Susceptibility of Loxosceles sp. to the arthropod pathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae: potential biocontrol of the brown spider.

Background: Loxosceles genus (brown spider) is an important pest with great impact on public health. Thus, more effective strategies for spider control are necessary.
Methods: Three isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae fungus were tested for the control of Loxosceles sp.
Results: Metarhizium anisopliae isolate E6 was highly virulent to the Loxosceles sp. spider, causing 100% mortality at 10(9) conidia/ml after 12 days and 9 days for juvenile and adult spiders, respectively.
Conclusions: This is the first report of the pathogenicity of M. anisopliae against a venomous arthropod. This fungus could offer an interesting alternative to reduce loxoscelism in future biocontrol strategies.