Biocontrol Potential of Indigenous Beauveria bassiana Strain Against Ips typographus from Tara National Park Under Varying Temperature Regimes

Abstract

Entomopathogens are microbes that infect and cause pathogenesis in insects, often leading to the death of individual insects and, in some cases, the collapse of entire populations. More than 750 species of fungi have been documented as insect entomopathogens. Entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana play an important role in the biological control of insect populations. Environmental factors such as temperature and humidity significantly influence its growth and efficacy. This study focusses on B. bassiana isolated from Ips typographus populations in the Serbian Tara National Park. Laboratory experiments have shown that the optimum temperature for fungal growth is around 20°C. Furthermore, a mortality rate of 77.3% was observed when B. bassiana was applied to bark beetles, showing promising potential as a biological control agent under controlled conditions.