Morphological Changes Caused by Bacillus megaterium on Adult Emergence of Fall Webworm’s Pupa, Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)

Abstract

Insecticidal effects of Bacillus megaterium isolates maintained from bacterial oozed pupae were studied on pupae and 2nd instar larvae of Hyphantria cunea. The bacterial isolates were identified according to morphological, physiological, biochemical and sequence analyses. This study reported that Bacillus megaterium isolates, HMA5 and BM1, caused different abnormal wings shapes and hair loss on thorax and abdomen of Hyphantria cunea. In addition, the HMA5 and BM1 treated pupae showed significantly reduced ability of adult emergence rates. The percentages of the adult emergence from pupae were 1% and 2% for HMA5 and BM1, respectively.

Keywords

• bacillus megaterium
• hyphantria cunea
• morphological changes