<i>Metarrhizium anisopliae</i> (metschnikoff) sorokin strains in New Zealand and their possible use for controlling pasture‐inhabiting insects

Abstract

Abstract The green muscardine fungus, Metarrhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin, is recorded for the first time on Costelytra zealandica White, Heteronychus sanctae‐helenae Blanch., and Pericoptus truncatus Fabr. The three distinctive culture types isolated from these hosts and from Oxycanus sp. are described, and their selective pathogenicity is discussed and compared with cultures of M. anisopliae and Metarrhizium brunneum obtained from the Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, and the Agricultural Research Service Collection, Peoria, Illinois. It is considered that this culture of M. brunneum comes within the species limits of M. anisopliae . Literature on M. anisopliae , its host range, and the use of the fungus for biological control, is reviewed. From a consideration of the strains of M. anisopliae in this country and an evaluation of overseas work, it is believed that this fungus is unlikely to be of much use for biological control of injurious pasture‐inhabiting grubs in New Zealand.