Use of entomopathogenic fungi against bed bugs

Abstract

A literature review on the effectiveness of the use of entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana for the destruction of bed bugs is given. Bed bug resistance to pyrethroids does not result in cross-resistance to infection with B. bassiana spores. Insect mortality is highly dependent on the concentration of fungal conidia, which is critical to induce horizontal transfer capable of increasing insect population mortality without the need for direct contact between bed bugs and the inoculated substrate. Pyrethroid residues on treated surfaces significantly reduce the germination of B. bassiana spores. At present, resistance of insects to mycoinsecticides in the field has not been revealed, however, it has been shown that in laboratory conditions its occurrence is possible. Keywords: entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium, Beauveria, biopesticides, bed bug, resistance.