ISOLATION AND PATHOGENICITY TEST OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI ON THE GREATER WAX MOTH [GALLERIA MELLONELLA LINNAEUS, 1758 (LEPIDOPTERA PYRALIDAE)] UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

This study was carried out between 2014 and 2017 in Erzincan. The goal of the study is to isolate entomopathogenic fungus from the soil of Erzincan province and to test the pathogenesis of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella Linnaeus 1758 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). 78 isolates were obtained as a result of the study, 63 of them were Beauveria bassiana and 15 of them were Iletharzium anisopliae as entomopathogenic fungi. Under the laboratory conditions, bioassay tests were followed for 12 days and the first cases in both species were seen on the 4th day. As a result of B. bassiana, at the end of the 4th day, BbEMRKZ5b isolate had the highest mortality rate with 36.60%. On the 6th day, BbEK2a isolate had the highest mortality rate with 50.00%. Also, at the end of the 4th day, MaER3 and MaEO3 isolates of M. anisopliae had the highest mortality rate with 26.52%. On the 6th day, MaER3 isolate had the highest mortality rate with 53.35 %. As a result, the mortality rate of the wax moth increased as the incubation time progressed. Also, on the 12th day of the incubation period, B. bassiana mortality rate was 90.00%, while M. anisopliae mortality rate was 83.64%.