Beauveria bassiana in the control of Oil palm pests

Oil palm Elaeis guineensis (Jacq) is an exotic high yielding perennial crop native of Guinea Bissau of West Africa. It has been introduced in to India recently as an irrigated crop. It is a monoecious bisexual and entomophilous crop. It needs assistance for pollination. In general the pest attack on Oil palm is very low but some were noticed probably migrated from other plants. Most prominent of them were Rhinoceros beetle psychids leaf web worms and slug caterpillars. Out of these psychids leaf web worms and slug caterpillars are the foliage feeders belongs to order Lepidoptera can indirectly cause yield losses about 20%. As Oil palm is an entomophilous crop usage of chemical pesticides in controlling the pests may cause hazardous affects on the pollinating weevil and in turn the process of pollination. To overcome this problem it was recommended to use biocontrol agents one such is Beauveria bassiana which is reported to be very effective against Lepidopteron pest.