Abstract

Godwin P. Kaaya and Marius Hedimbi

This paper reports promising results on the use of entomopathogenic fungi for tick control. The aqueous formulations of the entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae isolate RS2 and Beauveria bassiana isolate NM2 induced mortalities ranging from 36-64% in adult Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) appendiculatus and 40-50% in Boophilus decoloratus in the laboratory. In Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, mortality increased with conidial concentration in all tick stages and oil formulation outperformed (p0.05). In the field paddocks sprayed with B. bassiana and M. anisopliae tick counts were much lower than those in the control paddock (p<0.05). After monthly spraying for 6 months, the mean numbers of adult R (B). appendiculatus on cattle were reduced by 80% in B. bassiana and 92% in M. anisopliae sprayed paddocks compared to control paddock. These observations show that M. anisopliae and B. bassiana, have potential as tick mycopesticides.