Effects of Beauveria bassiana on Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) trough different routes of exposure

Beauveria bassiana is an entomopathogenic fungus widely used in biocontrol tactics over the world. Its potential has been tested on several pest species, included the Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande. In laboratory bioassays, we exposed different developmental stages of F. occidentalis (first and second instar larvae, adults) to residual or topical applications of a B. bassiana commercial strain (strain ATCC 74040, Naturalis®). The results stress on the importance to favor the contact of thrips with B. bassiana to obtain satisfactory control of this pests.