Change in method of sampling Mahanarva Fimbriolata (Stål, 1854) (Hem.: Cercopidae) and evaluation of efficiency of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff, 1879) Sorokin, 1883 (hyp.: Clavicipitaceae)

The present study suggests a change in the method of sampling the spittlebug in sugarcane crops in order to improve the control of this pest. Conventional monitoring of Mahanarva fimbriolata may underestimate the number of eggs in the area, causing pest resurgence. In this regard a study was carried out in Ponta Porã, MS, Brazil, in order to study possible changes in the methods used for sampling M. fimbriolata. The experiment consists of randomized blocks with 10 treatments and 4 replications. The treatments were: 1) control - untreated, 2) Thiamethoxam 250 WG at 250 g ha-1, 3) IBCB 425 at 5 x 10(9) con ha-1, 4) IBCB 425 at 10 x 10(9) con ha-1, 5) IBCB 425 at 15 x 10(9) con ha-1, 6) BIO 08 at 5 x 10(9) con ha-1, 7) BIO 08 at 10 x 10(9) con ha-1, 8) BIO 08 at 15 x 10(9) con ha-1, 9) IBCB 425 at 5 x 10(9) con ha-1 - granular application and 10) BIO 08 at 5 x 10(9) con ha-1 - granular application. Evaluations of effectiveness of treatments were obtained at 15, 45, 75 and 105 days after application (DAA). At 15 DAA treatments with the isolated application with grainy BIO 08 and IBCB 425 at dosage of 5 x 10(9) con ha-1 and 10 x 10(9) con ha-1 showed an efficiency of 73.33 and 70.66%, respectively. There were no significant differences between treatments with biological and chemical insecticides tested in the experiment at 75 and 105 DAA.

Entomopathogenic fungus; microbial control; sugar cane; spittlebug