The potato tuberworm Phthorimaea operculella Zeller, is one of the most important potato pests worldwide including China.  Several reports indicate that P. operculella could be controlled biologically by the use of beneficial fungus such as Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv) Vuill.  However, limited information is available under growing conditions in China.  Thus, this study evaluated the sub-lethal effects of B. bassiana on the offspring of P. operculella by the age-stage, two-sex life table.  First instar larva of P. operculella were treated with 1×10⁷ conidia mL–1 of the fungus, and several biological parameters were evaluated.  The fecundity, duration of the egg stage, all larval stages, pre-adult stage, and total pre-oviposition period, were significantly shorter than the control treatment.  Offspring of treated parents, presented a net reproductive rate and mean generation time of 17.43 per day and 24.98 days, respectively, compared to 65.79 per day and 26.51 days for the untreated ones.  This study provides basic information to help understanding the potential long-term effects of entomopathogenic fungi on P. operculella.

The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and predatory mite Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes are effective biological control agents of Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), one of the most important pests of ornamentals and vegetables world-wide. Combined application of both may enhance control efficiency. The functional response for N. barkeri on the first instar larvae of western flower thrips which were infected by B. bassiana for 12 and 24 h in the laboratory ((25±1)°C, (70±5)% RH, L:D=16 h:8 h) was determined. The virulence of B. bassiana against the second instar and pupae of the thrips attacked by N. barkeri were also tested. The results showed that N. barkeri exhibited a Holling type II functional response on treated thrips. After having been treated with the fungus for 12 h and then offered to the predator, thrips were more vulnerable to be killed by N. barkeri. The second instar larvae and pupae of the thrips which had been attacked by predatory mites were markedly more susceptible to B. bassiana infection than normal thrips; the cumulative corrected mortality of B. bassiana of the second instar and pupae which were attacked by N. barkeri were 57 and 94%, respectively, compared to 35 and 80% in controls on the day 8. These findings highlight the potential use of B. bassiana in combination with N. barkeri to control F. occidentalis.