Lecanicillium lecanii (Zare and Gams) parasiting larvae of Agraulis vanillae insularis Maynard

Lecanicillium lecanii (Zare y Gams) parasitando larvas de Agraulis vanillae insularis Maynard

Dear Sir,

In the area for butterfly reproduction of the National Institute of Ecology and Systematic (IES) in Cuba, larvae of Agraulis vanillae insularis Maynard were found dead due to a fungal infection. The symptoms observed in the affected fourth stage larvae began with the loss of appetite, and then they became weak and disoriented and lost their color. At larvae death, brown areas with fungal spores appeared on their tegument. The morphological study of the fungus showed the presence of Lecanicillium lecanii (Zare and Gams), and it was corroborated by the pathogenic test.

Sincerely yours,

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María C. Escandón-Arbolay^I, Luisa Díaz-Viruliche^II, I. Castro-Lizazo^II

^IDepartamento de Geología Ambiental, Geofísica y Riesgos. Instituto de Geofísica y Astronomía.
^IIUniversidad Agraria de La Habana (UNAH), Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, San josé de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba. ]]>