Natural occurrence of entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria felina (DC.) J.W. Carmich on fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith)

Fall army worm, Spodoptera frugiperda was reported as an invasive pest on maize in India during May 2018 at Karnataka, India. Surveys were conducted for occurrence of pathogens on S. frugiperda in affected maize fields in Karnataka, India. Mycosed larvae of FAW with abundant external white fungal growth and synnemata were observed in maize fields. About 20-30% of 4 and 5th instar larvae of FAW were affected by this fungus. Isolations from the infected cadavers on Sabourauds Dextrose Yeast extract Agar yielded creamish white, round, flat colonies initially, which later produced erect synnematous structures with abundant long erect clusters of condiogenous cells. The conidia were oval-ellipsoid shape with the size of 1.5-2.5 X 3- 3.5 µm. Further molecular characterization of the fungus using ITS region identified it as Beauveria felina. To best of our knowledge, this is the first report of occurrence of B. felina on maize fall armyworm.