EVALUATION OF EFFICACY OF ENTOMOPATHOGENS AGAINST SOLENOPSIS GEMINATA (FABRICIUS) (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE)T. Nalini and S. SasinathanAbstract Solenopsis geminata is a non â native ant species often colonizes disturbed habitats. Experiments were carried out at Annamalai University to test the efficacy of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae against S. geminata mounds. One day after the treatment of B. bassiana there was reduction of original mounds in three doses viz., 10, 7 and 5g. New mounds appeared in doses of 10 and 7g. Disappearances of new mounds were found in doses of 7 and 10g at 2 and 3 days after treatment. Dead S. geminata workers were observed two days after treatment in the dose of 5g. Maximum number of new mounds was found in the 10g dosage. In M. anisopliae treated mounds 3 days after treatment control was evident in 10g dose on S. geminata original mounds. Also 7 and 5g doses obtained control at 5 days after treatment while 3g dose did not showed any effect on original mounds. No new mounds were found in 3, 5, 7 and 10g doses. |