Biphasic production of the fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. in an attract-and-infect device for control of the yerba mate ampoule Gyropsylla spegazziniana (Lizer & Trelles, 1919) (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae)

An ‘attract-and-infect’ device for controlling adult yerba mate ampoule Gyropsylla spegazziniana (Lizer & Trelles, 1919) (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) was designed and tested in the lab. The device was constructed from plastic sheets containing small, recessed wells. The wells were filled with liquid culture medium and inoculated with conidia of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill.. After incubation, the devices were hung in cages containing a yerba mate seedling and adults of G. spegazziniana. For comparison, yellow cardboard cards impregnated with conidia were used. There were 28 times more conidia in plastic device than in the yellow card. Conidia had a germination level above 90% and infected approximately 56% of the insects. Further tests in the field are planned to evaluate its effectiveness for managing populations of G. spegazziniana in yerba mate.