Report of Entomopathogenic Fungi on Adults of Lepidopteran Pests in Rice

Fungal infection on moths of lepidopteran pests of rice plant has been witnessed in certain parts of Tamil Nadu. Three entomopathogenic fungi viz., Mucor hiemalis Fusarium moniliformae and Scopulariopsis sp. have been isolated from the yellow rice borer, leaffolder cutworm and yellow hairy caterpillar moths of rice ecosystem. All the fungi are found pathogenic. In laboratory evaluation spore suspensions of moth infecting fungi each at concentration of lxl07 spores/ml revealed their virulence against yellow rice borer, leaf foldt;r and cutworm with 60, 61.60 and 52.6 per cent mortality.