The efficiency of isolates of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae was evaluated on sugarcane root froghopper, applied at four doses, once or twice during the pest infestation period. The experiments were carried out in three São Paulo State regions: Guaíra, Iracemápolis and Tarumã. Only in the experiment conducted at Tarumã, the fungus was efficient for root froghopper control, reducing the pest population in 91.2%, when it was applied twice, using in each application the conidia obtained on 1 kg/ha of rice (9.10(8) conidia/g of rice). The fungus efficiency in Tarumã was attributed to the lower temperatures, favoring the development of the cycle of the relation parasite/host.
Biological control; Saccharum; entomopathogenic fungous
