Effect of isolate 986 of the fungi Beauveria bassiana (Bals) Vuill on engorged females of Anocentor nitens Neumann, 1897 (Acari: Ixodidae)

Engorged females of Anocentor nitens were used to determine the effect of the entomogenous fungi Beauveria bassiana (isolate 986) in the non parasitic phase of the A. nitens in laboratory. Concentrations of 10(5), 10(6), 10(7) and 10(8) spores/ml in distilled water were prepared used in experiments. Weight of engorged females, females mortality period, preoviposition period, oviposition period, weight of egg masses incubation period, larval eclosion period, larvel eclosion percentage, larval mortality percentage after 10 days of the end of eclosion, weight of females after end of oviposition, reproductive and nutritional efficiency indexes were the characteristics. It was observed in all the treated groups. in inverse proportion to the concentration, a decrease of oviposition period, weight of egg masses, female mortality period larval eclosion period and reproductive and nutritional efficiency indexes. There were in direct proportion to the concentrations an increase of weight of females after end of oviposition, larval percentage of eclosion and larval mortality. The results suggest that B. bassiana can be used in programs of biological control of engorged females of A. nitens.