Preliminary field trials with culicinomyces clavosporus against some Egyptian mosquitoes in selected habitats

ABSTRACT

Culicinomyces clavosporus was isolated from diseased larvae of Culex pipiens collected from brackish water habitat. Pure cultures of the fungus were grown on nutrient agar media. Field studies were undertaken on a variety of habitats of mosquitos. Evaluations included artificial pool studies and field trials. The fungus was applied once to three different natural breeding habitats of mosquitos at a dose rate of 1010 conidia/m2. C. Clavosporus addition to unpolluted rice field that had high densities of Cx. Antennatus and low densities of Anopheles tenebrosus Doenitz and Cx. Perexiguus resulted in 100% control of the larvae five days post treatment. The addition of the fungus to brackish water habitat supporting large brood of Ae. Caspius and few numbers of Culiseta longiareolata [Macquart], Cx. pusillus and Cx. pipiens was equally effective