Entomopathogenic fungal infection of Allomyrina dichotoma in mass breeding conditions

Abstract

Increased use of rhinoceros beetles (Allomyrina dichotoma) for food and medicine, and their elevated value as pets has led to an increase in the number of their breeding farms. Mass breeding of the insects in these farms leads to entomological diseases. In this study, we investigate cannibalism resulting from overcrowded breeding of A. dichotoma larvae, as well as secondary fungal infections in epidermal wounds in the surviving larvae. Some of the fungi detected in the present study showed entomopathogenicity, and the larvae showed different times of death. In particular, larvae infected with Clonostachys sp., an endophytic plant fungus, grew for a long time after infection, but died without pupating.