Control of Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stl) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) with entomopathogenic fungus and insecticides using two sampling methods on sugarcane fields

The sampling of M. fimbriolata aims to estimate the population level and optimum timing for spittlebug control in the sugarcane fields. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the cost and efficiency of Metarhizium anisopliae (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) and insecticides utilized in M. fimbriolata control using two sampling techniques. The experiments were performed between November 2012 and April 2013, in a sugarcane field. In each experiment, apart from the control, treatments included Thiamethoxan (250 g ha-1), Imidacloprid (700 g ha-1), PL 43 (M. anisopliae - 2.0×1012 con mL-1), ESALQ E9 (M. anisopliae -2.1×1012 con mL-1) and IBCB 425 (M. anisopliae - 1.4×1012 con mL-1). In the first experiment, the M. fimbriolata nymphs and adults were monitored, while on the other experiment, the nymphs sampled were the small, medium, large, and the adults of M. fimbriolata with objective was to identify the timing of the application of treatments. In general, by monitoring the small, medium and large nymphs and the adult spittlebugs, the timing of the application was optimized, which increased the efficiency of M. fimbriolata control.   Key words: Biological control, imidacloprid, Mahanarva fimbriolata, Metarhizium anisopliae, thiamethoxan.