Activity of some hypocrealean fungi collected in a Cerrado ecosystem against Rhodnius spp. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) under laboratory conditions

The hypocrealean invertebrate-pathogenic fungi Lecanicillium psalliotae, Paecilomyces lilacinus and Pochonia chlamydosporia isolated from soils in Central Brazil were tested against palm-dwelling Rhodnius neglectus, R. nasutus, R. prolixus, and R. robustus; all of these insects are vectors of Chagas disease. Particularly R. neglectus and R. nasutus, which are both important secondary intruders of human habitations were susceptible to all three of the fungi tested, and fungi sporulated successfully on the cadavers. This is the first report of activity of L. psalliotae, P. lilacinus and P. chlamydosporia against Rhodnius spp., and these fungi have interest for integrated control of triatomine vectors.