batatas, the major host plant of C. formicarius ( Chalfant et al., 1990), at least 49 other members of the Convolvulaceae Ceritinib have been recorded as hosts for C. formicarius, which has been recorded feeding on seven genera in six tribes within this plant family ( Austin et al., 1991). In Guam and other Micronesian Islands, the Aiea Morning Glory, Ipomoea triloba L. (Convolvulaceae), is widespread and serves as an alternative host for C. formicarius ( Reddy et al., 2012b). Because of the cryptic nature of the larvae and the nocturnal activity of the C. formicarius adults, it is becoming difficult to control this pest using chemicals. Additionally, the life history

of C. formicarius make the pest easiest to control with long residual pesticides that are now out of favor and often unavailable. Recently, Leng and Reddy (2012) reported several low-risk insecticides such as spinosad and azadirachtin to be effective against C. formicarius in a laboratory study, but their effectiveness was not tested in the field. Our previous studies dealing with pheromone-baited traps have also shown promise for monitoring this pest ( Reddy et al., 2012a), and mass trapping techniques have been shown to reduce damage caused by C. formicarius ( Reddy

et al., 2014). Sweet potatoes are mainly grown on the island of Rota and exported to other neighboring selleck inhibitor islands. Since there are no quarantine restrictions to the movements of sweet potatoes among the Mariana Islands (Guam and Northern Mariana Islands of Saipan, Rota and Saipan), C. formicarius is spreading to new areas. The larvae and adults of C. formicarius are susceptible to many natural enemies such as parasitoids, predators, and pathogens Flucloronide ( Jansson, 1991). In particular, the fungal pathogens Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium brunneum (a taxon in the Metarhizium anisopliae species complex) (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) have commonly been observed to attack C. formicarius ( Jansson, 1991) and other Cylas species ( Ondiaka et al., 2008). Entomopathogenic fungi such as those from the M. anisopliae and B. bassiana species complexes

are currently being used to control agricultural and forest pests worldwide ( Butt et al., 2001). These fungi are registered in the USA, as well as in many other countries, as biopesticides ( Kabaluk et al., 2010). Such microbial biopesticides are sustainable in IPM programs because of their active relationship with insects. In some cases, compatible products may be combined with entomopathogenic fungi to increase control, to decrease the amount of insecticides required, and to minimize the risks of environmental pollution and pest resistance ( Quintela and McCoy, 1998). Nonetheless, the efficacy of some fungi as a biological control agents can be reduced by unfavorable temperature and humidity ( Yasuda et al., 1997). However, the hot and humid conditions of sweet potato fields in Guam and other Micronesian Islands are favorable for the use of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae.