Biological control of parasites by Entomopathogen fungi is the best way to control them instead of using of chemical agents. Entomopathogen fungus is non pathogen for animals and plants. Ticks are one of the most important parasites of animals that can transmit very important pathogens. Rhipicephalus annulatus is a hard tick that infested animals and humans. This study demonstrated on acaricidal mechanism of Entomopathogen fungi (Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium psalliotae). Acaricidal mechanism of each strains observed with optical microscope (lens 100 ´) after death of ticks due to espousing with fungal strains. The results showed that each fungi can affect the tick cuticle and then penetrate to haemocel cavity by means of species and strain-specific mechanisms and each fungal strain had different special mechanism for killing the ticks. Results obtained from this study can help us to find the choice fungal strain for biological control of arthropods and ticks, with knowing the structure of their teguments.

Argas persicus is of considerable veterinary importance as a parasite of poultry and wild birds causing weakness, anemia, reduction in egg production and growth, as well as death of poultry. Such a tick is the vector of many important diseases. In this study 150 adult ticks in 15 groups including control and experimental groups were studied, three replicates were made for the control and experimental groups. The virulence of each fungal strain was tested by immersing engorged A. persicus in conidial suspensions (2.4×107 conidia/ml) for 3–5 seconds and in negative control group in sterilized distilled water contains Tween 80%, then ticks were studied for 20 days and the results were finally reported. Experimental fungal strains had different virulence. In day 20 mortality rate of DEMI 002 was 96.6% and mortality rate of other three strains were 100%. There were significant differences between different groups. Metarhizium anisopliae IRAN 437 C was found to be the most virulent to adult stage of A. persicus and M. anisopliae DEMI 002 had least effect on adult form of soft ticks (A. persicus). The results obtained from this study showed the promising effect of Entomopathogenic fungi as an alternative biocontrol agent against A. persicus as an important fowl tick. More studies need to confirm these results in field condition.

Susceptibility of Aphidius nigripes Ashmead adults to Entomopathogen Lecanicillium muscarium (Petch) Zare & Gams was evaluated with different inoculation methods. Fungus concentrations including 104, 105, 106, 107, 108 spores/ml and control (distilled water with 0/04% triton x-100) were applied by spraying or dipping method on males, females and pupa of parasitoid and mortality was counted daily during 8 days. Both A. nigripes males and females were infected by L. muscarium concentrations.Minimum mortality was observed in 104 spores/ml treatment on the males and females after 8 days. Positive correlation was observed between concentrations and parasitoid mortality. Direct infection method with 108 spores/ml showed the maximum mortality of 97/9% and 100% for females and males, respectively. Estimated LC50 for females was approximately three times more than that of males. LT50 for each concentration indicated more susceptibility of males than the females. Adult wasps were also infected by fungus spores of inoculated plants; however, the mortality of parasitoid was less than that of direct infection (sprayed on adults). Estimated LC50 and LT50 were also greater than those obtained by direct infection of adults. Mummified aphids were infected by L. muscarium, however, the development of fungus mycelium was observed on mummies, and the mortality of parasitoid pupae within mummies was significantly low. A few parasitoids emerged from infected mummies suffered mortality. Further results demonstrated that the adult infection had come in touch with the infected mummies.

Date sap beetle, Carpophilus hemipterus (Col.: Nitidulidae) is one of the post-harvest pests of date palm fruits which causes a lot of damages under store conditions. There are several methods for controlling stored product pests and one of the major methods is applying Entomopathogenic fungi as biological control agents. In this study, the fungus B. bassiana Iran 1395C and M. asisopliae isolate Iran 1018C were used to control fourth instar larvae and adults. Bioassay method for larvae was performed with filter paper impregnated with spore suspensions in sterile Petri dishes and for adults by immersing insects in spore suspension. Spore suspension at concentrations of 3×108, 3×107, 3×106, 3×105 conidia/ml was prepared in Tween 0. 02%, then mortality rate of adults was examined after 3, 7, 9, 11, 13 days and for larvae after 3, 7 and 9 days. The results showed that mortality rate increased by increasing time and concentration of spore suspension. Mortality rates of adults for abovementioned concentrations using B. bassiana were 24. 4, 14. 4, 12. 8 and 10. 5% and for larvae were 83. 3, 76. 7, 72. 2 and 71. 1%, respectively. Moreover, it is revealed that fungal application at a concentration of 3×108 conidia/ml after 15 days and at all concentrations after 9 days lead to the highest mortality rate of adults (30%) and larvae (100%), respectively. Regarding M. anisopliae, mortality rates of larvae for were 78. 9, 75. 6, 73. 3 and 54. 4% and for adults were 51. 7, 20. 6, 12. 2 and 10%, respectively. On the other hand results showed that the fungus at a concentration of 3×108 after 15 days and at a concentration of 3×105 after seven days caused the highest mortality rate of adults (63. 3%) and larvae (97%), respectively. Results indicate that fungal isolates used in this study have high insecticidal activity against larvae and adults of date sap beetle, and can be used for product protection after harvest.

Metarhizium anisopliae, is one of the most famous soil inhabitant Entomopathogenic fungi, has a virulence potential on plant pests and animals. The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, exists in all over of the Iran and causes damages to peach trees, citrus, vegetables and ornamental plants grown in greenhouses. The aim of this study is checking peach aphid mortality by Metarhizium anisopliae. Two strains of Metarhizium anisopliae, namely M1 and A3 available by Department of applied microbiology of Tehran organization of Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR) were used in this study. Bioassay test against peach tree aphids was done in 18 cm diameter Petri dishes with three gradient suspensions consisted of 1×103, 1 ×105 and 1 ×107 conidia ml− 1 and 14: 10 h of dark: light photoperiod in ambient temperature for 9 days. The least amount of LC50 determined for A3 with concentration of 6. 5×105 conidia/ml and the best LT50 for A3 with concentration of 1×107 conidia ml− 1 was 3. 82 days. The least LT50 for M1 with concentration of 1×107 conidia ml− 1 was 5. 51 days.

Pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana strain DEBI001, Lecanicillium muscarium strain DAOM 198499 and their combination was investigated on 2nd nymphs and adults of B. tabaci in controlled condition (in 23±1ºC, 95±5% and 16: 8 L: D). Five concentrations from each isolates were sprayed on undersides of young eggplant leaves that involved 2ndnymphs. Experiments were carried out on adults with the same concentrations in two methods of spraying: Direct spraying on adults, and indirect spraying on plant leaves. LC50 values of the B. bassiana, L. muscarium and their combination on 2nd nymphs was 4.4×105, 1.8×105 and 7.9×105 conidia/ml., respectively. The results showed that LT50values for different concentrations (106, 107 and 108 conidia/ml.) of B. bassiana were 8.3, 6 and 4.8 days; for L. muscarium were equal to 7.2, 5.5 and 3.9 days and 6.7, 5.1 and 4 daysfor their combination. In indirect application methods of isolates on host plant, highmortality rate of cotton whitefly adults was happened than control. The highest mortalitydue to B. bassiana was 89.33%; and 96.25%; while it was 78.33 % and 93.75% due to L. muscarium, immediately and 5 days after spraying, respectively. Adult mortality rate waslower in direct spraying method than indirect application (51.1% by B. bassiana and38.32% by L. muscarium by 108 conidia/ml.).

BACKGROUND: Biological control of parasites by using Entomopathogen fungi is the one of the recommended ways to control them instead of using the chemical agents. Entomopathogen fungi are not pathogenic for animals and plants, while ticks are one of the most important parasites of animals that can transmit very important microbial pathogens. Ixodes ricinus is a hard tick that infests animals and human. OBJECTIVES: This study demonstrated enzyme assay of Entomopathogen fungi hosted on Ixodes ricinus. METHODS: Enzymatic activities of chitinase, lipase and protease of fungal structures on the killed tick bodies have been assayed by standard sphectrophotometric methods. RESULTS: Chitinase, lipase and protease activities showed significant differences among different fungal strains (p<0. 05). This research, which was done for first time in Iran demonstrated the effect of some enzymes which affect on acaricidal properties of native strain of Entomopathogenic fungi in Iran. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals the relationship between enzyme level of fungal strains and the possibility of selecting more effective strains of Entomopathogenic fungi.

Spodoptera cilium (Guenee 1852) is one of the grass pests in green space in the southern regions of Iran and many countries around the world. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the two Iranian isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.)Vuill including IRAN440C and IRAN441C on S. cilium larvae under laboratory and field conditions. The larvae were reared at 25±10 C, a relative humidity of 60±5%, and a 16:8 h (L:D) photoperiod on grass leaves. The effect of different concentrations of two fungal isolates on second and third larval instars was performed by two methods of larval dipping and grass leaf immersion with spore suspension. The results showed that in both larval instars, the percentage of mortality increased with increasing spore concentration. Based on the mortality rate for both stages, in both methods, the highest percentage of cumulative mortality (51.1%) was observed at a concentration of 5×106 spores of fungi per mL. As the concentration of the suspension increased, a significant decrease in the time required to mortality 50% of the larval population was observed. Our results indicated that the IRAN440C strain of B. bassiana at 5×106 spores of fungi per mL concentration was the most effective strain in terms of toxicity and high mortality in the population of S. cilium. Therefore, this strain can be used in control programs of grasslawn armyworm in urban green space.

Microcerotermes diversus (Iso.: Termitidae) is one of the most destructive termites in Khuzestan province (Iran). In this study, ability of pathogenicity of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae strain of Saravan (DEMI 001) against termite M. diversus was investigated in choice and no- choice bioassay trials by smeary and immersion methods. Results showed that concentration and time of fatality in the smeary method was higher than the immersion method. The lowest level of LC50 and LT50, it related to bioassay test no- choice with immersion method. Those level were 3.1´104 spores Ml-1 and 1.02 day, respectively. The feeding of treated and untreated filter paper in choice test showed that fungal conidial suspension in concentrations used in this study had no repellency effect against the target termite. Overall, this study showed that the fatality rate of fungal pathogen. M. anisopliae against termite M. diversus was associated with the fungus population.

The Entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill., is one of the facultative insect pathogens with a significant host range and host specificity. Conidial survival may be affected by either environmental factors or by bio-pesticides and chemical products used to protect crop plants. In this research, compatibility of the above mentioned fungus was studied with some traditional insecticides namely: imidaclopride, flufenoxuron, amitraz, and as well with neem (Azadirachta indica A. juss (Meliaceae), Stinking assa (Ferula assa-foetida L. (Apiaceae)), Oleander (Nerium oleander (Apocynaceae)) and NeemAzal-T/S. Effect of pesticides and plant extracts on conidial germination and on vegetative growth of the fungus were studied. The formulations of pesticides and plant extracts were tested in three sets of concentrations (mean concentration-MC, half MC and twice the MC). The results indicated that flufenoxuron, neem, NeemAzal-T/S are not compatible with B. bassiana causing either complete or strong inhibition in its development. The compatible formulations with B. bassiana (isolate DEBI008) were on the other hand imidacloprid, oleander and stinking assa. These later formulations could be employed simultaneously with the Entomopathogenic fungus in integrated pest management.