High susceptibility of Tetranychus merganser (Acari: Tetranychidae), an emergent pest of the tropical crop Carica papaya , towards Metarhizium anisopliae s.l. and Beauveria bassiana strains.

and are present in the papaya orchards of Campeche, México. The high susceptibility of adult females and eggs toward several s.l. or strains suggests that these fungi are a viable alternative to control this emergent pest. The most virulent strain, Ma034, was also infective to eggs, and is the most promising to be tested in the field.