacy of Acrernonium zeylanicum against Sugarcane Woolly Aphid under Laboratory Conditions

The fungus, Acremonium zeylanicum (Petch) W. Gams and H.C. Evans, was found infectious to sugarcane woolly aphid, Ceratovacuna lanigera Zehntner and caused differential mortality of different instars at varied concentrations. Studies on the efficacy of the entomopathogenic fungus revealed that the mortality of aphids increased with increase in concentration and time of application. First instar nymphs showed the highest mortality (92.5%) at 1x10¹⁰ conidia 1^-1 and as the stage of the insect advanced, the mortality rate declined. On the contrary, lower mortality of aphids was recorded at 1x10⁴ conidia 1^-1 after 10 days of application.