Interactions of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae and the egg parasitoid, Trichogramma brassicae reared on Ephestia kuehniella and Sitotroga cerealella

The parasitoid wasp Trichogramma brassicae is one of the most important natural enemies used to biologically inhibit the egg stage of pests. Rearing of this parasitoid on different hosts and its interaction with entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae is very important in pest control. Therefore, this entomopathogenic fungus along with trichogramma parasitoid can be used in integrated pest management. In this study, effect of M. anisopliae (isolate M14) concentrations on parasitized eggs of Ephestia kuehniella and Sitotroga cerealella, oviposition preference and hatching percentage on the hosts, also, oviposition preference by parasitoid on E. kuehniella and S. cerealella eggs impregnated with different concentrations of M. anisopliae (isolate M14) and control treatment were studied. Probit analysis obtained from the effect of M. anisopliae (isolate M14) concentrations on E. kuehniella and S. cerealella eggs containing parasitoid showed the highest mortality of parasitoid on E. kuehniella. In the host preference test by choice and non-choice methods, the highest number of parasitic eggs and parasitoid hatching were recorded in E. kuehniella. In the study of the effect of different concentrations of M. anisopliae on the parasitized rate of hosts eggs showed that at low concentrations there is no significant difference between treatments and control, but in higher concentrations, a significant difference was observed, and mean of parasitized eggs was higher in the control. The results of present study confirm that in the simultaneous use of two biological agents, more attention should be paid to the interaction between them to control of target pest.