Context:

Tarophagus colocasiae M. is the most important insect pest in Colocasia esculenta Schott cultivation in Cuba. There are no precedents of its management by entomopathogenic fungi.

Objective:

To determine T. colocasiae´s susceptibility to Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana under laboratory conditions.

Methods:

T. colocasiae´s nymphs and adults were treated with commercial strains of both microorganisms, with an adjusted concentration of 107 spores mL-1. It was determined the mortality at 72, 96 and 120 hours and the average lethal time (TL50).

Results:

The highest mortality was obtained in the treatment with M. anisopliae at 120 hours. B. bassiana strain was the most aggressive one, with an average lethal time below 72 hours.

Conclusions:

T. colocasiae´s nymphs and adults are susceptible to entomopathogenic fungi, which provides an encouraging perspective for the implementation of an ecological management strategy.

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