Evaluation of Philippine-sourced clay particles as coating agents of cacao pods and carrier of entomopathogen against cacao pest, Helopeltis bakeri Poppius

Evaluation of the efficacy of clay particles as a coating agent of cacao pods and carrier of entomopathogen, Metarhizium anisopliae Sorokin, was conducted for the control of cacao mirid bug (CMB), Helopeltis bakeri Poppius. Choice and no-choice tests were performed to evaluate Philippine-sourced clay particles as a coating agent of cacao pods to deter CMB feeding, in comparison with the commercially available particle film (US kaolin Surround®). To determine the most efficient local clay particles in protecting the pods from CMB feeding, six (6) treatments were evaluated namely, Philippine-sourced kaolin (PH kaolin), zeolite (PH zeolite), bentonite (PH bentonite), US kaolin, water (negative control), and a commercial synthetic insecticide thiamethoxam (Actara®) (positive control). All treatments were subjected to choice and no-choice tests. Among the Philippine clay particles tested in both tests, PH zeolite showed significant coating and deterred CMB from feeding. Since the US Kaolin and zeolite showed significant feeding deterrent effects on CMB, these treatments were tested as carriers of entomopathogenic fungi, M. anisopliae, including water (negative control) and thiamethoxam. Results showed that zeolite is a good carrier of the spores of M. anisopliae as its effects to deter CMB feeding started 24 hours after exposure. This was confirmed by positive M. anisopliae extraction from dead CMB through potato dextrose agar (PDA) plating.