The present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of some entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), against a number of sucking insects that cause significant damage to main Egyptian crops. In this context, the ‘Galleria bait method’ was used as a model insect and a promising technique for screening EPF isolates. In vitro bioassays showed the efficacy of two fungal strains, the commercial one, Metarhizium anisopliae (ITCC- 7895) and the local isolate strain, Beauveria bassiana (EG4-20), against different piercing-sucking insects: aphids (Aphis gossypii Glov., A. craccivora Koch. and Myzus persicae Sulz.), trips (Thrips tabaci Lind.), and whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genn.). Results indicated that ITCC-7895 M. anisopliae isolate was more efficient against A. craccivora adults (LC50 2.25x105 conidia ml-1) and against A. gossypii (LC50 1.05x105 conidia ml-1), compared to EG4-20 B.
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bassiana isolate with LC50 of 4.02x106 and 1.28x106 conidia ml-1, respectively. Moreover, Thrips tabaci nymphs were more susceptible to M. anisopliae (LC50 2.87x108 conidia ml-1). B. bassiana was instead more efficient against B. tabaci nymphs than M. anisopliae with LC50 1.02x106 and 4.76x107 conidia ml-1, respectively.
