Characterization of Beauveria bassiana associated with allspice auger beetle

The incidence of auger beetle, Sinoxylon anale Lesne (Bostrichidae: Coleoptera), a destructive pest of cosmopolitan occurrence is reported for the first time on allspice trees from Kozhikode, Kerala. The insects bored through the basal region of fresh twigs resulting in dieback symptoms. Morphological characterization and sequencing of a partially amplified fragment of the mitochondrial CO1 gene revealed the insect to be Sinoxylon anale. An entomopathogenic fungus was isolated from infected cadavers of S. anale that was identified as Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill., sensu stricto (s.s) (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) based on morphological and molecular studies. The fungus was virulent against adult beetles and this is the first record of B. bassiana naturally infecting S. anale. The findings were published in the Journal of Invertebrate Pathology

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