Ecoscience Corporation

Ecoscience Laboratories, Inc.

Carol Ann Johnson

Haim B Gunner

Fernando Agudelo-Silva

David W Miller

Paul Perry

Meir Broza

Xixuan Jin

Kathryn E Grigas

Methods for packaging Metarhizium fungal cultures or conidia are described. In one embodiment, the fungal culture is provided within an insect infection chamber that attracts insects, then infects them with a lethal dosage of fungus, where the packaging maintains high humidity within the chamber, allows free exchange of gases, and is impermeable to microbes, including fungal spores, viruses, and bacteria. In a second embodiment, the fungal conidia are packaged under conditions which maintain high viability even after long-term storage at both 25.degree. C. and 37.degree. C., i.e., low relative humidity and oxygen. The conidia can then be reactivated for the use in the control of insects such as cockroaches, flies, ants, soft-bodied insects, turf pests, and caterpillars.

Method for storing fungal conidia

A method for packaging an insect infection chamber that attracts insects, then infects them with a lethal dosage of fungus, where the packaging maintains high humidity within the chamber, allows fee exchange of gases, and is impermeable to microbes, including fungal spores, viruses, and bacteria.

Packaged fungal culture stable to long term storage

A convenient, economical, non-toxic and effective apparatus for the control of roaches by administration of entomopathogenic fungi to the cockroaches. The roaches are exposed to the fungi in a contamination chamber having openings through which the cockroaches enter and come in contact with a living culture of a fungus which is pathogenic to cockroaches. The fungal spores attach to the roach, germinate and penetrate into the body of the cockroach, resulting in the death of the infected roach. Death takes approximately two to three weeks after contact with the culture. During this time, the infected roach disseminates spores of the pathogenic fungus throughout the infested areas which may subsequently infect other roaches. Given the proper environmental conditions, the fungus sporulates on the cadaver of the roach and the conidia can be transmitted to other cockroaches, resulting in a further spread of the disease.

Device for the biological control of cockroaches

A convenient, economical, non-toxic and effective method and means for the control of roaches by administration of entomopathogenic fungi to the cockroaches. In the preferred embodiment, the roaches are exposed to the fungi by means of a contamination chamber having openings through which the cockroaches enter and come in contact with a living culture of a fungus which is pathogenic to cockroaches. The fungal spores attach to the roach, germinate and penetrate into the body of the cockroach, resulting in the death of the infected roach. Death takes approximately two to three weeks after contact with the culture. During this time, the infected roach disseminates spores of the pathogenic fungus throughout the infested areas which may subsequently infect other roaches. Given the proper environmental conditions, the fungus sporulates on the cadaver of the roach and the conidia can be transmitted to other cockroaches, resulting in a further spread of the disease.

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Worcester, MA, United States of America

Carol Ann Johnson