Abstract

Many dead larvae of the noctuid Eligma narcissus infesting the soft wood tree Ailanthus triphysa were found hanging from the leaves during a pest build-up in India, in September-December 1983. The larvae were parasitized by a bacterium identified as Bacillus firmus. Laboratory studies confirmed the pathogenicity of B. firmus. Larvae released onto leaves treated with the bacterium had stopped feeding after 18-24 h and mortality was 80-100 after 72 h. The pathogen could be re-isolated from dead larvae. This is the first report of B. firmus as an insect pathogen