Entomopathogenic fungi for the control of larvae and adults of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) vector of dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses in Mexico.

OBJECTIVE:To assess larvicide and adulticide activity of different native strains of fungi on Aedes aegypti. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Third instar larvae were exposed for 72 h at a concentration of 1x108 conidia/ml of 15 fungi; only fungi that significantly affected the larvae were evaluated against the adult phase at a concentration of 2x1010 conidia/ml. Mortality readings were performed at 24, 48, and 72 h for larvae, and every day to 30 days for adults. RESULTS:Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Aspergillus aculeatus, and Metarhizium anisopliae had the best larvicidal activity at 24 h of exposure (p<0.05), causing mortalities of 100, 72, and 62%, respectively. Adult mosquitoes were more affected by Gliocladium virens (45% mortality), M. anisopliae (30% mortality), and T. longibrachiatum (23.33% mortality). CONCLUSION:The larval stage of Ae. aegypti was more susceptible than the adult phase to the pathogenic action of native fungi, with T. longibrachiatum being with the highest virulence.