Mycosis of cashew stem and root borer, Plocaederus ferrugineus L. (Coleoptera:Cerambycidae) by Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin (Deuteromycotina: Moniliales) from Tamil Nadu (India)

While monitoring the population build-up of stem and root borers of cashew in the plantation of Regional Research Station, Vridhachilam, Tamil Nadu (India), considerable numbers of Plocaederus ferrugineus L. grubs were observed to be infected by the green muscardine fungus, MMetarhizium anisopliae (Metsch) Sorokin (Deuteromycotina: Moniliales) in January 1998. Mortality rate of the grubs ranged from 19–26 per cent under natural conditions. The fungus was isolated on potato dextrose agar medium and pathogenicity was confirmed. Cent per cent mortality of the gmbs was observed 10 days after inoculation. This suggests the possibility of utilising the fungus for the management of stem and root borer in cashew.