Susceptibility of larvae of the sandflyPhlebotomus papatasi(Diptera: Psychodidae) toBacillus sphaericus

Abstract

Laboratory experiments were conducted to measure the susceptibility of larvae of the sandflyPhlebotomus papatasiScopoli to the insect pathogenBacillus sphaericusapplied to the larval breeding medium.B. sphaericushad no effect on larvae aged 30 ± 2 days old, but larvae aged 13 ± 2 and 20 ± 2 days were highly susceptible and a clear dose response effect was detected. WhenB. sphaericuswas left in the rearing medium for 18 days there was a significant increase in larval mortality, indicating persistence and possibly recycling. The results support the feasibility of employingB. sphaericusin the integrated control of sandflies.